Send for Nellie is a State Library event that’s part of the ongoing Pride (R)evolution exhibitions which have been taking  a “queer lens” to  the State Library’s collection.  This exhibition tells the story of Nellie Small – a popular vaudevillian style entertainer in Sydney nightclubs in the 1930s who was known for cross dressing, as a woman of colour dressed as a man, and singing songs like ‘Stormy Weather’ and ‘The Sunny Side of the Street’. 

Playwright Alana Valentine had researched Nellie Small in 1991 for a play which was ultimately never produced.  More than 30 years later, in 2022, Alana received a call from the State Library asking about Nellie Small. Now, in a full circle moment, more than thirty years into Alana’s illustrious career, Alana has reconnected with the story of Nellie Small in curating this exhibition.

Alana is hosting a forum celebrating Nellie Small at an evening event at the State Library on 15 June 2023.

You can read Alana’s article for the State Library linked here.

An extended version of this conversation is available via the Wide Open Air Exchange podcast with discussions of some of Alana’s others works including a work in development, My Beautiful Man, drawing on the events of the Lindt Cafe siege, and showing at Merrigong Theatre Company on 3rd June 2023.

Feature photo by Stephanie Zingsheim and supplied by Alana Valentine for use by the Wide Open Air Exchange.

The Wide Open Air Exchange theme music is derived from ‘Tuesday Morning’ by The Pogues written by Spider Stacy.