A sector conversation hosted by Theatre Network NSW and Casula Powerhouse
1-3pm, WEDNESDAY 12 JULY @ Casula Powerhouse
As part of the Way Out West Festival for Children, Theatre Network NSW is hosting a get together for NSW based practitioners.
Theatre makers, artists, producers, presenters, policy makers are invited to attend this get together and be part of an important conversation about the future of new theatre work in our state.
This opportunity for those working (or looking to work in this area) will allow us to explore ideas and concerns around making theatre work for young audiences. We ask:
What is the current situation in NSW around new theatre work for young audiences? Because, if young audiences are our future how are we developing new theatre work for them and with them. What is the status or outlook of such work in NSW? Where is it ahead? Where does it need action? Where are the opportunities and connections?
This facilitated and open conversation of colleagues will be kicked-off by:
- Michael Campbell: Executive Director, Westwords
- Fraser Corfield: Director, ATYP
- Gemma Pepper: Producer, Side Pony Productions
- Amy Hardingham, Independent Theatre Maker/Creative Producer & Sydney Story Factory
- Natalie Rose: Creative Producer, Shopfront Contemporary Arts Centre
This is a free event, bookings are required to ChidiacC@liverpool.nsw.gov.au
1-3pm, WEDNESDAY 12 JULY @ Casula Powerhouse
Theatre (Level One) — Casula Powerhouse — 1 Powerhouse Road Casula
By car, enter via Shepherd Street from Speed Street, Liverpool or Click here for transport and directions
Way Out West Festival 2017 12-15 July
The Way Out West (WOW) festival began in 2011 as a contemporary performance and art festival for children. It is a place where children and families can enjoy the arts together, creating unique experiences.
The WOW Festival presents an awesome array of theatre, dance, early childhood activities, music, film and hands-on activities at the Casula Powerhouse. The program is designed to inspire, excite and surprise children, young people and their families.
The WOW Festival believes passionately that every child should have the right to access exciting and original creative experiences, regardless of who they are or where they come from. WOW also believes that the arts should be FOR children as well as BY children.
The festival dates are 12-15 July 2017
For more information about the festival go to www.wayoutwestfestival.com.au
For more information about TNN go to www.tnn.org.au
Panellist Bios
Michael Campbell (Executive Director) Westwords
Michael has worked freelance as an arts consultant and strategist, editor, writer, events manager, director and choreographer. He was the Festival Director for the Brisbane Writers Festival (2006-2009), and the literary events program at gleebooks in Sydney for 4 years (2002-2005). He is a Board member of Currency House, and edited Keith Bain on Movement and Keith Bain: The Principles of Movement for Currency House and Oberon Books (UK).
Michael has also worked across the arts in various other capacities including as an artistic director, director, choreographer, artistic co-ordinator, events manager, librettist, writer, editor, and dancer. He was a principal dancer with West Australian Ballet, Queensland Ballet and Oper der Stadt Köln, and has worked for companies including Sydney Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare Company and Griffin Theatre Company. He has worked for Opera Australia on works including Merry Widow, Handa on Sydney Harbour: Carmen and La Traviata, La Forza del Destino and Salome. In 2004 he directed the opera Madeline Lee, which he also co-wrote. Recent projects include directing Aunt Agony (New Theatre) and Equus (Nomadic Artists); presenting the TV show For the Love of Books (Studio TV – Foxtel); judging the 2013, 2014, 2016 WA Premier’s Book Awards; and writing and directing (she had) immortal longings (Australian Shakespeare Festival, Hobart). Recently he directed The Cunning Little Vixen for Pacific Opera and an outdoor performance of Twelfth Night.
Fraser Corfield ( Director) ATYP
Fraser is the Artistic Director of ATYP. He has been the Artistic Director of Backbone Youth Arts (Qld, 2005-2008) and Riverland Youth Theatre (SA, 2001-2003) and the Associate Director of La Boite Theatre (1997-2000), Queensland’s second largest professional theatre company.
As an Artistic Director Fraser has been a passionate advocate for new work, commissioning and producing over twenty new plays and productions. Highlights include Australia’s first major opera composed for young people, Dirty Apple(Backbone Youth Arts/Opera Queensland/Queensland Music Festival) the new Australian musical Paradise (Backbone Youth Arts, published by Playlab Press) and AWGIE award winning I Said a Word by Stephen House (Riverland Youth Theatre). He has directed over thirty productions for professional, independent and youth theatre companies around Australia. For ATYP he has directed The Laramie Project, Rio Saki and Other Falling Debris, Desiree Din and the Red Forest, Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs, and The Tender Age.
