Bani plays George in Edward Albee’s definitive piece, with a modern and inter-racial interpretation bringing new life to the production, at QPAC Playhouse until February 26.

Well known for his leading roles in television shows such as Mabo and The Straits, Bani is a proud Queenslander and Torres Strait Islander who is not daunted about taking on the role made famous by Richard Burton in the epic film version.

He says this is largely because director Margaret Harvey’s vision for how the story evolves is so distinctly different.

“When Margaret Harvey asked me to play the role, her vision of George was for him to have a Torres Strait Islander background, and for him to be a professor of this modern day age,” Bani said.

“And what she was interested in George is, to have been brought up, not on the islands, but down south.

“His drive in the history department and going to university and graduating and being a professor, but also being stuck in a system or a world that’s not his.”

While the show still delivers a voyeuristic view of the seismic undoing of marriage, this time it is through a different setting, changed from sixties era America to a diverse, modern Australia.

Bani says he’s amazed at how potently the script delivers such a modern and pertinent commentary on culture and race relations in Australia.

Opposite Bani in the role of Martha is AAACTA Award winning co-star Susan Prior, who may be more familiar to many in her roles in Suddenly Last Summer and her movie roles such as in Puberty Blues and Glitch.

Bani says the conflict within George as his world unravels has been challenging, but rewarding to take on.

“Because I’m such a cultural man, where I was born and bred back up in home, and the majority of my work is educating and keeping the fire alive through language and culture and protocols and practices,” he said.

“This has actually been really interesting for me seeing from the perspective of an Islander who actually hasn’t been grown up at home, but is really fighting to understand and keep their identity and what that is.

“I think this George has been battling with that in trying to keep his identity, but he is stuck in this world that he obviously grew up and mastered, because he’s very intellectual and very sharp and witty.

“The writing of Edward Albee is so amazing. And just for me as a Torres Strait Islander to speak such thick, intellectual language is just such a pleasure.”

Bani will also grace Queensland stages in late 2022 as the lead for Queensland Theatre’s uniquely Australian adaptation of Shakespeare’s Othello, presented as part of Brisbane Festival.

Queensland Theatre Artistic Director, Lee Lewis, says it’s fitting to have Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf open the 2022 Season, with a celebration of Queensland talent.

“We are so proud to mark the start of the 2022 Season with this gripping production of Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? from State Theatre Company South Australia, and to welcome Queensland actor Jimi Bani home,” Lewis said.

“Every time Jimi steps into a role, he brings it to life in a unique and deeply authentic way. He is a true master of his craft.”