Meet Belloo's Mentees
Belloo is thrilled to announce our 2025 Mentorship Program, supporting the next wave of diverse talent.
This year, two emerging Tamil Sri Lankan artists, Sudhesh Somu and Janaki Gerard, will join the creative team for Back to Bilo—a powerful new play inspired by the heart of regional Queensland.
Their voices, experiences, and creativity will help bring this urgent story to life. Follow their journey and see how mentorship shapes the future of Australian theatre.
SUDHESH SOMU
A proud Queenslander who arrived in Australia as an asylum seeker from Sri Lanka, Sudhesh’s life experience and community development background drive his passion for supporting disadvantaged Indigenous youth and combating family violence through men’s behaviour change programs. He is also deeply committed to dance as a means of cultural connection, using movement to celebrate identity and foster belonging. Sudhesh longs for his love of Queensland to be reflected back to him through the stories shared on its stages.
JANAKI GERARD
An actor, writer, singer, and improviser from Brisbane, Janaki has worked in London and New York City and holds an MFA in Acting from East 15 Acting School/University of Essex in London. She is currently developing new platforms and projects for South Asian creatives in Australia. Her long-term goal is to champion representation and diverse storytelling, making Australia’s media and entertainment industries more inclusive, safe, and enriching for future generations.
DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!
Your donation to Belloo’s Mentorship Program will be matched!
Belloo’s 2025 Mentorship Program has been selected for the Australian Cultural Fund (ACF) Boost, a tax-deductible matched funding initiative that supports independent artists and small arts organisations.
This means that every dollar you donate will be doubled—ACF will match your contribution dollar for dollar!
All funds raised will go directly toward paid mentorship opportunities for Janaki Gerard and Sudhesh Somu.
Donate today and help us support the next generation of diverse storytellers!
