FREE | #12 - JAN/FEB 2019
and… Action! TOWNSVILLE’S FILM INDUSTRY IS ROLLING
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Dig deeper into the world of Shrek
50 & FABULOUS
Townsville Little Theatre celebrates half a century
NT! FREE EVE
D AY SATU RD AY 26 JA NU AR Y JEZZINE BARRACKS 6.45am Aussie Fun Run 8am Free Aussie Breakfast
(first 500 people)
8.30am Australia Day Awards Ceremony 10am Flag Raising Ceremony 11am Citizenship Ceremony
GREAT AUSTRALIAN BITES Strand Park 12-4pm Multicultural food stalls | Giant kite display Live entertainment | Games on the beach whatson.townsville.qld.gov.au #australiadayqld #greataustralianbites
The 2019 Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony and 2019 Great Australian Bites are presented by the Townsville City Council in partnership with the Queensland Government. The Australia Day Flag Raising Ceremony and Great Australian Bites are assisted by the Australian Government through the National Australia Day Council.
ThisISSUE 07 ART
08 FILM
10 MUSIC Publisher’s information
11 THEATRE
16 CREATIVES
17 NEXT-GEN
CONNECT P: 07 4431 0151 A: PO Box 1935 Townsville QLD 4810 www.huxley.press fI CONTENT Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Mathiesen sarah@huxley.press Journalist & Online Content Creator: Nathan Toll nathan@huxley.press CREATIVE Design & Layout: Kieran Thomas, Harshmellow Media + Design PHOTOGRAPHER: Sarah Elsley, Sarah Joy Photography ADVERTISING Account Manager: Sarah Mathiesen, sarah@harshmellow.com.au CONTRIBUTORS Suzi Babicci & Sonia Warrell. ON THE COVER Madeleine Dyer of Mad Dan Productions
08 | MAKING FILMS LIKE MAD 14 | HOMELESS, HOPEFUL & HALF WAY TO A HUNDRED
THANKYOU To the Drill Hall Studio for the lend of their space for our cover shoot and to all of our advertisers who support us to support North Queensland’s artists & creatives. Copyright HUXLEY Press 2019.
All rights reserved. All material in HUXLEY is wholly copyright and reproduction without the written permission of the Publisher is strictly forbidden. Neither this publication nor its contents constitute an explicit endorsement by HUXLEY Press of the products or services mentioned in advertising or editorial. While every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, HUXLEY Press will not be held liable for any errors or omissions. We’ve done our best to appropriately credit all photos, images and written contributions. In some instances, photos are supplied to us by those who appear editorially with their permission to use said images. The views contained within this magazine are the views of those expressing them and HUXLEY Press and its individual representatives do not necessarily share these views.
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Suzi Babicci Artist in Focus
Local sculptor Suzi Babicci first became interested in art during a youth exchange trip when she was 18 years old. “I liked to draw still life when I was at school, but during this year overseas I discovered the paintings and sculptures of the European masters and my love of art grew from there. I studied several years in a language degree after that before studying art in Sydney.” Suzi’s latest body of work, The Logic of Dreams, is a series of bewitching pastel fungi delicately sculpted and painted to appear organic, psychedelic and whimsical all at once. “I tend to gravitate towards sculpture and installation work, I find the presence that an object has is quite compelling,” said Suzi of her preferred medium. “There is a different sort of impact that a physical object has in time and space compared to an image and I think I am quite drawn to that.
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HUXLEY.PRESS // ARTIST IN FOCUS
“Fungi are like little gems when you find them on a walk in the rain forest. Perhaps it is something about their hidden nature, as if it is a treasure hunt, and in fact they only present themselves under the right conditions. However, their presence is there, even when there are no fruiting bodies (visible fungi) – a network of threads called mycelium lies underground and is expanding, absorbing nutrients and reacting to different conditions. In theory, it can grow indefinitely.” Beyond the humble fungi, Suzi finds further inspiration in reading, music and the natural environment, particularly the ocean and rainforest. “You will often find my nose in ceramics and object journals, enjoying the work others are making and reading their ideas. I also like to read digestible science journals and am constantly amazed by advances in science and
the impacts that this can achieve.” Suzi recently moved into Murky Waters Studio, Townsville’s newest art space, which is positioned along the beautiful Ross River in the CBD. “Earlier this year a group of young artists decided to get together and find a space to create a group studio. Our aim is to enable a supportive working environment, to share the space and collaborate to achieve vibrant and active role in the arts community. It is really important to support the local and younger arts community, and together we can achieve a lot more.” WHERE TO FIND SUZI’S WORK: Murky Waters Studio (by appointment) Insta: @perpendiculardrops
HUXLEY.PRESS \\ ARTIST IN FOCUS
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Editor’s Letter Close your eyes. Take a deep breath. Jump in.
and a lasting impression for visitors, and the economic impact for our region will be substantial.
That’s more or less the feeling in the HUXLEY office as we stand at the top end of what is already shaping up to be a HUUUUGE year on the Arts front.
Yes - 2019 will be a big’un. Truth be told, we’re exhausted just thinking about all the late nights, sore feet and big smiles we can look forward to.
Townsville has always been tremendously lucky to have so many passionate, talented people driving their own art forms forward, although I’m not sure its ever been as outwardly obvious as its about to be. This year promises the return of some long-running, much-loved music events like the Palm Creek Folk Festival and the Australian Festival of Chamber Music; an absolute cracker of a local theatre season touting shows like Picnic at Hanging Rock, Jesus Christ Superstar and Pygmalion; some major visual arts events like Strand Ephemera and Pop
With so much on (and that’s just the locally-produced events), it’s never been more important that we get out and get behind the local artists, arts workers and volunteers who pour so much of themselves into making sure we have such a vibrant art-scape. I’ve written ad nauseum about why we should all do this, but essentially it boils down to five words: “Use it or lose it”. If we want a wide variety of things to do in Townsville, we need to show it by voting with our feet and putting bums on seats. Rather than recap that conversation again, our HUXLEY team would
If we want a wide variety of things to do in Townsville, we need to show it by voting with our feet and putting bums on seats. Up North Queensland (PUNQ); and ongoing opportunities for creatives including Dance Tropics Dance, Mulkadee and more. And that’s to say nothing of the arrival of the Northern Australian Festival of the Arts (NAFA), of which we caught wind just before going to print on this issue. NAFA promises to be Northern Australia’s answer to the Adelaide Fringe Festival - an extended celebration of visual and performing arts featuring local, national and international acts. If you indulged in the amazing program dished up during Festival 2018 last year, you’ll have some idea of what a treat we’re in for. Events like this are hugely important to strengthening the artistic and cultural fabric of our region. They give audiences a chance to engage in art forms they mightn’t otherwise seek out, they give artists and performers a chance to hone new skills and network with their peers, they create a swell of pride for locals
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HUXLEY.PRESS // EDITOR'S LETTER
instead like to lay down a challenge to help you tick off a few more arts and cultural experiences in 2019. You can complete the challenge at your own pace – go slow and steady throughout the year or get it all knocked over as quickly as possible. You may even find you love something you didn’t know existed! We’ve included the challenge on the opposite page and we’d love to see how you’re tracking, so please share your photos using #getculturedTSV. (We may even have a prize or two for our favourites) Have a wonderful New Year and enjoy discovering all our region has to offer!
