When Sukhjit Kaur Khalsa first stepped into an open mic event in Perth, she unknowingly entered a poetry slam that would eventually lead her to the prestigious Sydney Opera House. There, she delivered a poignant performance discussing her body hair, a topic deeply intertwined with her identity as a Sikh woman.
Khalsa’s journey into spoken word poetry began at 18, inspired by American poet Sarah Kay, while she was studying political science. “I was looking for a way to make change and get my political message out there, but I didn’t want to wait,” she recalls. “[Slam poetry] seemed like a good way to do it quickly.“
Despite her initial hesitation, it took a year before she penned her first poem. This piece, performed at that pivotal Perth open mic, explored her experiences as a Sikh woman who chooses not to remove her body hair for cultural reasons, 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 says.
From Poetry Slam to National Recognition
The performance propelled her to the national final of the Australian Poetry Slam at the Opera House in 2014, marking the start of her career in the arts. Since then, Khalsa has received an Order of Australia medal, become the CEO of Perth’s Blue Room Theatre, and released her debut book, Fully Sikh: Hot Chips and Turmeric Stains.
Khalsa reflects on her trip to Sydney as a catalyst for her career, realizing the potential of being a full-time artist. “You can do this full-time. You can be an artist,” she realized amidst other poets and authors.
Embracing Her Identity on Stage
Khalsa’s artistic aspirations were rooted in her childhood, where at 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 recalls. “But [within that] there was a deep issue that little me wouldn’t have known was a deep issue.”
As she matured, Khalsa’s poetry evolved to include themes of spirituality and early experiences of racism. Despite performing these pieces at school, she struggled with shyness until slam poetry encouraged her to embrace her true self on stage. “I hated myself, hated my body hair, hated not belonging,” she admits.
The momentum from the Australian Poetry Slam motivated her to move to Melbourne at 20, with just $500. There, she found more opportunities, including a high-profile appearance on Australia’s Got Talent in 2016, which opened doors internationally.
Transition to Theatre and Broader Horizons
While in Melbourne, Khalsa was invited by Perth’s Barking Gecko Arts and Black Swan State Theatre Company to develop a spoken word production for young audiences. This project evolved into the stage show Fully Sikh, premiering in 2019 and earning her the WA Performing Arts Award for Best Newcomer. “It was the first Sikh play in Australia,” she notes.
The production was a cultural fusion, inviting audiences to remove their shoes and participate in cooking a Punjabi meal. “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 shift, as Khalsa explored filmmaking and digital writing. “There’s a lot of problem-solving and it’s not necessarily super creative,” she says. “It’s actually logical and takes longer and more money.”
This exploration led her to the leadership of Blue Room Theatre, where she aims to create opportunities that were scarce when she left for Melbourne. “I’ve never had a full-time job in my life; I’ve always been a freelancer,” Khalsa says. “[This] was my chance to delve into an arts organisation that has the same values as me.”
Educating and Inspiring Future Generations
Reflecting on her slam poetry days, Khalsa views them as a way to educate audiences about Sikh culture. “It was like ‘Sikh PR’, [saying] ‘We’re not terrorists’,” she explains. However, her artistic identity has since expanded beyond her Sikh heritage, as she now works on screen projects, a rom-com musical, and new music. “I want to embrace fun,” she says. “I want to find joy in the mundane or even in chaos or when things aren’t perfect.”
Khalsa remains a role model for young, culturally and linguistically diverse artists. “I’ve been aware of [being a role model] since the moment I went on Australia’s Got Talent,” she acknowledges, feeling a responsibility to leverage her opportunities for the benefit of others.
Looking ahead, Khalsa’s ambitions extend beyond her current role. “Why am I letting imposter syndrome and systemic barriers stop me from wanting to maybe be the arts minister one day?” she questions. “Those are the goals that inspire me to keep going.”
