SPARK 2014 by Stage Whispers Magazine

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Welcome to Stage Whispers' first School Performing Arts Resource Kit (SPARK). The aim is to provide school teachers with more tools to spark a love of theatre in their students. We welcome feedback on this edition and any suggestions you have for us to improve it in future years. Leave your comments here

Front cover image courtesy of The Australian Ballet

Contents

Performances for Schools. Incursion and Excursion ................................................... 6 National.................................................................................................................. 6 New South Wales & A.C.T. ..................................................................................... 14 Western Australia .................................................................................................. 20 Victoria ................................................................................................................. 23 South Australia ..................................................................................................... 28 Queensland .......................................................................................................... 31 Finding Musical and Play Scripts ............................................................................ 35 Tips on putting on a show Costuming Props and Sets ..................................................................................... 56 Where to find them. How to make them Sound and Light and Special Effects ...................................................................... 67 Many features including budget tips Ticketing, Seating and Curtains.............................................................................. 86 Training ................................................................................................................ 92

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Class of Cabaret 2013.

Performances For Schools Stage Whispers is proud to publish our inaugural School Performing Arts Resource Kit in 2014. It will be available at www.stagewhispers.com.au/spark from March 10. SPARK includes a directory of shows available in 2014 for excursions and incursions, plus resources needed to put a show on at your school. Here are some of the highlights. What city has the most exciting Performing Arts program for students? You might think Sydney or Melbourne, but other capitals have exceptional experiences on offer. Take Adelaide, where the Class of Cabaret program is in its fourth year. Students attend workshops and rehearsals from February to June. Each student develops the skills to engage the audience on a personal journey with their own individual story. The culmination is a concert that is part of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival. It usually receives standing ovations from sold out crowds. What a buzz! Adelaide is also home to Australia’s national theatre for children, teenagers and families. The Windmill Theatre Company has eight productions a year and its best works tour Australia and the world. Brisbane has something special to offer young people as well. In June the Queensland Performing Arts Centre is staging the Out of the Box festival of theatre for under eight year olds. The Queensland Arts Council brings high quality drama, dance and master classes into High Schools across the state. They include meaty modern interpretations of Brecht and Shakespeare, Australian drama and issue based plays. The 3 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

master classes must be popular. Lessons in mime, puppetry, choreography and physical theatre are available. Inspiring young people to become involved in the Performing Arts is a goal of many organisations. The Australian Ballet is putting its efforts into attracting more young men into its ranks. The company says each year more and more young men are choosing to study dance, attracted by its athleticism and artistry. Male dancing students aged between 9 and 14 are invited to special Boys Days in Sydney and Melbourne. Other exciting behind the scenes tours are offered during the year for girls too, Whilst most programs are state based, national tours are offered by the Bell Shakespeare Company. This year’s program includes Double Trouble, an interactive Shakespeare adventure, Such Sweet Sorrow - a journey through the highs and lows of Romeo and Juliet, and Hamlet: Out of Joint. With Shakespeare buffs marking the 450th birthday of the Bard in 2014 there is no shortage of other productions on offer. In Victoria, Page to Stage performs edited, contemporary versions of Macbeth, Hamlet, The Tempest and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. They usually last about 90 minutes. In Queensland the Shake & Stir company makes Shakespeare look young and hip. In New South Wales the innovative Sport for Jove company has a stable of updates including Twelfth Night transported to a beach side holiday.

Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre is offering special 11am sessions of its production Mark Kilmurry’s new interpretation of Richard III. There are plenty of opportunities to give young people their first experience in a major city theatre. The Sydney Theatre Company offers heavily discounted tickets for students to four plays in 2014. Two of them are at the Sydney Opera House - Children of the Sun and a thriller Switzerland. The Melbourne Theatre Company has two plays on offer: Yellow Moon - a contemporary tale of Bonnie and Clyde and Marlin - a fishing adventure. The State Theatre Company of South Australia offers school time performances, its season highlights including Othello and The Importance of Being Earnest. A highlight for schools is a tour of Jesikah, about a schoolgirl who develops an unhealthy obsession with YouTube. In Perth the Black Swan State Theatre Company has special performances of its production of As You Like It. The Queensland Theatre Company is pitching its regular season to students, adding value by including pre-show talks and workshops. Some school shows sell themselves. Perhaps the appealing production of the year is at the Arts Centre in Melbourne. It is called The Rap Guide to Evolution. It’s described as using hip-hop and clever re-workings of popular rap singles as a vehicle to communicate the facts of evolution. Canadian rapper Baba Brinkman illustrates natural selection, sexual selection and evolutionary psychology. Now that’s an excursion teachers will have no trouble generating enthusiasm from students to attend.

Melbourne Theatre Company’s Marlin.

Monkey Baa 2014 High School Program Sydney’s Monkey Baa Theatre Company is presenting its first extensive High School Education Program in 2014 at its home venue, The Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre (LLDQT), a purpose built space for young people. Its mission is to bring to life uniquely Australian stories. In March, Monkey Baa will host Tough Beauty, a work about peer pressure developed in consultation with young people. In May it presents Zeal Theatre’s multi award winning production The Stones, based on a true Australian story of two boys charged with manslaughter after throwing rocks from a freeway overpass and killing a motorist. In August, I am Jack returns after its successful tour of the United States. Finally, to celebrate the Centenary of WW1, Monkey Baa has devised a new play The Unknown Soldier. Set on the battlefields of WW1 and in twenty first century Australia, this moving production will premiere in October. Monkey Baa’s Education Program also offers students a vast array of drama workshop programs and professional development opportunities for teachers. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 4

Learning From Big Musicals

Horror Show the big exception (just try to fit that into your curriculum). The Education program for Wicked suggests that the musical inspires discussion about friendship, accepting differences, personal values and the consequence of choices, also looking at the effects of all types of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. It explores the importance of truth and how society defines good and evil, making it an excellent tool for spiritual, social and moral understanding. The Education Program and Teacher’s Pack will examine all of these topics and more via a series of lessons encompassing Interpersonal Development, English, Drama, Music, History & Art and Visual Communication. The downloadable Wicked Education Program includes: a teacher’s booklet, lesson ideas, a Powerpoint presentation, footage from Wicked and interactive activities. School groups receive a special discounted price, and special post show presentations with cast and crew will be scheduled after Wednesday matinees. The Education Kit for The King and I features learning outcomes across English, Music, Drama, Food Technology, Geography, History, Information Software Technology, Émile Bayard, ‘Cosette’, engraving by Bellanger, Science, Religion, Visual Art and Visual Design, with 1886 reproduced in Victor Hugo, Les Misérables helpful explanations of specific Outcomes (NSW) and (London, G. Routledge and Sons), 1887. Rare Books Collection, State Library of Victoria. Content (Victoria and Queensland). The kit includes more than 30 smartly presented class In my previous life as a high school Drama teacher one activities and ten puzzles (all of them ready-to-print PDF of my greatest joys was taking students to major musical files), as well as Powerpoint presentations. productions. Strictly Ballroom The Musical and Les Misérables will How many times did we pack onto buses and head for also have education programs. the city over the years for productions like Cats, The Certain to be a highlight of the Les Mis educational Phantom of the Opera, Chess, Grease, Les Misérables, experience in Melbourne is a world-first exhibition at the Beauty and the Beast and many more? State Library of Victoria, Victor Hugo: Les Misérables There were generous discounts for school groups From Page to Stage, which will take visitors on a journey attending matinees, and many times I shared the thrill of from the 19th-century Paris of Victor Hugo’s novel - Les teenagers seeing their first big show. The group bookings Misérables - to the musical. lady for Cats and I had a great rapport and she allocated The exhibition will combine traditional elements with us seats near the pipe from which cats would emerge. interactive displays. Every time I specially chose students for whom that An entire gallery will be dedicated to the musical with moment would provide a memorable thrill. singing, an orchestra pit and even costumes from the While the experience of attending these shows seemed production so visitors can dress up and take centre stage. justification enough, especially when many students came A partnership with Cameron Mackintosh means that from non-theatre-going families, obviously there was a for the first time fans will get to see original Les Misérables need for broader educational objectives (easy enough of scripts, scores, costumes, set designs, posters, course in Drama), and many producers have realised this, photographs and film. and created excellent education kits that cross multiple A program of events and an education program for disciplines. schools will complement the exhibition exploring themes Just about all the blockbuster musicals opening this of history, politics, French language and culture, literature year have education programs and kits, with The Rocky and theatre, and connecting these with the curriculum. Neil Litchfield 5 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Performances for Schools

Australian Ballet

Boys Day Melbourne: 22 March Venue: State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne Sydney: 12 April Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Each year, more and more young men are choosing to study dance, attracted by its athleticism and artistry. The Australian Ballet salutes these budding performers with this event that gives young male students the opportunity to take a class together and then to meet and talk with the male dancers of the company, before watching morning class. Suitable for: Male dance students aged 9 to 14. Peoples’ Day Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Date: 10am Monday 14th April Looking for an exciting activity for the April school holidays? People’s day is an exclusive behind-the-scenes insight into the daily life of a dancer of The Australian Ballet. You’ll see a class on the Joan Sutherland Theatre stage, learn more about your national ballet company and meet the 2014 Telstra Ballet Dancer Award nominees. Don’t forget to bring your autograph book! Suitable for: Age 10 to adult.

Introduction to the Ballet Melbourne Venue: State Theatre, Arts Centre Melbourne Date: 12 pm 20 March Sydney Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Dates: 12pm Thursday 17 April Manon and 12pm Wednesday 7 May Suite en blanc See the dancers of The Australian Ballet demonstrate their daily training in class on stage, hear a Q&A with leading dancers and watch a fully staged performance with live music from one of the ballets in the 2014 repertoire. Suitable for: age 10 to adult. Pre performance tours Melbourne Dates: 12pm 15 March Sydney Venue: Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House Dates: 12pm Saturday 5th April Manon and 12pm Saturday 3rd May Chroma An exclusive opportunity for dance students. This tour will take you backstage before a matinee performance: see the dancers warming up for their roles and putting on their make-up and costumes, learn facts about your favourite dancer, and hear interesting details of the ballet about to be performed. Don't forget to bring your autograph book! Suitable for: Dance students aged 6 to 18.

Gordon Frost Organisation

Wicked Excursion School Groups of 12+ $55.90* per ticket Groups 20+ are entitled to bring one teacher free of charge* For bookings call Ticketmaster Groups 1300 889 278 http://wickedthemusicaleducation.com.au www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 6

Wicked

Regent Theatre, Melbourne from May 7. Capitol Theatre, Sydney from September 20. About: Wicked inspires discussion about friendship, accepting differences, personal values and the consequence of choices, also looking at the effects of all types of stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination. It explores the importance of truth and how society defines good and evil, making it an excellent tool for spiritual, social and moral understanding Relevant to: Interpersonal Development, English, Drama, Music, History & Art and Visual Communication. Q and A or study resources: The downloadable Wicked Education Program includes: a teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s booklet, lesson ideas, a Powerpoint presentation, footage from Wicked and interactive activities. School groups receive a special discounted price, and special post show presentations with cast and crew will be scheduled after Wednesday matinees.

