The Board and Staff of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company are pleased to announce that Helen Hristofski has been appointed as the new General Manager of the company.

With over 20 years experience commissioning, producing and presenting new Australian works, Helen is a highly respected arts manager and will bring a high level of theatre experience to Yirra Yaakin, following the departure of long-standing General Manager, Peter Kift.

Debra Miller, the Chair of Yirra Yaakin is thrilled with Helen’s appointment, noting Helen’s history of leading renowned WA youth theatre company, Barking Gecko Theatre Company from 2013 – 2021, and her various roles and contracts with the Australian String Quartet, Marrugeku Inc, Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare & Performing Lines.

Helen is currently the Chair of Propel Youth Arts and Co-Chair of the City of Perth Arts Advisory Committee and has been on various committees and peer assessor panels for Creative Australia and Creative Partnerships Australia.

“She is ideally suited to provide experienced leadership of Yirra Yaakin in the coming years, and working alongside Artistic Director, Maitland Schnaars and assisting him in achieving his artistic vision for the company”, noted Chair, Debra Miller.

In 2023, Yirra Yaakin is celebrating 30 years of sharing Aboriginal stories from around WA and Australia and makes contemporary Aboriginal theatre that is authentic, enriching and culturally appropriate!

“Yirra Yaakin’s stories reverberate in our hearts and souls and are a profound force for social change, celebration, and transformation. For 30 years Yirra Yaakin has been instrumental in commissioning Aboriginal storytellers to deliver hope, joy, illumination, and compassion. It has a spirit of warmth, sense of fun, collaboration, legacy and deeply authentic connection to community. This role is a rare gift and I’m delighted to be back working in theatre again with all its particular rhythms and possibilities. I can’t wait to see where Maitland and the artists take this precious company next!” Helen Hristofski