When Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa walked into her first open mic event in Perth, she had no idea she was stepping into the world of poetry slam—a world that would eventually lead her to the prestigious Sydney Opera House, where she would boldly discuss her body hair. Inspired by American poet Sarah Kay, Khalsa began writing spoken word poetry at 18 while studying political science. She was eager to make a change and share her political message without delay.
“I was looking for a way to make change and get my political message out there, but I didn’t want to wait,” she says. “[Slam poetry] seemed like a good way to do it quickly.”
Despite her initial hesitation, it took Khalsa a year to muster the courage to write her first poem, which she performed at that very open mic. The poem delved into her experiences as a Sikh woman who, for cultural reasons, does not remove her body hair, yet often feels judged for it. “The poem was so niche and [directed] towards my community, I didn’t know how to translate that to this very mainstream, white audience, but I did it anyway,” Khalsa recalls.
The Journey to the Opera House
Her performance led her to the national finals of the Australian Poetry Slam at the Opera House in 2014, marking the beginning of her career in the arts. Since then, Khalsa has achieved significant milestones, including receiving an Order of Australia medal, becoming the CEO of Perth’s independent theatre Blue Room, and releasing her debut book, Fully Sikh: Hot Chips and Turmeric Stains. These accomplishments have all unfolded over the past two years.
Khalsa credits her trip to Sydney as a pivotal moment in her career, where she realized, “You can do this full-time. You can be an artist.”
Finding Her Voice on Stage
Khalsa’s ambition to become an artist was long-held, even if she didn’t initially recognize its potential. At just four years old, she wrote her first play, dictating it to her older sister. “They were always family parodies, with larger-than-life characters,” she says. “But [within that] there was a deep issue that little me wouldn’t have known was a deep issue.”
As she matured, Khalsa began writing and performing observational poetry, often reflecting on her spirituality and early experiences with racism. Although she performed these poems at school, she remained shy until slam poetry compelled her to embrace her true self on stage. “I hated myself, hated my body hair, hated not belonging,” she admits.
“I hated myself, hated my body hair, hated not belonging.” – Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa
Using the momentum from the Australian Poetry Slam, Khalsa moved to Melbourne at 20, with just $500 in her pocket. She sought to escape the perceived limitations of Perth’s arts scene, including its relative isolation and lack of opportunities for artists. In Melbourne, she secured her highest-profile gig yet: Australia’s Got Talent in 2016. This exposure led to international opportunities, where she facilitated poetry workshops with Sikh communities across North America, Southeast Asia, and New Zealand.
Transitioning to Theatre and Leadership
While in Melbourne, Khalsa was invited by Perth’s Barking Gecko Arts and Black Swan State Theatre Company to return home and create a spoken word production for young people. After three years, this project culminated in the stage show Fully Sikh, which premiered in 2019 and earned her the WA Performing Arts Award for Best Newcomer.
“It was the first Sikh play in Australia,” she says. Audiences participated by removing their shoes and even helping Khalsa cook a Punjabi meal, creating a unique cultural blend that excited her. “It was a f***ing hard experience, but you need to do those fights, so the next theatre-maker can go: ‘No, that was done’ [and create their own show].”
The pandemic in 2020 prompted another career shift for Khalsa, leading her to explore filmmaking and digital writing. “There’s a lot of problem-solving and it’s not necessarily super creative,” she notes. “It’s actually logical and takes longer and more money.” This exploration inspired her to pursue producing, eventually leading to her leadership role at Blue Room Theatre, where she focuses on creating opportunities and inviting new audiences into the theatre.
Looking Forward and Embracing Change
Reflecting on her journey, Khalsa views her slam poetry as an educational tool for audiences about Sikh identity in Australia. “It was like ‘Sikh PR’, [saying] ‘We’re not terrorists’,” she explains. However, she no longer feels the need to focus solely on her Sikh identity. Instead, she is working on screen projects, a rom-com musical, and new music, aiming to “embrace fun” and “find joy in the mundane or even in chaos or when things aren’t perfect.”
Khalsa remains a role model for younger culturally and linguistically diverse artists and producers. “I’ve been aware of [being a role model] since the moment I went on Australia’s Got Talent,” she says. This sense of responsibility fuels her work at Blue Room Theatre, where she aims to maximize the opportunities she has been given.
“There’s very few of us that have been given these opportunities. I just want to make the most of it.” – Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa
Despite her achievements, Khalsa acknowledges that she is the only one standing in her way of achieving even greater ambitions. “Why am I letting imposter syndrome and systemic barriers stop me from wanting to maybe be the arts minister one day? Those are the goals that inspire me to keep going.”