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Opera Australia / Gordon Frost Organisation

The King and I http://thekingandimusical.com.au/education Lyric Theatre, Brisbane from April 13. The price per student for groups 10+ is just $55.90*. Save up to $44 per ticket! Tuesday 1:30pm, Wednesday 1.30pm and 7:30pm, Thursday 7.30pm For bookings call QPAC Groups (07) 3840 7466 or email groups@qpac.com.au * Prices include GST and a $14 transaction fee applies to school group bookings. Discount based on full price Adult tickets. Prices are subject to change without notice. Offer subject to availability. 1 teacher per 10 students can go at student rate. Princess Theatre, Melbourne from June 10. GROUPS 10+ SAVE - TEACHERS GO AT STUDENT RATE* The price per student for groups 10+ is just

$55.90*. Save $44 per ticket! Performance Times: Tuesday and Wednesday 1pm For bookings call Ticketmaster Groups 1300 889 278 or email groups@ticketmaster.com.au * Prices include GST and booking fee. Please note a payment processing fee of no more than 1.95% applies to purchases by credit card, debit card or gift card. This fee includes (but is not limited to) credit and debit card fees and expenses, administration and associated infrastructure costs. The payment processing fee will be added to the price. Joan Sutherland Theatre, Sydney Opera House from September 9. The price per student for groups 8+ is just $59.90*. Save $54.10 per ticket. Teachers at student rate. Wednesday 7.30pm only For bookings call Ticketmaster Groups 02 8240 2290 or email groups@ticketmaster.com.au *Prices include GST and booking fee. Discount based on full price Adult tickets. Prices are subject to change without notice. Offer subject to availability. Relevant to: English, Music, Drama, Food Technology, Geography, History, Information Software Technology, Science, Religion, Visual Art and Visual Design, with helpful explanations of specific Outcomes (NSW) and Content (Victoria and Queensland). Q and A or study resources: The kit includes more than 30 class activities and ten puzzles (all of them ready-to-print PDF files), as well as Powerpoint presentations.

Bell Shakespeare

Double Trouble By Joanna Erskine, Director Belinda Hoare www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/primary/ inschools/doubletrouble Terms Available: National Tour 10 March – 17 October About: Join Billy, Bella, Viola, Sebastian and a bevy of Shakespeare's best-ever characters on this delightfully funny and interactive Shakespearean adventure. Shakespeare has never been so much fun.

Relevant to: English, Creative Arts Suitable for: Years 1-4 Q and A or study resources: Online resources available: www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/ resources Such Sweet Sorrow By Matt Edgerton & Joanna Erskine, Director Janine Watson www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/secondary/ inschools/suchsweetsorrow Terms Available: National Tour 10 March – 17 October About: Such Sweet Sorrow takes students on a journey through the highs and lows of Shakespeare’s greatest love story, Romeo And Juliet, following the characters from youthful innocence to the tragic conclusion. Relevant to: English, Drama Suitable for: Years 7-10 Q and A or study resources: Online resources available: http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/ learning/resources Hamlet: Out Of Joint By Joanna Erskine & James Evans, Director Paul Reichstein www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/secondary/ inschools/hamlet Terms Available: National Tour 10 March – 17 October About: Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. When the ghost of Hamlet’s father visits him with a damning revelation, the young prince’s world spirals around him. Madness, murder and revenge combine in one of the greatest works in literary history. Relevant to: English, Drama Suitable for: Years 10-12 Q and A or study resources: Online resources available: www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/ resources

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Touring Pete The Sheep

Monkey Baa Theatre Company is touring a new 50-minute musical based on Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s quintessentially Australian picture book to 54 venues this year. It’s about Shaun, the sheep shearer, and Pete, a sheep, who set up their own shearing salon and are inundated with woolly clients. The composer/ lyricist is Phil Scott, best known as pianist / performer in The Wharf Review. Neil Litchfield asked him about the challenge of writing songs for children.

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“I weaned myself into thinking like a kid to some extent,” says Phil Scott. “I still do plays on words and try to be a bit funny, putting in one or two lines for the parents. “The songs have to be short, punchy and fun, and there’s usually also room for at least one pinch hit number. There’s one in this, where Shaun the Shearer gets chucked out of the shearing shed and doesn’t know what to do, so he’s got a little sad song, but you can’t let that go on, because they lose interest. “So you have to keep things like that in mind. The songs have to say who we are, and what we’re here for. But within that there’s scope for lots of stuff. “The four actors in the show play shearers and sheepdogs and sheep, and they switch back and forth very quickly, so they get to sing as all those things. So the dogs have got a kind of a rhythm and blues or country blues sort of song which they can howl in. “There are also scenes set in a hairdresser, because Shaun has a different idea of how he should do

things, so instead of just shearing the sheep, he gives them fancy hairdos. For some reason I associate hairdressers with 60s Bossa Nova, so the there’s a clipping, cutting hair song that’s in that sort of style.” How did Phil wean himself back into childhood? “I thought back to what sort of songs I had really enjoyed as a little kid, and of course the songs from the Disney films were the ones. I had a look at them. Their lyrics are clever and their music is melodic, memorable and bright. So I guess I started from that. “And The Wizard of Oz - I was a huge fan of that. Not that you could get it on VHS back then, I had to go to the Metro at Manly every six months or so. Kids like a bit of repetition in songs, like ‘Follow the Yellow Brick Road’, so they can sing some sort of simple musical phrase. “Also, the first show I did at Monkey Baa I watched a few performances to see how the kids responded and which parts they liked best. They just loved the two rats in the

show, who were the baddies, particularly the boys in the audience, so I gave them a vaudeville song and dance kind of number.”

was very useful in terms of taking another step toward what the final product was going to be. “It’s fun to get to know the cast. There’s one guy, Todd Keys, who has a very deep voice, so I wrote How does writing for children some harmonies. The best thing contrast with satirical songabout writing four part writing for The Wharf Revue? harmonies for men is if you’ve “In The Wharf Revue we got someone with a really strong mostly write parody lyrics to bass voice to anchor it, so that’s existing songs. Song parody is in now. funnier than an original song “Monkey Baa is a fantastic because you know the song that company to work for; they’re so is being parodied already, so you committed, and so detailed, and have an inbuilt humour quotient. what they do, and what I also try And it’s easier. to do, is they don’t talk down to “But with the Monkey Baa their audiences. They don’t give shows the music is all original; the anything half formed or ‘Oh there’s stylistic pastiches but it’s this will do’. They’re very precise all original, and I like to write in their scripts and everything. For more details visit: http://bit.ly/1gP7IWl original music. “Also, the production values, within a limited budget. They’re How did work-shopping the piece that could have been done better in very keen to give children a production impact on Phil’s songwriting? front of an audience. which is up to the standards that you “I think work-shopping has to be “We cut verses out when we would put on for adults. I wouldn’t part of the process; you can’t just fling thought something was too long, and work for them otherwise.” it on then find out that there are things we talked about where we’d need some music to cover scene changes. It

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be downloaded from http://opera.org.au/ barberkit and audio CDs can be provided before the performance. Website http://opera.org.au/ontour/schools_tours In Victoria Cinderella (Based on Rossini's La Cenerentola) http://opera.org.au/ontour/schools_tours Tour commences on May 19 and concludes on September 13. Introduce your students to the magic of opera with this delightful production from Opera Australia, telling Cinderella’s timeless story through the music of Rossini. Suitable for: P-6 music and drama curriculum. Q and A or study resources: A 10 minute Q&A session following the performance, as well as a Teachers Resource Kit and Audio CD.

CDP Theatre Producers

The 13 Story Treehouse Excursion The Barber of Seville Touring nationally, commencing at Casula Powerhouse in March 2014. Visiting NSW, VIC, ACT, QLD AND WA. www.cdp.com.au In NSW Dates: March – July 2014. The Barber of Seville About: Direct from its sell-out premiere season at http://opera.org.au/ontour/schools_tours Tour commences on February 24 and concludes the Sydney Opera House and adapted by Richard Tulloch, The 13-Storey Treehouse is brought to on September 13. life by a seriously funny cast and magical Introduce your students to the magic of opera moments of theatrical wizardry. Just remember to through this delightful production from Opera ‘Use your imagination!’ 60mins. Australia, featuring the music of Rossini’s most Relevant to: Drama, English, Music, Library and famous work. Suitable for K-6 music and drama curriculum, and General Education includes a 10 minute Q&A session following the Suitable for: Aged 6 – 12 (Years 3-6) Duration: 60 mins, no interval performance, as well as a Teachers Resource Kit Q and A or study resources: Teachers Resources and Audio CD. kit available With its madcap antics of love-at-first-sight, secret letters, cunning disguises and all sorts of Gruffalo crazy confusion, Rossini’s wonderfully Excursion entertaining The Barber of Seville is a perfect Touring nationally, commencing at Riverside introduction to opera for young audiences. Theatre, Parramatta. Visiting NSW, WA, ACT, VIC Relevant to: Drama, Music, Italian. & QLD IN 2014. Suitable for: Primary school students Q and A or study resources: An Education Kit can www.cdp.com.au

Opera Australia

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Dates: June – Sept 2014 After sell-out seasons throughout the world, including the West End and Broadway, and throughout Australia from 2009 - 11, The Gruffalo returns in 2014! Let your imagination run wild with songs, laughs and fun for children aged 3 and up, and their adults. Relevant to: Drama, English, Music, Library and General Education Suitable for: Aged 3-8 (Years K-3) Duration: 55 mins, no interval Q and A or study resources: Teachers Resources kit available

Perform! Educational Musicals

Q and A or study resources: Q and A following performance. Teacher Activity Pack forwarded prior to performance. Also available for the same time Science Week in Schools – Rock Me, Galileo! Educational musical performed direct in schools for Science Week 2014 showcasing Australia’s contributions to global astronomy and the discoveries of Galileo – the father of modern science! Relevant to: Earth & Space Sciences; Mathematics; The Humanities; The Arts. Suitable for: Years 5-9. Q and A or study resources: Q and A following performance. Teacher Activity Pack forwarded prior to performance.