Sarah Mathiesen Editor in Chief
GetCULTUREDCHALLENGE Discover the exciting artistic and creative experiences across our region and see how many of these you can tick off in 2019.
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5.
Visit a gallery you’ve never been to before
See a musical
See a local band
Wear an outfit made locally
Attend a film festival
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See a play
Have a laugh at a local comedy night
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Buy an album by a local musician
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Walk the Street Art Trail
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Go to a classical music performance
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Take a dance class
Attend an Arts workshop
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Read a book or poem by a local writer
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Join the Full Moon Drum Circle
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Spend a day painting or drawing
Go to a classic film night
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Talk to a market stall holder
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Attend an exhibition opening
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See a tribute band
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Give a gift made locally
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Attend a local art or music festival
Go to a dance performance
Take a photo from a different perspective
Find a new piece of street art
Vote in the Strand Ephemera
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Play an instrument
Wear a costume
Attend a performance not in a theatre
See something based on a true story
Thank a volunteer
Check out page 24 for some ideas on where to get started and, if you do take on this challenge, we’d love to hear how it turned out!
Be sure to share your photos using #getculturedTSV Go on, get cultured! HUXLEY.PRESS \\ OUR READERS
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Perc Tucker Regional Gallery Cnr. Denham and Flinders St Townsville QLD 4810 Mon - Fri: 10am - 5pm Sat - Sun: 10am - 2pm
Image: Euan Macleod, Jim Cobb at factory [detail] 1998 oil on canvas 124.4 x 100.2 cm
Perc Tucker Regional Gallery | Now until 20 January 2019
ART CLOWNING AROUND Umbrella Studio contemporary arts will reopen after the summer break showcasing two new exhibitions – with the Gallery’s main space paying homage to the absurdity and societal resistance of clowns. Sad Clown, Mad Clown, Bad Clown by University of Sydney Professor, Dr Adam Geczy, includes multimedia works that portray clowns as a release from the mayhem of the modern world. “It has become more relevant to use clowns as a release for the world – they act as a reflection of the times you feel powerless and a natural metaphor for the ludicrous situations humans find ourselves in these days,” Dr Geczy said. “I’ve been interested in the Commedia dell’arte style in my early years as an artist and more
recently through my studies into artificial bodies and cyborgs, have found their origins could possibly be through Commedia’s mechanical movements and characteristics.”
The exhibition showcases the work of students from each of the classes and workshops held at the gallery in 2018, in areas ranging from charcoal and watercolour to sculpture and glasswork. Mates4Mates began classes for their members at the Drill Hall several years ago as a means of rehabilitation and socialisation, with several of their participants entering work in the exhibition. Paul Scarr has been attending the classes since medically separating from his Defence career in 2016. “I joined the army as an Electrical Fitter Apprentice in 1989. When I finished my Defence career, I attached to the Soldier Recovery Centre and we visited Mates4Mates each week to play wheelchair basketball,” Paul said. “I soon realised it offered an outlet to paint outside home too; a chance to sit down, have a brew, meet someone new or reminisce with someone old, and engage or disengage depending how I feel on the day.
image // by Dr Adam Geczy
The exhibition will include video, illustration and sculpture installations. “Clowns embody an age where idiocy is rewarded, when platitudes are lauded, and for word disordered. At the same time, he is the figure of resistance, as one who fails to crumble through the force of his own whimsy and hysteria, who creates his own world that holds a mirror to absurdity and ignorance.” Catch Dr Adam Geczy’s Sad Clown, Mad Clown, Bad Clown at Umbrella Studio contemporary arts from 25 January – 24 February.
MATES MOVING FORWARD Visual art students of all ages and skill levels will be showcased in the Drill Hall Studio’s first group exhibition of 2019, Time Well Spent.
| NATHAN TOLL
“I struggled to lower my anxiety levels and liked to draw, so decided to give the art classes a go. Walking up the stairs to the Drill Hall for the first time was like entering a new world, the room you always wanted but never had. There was something new to find in every corner, so I thought it was great even before I met any of the slightly eccentric resident artists.” Since starting classes in 2016, Paul has returned for each new workshop. “I have felt like I have no purpose or self-worth since leaving the army. This places a lot of stress on my little family unit. But when you’re focusing on what you draw, sculpt or paint, you have respite from other consuming thoughts.
| NATHAN TOLL artwork. There is a real therapy in art no one can deny; you don’t even need to be good at it.” Catch the group exhibition Time Well Spent at the Drill Hall Studio from 25 January – 14 February. If you are a current or ex-serving member of the Australian Defence Force and are interested in participating in future workshops, contact Mates4Mates or the Drill Hall Studio. If you or someone you know needs help call Lifeline on 13 11 14. image // Drill Hall participants
“I cannot properly put into words what Mates4Mates and the Drill Hall mean to me. It gets me outside and gives me something to look forward to each week. How do you possibly say to your friends and family that you might not even be here today, if not for the safe kind words from a stranger that kept you going? Hopefully in the future I can be that stranger to another veteran that needs it. “We are students, so the social connection with other veterans may be more important than the
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Making Films Like Mad | NATHAN TOLL
FILM
“When I graduated from high school in Townsville, I didn’t know I could be a filmmaker. There were no resources, no courses, and no people I could be mentored by. I had to either go somewhere else or become a performer, which is what I did initially. “What I would love is for young people here who – through me or other people in the region – are able to realise a passion for their creative field sooner, build their craft, build their brand, and be able to do it locally.”
M
adeleine ‘Mads’ Dyer studied Pharmacy. She also studied Psychology. But, to be perfectly honest, she couldn’t give a damn about either. “I had no idea what I wanted to do after high school, so was doing the ‘smart thing’ and working towards getting one of those business-y jobs that all the older generations tell you to get,” Mads said. “I tried each of those degrees for a while before I realised, ‘Hang on a sec, I don’t like this, and don’t understand these people or this world.’ “I remember being given a camcorder by my English teacher in grade 10 and I was straight on it making a film; I had a flair for it but didn’t have support or the understanding I could upskill in that and make a career of it. It definitely took the long route for me to realise there was a future in it, and for that to happen I had to move South.” Mads studied acting at the University of Southern Queensland in Toowoomba where she met creative partner, Dan Mulvihill. “Toowoomba, like Townsville, is still quite regional so even there I knew it was an uphill battle. But that made us stronger too: we realised we had to be well-rounded artists and had a lot of onus put on us to create our own work. Dan and I both got the bug for creating and producing, and realised we would be great partners in crime. “From there we moved to Sydney and took on as many acting roles as we could get, because the degree really pushed us towards an acting career, and we put in a lot of time then to get as much experience as possible working and studying under some wonderful
mentors. I went to Film School while we were in Sydney which was where Dan and I both started getting serious about making a go of this as a career, and where we realised behind the scenes is an amazing place to be.” Mads and Dan established their company MadDan Productions to create their own opportunities in producing content unique, relevant content. Their envelope-pushing web-series, Sexy Herpes has been picked up by 9GO nationwide and Virgin Australia inflight entertainment, and earned a list of international award nods longer than the length of an episode (including Best Scriptwriting at NZ Web Fest 2018 and Best Sitcom at the Minnesota Web Fest 2018). But it was the cultivation of skills and talent behind the scenes that Mads and Dan focused on. “What we were starting to do as MadDan grew was create these families or communities with every project we did, giving students work experience but also uncovering a lot of brilliant new talent. That was also the time when we realised a majority of our work had its own regional brand which is something we decided to focus on – and the best way to do that was to move up here, and live and breathe Townsville. “We love the idea of people wanting to tell their own stories and being empowered to do that. We had to learn the hard way how to do it ourselves, but there have been people who did go above and beyond to give us that chance and now we’re looking to repay the favour.” Despite the recent move North, MadDan has hit the ground running with two projects currently on the boil.
