Archive for category: Past Projects

You are here: / Past Projects

Introducing – THE SIDESHOW PROJECT

/in , , , /by

The Sideshow Project in the next chapter in the development of the Balranald Circus; a rural youth circus which began as an OTYP project but is evolving into an autonomous youth movement with the potential to become an independent organisation. The Sideshow Project has three elements. The first is to develop circus, play-building and performance skills with the young people of Balranald; the second is to create an original performance work in the tradition of the local agricultural show, drawing on classic sideshow themes and characters; the third is professional development and leadership workshops with older young people and adults who will become ongoing trainers and supervisors in the Balranald Circus.

Stage One of the Sideshow Project, in November/December 2013, will begin a process of skills development with young people and future trainers and an exploration of the Sideshow themes. This work will build a foundation for the more intensive creative work of Stage Two.

In 2014 the skills development element will have an in-school program – with workshops delivered to all students from K-12 at Balranald Central School (BCS) – and an ensemble program, with after school and school holiday workshops, specifically focussing on training young people to be part of the performance ensemble. Workshops will include beginner, intermediate and advanced circus skills including juggling, human pyramids, tumbling, mini-tramp, unicycling and trapeze and will also incorporate group work; encouraging young people to form close working relationships with a fellow partner, each helping the other to reach their highest potential.

Young people will work with Artistic Director, Bec Cooen and circus trainer Scott McBurnie, to build a performance work with an overarching narrative structure drawing on the traditions on the characters, traditions and spirit of the agricultural show.

An exciting element to this project is that future Balranald Circus trainers and supervisors will take part in professional development workshops, training this group in teaching base-level circus skills and facilitating future workshops. The Sideshow Project Stage Two will give momentum to the youth circus movement in Balranald, build the capacity of individuals and the community to own and develop their own arts movement and create a performance piece which have a life long after this 2014 residency.

For more information or to get involved please email Creative Producer Claire Harris at claire@outbacktheatre.com or call 03 5881 6260

RAF-combined-with-text1TI ARTS logo black

Introducing GIFTS OF TRANSLATION

/in , , , , /by

photo(10)Gifts of Translation is OTYP’s first project across the border in Victoria and will be led by Artistic Directorate member Richie Hallal in 2013/14.

This wonderful project is a storytelling, theatre, dance and cultural sharing project which will develop leadership, capacity and cohesion within the community of African migrants and build understanding, co-operative relationships and social cohesion with the wider community of Swan Hill.

Phase One (November to December, 2013) focused on working with the African Community to unite people and develop leadership so that all participants can approach Phase Two as a harmonious group. Stories, ideas, concepts and passions will be explored, to establish cultural sharing between the diverse cultures of Africa.

Drama workshops will be primarily targeted to the young people of the African community. Using improvisation, thematic explorations of home, culture, history, identity, happiness, challenges etc scenes will be created from discussions based on these themes.

Rich stories will be shared by the elders and they will guide the creative process, and inform the themes explored in the drama workshops. In formal meetings cultural representatives will share an element of their culture, with the objective of finding similarities, understanding differences and celebrating unity.

Cultural dance is an emotional experience; in the moment of dance, the dancer is connecting physically and spiritually to their country, and translating that connection into movement. Elders will teach the community their dances.

Phase Two kicked of in February and will focus on sharing through the creative process and embracing the wider community into what will now be a sacred space.

Including young people from the wider community, drama workshops will build on the material generated in Phase One and create a play telling the stories of this united group. The play will focus on the personal stories of the participants and the culturally significant customs they practice. Young people will use drama, dance, puppets, digital film and song to tell their story.

African elders and artisans will run workshops with participants from the African community and the wider community making important artefacts from the various African countries. Artefacts will include doilies, masks, baskets, beading, woodcarving, musical instruments, etc. A workshop to exchange the many complex hairstyles of the African community will help break down fear associated with differences in appearances. Artefacts created will form an exhibition accompanying the final performance of the young people’s play and create a collection of diverse and beautiful African artefacts belonging to the entire community of Swan Hill.

In Phase Two, dance workshops will be open to the community. Participants from all parts of the community will come together to share the experience of dance and learn dances, which will form the finale of the performance project.

Staged at Harrison Hall the performance event will include traditional food, an art exhibition of weaving, paintings, and cultural artefacts hand made in workshops. Young people will perform their collaborative play, which will explore language sharing with the audience and conclude with a cultural dance that all audience members can participate.