Cyber Safety in Schools – MyFriends Dot Com Incursion www.performmusicals.com Book Week VIC, NSW Incursion Available: Mon 12th May – Fri 23rd May 2014 www.performmusicals.com About: Official partner of Stay Smart Online Touring to VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, WA, TAS Dates: Mon 4th August – Fri 5th September 2014 Awareness Week. An Educational musical performed direct in schools exploring the world About: Educational musical performed direct in of cyber-bullying, its dangers and consequences. schools to celebrate Book Week 2014 and the Relevant to: Communication, English, Humanities, CBC theme ‘Connect to Reading’ featuring a The Arts, H&PE. selection of 2014 CBC shortlisted books Relevant to: English, Health & PE, SOSE/HSIE, The Suitable for: Years 5-9. Q and A or study resources: Q and A following Arts. performance. Teacher Activity Pack forwarded Suitable for: K-6 prior to performance. Q and A or study resources: Q and A following performance. Teacher Activity Pack and FREE CD Financial Literacy in Schools – Dollars & Sense! soundtrack forwarded prior to performance. Incursion www.performmusicals.com Science Week in Schools – Wipeout! VIC, NSW Incursion Available: Mon 12th May – Fri 23rd May 2014. www.performmusicals.com About: Educational musical performed in schools VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, WA featuring comedy, singing and student Available: Mon 11th August – Fri 29th August interaction, your students will discover the 10 KEY 2014 About: Educational musical performed in schools CONCEPTS to become financially literate. Relevant to: The Humanities (Economics, celebrating Science Week 2014 and its theme ‘Food for our future: Science feeding the world’. Business/Commerce, SOSE/HSIE, History); English; Mathematics; The Arts. Relevant to: Biological Science, Physical Science, Suitable for: Years 5-9. Environmental Science, SOSE/HSIE, Economics, The Arts. Suitable for: Years 5-9. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 12

Q and A or study resources: Q and A following performance. Teacher Activity Pack forwarded prior to performance. LazyTown in Schools – Fitness & Healthy Eating Incursion www.lazytowninschools.com VIC, NSW, ACT, QLD, SA, WA. Available: Term 1 – Mon 24th Feb – Friday 14th Mar 2014 Term 2 – Monday 5th May – Friday 30th May 2014 About: The #1 global program inspiring children to Get Up & Get Moving! LazyTown will empower students towards having a healthy body, eating a balanced diet and being physically active. Relevant to: Healthy Eating, Physical Education, Communication, Interpersonal Development, Creative Arts Suitable for: K-2 Q and A or study resources: Q and A following performance. Teacher Activity Pack forwarded prior to performance.

Sydney Dance Company

Sydney Dance Company’s matinees give students a chance to meaningfully engage with the Company through a talk, demonstration and Q&A session programmed alongside the performance. Each secondary school matinee is accompanied by a free curriculum-relevant resource pack.

Tickets: $25 for students, accompanying teachers FREE per 10 students Bookings: education@sydneydancecompany.com or call 02 9258 4800 School groups are able to book an evening performances, contact Sydney Theatre on 9250 1999 Louder Than Words (Years 7 – 12) Rafael Bonachela and Andonis Foniadakis have both dedicated themselves to making dance that stretches the human body to its absolute limits. In the Louder Than Words schools’ matinee, see how movement still speaks when words falter. Tuesday 14 October 2014, 12pm Sydney Theatre Tickets: $25 for students, accompanying teachers FREE per 10 students Bookings: education@sydneydancecompany.com or call 02 9258 4800 School groups are able to book for evening performance, contact Sydney Theatre on 9250 1999 Access Program Sydney Dance Company’s growing Access Program, supported by Arts NSW, the Ian Potter Foundation and donors, provides disadvantaged students with subsidised tickets to our school matinees. Please contact our Education Coordinator, to apply for subsidy: education@sydneydancecompany.com or call 02 9258 4800.

Sneak Peeks Also on offer in some regional venues, Sneak Peek gives young audiences the unique opportunity to see how a professional dance company prepares for a performance by inviting them into the theatre during rehearsal. Watch the second half Interplay (Years 7-12) From a program of three adventurous of the dancers’ technique class as they energise and train their bodies, then see how the dancers contemporary dance works by choreographers Rafael Bonachela, Gideon Obarzanek and Jacopo and production team set the spacing and lighting Godani, the Interplay schools’ matinee showcases for the show. Dance Director, Amy Hollingsworth, leads the rehearsal and shares some background two of these works from the new frontiers of information on the production with the audience, dance. Tuesday 25 March 2014, 12pm - Sydney Theatre. with the opportunity to ask questions. More information: Email Friday 11 April 2014, 12:30pm - Canberra education@sydneydancecompany.com Theatre Centre. Tuesday 6 May 2014, 12pm – Southbank Theatre, Melbourne. 13 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

their careers and relationships intertwine, peak and implode. Relevant to: Drama, HISE (Human Society and its Environment), Chinese Language & English Students. Suitable for: Yr 10 to 12. Q and A or study resources: Free pre-show briefing and post-show Q&A. Study resources will be available on the STC Website. Children of the Sun by Maxim Gorky, in a new version by Andrew Upton Excursion Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House www.sydneytheatre.com.au/community/ education/2014-productions.aspx Date: Schools Day – Wednesday 22 October 12:15pm About: In a rambling mansion in provincial Russia The Effect by Lucy Prebble at the beginning of the 20th Century, a sister, a Excursion brother, their parents and admirers pursue their Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company intimate intrigues oblivious to bigger new realities www.sydneytheatre.com.au/community/ brewing at their door step. A family born to education/2014-productions.aspx privilege but bound for dysfunction. Date: Schools Day – Wednesday 13 August Relevant to: Drama & HISE (Human Society and 12:15pm its Environment) About: Two young volunteers, Tristan and Suitable for: Yr 9 to 12 Connie, take part in a drug trail examining the Q and A or study resources: Free pre-show effects of a new anti-depressant. However, as briefing and post-show Q&A. Study resources will their doses become stronger, they succumb to the gravitational pull of attraction and start to fall be available on the STC Website. in love. But is their newfound passion real? Or Switzerland - A new play by Joanna Murray-Smith just another side effect? Excursion Relevant to: Drama & English Students Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House Suitable for: Yr 11 and 12 www.sydneytheatre.com.au/community/ Q and A or study resources: Free pre-show education/2014-productions.aspx briefing and post-show Q&A! Date: Schools Day – Wednesday 26 November Study resources will be available on the STC 12:15pm Website. About: Finely plotted, suspenseful and surprising, Switzerland will have you on the edge of your Kryptonite by Sue Smith seat. By arrangement with LA’s Geffen Playhouse, Excursion who commissioned Switzerland, the STC is Wharf 1 Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company excited to present this very original thriller www.sydneytheatre.com.au/community/ inspired by Patricia Highsmith, renowned novelist education/2014-productions.aspx best known for her fictional creation con artist Date: Schools Day – Wednesday 15 October Tom Ripley. 12:15pm Relevant to: Drama & English Students About: Crossing through time, juggling the Suitable for: Yr 10 to 12 personal and political, Kryptonite traces the fortunes of two students at a Sydney university as

Sydney Theatre Company

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Q and A or study resources: Free pre-show briefing and post-show Q&A! Study resources will be available on the STC Website.

Monkey Baa

Tough Beauty Excursion at Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre (Terrace 3/1-25 Harbour St, Sydney). A Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre production. Presented by Monkey Baa Theatre Company www.monkeybaa.com.au Dates: Term 1 – 13 & 14 March at 10:30am & 12:30pm About: A play borne from YouTube fight clips and schoolyard insults. Half a minute of violence which will decide your next five years of high school. Relevant to: Drama / English. Suitable for: Years 8 – 12 Q and A or study resources: Q&A sessions after each performance. Teachers’ Resources available (online or email). The Stones Excursion at Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre (Terrace 3/1-25 Harbour St, Sydney). A Zeal Theatre production. Presented by Monkey Baa Theatre Company www.monkeybaa.com.au Dates: Term 2 – 20 – 23 May at 10:30am & 12:30pm About: Based on a true story of two boys charged with manslaughter after throwing rocks from a freeway overpass. A tour de force of multi-skilled storytelling & physical theatre for teenagers and adults. Relevant to: Drama / English / Community Suitable for: Years 7 – 12 Q and A or study resources: Q&A sessions after each performance. Teachers’ Resources available (online or email). I Am Jack Excursion at Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre (Terrace 3/1-25 Harbour St, Sydney). A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production. Based on the book by Susanne Gervay 15 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

www.monkeybaa.com.au Dates: Term 3 – 18 – 22 August at 10:30am & 12:30pm About: This one man show explores the often overlooked insidious taunting and teasing that bullies are so adept at inflicting on their victims and the roles that family and schools can play in responding. Relevant to: Drama / English / Community Suitable for: Years 7 & 8 Q and A or study resources: Q&A sessions after each performance. Teachers’ Resources available (online or email). The Unknown Soldier Excursion at Lend Lease Darling Quarter Theatre (Terrace 3/1-25 Harbour St, Sydney)/ A Monkey Baa Theatre Company production Devised by Monkey Baa www.monkeybaa.com.au Dates: Term 4 – 13 – 24 October at 10:30am & 12:30pm About: Monkey Baa is creating a new play exploring the themes around The Unknown Soldier. Who is he and what does he represent in Australia today? Relevant to: Drama / English / Modern HistoryWW1 Suitable for: Years 7 & 8 Q and A or study resources: Q&A sessions after each performance. Teachers’ Resources available (online or email).

The Ensemble Theatre

Richard III by William Shakespeare Excursion The Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street,   Kirribilli, NSW. http://ensemble.com.au/the-hub/onstage/richardiii The following performances are available for school bookings: Tuesday 24 June 11am; Wednesday 25 June 11am; Thursday 26 June 11am; Tuesday 15 July 11am & Thursday 17 July 11am. About: Roping in friends and potential girlfriends,

a man enacts Shakespeare’s play in his living quarters, remaining true to Shakespeare’s dialogue, whilst wildly re-imagining it. Relevant to: HSC English (Standard) Course, Module B: Close Study of Text; HSC English (Standard) Course, Module C: Texts and Society; HSC English (Advanced) Course, Module B: Critical Study of Texts & Secondary students of English, ESL and Drama. Suitable for: Year 9-Year 12. Not just for Advanced English students, but a great complimentary experience for all students of English and Drama. Q and A or study resources: An education pack will be available to schools booking tickets to the show. There is a question and answer session. Ensemble Theatre will be holding free 1 hour Richard III workshops for school students. Backstage Confessions: The Richard III Blog http:// ensemble.com.au/the-hub/backstage-confessions Teaser videos: http://youtu.be/Y1ij_GJ2UTk http://youtu.be/6O61QX7UPhM Also recommend for schools by The Ensemble Theatre.

resilience, courage and forgiveness run deeper in the human psyche than many cynics would have us believe. Charitable Intent From Sept 15, 2014 When a high powered CEO is newly appointed to a well-respected charity organisation, accusations of bullying quickly emerge. Long standing local employees who believe strongly in the ideals of the organisation have trouble coming to terms with the CEO’s hard-line business approach. Passions run high during their conference with variously devastating, hilarious and life-affirming outcomes.