“The first is a series called Blood Sisters. The series is about three girls put in a very difficult situation after being confronted at work with a sexual assault. They defend themselves but in doing so, this guy – a notable member of the community – dies at their hands and they don’t think they’ll be believed, so just run.” Blood Sisters is being backed with Development Funding from Screen Queensland and Screen Australia, as well as more than $100,000 from private investors eager to see the series brought to life. “Hopefully a distributor will also come on board and umbrella the project. But we’ll definitely have a sizeable budget to do what we like, we’ve already had some great sessions with writers’ rooms, and should get production underway mid-2019,” Mads said. “We’re also part of a series that’s a joint initiative of SBS and Screen Queensland, taking a cool slant telling various cultural stories about monsters from different communities – and in doing so – revealing that one country’s monsters aren’t so different to others.” That series will be shot in Townsville this January. “Getting funding and approval for these initiatives means we’re putting our money where our mouth is: hitting the ground and getting locals work in the industry.” The growing list of local MadDan projects is pushing the potential for continual film work in the Townsville region closer to a reality. “With each successful project, you have more people emerge from the woodwork knowing who you
are and wanting to be involved, so we’re hoping for a lot more of that into the future and drawing more support from around Townsville rather than other places. “Dan and I have always been very mindful as we’re doing projects that we’re finding outcomes for locals to expand their horizons while exploring their skills and creativity in tandem with us. That’s why the funding aspects of our projects aren’t only geared towards production but towards facilitation of workshops for locals in areas from acting and script writing through to scene framing, makeup and film production. Our business model is to get projects up and running that allow locals to gain more knowledge in the industry so it has the opportunity to flourish here.” Despite content all being created locally, Mads sees an international future on the cards. “I feel like our trajectory is pointing in a really good direction; our craft is there, the people we’re working with are really accomplished, we already have a few runs under our belts with previous series, and so far are going from strength to strength. “We want MadDan to be on the map as content creators that are fierce, transgressive, and producing powerful messages. “We love comedy so would love to get a series up with a major network either here or overseas – but also don’t want to abandon Australia. We’ve got so much going on here and the world is really starting to look Down Under, especially in terms of the US and UK. We’ve got something really cool here, but we have to keep our people here to make it happen.”
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MUSIC NOT TOO HOT, NOT TOO COLD - LUKE WARM
| SARAH MATHIESEN
Townsville will welcome a new breed of music Festival this February when the Lukewarm Music Festival simmers into Quayside Terminal.
James. “On the back of that we tried doing some smaller events, but they didn’t work all that well, so instead I’ve formulated an idea for a new music festival.”
The semi-homegrown event is the brainchild of Townsville uni student James Slade and business partners in Sydney and New Zealand, and will deliver a line up that promises plenty of variety including headliners Carmada and Kilter, Daft Punk tribute act Discovery, singersongwriter Ezra James, rapper and Hottest 100 nominee Dallas Woods and more.
And it seems to be a winning formulation, with the early release tickets for Lukewarm selling out before the line-up had been announced.
James said he and his fellow promoters had found success collaborating on similar events on a smaller scale. “We did our first event at the Ivy in Sydney and had 1,600 people show up. Then we did a secret warehouse party in Brisbane, and in Melbourne we did a big one with Carmada,” said
image // Discovery, Australia's Daft Punk Tribute
MUSICAL MAGIC The magic of Marina Prior and David Hobson will take over Townsville early this March, when they launch their 40-date national tour at the Civic Theatre. The pair, renowned for their long list of award-winning roles in Australian opera and musical theatre, will perform a range of classics from their most memorable productions including The Phantom of the Opera, Les Miserables and La Boheme, as well as hits from their many albums. Marina said beginning in Townsville and spending a majority of this tour in regional areas was important to her and David. “It’s great we have the opportunity to take this show to the people in areas of the country we may not have been able to get to with
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HUXLEY.PRESS // MUSIC
| NATHAN TOLL
some of the bigger productions we perform in,” Marina said. The 2019 tour comes off the back of a 60-stop tour throughout 2017 and 2018. “The previous tour was so rewarding, refreshing and fun, we can’t wait to do it all again in 2019. It’s a thrill and an honour to be Australian artists performing in our own backyard supported by Australian fans.” “With this show, it’s like you’re in our living room and we’re in yours, singing both your and our favourite songs with a few funny career stories thrown in,” said David. Catch Marina Prior and David Hobson’s The 2 of Us tour at the Civic Theatre on 8 March, with tickets available through What’s On Townsville.
While James and his collaborators are of course keen for the event to be a big one, he says success won’t be measured solely by ticket sales. “I’m not interested in making money, it’s about doing something awesome that people love being part of. Like Groovin the Moo, they came here in the first year and did this smaller Festival and it’s just grown into this big thing that sells out every year.” Lukewarm Music Festival will be held at Quayside Terminal on 16 February.
RISE OF THE WOLF You may know Garth ‘Smizdog’ Jankovich as the towering figure emblazoned on the brick wall of the City Lane Post Office Car Park. To many, Garth is one of the most instrumental figures in the development of Townsville’s burgeoning Street Art movement. But he’s also one of the founding fathers of Townsville’s hip hop scene, kicking around with longtime co-conspirator and Realm City bandmate Robbie Gore long before hip hop entered the local mainstream. Garth, Robbie and the rest of the Realm City crew have recently released their latest album, Rise of the Wolf. Garth said the album is a result of the good and bad energy they’ve felt as a band since mid-2015 “We’ve undergone line-up changes, disappointments, times when we felt like just giving up, the feeling that our message wasn’t getting
| SM
through, and collaborations with other musicians that in the end just didn’t work out,” he said. “Towards the end of 2017, Robbie and I just decided to push on and finish everything that we’d started. We acquired our new vocalist, Tiana, and things just got better and better for our group. We think this is our best production yet.” Garth said Rise of the Wolf is a deeper exploration of Realm City’s previous work. “Mid-way through 2017 we banged out about 10 shows that were high energy-fuelled and fun. We decided to try and keep that vibe in the studio, and the result is Rise of the Wolf. We’ve brought the ‘Boom Bap’ Hip Hop back... and people are responding.” Realm City’s Rise of the Wolf is available on all major music platforms worldwide. Keep an eye on Realm City’s Facebook page for upcoming tour details.
THEATRE LISTEN IN
| SARAH MATHIESEN
Passing on stories through language and through performance is innately what makes us human... When was the last time you sat and listened to a story? I mean really listened? Without texting? Or scrolling through social media? Or filing your tax return? Or your nails? Just you, a storyteller and total immersion in the events unfolding before your very eyes and ears?
a pub in a rural Irish town. The arrival of a young woman spurs the locals to engage in a contest of one-upmanship as they take turns telling ghost stories to impress the new-comer. Eventually the fanciful stories make way for more personal ones, ultimately highlighting the connective power of storytelling.