Fraser has sat on advisory bodies at all levels of the industry including as a peer assessor for Arts Queensland (2009 -), the Theatre Board of the Australia Council for the Arts (2008–2011), Company Associate of Queensland Theatre Company (2006–2008), a board member for Young People in the Arts Australia (2007–2009), Chair of the selection committee for the Youth Arts Mentoring Program (YAMP) (2006–2008), a board member of Metro Arts (2005–2008) and part of the selection panel for Queensland’s theatre industry awards. He was one of seven Australians selected for the ‘Next Generation’ international collaboration which ran from the 2008 to the 2011 ASSITEJ World Congress and Performing Arts Festivals. Fraser has been ATYP Artistic Director since February, 2009.
Amy Hardingham, Independent Theatre Maker/Creative Producer & Sydney Story Factory
Amy is a theatre maker and creative producer with a background in working with young people and regional communities to share stories and experiences through collaborative, inclusive theatre making processes and engaging, contemporary performance outcomes. She has collaborated with a wide range of artists (young and old, professional and non-professional), to create work in Newcastle, the Hunter and Central Coast as Artistic Director of Tantrum Youth Arts (2013-16), Palm Island QLD and Tennant Creek NT as Regional Manager at atyp (2008-09), and across South Western NSW as Artistic Director of Outback Theatre for Young People (2004-08). Amy has also worked as an Associate Producer with arts and social change organisation BighArt on the Namatjira Project, and is currently working at the Sydney Story Factory in Redfern. In 2009, Amy was honoured to be a recipient of The Kirk Robson Award from the Australia Council for the Arts, which recognises outstanding leadership from young artists and arts professionals working in community arts and cultural development.
Gemma Pepper (Creative Producer) Side Pony Productions
Gemma works across Australia on a diverse spectrum of creative projects; including community cultural development, theatre and festivals, policy and program development.
Gemma has extensive experience in arts policy and funding program development through her work with the WA Department of Culture and the Arts and the Australia Council for the Arts. Gemma’s experience in this field has led to numerous research and industry analysis consultancies at state and federal levels.
Gemma is an experienced producer and creative producer having previously worked for many of Australia’s most innovative performance makers and events including Stalker & Marrugeku (Associate Producer), Performing Lines (Producer), Canberra’s Enlighten festival 2011-2014 (Creative Producer), Sydney Dance Companies Big Dance (Australia) 2014 (Producer) and Erth Visual & Physical (Executive Producer). Gemma is currently Producer for Side Pony Productions and is working to develop new performance/tech projects.
Natalie Rose (Creative Producer) Shopfront Contemporary Arts Centre
Natalie Rose is one third of the performance collective post, Creative Producer at Shopfront Arts Co-op and has been involved in Australia’s Contemporary Arts scene for the past 17 years. She has a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Sydney, Nepean and has previously trained at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists and Urban Theatre Projects as a member of their ensembles. Her work has been seen nationally and internationally at Sydney Festival, Belvoir Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Arts House (Melbourne), Cambridge Junction (UK) and Brisbane Powerhouse, to name a few. Nat has facilitated workshops for the past 17 years for young people and emerging artists with and without disability, she is currently facilitating a youth ensemble at Blacktown Arts Centre, and directing Shopfront’s Harness Ensemble in collaboration with ATYP. Nat is committed to creating work with young people, emerging artists and community members wanting to have a voice and share their stories with audiences. In 2017, with post, Nat has premiered Ich Nibber Dibber in Sydney Festival, We Are The World with Country Arts SA in Mt Gambier as well as touring their 2014 Sydney Festival work Oedipus Schmoedipus to South America.
Rosie Dennis (Artistic Director/CEO) Urban Theatre Projects
Rosie Dennis creates work renowned for distinct beauty, universality and currency. Prior to joining UTP Rosie’s work was presented at more than 25 festivals across Central Europe, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand. She has received a number of new work commissions including: Carriageworks, Channel 4 (UK), ABC TV Arnolfini (UK) and Mousonturn Kunstlerhaus (GER). Most recently she has directed two documentaries, Bre & Back and One Day For Peace.
Leonard Dennis-Zajkowski
My name is Leonard Dennis-Zajkowski.
I am in year 2.
I am 7 years old.
I like the colour red.
I like eating strawberries and fried rice.
Sometimes I sneak honey out of the honey jar at night.
I also like playing hide and seek and tip.