Matriark Art Theatre

The Arté of Commedia Workshops for High School Students Incursion Available: Term 1-4 About: Matriark brings Commedia to life. This workshop package includes a show, Q&A and The Jack Manning Trilogy by David Williamson character masterclass. Teachers have trained Each Play 90 minutes with no interval. internationally and hold recognized teacher Ensemble Theatre at The Concourse, 409 Victoria qualifications. Ave, Chatswood. Relevant to: Drama or Italian Suitable for: Years 7-12 Face to Face www.matriarkarttheatre.com From Aug 25, 2014 A young construction worker rams into his boss’ Mercedes after being sacked. Rather than fronting court, he is given the chance to explain his actions in a community conference. His fellow workmates are encouraged to acknowledge some www.sydneyoperahouse.com/ responsibility for a series of incidents that Education_secondary.aspx provoked the crime. Excursions A Conversation The Magic Flute. From Sept 8, 2014 Opera Australia A tough confrontation between the family of the Date: March 26. perpetrator of a heinous crime and the family of Suitable for: Years 9 – 12. his victim. Can facing the family of someone who Relevant to: Entertainment, Drama, Music. has caused you immeasurable harm help the healing process to start? The evidence from the Pinocchio community conferencing process is that human Sydney Theatre Company.

Sydney Opera House

www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 16

Dates: April 29 – May 2. Suitable for: Years 7 – 8. Relevant to: Creative Arts English. Patyegarang Bangarra Dance Date: June 11. Suitable for: Years 7 – 12. Suitable for: Dance, Drama, Aboriginal Studies. The Rap Guide to Evolution Dates: June 18 – 20. Suitable for: Years 9 – 12. Relevant to: Science, Music, Society and Culture, Drama Macbeth Bell Shakespeare Dates: July 21 – August 14. Suitable for: Years 7 – 11 Relevant to: English and Drama. Little Bigshots International Film Festival Dates: Sept 4 and 5. Suitable for: Years 3 – 10. Relevant to: English, HSIE, Creative Arts , Photographic & Digital Media, Drama, English. Hans Christian. You Must be an Angel. Dates: Nov 4 – 7. Suitable for: Years 7 -8. Relevant to: Creative Arts, English.

About: Hedda Gabler is an extraordinary woman trapped inside a conventional life. Her volcanic boredom seems set to explode. Adena Jacobs reconceives of Ibsen’s tragic heroine. Relevant to: HSC Drama Tragedy, HSC Drama Contemporary Australian Theatre Practice and HSC English (Extension) Language and Values: Language and Gender. Suitable for: Years 11-12. Q and A or study resources: Post show Q&A with cast. What to Expect information online. Nora Excursion http://belvoir.com.au/school-performances/nora Dates: Wednesday 20 August, Thursday 28 August, Wednesday 3 September (all @11.30am). About: Re-visioning which overlaps with Ibsen’s revolutionary classic but follows Nora past the moment of slamming the door into the complications that surely follow her choice. Relevant to: HSC English (Advanced): Critical Study of Texts, Comparative Study of Texts & Contexts: Texts in Time; HSC English (Standard) Area of Study: Discovery & HSC Drama Contemporary Australian Theatre Practice. Suitable for: Years 11-12. Q and A or study resources: Post show Q&A with cast. What to Expect information online.

The Glass Menagerie Excursion Dates: Thursday 9 October, Wednesday 15 Move it Mob Style Dates: Nov 19 – 21. October, Wednesday 22 October, Wed 29 October (all @11.30am). Suitable for: Years 3 – 8. http://belvoir.com.au/school-performances/theRelevant to: Dance, PDHPE, HSIE glass-menagerie About: Eamon Flack whose Angels in America made students marvel, directs Luke Mullins as Tom in this faithful version of Tennessee Williams’ 18 Belvoir St, Surry Hills (walking distance from much-loved classic. Central Station). Relevant to: HSC Drama: Individual Project: Performance & HSC English: (Standard): Texts & Hedda Gabler http://belvoir.com.au/school-performances/hedda Society: Exploring Transitions. Suitable for: Years 9-12. -gabler Q and A or study resources: Post show Q&A with Dates: Thursday 17 July, Wednesday 23 July, cast. What to Expect information online. Wednesday 30 July (all @11.30am)

Belvoir

17 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

All’s Well That Ends Well At Seymour Centre www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/alls-wellthat-ends-well Dates: March 27th to April 12th Riverside Theatres will continue to champion creative learning outside the classroom with over About: You’ll be surprised by Shakespeare in this 30 events for students from pre-school to year 12 rarely performed but astonishingly bold play, brought to life with the clarity and inventiveness in 2014. we expect from Sport For Jove Theatre Co. The primary school program includes Adelaide Fringe award-winner, Jens Altheimer, with his one Relevant to: HSC students studying this play or -man circus Squaring the Wheel, an exploration Shakespeare in general, English, Drama. Stages 4 and 5 the English K–10 Historical, Humorous, of weird and whacky contraptions combining Relationships, Love, Language, Character, Society, creative arts and science on 1st and 2nd May. Gender, Status and Social Values Using hip-hop to communicate, Edinburgh Suitable for: Years 9-12 Festival smash hit The Rap Guide to Evolution illustrates natural selection, evolutionary Q and A or study resources: Q and A sessions are th th offered afterwards with the actors and director. psychology and much more on 24 and 25 June. A Doll’s House A highlight of the program in September is the Seymour Centre hilarious musical Still Awake Still! based on the much-loved songs from the bedtime book by www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/a-dollshouse Elizabeth Honey and Sue Johnson. Dates: July 17th to Aug 2nd Further information on Riverside Theatres’ 2014 About: With the brisk pace and plotting of a education program can be found at: http:// riversideparramatta.com.au/category/education thriller, Ibsen’s classic tale of intrigue, fraud and betrayal exposes a world where duty, power and hypocrisy rule. Relevant to: HSC students studying this play or Shakespeare in general, English, Drama, with links to Module C: Language and Values Suitable for: Years 9-12 www.sportforjove.com.au

Riverside Theatre Parramatta

Sport For Jove Theatre Company

Twelfth Night Seymour Centre www.seymourcentre.com/events/event/twelfthnight Dates: April 1st to April 12th About: A thrilling, hilarious and moving voyage of discovery awaits audiences watching this classic Shakespeare play Twelfth Night. Relevant to: HSC students studying this play or Shakespeare in general, English, Drama, with links to Module C: Language and Values Suitable for: Years 9-12 Q and A or study resources: Q and A sessions are offered afterwards with the actors and director.

Bell Shakespeare Company Macbeth By William Shakespeare, Director James Evans Producing Company: Bell Shakespeare www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/secondary/ intheatres/macbeth Dates: Sydney season: 21 July – 15 August. Melbourne season: 19-22 August. About: The Scottish Play descends upon Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne with pace, power and passion. How far would you go to get what you want? Relevant to: English, Drama www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 18

Suitable for: Years 7-11 Q and A or study resources: Online resources available: http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/ learning/resources

CDP Theatre Productions

The Incredible Book Eating Boy Excursion The Seymour Centre, Chippendale (April 3-5), The Concourse, Chatswood (April 8-10) and Sydney Opera House (April 12-27) www.cdp.com.au About: Olivers Jeffers’ bestselling picture book comes to life on stage for children 3-8 and their families in this premiere Australian adaptation. A cast of three use song, movement and beautiful puppetry to bring this qurky, much loved story to life on stage. It’s good enough to eat! Relevant to: Drama, English, Music, Library and General Education. Suitable for: Aged 3-8 ( Years K-3). Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resources available. Primary Proms Excursion Sydney Opera House (March – November 2014) www.cdp.com.au Dates: Commencing May & Nov 2014 Relevant to: Drama, English, Music, Library and General Education. Suitable for: Aged 5/6 (Yrs K-1). Q and A or study resources: Available from SOH. The 26- Storey Treehouse Excursion Dates: Seymour Centre, Chippendale (September 5-10), Casula Powerhouse (September 11-13), The Concourse Chatswood (Sept 15-16), Sydney Opera House (Sept 20 – Oct 5) www.cdp.com.au Dates: Commencing September 2014 About: Well, what are you waiting for? Come on up? Yes, that’s right. Andy and Terry had such a ball with their crash landing entry into the world of theatre with The 13 Storey Treehouse, they’re 19 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

back for more! 13 storeys more, in fact. AND YOU’RE INVITED! So what are you waiting for? You'll laugh your head off – it's practically guaranteed! Relevant to: Drama, English, Music, Library and General Education. Suitable for: Aged 6 – 12 (Years 3-6) Duration: 60 mins, no interval. Q and A or study resources: Teachers Resources available.

Bangarra Dance Theatre

Bangarra Dance Theatre runs an intensive youth program called Rekindling. The program began last year and ran in three communities in NSW. Rekindling aims to inspire the next generation of Indigenous story tellers and uses dance theatre to connect Indigenous youth with their culture. After the success of Rekindling last year the program is being expanded and in 2014 will now include Nowra, Wollongong, Lismore and Coffs Harbour in NSW and Theodore, Beaudesert, Weipa and Cairns in QLD. Youth Program Director Sidney Saltner will once again be joined by Workshop Leaders Chantal Kerr and Patrick Thaiday. This year they are also being joined by former Bangarra Dancers Gina Rings, Kirk Page and Barbra Drummond. Sidney Saltner will lead the team in QLD and Gina Page will lead the QLD team. While the auditions for the 2014 program will all take place in February the program will run through to August. While it will be too late for youth to apply to be part of this years program by the time the March/April issue comes out it would be great if you would consider including Rekindling as it will be good for teachers to know the program exists. www.bangarra.com.au/rekindling

Black Swan State Theatre Company

As You Like It by William Shakespeare, Excursion State Theatre Centre of WA www.bsstc.com.au/whats-on/as-you-like-it Dates: Term Two 17 May to 1 June 2014  About: As You Like It is one of the most beloved romantic comedies of all time. Playful, passionate and enchanting, the topsy-turvy tale of Rosalind and Orlando is chock-full of outlandish characters and some of Shakespeare’s greatest lines.  Relevant to: English/Drama  Suitable for: Year 8 to 12. Q and A or study resources: Available.

Creative Collaborations

The Lucky Country Incursion www.creativecollaborations.wikispaces.com/ TOURING+SHOWS Dates: All year. About: Celebrating Australia's cultural diversity: eight different people from eight different countries, each with a tale to tell.