For more information or to get involved please contact Creative Producer Claire Harris on 03 5881 6260 or Artistic Director Richie Hallal on 0414 881 340

This project has been generously funded by the Department of Social Services through their Diversity and Social Inclusion program, the Besen Foundation and the Australia Council, Community Partnerships. We could not do the great work we do without their support.

Displaying DSS logo_strip black.JPEG

ACO_Horiz_Lock-up_2_col_RGB.jgp_1

Illuminate presents ‘A Town Called Mills Acre’

/in , , , , /by
[wzslider autoplay=”true” info=”true”]Outback Theatre for Young People’s ILLUMINATE project presents a new Australian play featuring 130 Young people from across the Wakool Shire

 

Outback Theatre for Young People’s Illuminate project is connecting the towns of Barham, Wakool and Moulamein with performances over a three-week period, with a new Australian play entitled, A Town Called Mills Acre. This project is designed to bring everyone from the Wakool Shire together, to show the communities what young people can do and have some fun.

 

Through collaboration and conversations with local communities and their young people, professional theatre artists Angela Frost and Richie Hallal have developed a play that captures what lies in the heart of the communities of the Wakool Shire. Featuring a core cast of 5 teenagers and an ensemble cast of over 100 students, A Town Called Mills Acre is the young people’s gift to their community.

 

The main character, Shelby McCoy and her family run an irrigation rice farm. Their livelihood comes under pressure due to changes in water access, environmental concerns, and the growing fear of an uncertain future. The McCoys are forced to question their own lifestyle and the very fabric that holds their community together.

 

This is a heartwarming story of a family paving their way forward through innovation, creativity and courage. Alongside their community they remain resilient, hopeful and connected.

 

Artistic Director Angela Frost says “This play presents a message of hope, and a celebratory presentation by the young people of the Wakool Shire and the bush and the rivers that are our lifeblood.”

 

Richie Hallal foresees that “This play will be an unforgettable experience, don’t miss it”.

Here is some more information:

ATCMA Postcard2

 

Illuminate 2013

/in , , , /by

Illuminate Summary 2012 from Outback Theatre for Young People on Vimeo.

Check out this short documentary of ideas and interviews collected in Illuminate Stage 1, 2012.

Illuminate Stage 2, 2013 is underway! Artists Angela Frost and Richie Hallal will work with 6 students from Braham High school to develop a new original touring theatre show based on local themes and ideas such as small town culture, farming, environmental changes, population decline, creativity and resilience, leadership and responsibility. The new work will showcase and celebrate the extraordinary young people growing up in the Wakool Shire. Primary school students from Barham, Moulamein and Wakool will work alongside the artists throughout the project to develop sequences and scenes for the play that they will perform alongside the core cast when it tours to their town.

Rehearsals will commence in the week of the 20th May.
Proposed dates for touring are 26th August to the 14th September.
For more information contact:
Angela Frost, Artistic Director Illuminate
angela@outbacktheatre.com
0433 911 766

Reverberate Interactive Festival of Sound

/in , , /by

[wzslider autoplay=”true”]

POSTERReverberateEmailOn Saturday May 18th 2013, the streets of Deniliquin’s CBD was brought to life with interactive sound and video works created by young people in collaboration with artists Danielle O’Keefe (Artistic Director, Reverberate), Vic McEwan (Cad Factory), and Jim Coad (Video Architecture).  The event began at Deniliquin’s Waring Gardens, where the audience was guided by an interactive app, engaging with both intimate works and large scale performances, finally arriving back at Waring Gardens for a staged event featuring Deni born garage rock band ‘King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizards’, supported by the experimental sounds of local emerging artists ‘Milk Steak’, Sean McConnell and Kyle Taylor.

‘From the intimate stories of 5 year olds, to dance songs made by teens, Reverberate will rumble and echo through the town culminating in performances from some of the most exciting young bands and performers in the region.’ Danielle O’Keefe, Artistic Director, Reverberate.  

The result of Outback Theatre for Young People’s ‘Reverberate’ project, that has spanned 10 months in 2012 and 2013, this promenade style event will present new compositions that explore the intersection between site, sound, video and performance, creating a new experience of familiar sites for audiences.