A desire to champion the core story, rather than all its packaging, is what drove Terri Brabon to select The Weir as Theatre iNQ’s first offering in their 2019 Season.
“When you say what it’s about, it doesn’t sound like much at all, but it’s the theatre equivalent of sitting around a campfire telling ghost stories,” Terri said. “The audience is such a part of the listening. It is the magic of storytelling in one person’s voice that the audience must then colour in for themselves. There’s no spooks … but the writing is so descriptive that anyone with an imagination can paint it all in.
“I’ve wanted to do [this show] for a long time,” said Terri. “It’s just something that focuses on acting: that isn’t about spectacle, that isn’t about filling a park or big sword fights or dance pieces, it’s just something small and intimate.”
“When I first read it, I had to put it down because I was so scared! I was reading this all alone at home in my bed and I just got to the point where I thought ‘OK, I can’t read this any more I’m getting really scared’.”
The Weir, by Irish playwright Conor McPherson, takes place in
While the stories themselves are entertaining, Terri said the
In a world of quick-fire entertainment where speed and spectacle have somehow grown to be lauded over structure and style, mindless content consumption has become the norm.
connective power of those stories is what makes The Weir so special. “Passing on stories through language and through performance is innately what makes us human and what makes us different from other animals,” she said. “Every other thing that we have created, or do, or think we invented; we just copy from nature. There isn’t a colour or a shape or [anything humans have created from scratch] – cars are based on horses, planes are based on birds, computers are based on brains. Every chemical we create is based on trying to make something that already exists. “The only thing that we actually do or have done that doesn’t happen in other animal kingdoms is tell stories. That is what makes the theatre so powerful! “Storytelling now – even news – is all for the money. It’s not storytelling, it’s entertainment. And none of us process it, because we’re not given the time to process it. We just watch season after season and then four days later can’t even remember what we
watched on Monday. “We don’t take the time to stop and sit and do nothing for a while – that’s why I believe in the theatre. It’s still the place where you have to turn your phone off and you have to commit for a length of time that no one in the real world does at all anymore; probably with the exception of church. It’s strange just to be able to sit and listen and it’s a dying art form, listening. But you can’t do anything else in the theatre. “So a show like The Weir, that pulls all the razzle dazzle away and goes back to the art of storytelling and honing in on the audience’s love and need to share good stories being told. I think that’s the power of the piece.” Theatre iNQ will stage The Weir in their space on Allen Street, South Townsville from 27 February – 9 March.
HUXLEY.PRESS \\ THEATRE
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M RE s r e Lay | SARAH MATHIESEN
Once upon a time in a Kingdom not so far away (right here in Townsville, as a matter of fact), a big announcement had thrown all the people into a flurry of excitement. A great show was to be staged for all the Land and the villagers were invited to take part. This great show would boast the very best bits of the very best tales: An unlikely hero on a dangerous quest, a beautiful Princess waiting to be rescued, a loveable sidekick, a dashing Royal and, of course, a dragon! With all the Kingdom invited to sing and dance for their place in this wondrous show, more than 200 brave challengers stepped up to test their mettle. (OK, OK, it’s not quite the same as drawing a sword from a stone but it’s a daring feat nonetheless and was certainly a bigger turn out than anyone in living memory can recall for another show). While all the challengers gave it a red hot go, only 90 would pass the test and claim their rightful place in this great show. And so began the legend of Shrek the Musical.
H
eading up the cast of lovable fairy-tale characters in this latest offering from the Townsville Choral Society are Richard Brown as Shrek, Madison Tomarchio as Princess Fiona and Charlie Nicholas as Donkey. For each of them, bringing such well-known film characters to life on stage is an enormous undertaking, which they’ve embraced whole-heartedly. It would be easy to let the pressure of emulating Mike Myers, Cameron Diaz and Eddie Murphy mount, but Richard, Madison and Charlie have instead chosen to focus on the opportunities that the stage adaptation offers them as performers by way of a deeper story line and more-layered character development. “When you take a film that’s primarily about fairy tales and made up characters and talking animals and all these things, it’s easy to disassociate that from actual life,” said Charlie. “Whereas when you put it on a stage, you make it so much more human. I think this show is Shrek as you know and love it, but there’s so many more layers to it, that it becomes something else. You can really get on board with the characters, because it feels a lot more relatable when you see it right before your eyes.” While the script stays true to the screenplay, with all the iconic lines remaining intact, greater backstory is built in to the musical through additional scenes and the (mostly) original soundtrack. “You get to learn a little bit more about how [each character] came to be where they are,” Richard said. “There’s a couple of songs that are
image // Townsville Choral Society's Cast of Shrek The Musical, Sonia Warrell
familiar old favourites that [the writers] probably had to include, but other than that all the songs are completely original.” Richard said it was that soundtrack that ultimately won his interest in being part of this show. “When I first heard about Shrek, we were deep into Les Mis [rehearsals] and it was like ‘Nah. I won’t even think about that’,” he recalls. “I was quite ignorant to the show at that stage … but I had a look at the story and a look at some of the songs and I thought ‘Geez, they’re all new songs. Ok, maybe I better have a listen’, so I had a listen to some snippets and thought ‘That doesn’t sound bad’, then I
into an enchanted world. Each member of the 90-odd ensemble takes on their own unique fairytale characters that will be sure to spark many a game of “Oh look, it’s ---!” “That’s exciting for the chorus members,” said Madison. “A lot of the time [when you’re in the ensemble], you’re grouped together, but in Shrek everyone kind of has their own individual characters so they all interact differently with each other. It’s a lot of fun.” It’s also a lot of costumes and a lot of skilled make-up artistry that’s required to pull off all those characters. Richard and Charlie will spend the entire show in large
Anyone who has seen the film and loves it will only have more reasons to enjoy this one downloaded the whole soundtrack and wasted an hour listening to the entire thing and finally decided ‘This is really good!’ “Shrek’s a family show and it’s always going to be targeted at families, but there’s also quality ensemble singing and some amazing songs that are really worth the traditional theatre-goer coming and seeing,” said Richard. Aside from the laugh-a-minute script and cleverly written songs that will keep audiences listening intently, Shrek also promises to delight the eye-balls as the cast and production team convert the Townsville Entertainment Centre
suits, with even their own hands replaced with ogre hands and donkey hooves, respectively. “The hands will be a challenge,” said Richard. “And I’ve met with Nikki [Noodle], our make-up artist, and I think I’m in for a couple of hours in the chair each night to get the head ready – we’ll know each other very well by the time this is over. But Madison’s probably under the biggest pump of us all with Princess Fiona’s final transformation.” Madison agrees. “I have several quick changes, but it’s not really anything that’s up to
me,” she said. “I’m just putting my faith into other people. And I have a lot of faith. The stuff that Nikki’s done is amazing. “Same goes for the Directors, the costume designers, the set designers, the people who do the lighting and the sound. We’re so lucky to have so many people who come together for this kind of thing and we’re so lucky to have the support of the community as well,” said Madison. But for all the fancy sets, costumes and make-up; Richard, Madison and Charlie insist the greatest appeal of this show is its ogre-sized heart. “People have asked me whether I’ll be on my hands and knees for the whole show as Donkey, but it’s not about that,” said Charlie. “You have to pull it back and think about ‘Who is Donkey?’ “I think Donkey is in the same boat as Shrek and Fiona – every single one of the characters in this show is hoping for more. They’ve been dealt a hand in life that they don’t necessarily want or deserve and have had this dream of chasing something bigger and I think as people we go through those sorts of challenges every day. “Anyone who has seen the film and loves it will only have more reasons to enjoy this one,” Charlie said. “There’s nothing you can do by turning it into a stage show that will make you care less about the characters or about the story. If you love it for what it is, you’ll love it even more when we add so much more to it.” Catch Townsville Choral Society’s Shrek the Musical at the Townsville Entertainment and Convention Centre on 18-27 January 2019.