Patyegarang

Relevant to: History, S and E, Cultural Diversity, Harmony Week. Suitable for: Years 7-11 Q and A or study resources. The Lucky Country comes with a free set of teachers’ notes with brief histories and maps of historical events that have impacted on the migrant experience including the break-up of Yugoslavia and the Kosovo conflict, the influx of Chinese and Japanese fishermen to Broome, the White Australia policy, the Vietnam War, Indian independence and the events of 9/11. The Big Book Show Incursion www.creativecollaborations.wikispaces.com/ TOURING+SHOWS Dates: All year About: A ripper of a trip to the kids' lit' Oscars!""The hilarious Big Book Show was written especially for Children’s Book Week and promotes the enjoyment of, not just books, but of stories in general. www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 20

Relevant to: Literacy. Children's Book Week. Suitable for: Years 2-7 Q and A or study resources: Teacher's notes with lesson ideas Suitcase Stories Incursion www.creativecollaborations.wikispaces.com/ TOURING+SHOWS Terms Available - or Dates if excursion. All year About: Celebrating Australia's cultural diversity: eight different people from eight different countries, each with a tale to tell. Relevant to: History, S and E, Cultural Diversity, Harmony Week. Suitable for: Years 2-7. Q and A or study resources: Free teacher's notes available

Spare Parts Puppet Theatre

strength of a child's imagination. Adapted from the book by Antoine de Saint-Exupery. Q and A or study resources: We provide teachers with a teachers resource pack upon booking, which ties in with the Australian curriculum and the WA curriculum framework. Farm Dates: 22nd – 26th September www.sppt.asn.au/programme/index/Farm Suitable for: 4 – 12 years About: Farm is a highly visual show about chance and resilience. Based on stories and experiences gathered in Merredin – a small community in the heart of the wheat belt - Farm will shed light on the real people of regional and rural Australia and share the joys and challenges of living and working on the land. Q and A or study resources: We provide teachers with a teachers resource pack upon booking, which ties in with the Australian curriculum and the WA curriculum framework.

Performances are at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, 1 Moominpappa at Sea: Go for 2&5 Regional Short Street, Fremantle WA (opposite the train Schools Tour 2014 station). Dates: Term 1 - Mar 17 – Apr 11; Goldfields, Wheatbelt Term 2 - Apr 28 – May 19; South West, Great Hachiko Southern, Peel Dates: 7th – 11th April with performances at 10am & 1pm. Term 2 - June 9 – 20; Mid-west, Gascoyne At Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, 1 Short Street, www.sppt.asn.au/programme/touring/ moominpappaatsea Fremantle WA (opposite the train station). Suitable for: PP - 6 www.sppt.asn.au/programme/index/Hachiko About: Moominpappa at Sea, follows Suitable for: 5 years and above About: A moving story about loyalty and Moominpappa as he moves his family to a small resilience, Hachiko celebrates the remarkable job rocky island, far out at see. Pappa sets out to provide shelter and food for Moominmamma, an animal can bring to our lives. Q and A or study resources: We provide teachers Moomintroll and Little My, and to discover the secret of the ocean, but nothing goes to plan. with a teachers resource pack upon booking, which ties in with the Australian curriculum and Meanwhile, something freezing cold and the WA curriculum framework. dangerous has followed the Moomins to the island and while a wild storm rages the island itself will come to life! Adapted from the book by The Little Prince Tove Jansson. Dates: 30th June – 4th July. www.sppt.asn.au/programme/index/littleprince Q and A or study resources: We provide teachers with a teachers resource pack upon booking, Suitable for: 5 – 12 years which ties in with the Australian curriculum and About: With its timeless message about the the WA curriculum framework. importance of forming friendships, The Little Prince is an adventure story that celebrates the 21 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

2 One Another

Bangarra Dance Theatre

Patyegarang Excursion State Theatre Centre of WA Perth Theatre Trust www.statetheatrecentrewa.com.au/ eventDisplay.aspx?ID=1427 Dates: 30 July to 2 August 2014, 5 performances About: Patyegarang was a young woman of intense and enduring courage, a proud spirit, an educator and visionary – an inspiration today for respect of Aboriginal knowledge and language. Expressed in the beauty of Stephen Page’s distinctive choreography, Patyegarang celebrates Bangarra’s unique ability to tell stories through the prism of our contemporary experience, enriched by our shared history. Relevant to: English/Dance Suitable for: Year 8 to 12 Q and A or study resources: Yes

Sydney Dance Company

2 One Another Excursion His Majesty’s Theatre, 825 Hay St, Perth Perth Theatre Trust www.hismajestystheatre.com.au/ eventDisplay.aspx?ID=1395 Dates: 18 to 21 June 2014 About: An exuberant, high-octane fusion of dance, language, sound and light charting the myriad actions and reactions, gestures and relationships, connections and disconnections that makes up a life from Artistic Director Rafael Bonachela. Relevant to: English/Dance Suitable for: Year 8 to 12 Q and A or study resources: Yes.

www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 22

Arts Centre Melbourne

Melbourne Theatre Company

Yellow Moon by David Greig Excursion to Southbank Theatre, The Lawler http://mtc.com.au Dates: 2 – 16 May About: A contemporary tale of Bonnie and Clyde, Yellow Moon is a captivating journey of self-discovery with a dark heart. It is an inventive piece of drama for teenage students. Relevant to: VCE Drama Playlist Unit 3 Suitable for: Year 10 students and over. Q and A or study resources: Teachers Notes available. Marlin by Damien Millar Excursion Southbank Theatre, The Lawler http://mtc.com.au Victoria From 7-10 October About: When a fisherman and his granddaughter head out on a fishing trip, their journey becomes a life and death adventure that neither of them had anticipated. AusVELS LinksThe Arts (Drama): Exploring and respondingCommunication: Listening, viewing and responding English: Literacy Interpersonal Development: Building social relationships For Year 3 students and over Q and A or study resources: Teachers Notes available. 23 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

The Australian Ballet School Excursion Hamer Hall The Australian Ballet School presents http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ education-primary/the-australian-ballet-school Terms Available or Dates if excursion – Thursday May 6 About: The Australian Ballet School, will celebrate 50 years of excellence with a showcase of the young stars of tomorrow. Subjects it is relevant to – Heath and Physical Education, The Arts, Communication Suitable for: Years Five to Twelve Hans Christian, You Must Be An Angel Excursion Playhouse Rehearsal Room Arts Centre Melbourne and Teatret Gruppe 38 http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ education-primary/hans-christian-you-must-be-an -angel About: A long table is set for a birthday party and two waiters are on the job of their life – to wait on a table of fantastic personalities. Relevant to: Personal Learning, The Arts, English, Communication, Design, Creativity and Technology, Thinking Processes. Study Resources – Study Resources The Rap Guide to Evolution Excursion Fairfax Studio Arts Centre Melbourne in association with Merrigong Theatre Company. http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ education-secondary/the-rap-guide-to-evolution Dates: 3 - 6 June. About: Using hip-hop and clever re-workings of popular rap singles as a vehicle to communicate the facts of evolution, Canadian rapper Baba Brinkman illustrates natural selection, sexual selection and evolutionary psychology. Relevant to: Personal Learning, The Arts, English, Communication, Thinking Processes.

Suitable for: Years 9 to 12 Hansel & Gretel Q and A or study resources: Study Resources, and Excursion Q&A Fairfax Studio Arts Centre Melbourne and Victorian Opera The Magic of Gilbert and Sullivan http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ Excursion education-primary/hansel-and-gretel Hamer Hall About: Hansel and Gretel, two naughty children, Orchestra Victoria are sent into the forest where they discover a http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ gingerbread house and a wicked witch who eats education-secondary/the-magic-of-gilbert-andchildren. sullivan Relevant for: Personal Learning, The Arts, Date: 4 August. Languages, Communication, Thinking Processes About: Orchestra Victoria showcases Arthur Q and A or study resources: Study resources and Sullivan’s brilliant melodies and W.S Gilbert’s Q&A witty lyrics alongside Melbourne’s favourite soprano Antoinette Halloran, tenor James Hans Christian, You Must Be An Angel Egglestone and self-confessed G&S tragic Stuart Excursion Maunder Playhouse Rehearsal Room Relevant to: The Arts, Humanities – History Arts Centre Melbourne and Teatret Gruppe 38’s Suitable for: Years 7 to 12. http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ education-primary/hans-christian-you-must-be-an Circus Oz 2014 -angel Excursion About: A long table is set for a birthday party and The Big Top at Birrarung Marr two waiters are on the job of their life – to wait http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ on a table of fantastic personalities. Relevant for: Personal Learning, The Arts, English, education-primary/circus-oz-2014 About: Far flung acrobats, beautiful jugglers, Communication, Design, Creativity and knock-a-bout antipodean larrikins and ridiculous Technology, Thinking Processes. aerialists will fill you with awe and leave you in Q and A or study resources: Study Resources stitches in this new show from Circus Oz. available. Relevant to: Health and Physical Education, The Arts, Communications, Thinking Processes Suitable for: Years 7 to 12. The Girl Who Forgot to Sing Badly Excursion Fairfax Studio Arts Centre Melbourne and Theatre Lovett http://artscentremelbourne.com.au/whats-on/ education-primary/the-girl-who-forgot-to-singbadly State -Peggy O'Hegarty and her parents are packers. But one day the jobs stop coming and as Peggy desperately tries to save the day, we learn about love, loss and the courage to sing gloriously on or off-key. Relevant for: Interpersonal Development, The Arts, Communication, English, Thinking Processes, Design, Creativity and Technology.