Fore more information contact:

admin@outbacktheatre.com

03 5881 6260

Dreamings film

/in , , , /by

DREAMINGS

Outback Theatre for Young People’s, Alive and Kicking 2011, presents ‘Dreamings’, made in collaboration with young people from Hay, NSW.

dreamings upload from Outback Theatre for Young People on Vimeo.

 

Junkyard Hustle

/in , , , /by
Junkyard Hustle

Junkyard Hustle is a short silent film shot at the Hay Gaol Museum, NSW, in collaboration with Year 9/10 students of Hay War Memorial High School. This film was one of many outcomes of Outback Theatre for Young People’s ‘Alive and Kicking’ Project.

Annual Theatre Sports Championships Fundraiser

/in , , /by

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND….

The Theatre Sports Championships Fundraiser will be held at the Deniliquin Club on Saturday 6th April from 6.30pm and is open to all.

For those of you who attended last year you will know how much fun it is!

Theatre Sports is a fast-paced form of improvisational theatre that uses competition and audience suggestion for dramatic effect. The results are often hilarious and always entertaining.

Teams are given situations, often suggested by the audience, and are marked on how well they adhere to the rules of the game, entertainment value and presentation.

This is a fundraiser for OTYP so come along and support us as well as have more than a few laughs. There will be food, merchandise for sale and entertainment on the night.

Tickets are $10 for adults,
$5 for school age children
and pre-school children are free.

For more information email Danielle O’Keefe: Danielle@outbacktheatre.com

DOWNLOAD Theatre Sports Flyer

Peter Seaman

/in , , /by

ALUMNI
Peter Seaman

AGE: Twenty Two-ish.

BORN: Hay, in rural NSW. We have a Wikipedia article!
CURRENTLY LIVES: In an apartment I euphemistically refer to as my Batcave (it is slightly better lit than an actual cave), located in north-ish Sydney. Why not swing by for some olives and perhaps a game of Team Fortress?

Since Peter’s time with OTYP, he has “aspired to become a University Professor, after abandoning his initial choice of Batman due to lack of motivation”. Towards this aim, he has achieved an honours degree in politics and is currently undertaking post-graduate study in history.”

He was involved in several productions in 2005/6 including: The Blowfly Olympics, Rewind and Page To Stage. Peter said that his involvement with Outback Theatre shaped a lot of fond memories…

 “Numerous seminal moments from my formative years were a consequence of Outback Theatre, including my first kiss (which, to my surprise was not at all like they are in a romantic comedy.) Yet, the whole experience was entertaining and engaging, offering opportunities for travel and adventure with interesting people, many of whom are still my Facebook friends.”

 Currently: “Beyond attempting to look like Ryan Gosling, hastily trying to conclude an Honours thesis for Politics at Macquarie University – just as long as the European Union doesn’t collapse within the next month I won’t need to change my argument. Eventually, I plan on completing a PhD in the field of history, a qualification which will among other things enable me to fight Daleks and lecture undergraduates.

I think they’re probably my big achievements, there have been some smaller ones such as when I discussed domestic policy with Kevin Rudd on a street corner, made a really nice lasagne served on a bed of chicken for my friends and figured out that house Scotch tastes exactly the same as the pricey stuff in a cocktail.

Outback theatre, beyond being a worthwhile social endeavour, was fundamentally an exercise in communication, one that assisted in the development of my skills in this area.”

Richie Hallal

/in , , , , , /by

Illuminate 2013…

Richie Hallal is a theatre maker who dedicates his skills as a researcher, writer, director and actor to make new theatre work with a diverse range of communities across Australia.

As a committed Community Cultural Development Practitioner, Richie has had a wild adventure over the past ten years.  He’s worked with over twenty-five communities; from Middle Eastern Youth in Western Sydney to homeless people in Melbourne’s CBD. He’s also worked in the Mornington Peninsula with new migrants, farming communities in outback New South Wales and Tasmania; and on the streets of St Kilda.  Richie brings enormous enthusiasm and joy to his work and as a leader he provides a creative space where community members can come together to share a uniting and energising experience of making and performing theatre.

“I feel like last year was just a taster for what will come this year with Illuminate. I can’t wait to get started on the 2013 project which will bring together young people from across the Wakool Shire to make one epic touring show together,” Richie said.

 

We acknowledge the First Nations peoples as the traditional custodians of the lands and waters where we live, learn and work, and we pay our respects to Elders past and present.