Beyond The Limits – regional theatre in the national landscape

This forum will ask us to consider our own practices and the role we play in developing not only regional theatre but how regional theatre can transform the national performing arts industry. Keynote speaker Julian Louis, Artistic Director of NORPA will be joined by panellists: Stephen Champion (Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre), Scott Howie (Eastern Riverina Arts), Lindy Hume (Opera Queensland), Lily Shearer (Moogahlin Performing Arts); and Sarah Parsons (Outback Theatre for Young People). The presentation will be a  forum-style Panel/Presentation with Q&A, break-out sessions and action planning.

What to Expect?

Beyond the Limits – regional theatre in the national landscape is Theatre Network NSW’s (TNN) regional theatre forum: A unique opportunity for both presenters and participants to come together to focus on the expectations and demands of contemporary performing arts practice. Julian Louis’ keynote combines his own insights into creating adventurous, devised theatre works with his desire to pursue stories and theatre making from a wider, bigger Australia. “Our theatre ecology needs to expand outside the metro focus. We need a bigger sky thinking in regards to the future of theatre making in Australia. Inspired by stories, artists, diverse communities and the natural world that exist right across the country. Regional Australia is not somewhere to merely tour ‘culture’ to, but a place to explore and create unique theatre from.”

Joining Julian are panellists Stephen Champion (Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre), Scott Howie (Easter Riverina Arts), Lindy Hume (Opera Queensland), Lily Shearer (Moogahlin Performing Arts); and Sarah Parsons (Outback Theatre for Young People) who will carefully explore where regional performance making, our venues, communities, and careers fit in the Australian and broader context. Jane Kreis, Director of Theatre Network NSW will facilitate the Q&A, case studies, and break-out sessions that emerge from this discussion and work with audience and presenters to draw out key themes, concerns and positive actions for us all to consider and develop long after we have returned to our own communities and work places.

This forum has been developed for those working in and across contemporary performance making, to connect and consider the complex circumstances that exist around performing arts practice in regional communities. For most regional performance makers, their work is not a stepping stone to ‘greater things’ in metropolitan Australia, it is the place where great things are happening. This forum will examine what we might do individually and collectively to increase career opportunities, resources, regional communities telling regional stories to national audiences, and diversity in theatre making and venues.
This event welcomes you to bring your own insights and experiences to the forum. We know that regional performing arts companies and makers have big roles to play in their diverse communities as well as the Australian performance landscape. How are we gearing up for future growth and changes in communities, how are we developing places rather than just ‘art’, and how can we develop the resources to do this? Over 3 hours this will be an insightful and rigorous discussion!

Registration

To register for ARTLANDS DUBBO 2016 visit the online registration page here.

To register your EOI to attend Beyond the Limits – regional theatre in the national landscape please email Jane Kreis, Director, Theatre Network NSW on director@tnn.org.au or contact us.

More information is available for TNN Associate Members through the TNN E-News, so join today and keep up to date with theatre goings-on in NSW!