Red Stitch Actors Theatre

Eurydice by Sarah Ruhl Duration: 90 minutes Available: Term 3 Suitable for: Years 10-12 Themes: Love, Death, Adaptation, Language, Poetry, Ancient Greek, Myth, Comedy, Tragedy, Drama Relevant to: The Arts, Drama, Music, Media Arts, Visual Arts, English, History About: Based on the Ancient Greek myth of Orpheus descending into the Underworld to save his beloved wife, this new re-imagining by awardwinning playwright Sarah Ruhl follows the www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 24

journey of Eurydice into a mad world rich in language, love and tragedy. Q and A or study resources: There will be Teachers Packs available for a fee from the theatre. There will be 11am Wednesday matinee performances on 10/9, 17/9, 24/9 and 1/10. These performances will be subject to demand. Register your interest in Teachers Packs or 11am Matinees by emailing admin@redstitch.net

packed, psychological thriller that has not lost its impact in nearly four hundred years. The action-packed plot and themes make Macbeth an excellent choice for secondary school students. Subjects it is relevant to: English Q and A or study resources: Q&A available after performance. We also offer workshops

Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream Incursion www.pagetostage.com.au Terms Available: All The Squeaky Window Incursion About: Shakespeare's classic romantic comedy Available: Terms 2-4 comes to life in this physical, truly transformative About: Two friends discover a wonderful but production. This fast-paced and hilarious pared down version of Shakespeare’s classic romantic squeaky window. By drawing pictures on the glass they solve the problem and begin a hilarious comedy has 7 actors playing all the roles. and touching Relevant to: English journey into the imagination. Q and A or study resources: Q&A available after Relevant to: Art and design, drama, interpersonal, show. Also offer workshops. personal, communication Suitable for: Prep-3. Shakespeare's Hamlet Q and A or study resources: Provided. Incursion & Excursion Pocketfool Excursion: Melbourne Fringe Festival September. www.pocketfool.com www.pagetostage.com.au ArtPlay Terms Available: 3 & 4 www.artplay.com.au About: Set against the backdrop of a smash reality TV series, Hamlet tells the story of a young prince sworn to avenge the murder of his father. Relevant to: English Q and A or study resources: Q&A available after Shakespeare's The Tempest show. Also offer workshops. Incursion www.pagetostage.com.au Available: All terms. About: One of the last known Shakespeare plays. Themes include freedom, friendship, repentance The Government Inspector and forgiveness through both temperance and Excursion to The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt intemperance. Street Southbank 3006. With a touring company of five cast, the www.malthousetheatre.com.au company perform an abridged version of the play Dates: 28 February – 23 March. About: A mischievously liberal adaptation of Relevant to: English, Literature Q and A or study resources: Q&A available after Gogol’s original by Simon Stone. This chaotic performance. Also offer workshops. comedy of errors proves you can fake it ’til you make it. Shakespeare's Macbeth Relevant to: Theatre Studies Unit 3 Suitable for: Year 10 (Age 15+) Incursion www.pagetostage.com.au Terms Available: AllAbout: Macbeth is an action-

Pocketfool

Page to Stage

Malthouse Theatre

25 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Q and A or study resources: Prompt Pack and Q&A available upon request

Creative Collaborations

Suitcase Stories Incursion www.creativecollaborations.wikispaces.com/ TOURING+SHOWS States: WA and Victoria Terms Available: All year. About: A hugely funny show celebrating Australia's cultural diversity: eight different people from eight different countries, each with a tale to tell. Relevant to: History, S and E, Cultural Diversity, Harmony Week. Suitable for: 2-7 Q and A or study resources: Free teacher's notes available.

The Flying Bookworm theatre Company Incursions www.flyingbookworm.com.au Available Victoria wide and all year. Q and A or study resources: A Q & A and study resources are available for all performances. Repertoire includes:Shakespeare Without Tears - Macbeth Relevant to: English, Literature. Years suitable: Year 9 - Year 12. Shakespeare Without Tears - Romeo & Juliet Relevant to: English, Literature. Suitable for: Year 9 - Year 12. Shakespeare Without Tears - The Soliloquy Relevant to: English, Literature. Suitable for: Year 9 - Year 12. Bully Relevant to: Health, Social Studies, Chaplain Suitable for: Grade 6 - Year 8. The Banjo - Australian Poetry and the Works of A.B Patterson

Relevant to: History, English, Drama. Suitable for: Grade 3 - Grade 6. Magic Journeys Relevant to: early learning, drama, reading, poetry, fairy tales, language development Suitable for: Preschool to Grade 2.

Two Friends Productions

My Friend Bill - The Mysterious Life of William Shakespeare Incursion www.twofriendsproductions.com.au Available: Terms 2, 3, 4. About: Take a comedic journey to Elizabethan London as we piece together Shakespeare’s mysterious life, his exciting plays and discover what life in the theatre was like. Relevant to: English, Literature, Drama, Theatre Studies Suitable for: 9 to 11 Q and A study resources available upon request Gwen and John: A Melodramatic Love Story Incursion www.twofriendsproductions.com.au Available: Terms 1-4 About: A random, over-the-top love story, all done in the style of melodrama (complete with a villain). Perfect for drama students studying melodrama. Relevant to: Drama Suitable for: Year 7-9 Q and A study resources available upon request

Melbourne French Theatre Inc.

Le Petit Nicolas [by Goscinny and Sempé] Student Workshop Incursion http://melbournefrenchtheatre.org.au/ reservations/lepetitnicolas/ Available: Terms 1 to 4, 2014 Costs $9 per student – terms + conditions apply www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 26

MTC’s Yellow Moon

apartment decorator and the Russian bombshell Olga take a new interest… Relevant to: French + Drama Suitable for: Years 9 to 12.

Bell Shakespeare Company

Macbeth By William Shakespeare, Director James Evans Bell Shakespeare www.bellshakespeare.com.au/learning/secondary/ intheatres/macbeth Available: Sydney season: 21 July – 15 August | Melbourne season: 19-22 August About : The Scottish Play descends upon Sydney Opera House and Arts Centre Melbourne with pace, power and passion. How far would you go to get what you want? About: Interactive language and drama Subjects it is relevant to: English, Drama workshop, where students get to learn, listen, Suitable for: Years 7-11 read, speak, interpret and some even perform. Q and A or study resources: Online resources The extract from Le Petit Nicolas covers a full 10 available: http://www.bellshakespeare.com.au/ scenes OR 5 scenes (a selection) in French, English learning/resources or bilingual formats and provides an opportunity for students to experience drama application. Relevant to: French + Drama Suitable for: all primary and secondary levels [designed flexibly and adapts easily]. Teacher Pack available. Patient 12 by Kevin Summers Excursion Cher Trésor [Don’t tax me too much darling!] by La Mama Courthouse Theatre, 349 Drummond St Francis Veber Carlton Excursion to Collingwood College Theatre www.lamama.com.au http://melbournefrenchtheatre.org.au/ Dates: Wed Mar 12 - Sun Mar 23 evening and reservations/school-bookings/ matinee performances Availabke: 6 to 10 May 2014 with schools About: Tiga, a lost dog, is attempting to find his matinee Friday 9 May 2014 at 2.30pm way home. His adventures expose him to the Costs $12 per student – terms + conditions apply best and worst of humanity. About: The hapless unemployed François Pignon Relevant to: VCE Drama Playlist 2014, Drama and has found THE solution to his financial problems theatre studies years 10-12. Tertiary theatre and whilst house sitting the apartment of the performance courses fabulously rich and mysterious Jonville – a tax Warning: Some coarse language, and drug audit! Maybe weird; but why would the tax office reference. [Inspector Toulouse] audit someone who is down Suitable for: Years 10-12 and tertiary students and out? Perception is everything and when news Q and A or study resources: After-show forums breaks of the audit, all of his friends [Maurin], ex- with writer, director, cast & crew. Published wife Marie and the beautiful Christine, Jonville’s scripts available, with notes.

La Mama (Learning Program)

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State Theatre Company of South Australia

Jesikah 7 – 9 May Suburban Tour 12 – 23 May Regional Tour 27 – 31 May Space Theatre (SOLD OUT SEASON) Excursion Various venues (see website for details) http://statetheatrecompany.com.au/home/ whatson/shows2014/jesikah/ About: A world premiere Australian comedy by Patrick White and Flinders University Young Playwrights Award-winning playwright Phillip Kavanagh about a schoolgirl who develops an unhealthy obsession with YouTube fame,Jesikah is a witty, exciting and scathing look at our celebrity obsessed culture. Jesikah follows the rise and fall of its eponymous character; as her online notoriety burgeons, Jesikah’s real life starts to become alarmingly unstitched. Supported by her sometimes less than helpful ‘BFF’ Denise, Jesikah goes to increasingly extreme lengths to convert internet celebrity into real life adoration. But in the world wide web things are not always as they seem ...

Little Bird 18 June @ 11am Excursion Her Majesty’s Theatre Neighbourhood Watch http://statetheatrecompany.com.au/home/ 13 May @ 10.30am whatson/shows2014/littlebird/ Excursion About: A dark fairytale for grown-ups, a song Dunstan Playhouse cycle, a thrilling piece of solo performance, Little http://statetheatrecompany.com.au/home/ Bird is a gripping story of how people can whatson/shows2014/neighbourhoodwatch/ transform many times over the course of a About: BAFTA Award winning star Miriam lifetime.Commissioned by State Theatre Company Margolyes (Harry Potter movies, Dickens’ Women) joins State Theatre Company for the first and the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, Little Bird looks time in this new Australian comedy about hope, at the journey of a young boy, Wren, from his death and pets. From the unique imagination of parents’ isolated cottage all the way to the lights of the big city. Along the way a series of startling Lally Katz (The Eisteddfod, Stories I Want To Tell transformations occur, blurring the lines of You In Person) springs a world of wonderfully identity, gender and reality as Wren searches for neurotic, painfully recognisable characters. self, for love and for a place to belong. A delightful odd-couple tale, Neighbourhood Drawing upon fable, mythology and song to Watch tells the story of a young woman, Catherine, and her surprising friendship with her create a compelling dramatic and musical journey, Little Bird will leave you transported, neighbour Ana, an 80 year old Hungarianuplifted and with tears in your eyes. Australian widow. Ana is an irritable force of nature, bent but not broken by the harsh cards life has dealt her. Catherine is a young, scatterbrained aspiring actress. Bookings: education@statetheatrecompany.com.au

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The Importance of Being Earnest 15 August @ 10.30am Excursion Dunstan Playhouse http://statetheatrecompany.com.au/home/ whatson/shows2014/earnest/ About: Oscar Wilde’s comedy of love, manners and mistaken identity—The Importance of Being Earnest has been delighting audiences for over 100 years. Set within the stifling conventions of Victorian England, two young bachelors have taken to bending the rules and the truth to add a dash of excitement to their lives. Jack invents a brother Ernest as an excuse to leave his dull country life behind so that he may pursue Gwendolen, the delectable daughter of the formidable Lady Bracknell. Across town Algernon decides to take the name Ernest, when visiting Jack’s young ward Cecily. When each gentleman is forced to unwind his web of lies and reveal himself—being ‘earnest’ takes on a whole new meaning! Grand dame of the Australian theatre Nancye Hayes (Metro Street) returns to State Theatre Company to bring the formidable and acidic Lady Bracknell to life alongside the elastic and hilarious Nathan O’Keefe (The Comedy of Errors, Hedda Gabler) as Algernon.

