Gary Paramanathan works at the intersection of arts, culture and community. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Australia, Gary’s arts practice predominantly focuses on storytelling and writing. He has written and directed a number of short films, including for ABC iView. He has written feature essays and recounted personal narratives, including for The Guardian. Gary also ran a live storytelling night focusing on PoC stories, called Them Heavy People. He currently focuses on writing and performing short works of autobiography and fiction. He was shortlisted for the Deborah Cass Prize in 2021, won a Writing NSW mentorship and published in a Sweatshop anthology.
He has developed and presented work for Griffin Theatre, CAAP, Performance Space and Queer Stories. Gary is currently writing his first feature stage play, after joining the watershed program with Sydney Theatre Company. He has also written critique and content to bring processes and genuine representation in storytelling. Gary is passionate about migrant and diaspora storytelling and hopes to add to the rich tapestry of diverse Australian storytelling through his work.