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HOMELESS, HOPEFUL AND HALF WAY TO A
Hundred | NATHAN TOLL
A
lot has changed in the past 50 years. In the 1960s, nobody took photos of their food – and if they did, it was probably cold by the time they got around to eating it. Nowadays, adding an ‘i’ in front of the name of any household object instantly raises its price (cheers, Apple). Despite society evolving rapidly in the space of five decades, Townsville Little Theatre kept up – and will celebrate its first 50 years entertaining locals this February. The community-based amateur theatre organisation, wellknown locally for its annual Short Season of Short Plays, as well as recent productions including The Graduate, One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, Calendar Girls and Steel Magnolias, currently utilises the Castle Hill PCYC for rehearsals and Pimlico Performing Arts Centre (PIMPAC) for performances – however President Jacinta Ryan said this wasn’t always the case.
growing in the years to come. And not just on stage, but other areas as well,” Eric said. “The nature of the group itself is changing: we’re actively fostering a new era, because we don’t want to just be this group of older people; we want new talent to start climbing the ranks and getting stage experience too.” The group’s current performance venue, sitting on the Pimlico State High School campus, has assisted in this cultivation of talent. “When past Pimlico teacher Karen Vane – may she rest in peace – was involved, she would set any play
people associate as our home, but it’s difficult to plan ahead because of the requirements of the school: we would love to be able to confirm dates in advance, but can’t do that until towards the end of January when term one has started and the school can guarantee when the space will be needed by students for the year. It’s a great venue, don’t get me wrong. But the uncertainty around when we’re performing does make things difficult at times.” Jacinta said locking in a permanent venue for the company has been on the cards since shifting from the Hilltop Playhouse. They’ve purchased a block of land in West
“Then before the panto will be Wolf Lullaby, directed by a new face to TLT, Shelley Keehn,” said Jacinta. “It’s a much darker play but is leaning towards that gothic Australian genre, which a lot of high schools tend to have in their drama curriculum – Shelley is a great foot in the door in that aspect, because she is a teacher so has that knowledge of what students are studying today and what would be relevant for them to watch or even perform in.”
“We used to perform at the Civic Theatre and the old Theatre Royal, which hasn’t been around for a very long time. We had a permanent rehearsal space above Dancenorth in the School of Arts building – the Upstairs Theatre – and it was pretty good with raked seating, a lighting box, a small stage with a proscenium arch, and a bar. What more do you need?!
TLT Vice President Eric Blyth said that while the half-century mark provided a nice opportunity to look back at where the company has been, it also drives home the importance of looking forward and future-proofing the group to ensure it last another 50 years or more. “There is obviously an incredible history which we will be celebrating this year, but now is also about looking ahead and
image // Townsville Little Theatre's Eric Blyth and Jacinta Ryan
“When we first started planning this season, we knew it had to be as broad as possible,” Eric said. “Initially we did look at the history of TLT and thought we could pick the best play from each decade – but then that’s not moving forward, which is the notion we wanted. We also had a discussion about involving more young people, so Picnic at Hanging Rock was brought to us by Director Alan Cooke and it’s Australian, which we thought was fitting for our anniversary.” “Director Sonia Zabala came to us with The 39 Steps for our 2018 season but when there was a venue change mid-year it didn’t come about. In the end that was a blessing in disguise because it will make a great addition to the anniversary season. Then a pantomime at the end of the year which is exciting: not many have been done locally in a while. We have a couple of established directors running with that one, Barbara White coming back into the fold and Christine Scott.”
“Townsville Little Theatre (TLT) was an amalgamation of three theatre groups: they all got together because they were struggling with a bit of a decline in members and audiences, so became Townsville Little Theatre in 1969,” Jacinta said.
“When they started refurbishing the building though we couldn’t stay, so started performing at the Hilltop Playhouse behind St James Cathedral. We performed there and called it our home base for quite a while, but then there were concerns with the heritage listing of it so since then, we’ve been a bit transient.”
Lack of a permanent space isn’t slowing TLT in the slightest: their 2019 season is as diverse and eclectic as they come.
she directed as an assignment for her drama students. They’d sit in the audience and critique, and then afterwards would stay for a panel with the actors and directing team,” Eric said. “They have a great program at PIMPAC called PALS (Performing Arts Lighting & Sound) who are the theatre’s techies, and there’s several students who have come out of that stable who continue to be involved and who know their way around the Centre.” While opening TLT up to the next generation of performers and technical staff, the Performing Arts Centre’s location has also meant the group’s productions fall subject to the school calendar. “PIMPAC is brilliant and is what
End which they hope will one day be the home of a permanent rehearsal and performance space.
Jacinta said she had no doubt Townsville Little Theatre would continue for at least another 50 years.
“We’re constantly talking to different parties about a permanent venue. That’s obviously been our long-term goal ever since we vacated the Hilltop at least 20 years ago now, so it’s definitely a slow process. All we can do is try – we’re a small community group trying our best,” said Jacinta.
“When I joined in the 80s, there were only a handful of people involved so it had to rebuild from there, but it is theatre so it’s fun and people are drawn to it – it regenerates itself. People want to continue to see it thrive. And because it is fun, you get out what you put in.
“It’s difficult to make any sort of commitment to a venue without a proper financial backing though,” said Eric. “Trying to create enough capital to move a building onto a site, you can only hold so many sausage sizzles in a year … and sponsorship is something everyone in this city is chasing, so it’s hard.”