Urban Myth Theatre Company

Trouble and Strife Incursion http://urbanmytheatrecompany.blogspot.com.au/ Dates: 12th – 16th May and 19th – 23rd May About: Australian women's experiences on the home-front in WWI. Performers Ashton Malcolm and Lydia Nicholson draw on the real stories of wartime heroines to celebrate the strength and resourcefulness of Australian women. CuRelevant to: History, Australian History, Modern History, Drama, English, Society and Environment. Suitable for: Year level 7+ Duration: 30 minutes + Q&A Study Resources: Trouble & Strife Study Resources

Adelaide Cabaret Festival

Class of Cabaret Adelaide Festival Centre - Sunday 15th June 2014 Class of Cabaret is embarking on its fourth year after its debut at the 2010 Adelaide Cabaret Festival. Schools involved have received standing ovations from sold-out crowds. Othello Each student develops the skills to engage the Date: 20 Nov @ 10.30am audience on a personal journey with their own Excursion individual story. Dunstan Playhouse Class of Cabaret provides students with the http://statetheatrecompany.com.au/home/ unique opportunity to gain performance and selfwhatson/shows2014/othello development skills in a professional performing About: Combining a vivid depiction of racial arts setting. struggle, the fog of war, and the thin frontiers Students attend all scheduled workshops & that separate love and jealousy, vengeance and rehearsals from February to June. forgiveness, Othello is one of William Our Cabaret Mentors, Matthew Carey and Kim Shakespeare’s most famous tragedies. Spargo, work closely with each student through a Othello, newly married to Desdemona, who is series of workshops. These sessions focus on half his age, is appointed leader of a military direction and guidance to select appropriate song operation to defend Cyprusfrom the Turks. Iago, choices for final performance, stage and his ensign, passed over for promotion in favour of performance technique, and the development of young Cassio, persuades Othello that Cassio and individual/group show structures. Students are Desdemona are having an affair. And thus the provided with ‘Workshop Notes’ during sessions. violent engine of jealousy is set in motion… This enables students and their respective 29 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Class of Cabaret

classroom teachers, to continue to support the student’s progress between each workshop. The Adelaide Cabaret Festival has recently introduced a specialized mentorship program for participants of the 2014 in take as the Class of Cabaret Graduates Program. A selected student/s will be invited to undertake work experience at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival, as well as attend and participate in specialized workshops with Class of Cabaret Directors in order to create and develop a show to be presented in the 2015 Adelaide Cabaret Festival.

Windmill Theatre Company www.windmill.org.au

The Trilogy 28 February - 16 March 2014 A unique trilogy of rites-of-passage stories that explode defining adolescent moments.

Girl Asleep 28 February - 15 March 2014 A girl’s own adventure where heroism and gender implode in a unique exposé of the sisterhood. Fugitive 1 - 9 March 2014 An hysterical, anarchic knife-edge ride that is contemporary Australian theatre at its best. School Dance 12 - 16 March 2014 Invisibility is a whole bag of angry cats The Ballad of Pondlike McGurk 4 - 9 August 2014 Directed by renowned international director Gill Robertson, this is simply told, powerful theatre.

www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 30

Artslink Queensland

www.artslinkqld.com.au/schools

QPAC

Out of the Box 2014 festival for children eight years and under Excursion Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and across the Cultural Precinct, South Bank including Queensland Art Gallery and GoMA, Queensland Museum and State Library of Queensland. Producing Company Queensland Performing Arts Centre (QPAC) www.outofthebox.com.au Terms Available - or Dates if excursion. Wednesday 25 June to Wednesday 2 July 2014 About: QPAC’s Out of the Box festival for children eight years and under is a festival that encourages children to have a voice and to participate in and learn through the arts. Relevant to: Music, Dance, Social Studies, Physical movement, English, Science, Geography, Drama, Play and Visual Art Suitable for: Prep to Grade 3 Q and A or study resources. Comprehensive learning and activity notes are available on the QPAC Out of the Box website www.outofthebox.com.au

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Crazy Science: The Crazy Scientist Strikes Back Incursion www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 3, Term 4 About: Richard Scholes is back with some of the most exciting experiments from Crazy Science and H2Whoa! plus new earth-shattering, lightning striking experiments that will change the way students see and feel the weather. Relevant to: Science: Earth and Space & Critical and Creative Thinking. Suitable for: Primary. Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit Last Tree in the City Incursion www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 3, Term 4 About: Adapted from the pages of Peter Carnavas’s adored picture book, Dead Puppet Society brings Edward and his city to life using their unique brand of puppet-based visual theatre. Relevant to: English, Drama, Sustainability, Literacy, Critical and Creative Thinking. Suitable for: Primary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit. Book available through New Frontier Publishing. Marcus and the Manic Music Makers Incursion Artslink Queensland and Zen Zen Zo Physical Theatre www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 2 About: An explosion of movement, music and puppetry, Marcus and the Manic Music Makers is a physical theatre production that tells a universal story of overcoming your fears and finding the music that lives within. A rollercoaster ride through musical history and delight in finding that they needn’t face their fears alone.

Relevant to: Drama, Music, Critical and Creative Thinking, Personal and Social Capability. Suitable for: Primary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit

Available: Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4 About: Adapted from Peter Carnavas’ beautiful picture book, Sarah’s Heavy Heart swells into a whimsical production filled with movement, music and life. Students will discover a sense of My Story Your Story emotional understanding as they empathise with Sarah and share the weight of her heavy heart. Incursion www.artslinkqld.com.au Subjects it is relevant to: English, Drama, Personal Available: Term 1, Term 2, Term 3 and Social Capability, Critical and Creative About: Weaving Aboriginal dance, music, art and Thinking, Ethical Behaviour dreamtime stories into the performance fabric, Suitable for: Primary. My Story Your Story will enlighten students’ Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit. understanding of Aboriginal culture as they sing Book available through New Frontier Publishing. and dance along with Jesse and Sam. Based on true stories and developed with students from the The Box Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts, this Incursion production will highlight the human connection Artslink Queensland and Backbone of the oral storytelling tradition and inspire young www.artslinkqld.com.au people to share stories of their own. Terms Available: Term 1, Term 2 Relevant to: Drama, English, Personal and Social About: A physical comedy about human Capability, Literacy, Intercultural Understanding, relationships, overcoming difference and working Critical and Creative Thinking,Aboriginal and together. Torres Strait Islander Histories and Cultures Relevant to: Drama, Personal and Social Suitable for: Primary Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit Behaviour and Script published through Playlab. Suitable for: Primary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit. No Way! Incursion An Experiment with The Caucasian Chalk Circle by Bertolt Brecht Artslink Queensland and Liesel Zink www.artslinkqld.com.au Incursion Available: Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4 Artslink Queensland and Backbone About: An interactive dance theatre production www.artslinkqld.com.au that tackles the serious issue of bullying in a Available: Term 1, Term 2 creative and vibrant way. Using moveable puzzle About: Award-winning playwright, Marcel pieces to reveal questions and scenarios about Dorney, re-works Brecht’s classic tale of justice for bullying, the two dancers will draw students into a young, contemporary audience. the heart of the bullying problem and help them Relevant to: Drama, English, Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical to discover a solution. Relevant to: Dance, Drama, Personal and Social Behaviour Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Suitable for: Secondary Behaviour. Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit. Suitable for: Primary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit Ruby Moon by Matt Cameron Incursion / Excursion Sarah’s Heavy Heart The Arts Centre Gold Coast Incursion www.artslinkqld.com.au / Artslink Queensland www.theartccentregc.com.au www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 3 www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 32

About: Descend into a suburban dystopia of loss and fear with this haunting production of Matt Cameronâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s acclaimed Australian play for young adults, Ruby Moon. Relevant to: Drama, Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Behaviour Suitable for: Secondary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit

stand alone or in conjunction with a performance. Relevant to: Drama, Dance. Suitable for: Primary, Secondary.

Shift Incursion Artslink Queensland and Liesel Zink www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4 About: Drawing from the experiences of young people, award-winning dance artist, Liesel Zink explores identity, human connection and conflict in this interactive dance theatre production. Relevant to: Drama, Dance, Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Behaviour Suitable for: Secondary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit

Cafe Floriani Incursion www.homunculustheatre.com.au QLD - South East Available: Terms 1-4 on request About: A demonstration of the traditional Italian theatre style Commedia dell'Arte Cafe Floriani explores ageless concepts of commerce, competition and greed. Relevant to: Drama, SOSE, History, Italian, English - a whole school experience! Suitable for: Versions for Grades 5-7 and Grades 7-12 Q and A or study resources. Yes.

The Apology Incursion www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 1, Term 2. About: Inspired by true events, The Apology is a searingly honest look at the repercussions of taking revenge and the long term effects that bullying can have. Relevant to: Drama, Dance, Personal and Social Capability, Critical and Creative Thinking, Ethical Behaviour Suitable for: Secondary Q and A or study resources: Teacher Resource Kit & Script published through Playlab. Masterclass withâ&#x20AC;Ś Incursion www.artslinkqld.com.au Available: Term 1, Term 2, Term 3, Term 4 About: Artslink Queensland talented touring artists are available for masterclasses in all forms of theatre, drama. Liesel Zink, Richard Scholes, Dead Puppet Society and Zeal Theatre all offer 90 minute masterclasses that can be booked as 33 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Homonculus Theatre

Also in QLD

www.shakeandstir.com.au/us.html

www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 34

Resources For Staging School Productions

Finding Plays And Musicals To Stage For a comprehensive listing visit the Finding A Show section of our website. www.stagewhispers.com.au/directory-central/193. Please read on to learn about our featured rights holders and tips on staging a show. Tanya Gerstleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s VCA production of Pericles Punished (after Pericles, Prince of Tyre by William Shakespeare). Presented by Acting Company 2013 and 1st, 2nd and 3rd year Production students. Photo: Jeff Busby.

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ORDER YOUR MUSICAL AND DRAMA CATALOGUE 2013

FREE PERUSALS Rockinâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Robin

MUSICALS PLAYS PANTOMIME AND THEATRE RESTAURANT From Cenarth Fox Scrubbers Suburban Circus

Beach Blanket Tempest

Snugglepot and Cuddlepie Visit www.davidspicer.com.au to read scripts, listen to music and see show videos. Order catalogue email david@davidspicer.com Phone/Fax 02 9371 8458. Stage Whispers 36 Write to PO Box 2280 Rose Bay Northwww.stagewhispers.com.au NSW 2030

Schools On Stage

All The World’s A Stage For Drama Teacher Waverley Christian College in Melbourne has a teacher who gives his students a dramatic adventure. When Stage Whispers’ David Spicer caught up with Asher Johnson in December as he was on his way to the Solomon Islands with a group of almost twenty Year 9 to 12 students for a tour of a devised production of Aladdin. True to form the planned locations are on the raw side. “We will be performing on the street, also touring to villages and indigenous places there,” he said. On the way to the airport Asher collected the Rob Galbraith Award from Drama Victoria for outstanding contribution by a beginning teacher in Drama. It’s not hard to see why he won the award. The overseas trips are an annual event. “Last year we did As You Like It in rural Cambodia and Vietnam.” He said the highlight was performing at an orphanage in Cambodia. “We slept in the place on the mats with these students. It was very dirty and very exciting, eating their food.” “Obviously we had to speed the show up. People look at me and say people don’t understand Shakespeare here. So we ramped up the physicality of it; it wasn’t really much of As You Like it but they got the gist of it.” Future plans include a trip to Los Angeles and Mexico. Also a trip to Belfast to stage a production of Romeo and Juliet with a theme of unity. The theatre company is called Act Three - which stands for Affecting Culture Tomorrow Through Holy Excellent Entertainment.

