Toni Janke reflects on culture, memories and bringing new show Inheritance to the QPAC stage
Acclaimed singer-songwriter and Wuthathi, Meriam and Yadhaigana woman Toni Janke returns to the stage in 2026 with Inheritance – a deeply personal new work that blends storytelling, song and cultural memory. Created in collaboration with leading First Nations artists and creatives, the production explores the legacies we inherit and carry, and the ones we choose to pass on. Ahead of its premiere at QPAC this April, Toni shares the roots of the work, the creative forces shaping it and the emotional journey she hopes audiences will take with her.
Your exciting new production Inheritance arrives at QPAC in 2026. How would you describe the heart of this show to someone hearing about it for the first time? And what can audiences expect to feel or see on stage?
Inheritance is a deeply personal and powerful theatrical journey that tells my life story through my original songs which have been written across almost five decades. At its heart, the show explores identity, belonging and resilience — tracing the struggles, joys and turning points that have shaped me as a First Nations woman and artist. Audiences can expect an intimate, emotionally rich experience where music carries memory, truth and passion, inviting them into a world of reflection, strength and hope. Through song and story, Inheritance celebrates the enduring power of music to heal, connect and honour where we come from and what we leave behind.
Every show begins with a spark. What was the starting point for Inheritance?
The spark of Inheritance lives in the meeting of dance, song and sound — where movement and music transform space and time. Through evocative soundscapes and embodied storytelling, the work invites audiences into a special, almost sacred setting – one that feels both intimate and expansive. This fusion creates a living atmosphere where memory, spirit and story are activated, drawing audiences into a shared experience of presence, connection and deep listening.
One big question lies at the centre of the show – ‘what do we truly inherit, and what will we choose to pass on?’. How did exploring that idea shape both the themes of Inheritance and the experience you’ve created for audiences?
This central question has shaped Inheritance at every level — emotionally, musically and thematically. Exploring this theme led me to reflect deeply on family, culture, trauma, love and strength, and how these forces live on through our lives and how they have shaped my own story and my songs. I hope that audiences will reflect deeply on their own journey and the experiences that have shaped their identity, their legacy and what is important to them, and to consider how life impacts our choices which in turn create our memories and shape our future.
Inheritance brings together an incredible team of First Nations artists and creative leaders – from rising dancers Tjilala Brown-Roberts and Harold Pascoe, to acclaimed choreographer Jeanette Fabila, celebrated cultural advisor Ruth Ghee and dramaturg Dr Angelina Hurley. What was it like building this show alongside them, and how did their perspectives help guide the work?
It is a great honour and privilege to work with such an awesome team – people who I have known and admired for many years. We have all worked to promote First Nations arts and culture in our own ways. Coming together for Inheritance has been very special and at the same time, invigorating and incredibly empowering. I am so blessed and grateful for the synergy of working with a wonderful team of amazing, talented people. We’ve had a lot of fun and laughs.
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What personal memories or cultural stories felt most important for you to honour in Inheritance?
It was difficult to condense so much of my story into a 90-minute play, which included so much music as well. I wanted to honour my family history, my parents and grandparents and the spiritual connection I have to family, to culture, to my ancestors and my heritage. I wanted it to be an authentic, real down-to-earth account of what it was like for me growing up in Queensland and later Canberra as a young Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander girl in the 1970s and 1980s with so many diverse and varied influences all around me.
You have described how spoken word conveys truth, while music has the ability to reach the spirit. How did you weave those forms together in Inheritance to create an experience that audiences don’t just hear, but feel deeply?
Spoken word is more powerful, direct, and clearer, while music can take us to a different place – it is gentle and it is the language of feeling, memory and awe. We don’t just take in the characters and the details of the story, we feel it moving through our hearts and our souls. We identify deeply through an emotional connection that I believe only music can truly do. But together they are powerful and create an experience that hopefully transforms and connects the audience to something special. My story isn’t particularly unusual or exciting, but it illustrates how the ordinary can become quite meaningful (and even extraordinary) with the passing of time and the love and guidance of those close to us. For me, this is far more precious than gold.
Music has long been at the heart of your artistry. How does the musical landscape of Inheritance evolve from your earlier work and albums, and what feels fresh or new for you in this production?
I have been playing the guitar and writing songs since I was eight years old. I have never been able to stop writing songs – music is at the very heart of my artistry, the lens through which I understand and express my life. Inheritance continues this journey, but it also feels like a full-circle moment: a celebration of earlier work and the deeper meaning that the same songs hold years later. As I have grown and matured, so too has the resonance of my music, revealing new layers of significance and the enduring power of my songs to connect, heal, and speak across time and hopefully, for generations to come.
What’s one thing you learned about yourself while creating Inheritance?
I’ve learnt quite a few things while creating Inheritance, but one of the most profound things I’ve learned is the power of collaboration — of working with others, sharing our gifts and talents, our passion and vision. So many of our stories, joys and struggles are remarkably alike that any of my songs could have been written by others. I’ve often worked alone in my own world, but this show has shown me how important it is to trust others, to be grateful, to let go of control and to create space for audiences to engage with the work on their own terms — to feel, reflect, and find their own meaning rather than having everything explained or resolved for them.
Inheritance by Toni Janke will be taking the stage at QPAC’s Cremorne Theatre on Thursday April 2. Head to the QPAC website to get your tickets.