Popular productions from the Torres Strait – The Boy Who Found His Way Home and sequel The Mystery of Aunty’s Dead Cat – will travel to the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2026, bringing the vibrancy of contemporary island theatre to audiences from Australia and beyond.

It follows the success of performances at the Gab Titui Cultural Centre on Waiben (Thursday Island) and community performance on Badu.

In June, Zenadth Kes (Torres Strait) proved its appetite for local storytelling, when audiences filled the Gab Titui Cultural Centre for the return of The Boy Who Found His Way Home and the premiere of its mystery-filled sequel The Mystery of Aunty’s Dead Cat.

Presented by the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) and Grin & Tonic Theatre Productions, the back-to-back performances captivated audiences across two unforgettable nights on Waiben (Thursday Island), drawing laughter, applause and standing ovations as families saw their own experiences, humour and culture reflected on stage.

Written by Torres Strait Islander playwright Jillian Boyd-Bowie, the shows brought together an exceptional cast led by emerging Torres Strait Islander actor Likiki Millet in his professional theatre debut as Iothamo, alongside celebrated actors Jimi Bani, Simon Tesorieri, Jason Klarwein and Richard Bani.

Audiences followed Iothamo’s journey of reconnecting with home and culture before joining him and Bala D on a hilarious detective adventure to uncover the truth behind Aunty Loice’s mysteriously deceased cat, Salty Plum.

TSRA Chairperson George Nona said the overwhelming response highlighted the importance of investing in Torres Strait stories and storytellers.

“These performances demonstrated the power of Torres Strait storytelling to bring communities together through laughter, culture and shared experiences,” Mr Nona said.

“The response from audiences was extraordinary.

“People waited long after the curtain closed to meet and snap photos with the cast and crew.

“Gab Titui Cultural Centre exists to nurture and showcase Torres Strait creative talent.

“Productions like these remind us that our stories are not only important to us as a region but have the power to connect with audiences wherever they are told.

“We are incredibly proud of Grin & Tonic Theatre Troupe and TSRA’s Culture, Art and Heritage team, and look forward to seeing these productions represent the Torres Strait on a larger stage at the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair,” he said.

Young lead actor Likiki Millet said performing in front of home audiences was a career highlight.

“Being given the opportunity to perform a piece like this, at home for my family feels like a blessing from the stars,”Likiki said.

“It will be something I’ll cherish for the rest of my career.”

Returning cast member Jimi Bani said the audience response reinforced why Torres Strait stories deserved to be seen on major stages.

“The feedback from families was heartwarming, especially seeing how the characters reminded them of their own family members and their own experiences,” Jimi said.

“Even though it was very funny and comical at times, the message of cultural identity was very powerful and shared very clearly, and I’m very proud of that.

“Aunty Jillian told the story from truth and how the creative team supported and trusted Aunty’s story.

“I’m looking forward to performing it in Cairns and see that uniqueness connects with the audiences,” he said.

Following the success of the Gab Titui performances and the community performance on Badu, the productions will now travel to the Cairns Indigenous Art Fair (CIAF) 2026, where audiences from across Australia and beyond will have the opportunity to experience contemporary Torres Strait theatre at its best.

The Boy Who Found His Way Home and The Mystery of Aunty’s Dead Cat are proudly supported by the Torres Strait Regional Authority through Gab Titui Cultural Centre as part of its ongoing commitment to strengthening and celebrating Torres Strait arts, culture and storytelling.

CIAF Show

Date: Tuesday, 7 July 2026
Time: Doors at 6pm for 6:30pm showtime
Where: CIAF; Tank 5, Tanks Arts Centre