Patrick Gunasekera

Patrick Gunasekera's (he/him) is an interdisciplinary performer, creator, collaborator and producer of Sri Lankan migrant heritage, living on Whadjuk Noongar Boodjar. His work is driven by a heartfelt interest in change across individuals and communities. He creates theatre, dance, music and writing with care and honesty, exploring how acts of violence are normalised, and how people experience agency and growth from marginalised positions.

As a pianist, singer, actor and dancer, his performance practices revel in the embodiments of marginalised people. His composing practice is inspired by the ways other disabled, queer and brown composers across history have used creative expression to navigate their own survival, pride and progress. He created and performed a tender and powerful 6-hour crip concert work "After Lili" at Audible Edge Festival 2024, and was a tenor in the Perth Pride Choir from 2016 - 2017. He grew up studying western classical music.

Patrick developed and facilitated the workshop Autobiographical Storytelling for Deaf and Disabled Artists in residence at PICA in 2023. Since 2024 he has co-ordinated and taught a disabled-only dance class, originally supported by a STRUT Dance Space Grant and called Mobility Aid-Using Dance Jams. His teaching practice is drawn from his background in peer education, and centres bodily autonomy, emotional safety, and non-hierarchical facilitation.

From 2019 - 2023 he worked in arts journalism at Seesaw Magazine, writing about the work of other disabled, migrant, queer and young artists. He is a also a cultural safety mentor, often working with independent artists and arts organisations to develop healthier relationships with marginalised artists and audiences.