Townsville Little Theatre will begin their 50th anniversary celebrations with a Gala Dinner on 16 February, before their first production of the year, Picnic at Hanging Rock in March. For updated information on dates, venues and tickets, visit townsvillelittletheatre.org.au
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CREATIVES FESTIVAL TO CAPITALISE ON CULTURE Within 24 hours of Townsville’s Festival 2018 events going live, over 1,000 tickets were booked. The 12-day program is sure to entertain locals and visitors alike, while instilling a sense of purpose in local artists and a hope that there will be more demand locally for their craft. Maybe it’s time to create that demand, and celebrate everything our city’s creatives are capable of. –Huxley Press, March 2018. This July, Townsville will host the inaugural Northern Australian Festival of Arts. The Festival will showcase and celebrate the best arts and culture practitioners from across the region, as well as national and international guests in areas ranging from visual art and theatre to circus and comedy. Townsville Acting Mayor Les Walker said the event would build on some of Townsville’s most iconic festivals to create an all-encompassing celebration of the Arts. “The Northern Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) will run throughout the month of July and will encompass the Australian Festival of Chamber Music and Strand Ephemera as part of our winter season,” Cr Walker said. “We are looking to focus heavily on
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HUXLEY.PRESS // CREATIVES
opportunities for our local and regional artists, performers and groups to showcase the vibrant arts and cultural life in our region.” Although launching off the back of last year’s incredibly successful Festival 2018, NAFA will be designed specifically for Townsville. “Festival 2018, although fantastic, came with restriction as it was part of the Commonwealth Games program – NAFA will be curated entirely in Townsville and we will be able to consult with locals on what the event should look like. “Townsville is the arts, events and sporting capital in Northern Australia and Council really wants NAFA to reflect this – which is why we’ve decided to move away from the branding of Festival 2018. This is about arts and culture in regional Australia, and the part we all have to play in highlighting what the North has to offer – the new name really demonstrates the ambition behind the event.” NAFA will welcome a Spiegeltent back to Queens Gardens to host local, national and international acts during the Festival, with opportunities also available outside the official programming. “We will also be looking for venues, artists, performers, buskers and others to take part in a Fringe Festival program – The Northern Fringe –
| NATHAN TOLL alongside the curated festival,” Cr Walker said. “We are looking to focus heavily on opportunities for our local and regional artists, performers and groups to showcase the vibrant arts and cultural life in our region. “Council will be seeking expressions of interest from our arts community early in the new year for those wanting to participate in NAFA.” The Northern Australian Festival of Arts is expected to run throughout July in venues across Townsville and in conjunction with other existing events. For updates on when Festival applications open, follow Townsville City Council on Facebook.
Next-Gen Heath Roberts
Theatre technician
HOW DID YOU FIRST GET INVOLVED IN THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THEATRE? It started with school-based work experience with TheatreiNQ to help in the lead-up to the 2017 performance of Alice In Wonderland. They invited me to stay to help out with the shows and during this time they encouraged me to join the tech group at Pimlico State School and also asked if I would like to come back and help during their production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During the rest of 2017 I fell in love with the technical side of theatre and was surprised how many learning opportunities I could find in Townsville. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS SO FAR? In the grand scheme of things, I’m relatively new to the world of theatre, so my biggest accomplishments are hopefully just the start. One of my biggest accomplishments is being asked to join TheatreiNQ’s Bridge Project as a technician at the start of 2018. Terri Brabon gave me the opportunity because she liked my personality and work ethic. This was a huge compliment to the shy, reserved person that I was. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THEATRE TECH? There are two main reasons: one is the constant problem solving. Yes, it’s frustrating facing a problem that you have no idea how to solve; but when you spend what seems like forever researching and using trial and error, and finally figure out how something works it feels great, and often you learn something that makes you better at what you
do. Reason two is the best thing about theatre in general, which is the people. It is the most common answer because it’s true, people in this industry often do it because they love it and those people are always good to be around and are likely to be nice enough to help you learn. HOW ARE YOU CONTINUING TO IMPROVE? I am very aware of how far I have to go until I can get a real job as a technician. I
am lucky to be in an environment where others are actively teaching me and where I can go off on my own and study a certain area using professional equipment. I often seek out things that I know nothing about and that I know will frustrate me because those situations often lead to learning fundamental skills and allow for other situations to be easier to navigate.
WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Inspiration for me comes from many different places. I often get inspired by the technology. I sometimes find random software of lighting fixtures and spend weeks playing with them until I feel I could use it to its full potential. Although the tech is important to the technician, the main driving force behind becoming what I want to be is the people and the friends I’ve found in theatre; the most inspiring and the most influential person on my career and my life is my technical theatre teacher at TheatreiNQ, Brendan O’Connor. Brendan is the person that brought me into the world of technical theatre and he continues to enlighten me and guide me to the future he believes I could have. WHERE WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE IN 5 YEARS’ TIME? I hope to be working as a technician in a beautiful theatre and hopefully I will have some good people there with me. WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU’VE LEARNED SO FAR? You’re going to mess up, don’t let it get in your head, just stay focused and be better next time. WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO TELL PEOPLE WHO KNOW NOTHING ABOUT THE TECHNICAL SIDE OF THEATRE? The people you never see are smart, interesting and devoted people that thrive to entertain the audience just as much as the performers. FINISH THIS SENTENCE. I THINK THE TOWNSVILLE ARTS COMMUNITY… can get better, grow larger, be stronger.
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2019
EnrolmEnts now opEn toDDlEr ClAssEs HIp Hop
mUsICAl tHEAtrE pop sonG/ DAnCE/ DrAmA
sInGInG
Studio: 33 Rendle St Aitkenvale
ph: 4723 8235
www.nqperformingarts.com.au admin@nqperformingarts.com.au
JAZZ tAp
BAllEt
North Queensland
Next-Gen
Performing Arts FFor many young children, dance and singing lessons are enticing hobbies. But it’s a practice that takes great discipline and, as exams get more demanding and the lure of other pastimes becomes tougher to resist, lessons can often fall by the wayside in favour of part-time jobs, stricter study schedules or simply trying something different. It’s becoming less and less common for children who start dance or singing lessons at a young age to continue right through to adulthood – and hence become experts at their craft – but at North Queensland Performing Arts (NQPA), students are encouraged to find a balance between exploring different performance styles and achieving mastery of the genre they like the best.
Tiarna discovered her love for hip-hop when it was added to NQPA’s offerings in 2012. “I like that hip-hop is a bit more free than other genres,” Tiarna said. “It focuses more on how you move to express yourself rather than making sure your foot is at the right angle or your back is up straight. I’d seen hip-hop
NQPA recently celebrated the high school graduations of five of its longestserving students: Casey Feltham, Mackenzie Hocking, Callysta Morris, Tiarna Riley and Lauren Tierney; most of whom have been taking lessons at NQPA since they were just four years old.
Under Sharon’s tutelage, Casey has been taught essential techniques from an expert in all three genres and been able to improve her musical theatre skills through complementary dance and acting lessons.
It’s a sentiment echoed by Callysta who would also like to pursue a career teaching dance. “I love working with little kids and I’d love to teach them and show them what I learnt from my teachers,” Callysta said. The students have had some of their teachers the entire time they’ve been dancing, leading to a close bond and the confidence to try new things. “It’s great to have the same teacher for so long,” said Mackenzie. “They know how we work, they know your strengths and your weaknesses, they become like a Dance Mum. Every time we come to class it’s like ‘oh, we’re back!’”
Casey, who aspires to a career in musical theatre, said she had enjoyed the opportunity to try many different styles of song and dance over the past 13 years. “There are a lot of places you can only sing pop, or you can only sing classical,” said Casey. “But with [NQPA owner and singing instructor] Sharon Ransom I’ve been able to do pretty much everything from classical to pop to musical theatre. No matter how I’m feeling, Sharon’s helped me be able to sing whatever I want, whenever I want.”
“I’m working as a student teacher alongside some of the hip-hop teachers at NQPA and just getting an insight into how to teach and hopefully I can continue on with that,” she said.
It’s plain to see that NQPA has given their long-term students much more than a hobby: they’ve made life-long friends, a image // THEN (L-R): Mackenzie, Callysta and Tiarna in their early days with NQPA performing arts family and meaningful steps towards a career in the industry while also learning the patience and movies and hip-hop videos before and I thought persistence required to achieve their long-term it was pretty interesting. So I got into it, loved it goals. and have stuck with it ever since.” Of course, they’ve become great performers, Now Tiarna is on track to teach the next too: “I’ve learned technique, strength and generation of local hip-hop dancers, working knowledge of my body and movement,” said on her Certificate IV in Dance Training and Lauren. Management before she had finished high It’s a lot to gain all before graduating high school. school!
image // NOW (L-R): Mackenzie Hocking, Callysta Morris, Casey Feltham, Tiarna Riley and Lauren Tierney
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Next-Gen
Dancenorth
Open Classes For the new powerhouse of Australian dance Dancenorth, nurturing the next generation of local dancers doesn’t simply mean signing children up for their first ballet or jazz class. Instead, Dancenorth’s Open Classes seek to engage people of all ages and abilities in a series of fun and inclusive lessons, designed for primary age children through to Over-50s. THE OPEN CLASSES Dancenorth’s Open Classes provide plenty of variety for varying interests and skill levels. The program embraces a diverse array of movement styles in an open and fun setting. Dancenorth’s Education and Outreach Coordinator Andrea Dighton said their open classes aim to suit all participants including adults, beginners and children. “Our 2019 timetable will offer a range of classes including pilates, aerial silks, hiphop, zouk, Forever Young, Kidz Move, ballet, jazz and, contemporary,” said Andrea.
space to explore how they want to move within their body through games and tasks,” Andrea said. “Rather than working towards a performance or concert at the end of the year, we aim to get them comfortable moving about, trying new things, and sharing material that they’ve been practising in the lounge room at home. It is lovely to watch their confidence grow each week.” Justin Cobbing’s two sons Arthur, 6, and Noah, 4, have been attending Kidz Move since the
they go out of their way to try and incorporate it.”
FOREVER YOUNG At the other end of Dancenorth’s Open Class spectrum is Forever Young, a dance class geared specifically to the changing needs of students over 50. Donna Drew, 71, has been part of the Forever Young class since she retired two-and-a-half years ago. “The Dancenorth teachers are so fantastic,” said Donna. “They cater
“We have a fantastic group of teachers who are highly qualified and passionate about sharing their skills, which is exciting.” Research has found that dance can be as beneficial as many other exercises including jogging or running on a track or treadmill, swimming or biking; with physical health benefits including increased flexibility, muscle strength and tone, endurance, balance, spatial awareness and a general feeling of well-being. A one-hour dance session can burn up to 500 calories.i
DANCE CLASSES FOR ALL AGES: KIDZ MOVE Kidz Move is a unique and wonderful class that is focused on developing motor skills and embracing individual creativity. “We give the children lots of
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flexibility; the friendships she’s formed with fellow regulars at the class; and the opportunities to connect with Dancenorth in other ways. Gen Caldwell, 67, also attends the Forever Young classes. “It’s a nice gentle form of exercise. I have problems with my knees and hips, so the gentle approach suits me nicely,” said Gen. “We always start with some loosening up exercises like chair yoga, then we’ll do some supported stretches and some barrestyle exercises, before moving to the floor and for some dancing without the chairs. It’s nice and energetic, but without any leaping or heavy landings. I’ve found my thighs are much stronger now and my balance is particularly improved. “I like the movement and the interaction with the other ladies. We have lots of laughs and we usually convene at the local coffee shop after the lesson, so it’s not just exercise but also a good social occasion.”
beginning of 2018. “Being boys, they naturally have a lot of energy, they love music and they love showing off all their moves and probably just being a bit silly really,” said Justin. “It’s not as rigid as say a ballet class, but a good introduction to listening to instructions and following some basic structure. The teachers have been really friendly and accommodating. When the boys show them a song they like or a dance they’ve made up,
for a lot of different skill levels, physical limitations and health conditions among the people in the class. I can’t think of anyone in the class who has danced continuously throughout their lives and there are some people who have had no dance training whatsoever. We’re mostly beginners.” Donna said her love for the Forever Young class is multi-faceted, owing to a three-part combination of physical health-benefits such as improved balance, strength and
While the physical benefits of dance can be reaped by dancers of any age its ability to strengthen weight-bearing bones, prevent lower back problems and form new interconnections in older brains makes it an ideal form of exercise for older people.i These benefits can aid in fall and fracture prevention, minimalising debilitating pain, and memory retention.
COME AND DANCE WITH US! JOIN DANCENORTH’S OPEN DAY Dancenorth will give the Townsville Community a chance to trial their wide range of 2019 Open Classes at their annual Open Day this February. The Open Day will include 45-minute complimentary taster sessions of each class, plus an opportunity to take a class with the Dancenorth Company Dancers and creative team, who will be hosting the event. Dancenorth’s Artistic Director Kyle Page looks forward to presenting the incredible range of classes on offer within the 2019 Open Class timetable. “The Townsville Community is truly the heartbeat of Dancenorth and for us our Open Class Open Day presents a wonderful opportunity to share not only the skills and talents of the professional Dancenorth Company dancers, but our incredible open class teachers and the wide range of classes they offer on a weekly basis. Our open class participants fill the Dancenorth building with life, energy, dance and movement every evening, it is exciting to welcome them back for a new year of classes but also welcome a wonderful new group of participants, joining us for the first time. From our Kidz Moves class to our Forever Young class, there is something for everyone. We look forward to offering a taste of what Dancenorth has to offer to the Townsville Community - it’s going to be a great day.” Dancenorth’s Open Day will be held on Saturday, 9 February 2019 from 10am to 4pm at the Dancenorth School of Arts building (Corner of Stanley and Wills Streets, Townsville City). All Open Day sessions are free to attend. For more information, visit www.dancenorth. com.au/2019-open-day
i. Alpert, Patricia T. The Health Benefits of Dance. Published 2 December 2010. Available https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/ abs/10.1177/1084822310384689
JOIN US FOR A DAY OF FREE OPEN CLASSES!
SATURDAY 9 FEBRUARY 10AM - 4PM DANCENORTH CORNER STANLEY & WALKER STREET TOWNSVILLE
DANCENORTH.COM.AU/OPEN-DAY-2019
Next-Gen
WHEN DID YOU START PLAYING THE VIOLIN? In 2009, the opportunity for Year 3 students to take up an instrument arose at my primary school. I had always been inspired by my father, an avid pianist, so I was excited to emulate his love for music and pick an instrument suited to my tastes. I was irrevocably drawn to the violin and my initial curiosity for music has become my passion. WHAT HAVE BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACCOMPLISHMENTS? My first significant accomplishment on the violin occurred in 2012 where I was awarded the title of “Most Promising String Player” at the Australian Concerto and Vocal Competition. I was only 11 at the time and to be awarded something so prestigious at such a young age was a very humbling experience. In 2016, I was recognised as the most outstanding Year 10 instrumentalist in Townsville with the award of the Theodore Kuchar Scholarship (2 years of funding); the following year, I attained my A.Mus.A on violin, a significant qualification at the age of 15. However, I believe my two greatest accomplishments are my most recent – in October this year I was the recipient of The Paula and Tony Kinnane Music Scholarship (4 years of funding) to join the University of Queensland’s School of Music – which I’m doing in 2019 as part of a dual degree; and I was also fortunate to have been accepted into the Australian Youth Orchestra National Music Camp (January 2019), literally a dream opportunity which will allow me to play with the finest young instrumentalists across Australia and under the tutelage of internationally renowned musicians and mentors. WHAT IS IT THAT YOU LOVE ABOUT THE VIOLIN? The violin is such a versatile instrument – there
Elena James
Violinist
is no end to its abilities! It has a beautiful sound, is suited to many musical environments and is an instrument that anybody can enjoy. WHAT WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO ACHIEVE? It has always been an ambition of mine to
travel with the violin. I would like to play in orchestras around Australia, particularly the Queensland Symphony Orchestra and the
Sydney Symphony Orchestra, and perhaps tour with the Australian Youth Orchestra. In addition, to complement my French language skills, it would be a dream come true to play with the Orchestre de Paris. WHO OR WHAT INSPIRES YOU? Over the years, I have taken a lot of inspiration from worldrenowned musicians such as Stefan Jackiw, Maxim Vengerov and Hilary Hahn. I have had the immense privilege to receive private tuition from touring violinists Attilla Sautov and Pavel Fischer which has significantly contributed to my progress in the field, both technically and psychologically. Playing with the Barrier Reef Orchestra for the past four years, Townsville’s very own community orchestra, has also inspired me to reach my full potential and next year, I am very excited to be under the guidance of Adam Chalabi, another inspiring professional violinist. WHAT’S THE MOST IMPORTANT THING YOU’VE LEARNED SO FAR? The most important thing I have learnt so far is the fundamentality of self-motivation. With music, it is incredibly important to keep track of your goals and never give up easily – practice makes perfect and if you put in the work, you will be rewarded. FINISH THIS SENTENCE. I THINK THE TOWNSVILLE ARTS COMMUNITY... requires more support and investment from both government and private enterprises, particularly for young and aspiring musicians. There is clearly inequitable access to both quality and quantity of performing arts services in the regions. North Queensland suffers in terms of state of the art music facilities, for example concert halls and practice studios, as well as access to tutors, mentors and renowned musicians for one on one lessons, masterclasses or as professional role models.
$30 LESSONS
Acoustic Guitar Classical Guitar Bass Guitar Music Theory
For more information or to book 0423 678 858 | sarah.little@musician.org 22
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JAN
UNTIL 19 JAN
DIVA LAS VEGAS @ STAGE DOOR THEATRE RESTAURANT
FEB PAGE 20
UNTIL 20 JAN
UTOPIA TROPICAE AND CHROMA @ PERC TUCKER REGIONAL GALLERY
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KITTY FLANAGAN @ TOWNSVILLE ENTERTAINMENT & CONVENTION CENTRE
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UNTIL 27 JAN
DISSONANT RHYTHMS @ PINNACLES GALLERY
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SHREK THE MUSICAL @ TOWNSVILLE ENTERTAINMENT & CONVENTION CENTRE
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LUKEWARM MUSIC FESTIVAL @ QUAYSIDE TERMINAL
TIME WELL SPENT @ DRILL HALL STUDIO
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SAD CLOWN, MAD CLOWN, BAD CLOWN @ UMBRELLA STUDIO
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DANCENORTH OPEN DAY
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25 JAN to 14 FEB
25 JAN to 24 FEB
9
LANO AND WOODLEY FLY @ CIVIC THEATRE
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NASHVILLE LIVE @ CIVIC THEATRE
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AUSTRALIA DAY SPLASH BAR POOL PARTY @ THE VILLE RESORT-CASINO
27 FEB to 9 MAR THE WEIR @ THEATRE INQ
28
OCEAN FILM FESTIVAL WORLD TOUR @ CIVIC THEATRE
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PREPPED
MAR
JUN
SEP
22 Matt Corby
6 The Addams Family opens
28 Postmodern Jukebox
27 Kinky Boots opens
6-9 Palm Creek Folk Festival
TBC Wolf Lullaby
22 Don’t Change – The Ultimate INXS Show
7 The Ten Tenors
TBC Picnic at Hanging Rock opens
26 Heathers: The Musical opens
OCT
29 Neck of the Woods Festival
5 Dance Tropics Dance
APR
30 Sweeney Todd opens
JUL
6 Live on the Lawn Jazz legends 6-7 Game & Geek Festival
1-31 Northern Australian Festival of the Arts
20 Peking Duck
DEC
16-20 Jesus Christ Superstar
22 Matt Corby
TBC Cinderella Two: the Sisters Strike Back
26 Jul – 4 Aug Strand Ephemera 26 Jul – 4 Aug Australian Festival of Chamber Music
MAY 5 Groovin the Moo 17 Umbrella Studio’s Annual Members’ Exhibition opens 30 Sweet Days, Hot Nights Festival starts 29 High School Musical opens
AUG 2-11 Pop-Up North Queensland 9 Bohemian Rhapsody 9-10 Pimlico Presents 16-18 Townsville Cultural Fest 21 Anything Goes opens
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MUSIC AND LYRICS MUSIC ANDBYLYRICS BY
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CYNDI CYNDI Harvey fierstein LAUPER LAUPER fierstein
PRESENTED BYHarvey NQOMT.
Original Broadway Production Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell Based on the Miramax motion picture Kinky Boots written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth
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TOWNSVILLE CIVIC THEATRE 27Harvey MarchCYNDI- 6 April 2019 27 March - 6 April 2019 BOOK BY
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fierstein
LAUPER
Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia). All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.
Original Broadway Production Directed and Choreographed by Jerry Mitchell
TOWNSVILLE CIVIC THEATRE
A UNI THAT KNOWS CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS At CQUniversity we know you’re looking for a course that can help you land the career of your dreams. In 2019 you can choose to study acting, dance or music right here in Townsville or study music or theatre online. Courses available in Townsville include: » Bachelor of Creative Arts (Acting and Contemporary Dance majors) » Bachelor of Music (Performance specialisation). Polish your performance skills with practice-based tuition under instruction from renowned industry professionals. You will also cultivate a diverse performance portfolio and gain the theoretical knowledge to forge a career in the arts and entertainment industry at a local, national or international level.
“I like to get into character, I like to portray a different person and I like the energy – especially with the theatre.” Find out more about our student Lucy and her CQUni story online.
Plus you’ll benefit from the outstanding support of a university ranked in the top two per cent worldwide* with some of the best graduate outcomes in the country^. If you are a high school student, you may be eligible to start studying through our Start Uni Now (SUN) program. To find out more, visit cqu.edu.au/sun. Kick start the career of your dreams and audition now to get started in 2019.
^Good Universities Guide 2018. *Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019. Visit cqu.edu.au/reputation
CRICOS: 00219C | RTO: 40939 | J_AD_180423_HuxleyMagArtsTSV
cqu.edu.au/auditions
by Conor McPherson
27 FEBRUARY - 9 MARCH
Directed by Terri Brabon
THEATREiNQ 50 Allen Street, South Townsville
BOOK N OW!
www.theatreinq.com / 0467 245 478 Tickets - Adults $30/Conc $25/U18 $20