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“Performances are not just about students’ learning or the audience being entertained. They are also used to change the world for the better, not in a Brechtian sense of being changed when you leave the audience, but more 21st century. To be immersed in the story, see a bit of reality that is not preachy. So that they walk away and think about how to make the world a better place.” Asher pays tribute to his school Principal Peter Sheahan for having faith in the program. “It is difficult in a Christian community to take the chance. He has really trusted me and put a lot of funds in our direction. It is controversial. I don’t do things that are safe. “

www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 38

Broadway Classics In Sixty Minutes The Broadway Junior Collection, honoured with a special Tony Award for Music Theatre International, is among the innovative musical theatre adaptations for schools and youth theatre represented locally by Hal Leonard Australia. The adaptor of the musicals, Timothy Allen McDonald, recently in Australia to lead teacher workshops, explained what makes them tick.

Timothy Allen McDonald

woods can be enacted by your kids … you can make whatever happen if you have the imagination.” Stuart Hendricks from Hal Leonard Australia adds. “We all know that teachers are time -poor. What Broadway Junior does for a teacher is to empower them, especially teachers in primary school who aren’t specialists. It actually enables them, and gives them the tools there is no keyboard in the school, kids to make a quality production. can learn by singing along.” All shows in the Broadway “It takes about an hour of rehearsal for every minute of stage time, so 60 Junior Collection are also hours for a school or an linked to the school after-school program of curriculum, complete with rehearsals seemed like a study resources. logical amount of time.” There are a number of For older students, Hal factors involved in Leonard also represents the adapting musicals to this School Edition Collection. 60 minute format. Think: all the romance of “We want to make sure Les Miserables, or the that vocally the kids are hilarity of Avenue Q, with able to sing the show less raciness and more without developing accessibility. This nodules. I actually got collection also includes nodules in a Year 8 musical. adaptations of other bigSo, we adapt the shows to name shows like Miss sit in comfortable, healthy Saigon, Rent, Aida, Ragtime keys for young voices. and Sweeney Todd. “We’re also making sure Students are taught in that we tell the story in an conjunction with some great efficient way. Our guiding new theatrical resources light is ‘does it advance the including Study Guides, plot?’ I remember when we Accompaniment CDs first did Fiddler on the Roof, (Backing Tracks) and and I met with the authors, Production Slides. they said, ‘This is lovely. Other resources, including Congratulations, but you’ve taken all of RehearscorePLUS® and Stage “You now get Tevye’s humour out. It has to go back scripts, with music interpolated, a Managers’ Scripts are also in.’ So we added ‘Do You Love Me’ becoming increasingly director’s guide, which takes you back in, which doesn’t necessarily available to streamline the through the full process, with the advance the plot, but without it you’re easiest, most accessible solutions to all rehearsal process for teachers who are missing some heart. usually already dedicating countless aspects of the production. There’s a “Our goal is to make the shows as DVD detailing the choreography, hours of personal time to their school’s scalable as possible, so that they could breaking down three or four of the big production. play relatively well with 15 or 150 kids. numbers. We’re always trying to find clever ways Visit www.halleonard.com.au to view “The tracks are recorded by union to involve an ensemble, in such a way musicians, some like amazing Karaoke the full catalogue of School Edition, as it enhances the storytelling. For Broadway Junior and classic collection tracks without the singing, then instance, in Into The Woods, the musicals available. alternates with kids singing, so that if 39 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Hairspray Ringwood Secondary College (Vic). Director: Benjamin Moody. Producer Michael Phillips. Musical Director: Lachlan Mackay. August 9 - 17. After 30+ years of musical productions, Ringwood Secondary College’s Hairspray is a sold out sevenshow season, with enthusiasm bubbling over into the ancillary, including 1960s memorabilia and a photo booth in the foyer. Hairspray is a musical gem: infectious music, cross-dressing, risqué jokes, big characters, funky rhythms, and every song a winner. Minimal dialogue means no dull spots, and it’s an opportunity for a teenage cast to take on characters their own age. If Hairspray is to work, the players must ‘take no prisoners’, with huge demands on young singers and instrumentalists. And yes folks, they do it proud. Highs included Run and Tell That, You’re Timeless to Me, I Know Where I’ve Been and You Can’t Stop the Beat. While line delivery is occasionally too brisk, and audio sometimes disappointing, no technical hitch dents

character, be it cool, sultry, hip, bitchy or dippy. Energy oozes from the Big and Bold AND Beautiful chorus. All cast members are acknowledged with foyer photos, testifying to this cohort’s mutual respect, and the depth of the school’s PA program.

All those involved should be rightly proud. As one patron said at the stage door: You see them on stage and think wow. But then they come out at the end in school uniforms and you realise they are just kids. Bravo! Lucy Graham

Contemporary Musicals from Wiggles and Cockroaches Songwriter

ORiGiN Theatrical has announced its representation of Australasian rights for the John Field’s musicals, Evie & The Birdman and Who Loves Me? following the signing of a five year agreement. John Field began his song-writing career began in the 80’s, penning ten Top 40 hits for The Cockroaches, and his writing has included more than 400 songs for The Wiggles. Evie & The Birdman is a wild, totally original piece of contemporary music theatre. Dig out the boogie board and dive right in. This show is a Music Theatre equivalent of a day at the beach. It is not a “kids” show but a very fast moving contemporary musical aimed at young adults and those who can remember being young. Who Loves Me? is John’s most recent work. It is an urban love story set in Bellini’s Cafe- the busiest cafe in the middle of the city. It is the story of Enzo Bellini and his last dying wish to see his heartbroken daughter Sofia happy again. Who Loves Me is a contemporary musical about love, coffee, the stock market and the seductive power of the Mambo. John is excited about his new partnership with Origin: “I look forward to a wonderful and long association with this great company… you got to love an office that has a grand piano in the main conference room and photos of Cole Porter on the wall.” ORiGiN Theatrical, Kim Ransley. Phone: (02) Philip Walker, Kim Ransley (Origin Theatrical), John Field, and Maree Kirkland-Morris (The Peak Agency) 8514 5204 or kim@originmusic.com.au www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 40

Man Of Steel

2013 marks 35 years since the publication and first performance of what is Australia’s most performed school musical, Man Of Steel. Teachers who once performed in the musical that sends up the myth of Superman now direct it with their own students. Editor at Maverick Musicals Gail Denver reflects on its success with her brother, Simon, who wrote the musical in the 1970s. Gail: You were only 18 when you wrote the script for Man Of Steel - what prompted you (and composer Ian Dorricott) to write a comedy musical? Simon: I belonged to a youth group called “The Middle Stagers” at La Boite Theatre in Brisbane. We were all bursting with energy and more importantly we were all brought up on a strict diet of Monty Python, The Goodies, Norman Gunston and Aunty Jack. We wanted to do a musical - but the only one we all liked was Rocky Horror Show. The rights were not available, so the logical conclusion was to write our own. Gail: What made you choose the super hero theme? Simon: Now that was all Ian Dorricott’s idea! He first talked to me about writing a serious musical on Superman. He very quickly discovered the high camp of the Batman TV show was where I held all superheroes. All I could see was Simon Denver and Gail Denver “Bam”, “Kersplat” etc. There were to be no grey areas - the goodies were good and the baddies were bad. No subtext, no hero’s journey, and definitely no super powers caused by any form of radioactive slime. Gail: Being so young, were you prepared for what happened next? Did its immediate popularity take you by surprise? Simon: No! It came so out of left field. We performed it at La Boite and had a hoot and a half doing it. A couple of schools in Brisbane then did it. I was 19 by then, and having two schools in Brisbane do your musical was indeed a lofty perch. Other schools saw the first two schools and from then on a contagious infusion took over. I think what was really driving it was that the students loved it. Gail: Why do you think that it is still popular with schools after 36 years? Simon: I suppose that time has a strange sense of humour. What was once cutting edge quickly becomes the norm. But as a norm, Man of Steel still retains an almost innocent charm. It’s as far away from the modern superhero movies as you can get. I think that even now it makes a quick and simple contract with the audience, that being - this is very silly, so you might as well enjoy it. I saw it last year for the first time in almost 20 years. A school in Noosa did it. It quite amazed me just how fresh it still seems. Gail: What's it like being the founder writer of Maverick Musicals, that has been very successful marketing all of your musicals to schools around the world? Simon: It’s the part of my life that is constant. My relationship with Maverick has lasted longer than my marriage and is older than my children. 41 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Man of Steel Morrinsville College, New Zealand. Man of Steel uses an icon that, even in this day, is recognised by every student, parent and teacher. It’s a simple story and it worked for the new-entrants in our matinees, as much as for the 80-year-olds in the evening shows. It lends itself to simple props and costumes, and the action carries the show. The original script is easy to ‘update’ for local use and the actors enjoyed doing this themselves. The songs are memorable and straight-forward. Our music teacher Linda Street, captured by the Big Boss's Henchmen and the band in Morrinsville College's Man of Steel enjoyed doing them so much (when they did West Side Story two years ago, they spent one weekend on one song, and still did not get it right for the shows). In fact, the band was singing along with a lot of the big numbers (they were irrepressible in the chorus of ‘Landlady Blues’ and their enjoyment was infectious for the whole audience). Our specialist dancers had no problem choreographing their chosen numbers. In fact, the show lends itself to the

students doing much of their own staging. Finally, from a director’s point of view, the back-up resources make it so much easier to tee up everyone and get things humming. We took nine weeks to rehearse the show and then it was conveniently out of the way, end of term 1. Murray Feast, Head of Drama, Morrinsville College. Hervey Bay High School, Queensland I have directed 33 school musicals over the years and have found the perennial Man of Steel to be a quintessential example of the genre. We have staged it twice because of its immense appeal, not only to audiences, but to the cast and Hervey Bay High School crew as well. The musical is populated with clever and amusing characters, as well as the classic superhero. The show contains everything required of a school musical - action, suspense, a love interest, humour (some of the best corny gags ever) and, catchy songs. The production can be easily or elaborately staged depending on the director’s discretion. Mark Thomson, Hervey Bay High School, Qld.

New Backing Tracks for Youth Musicals from ORiGiN ORiGiN Theatrical have announced the release of two Andrew Lloyd Webber musicals with backing track accompaniment.

The royalty is a flat fee of $180.00 per performance for school and small scale youth group productions with a venue of up to 300 seats. Joseph and The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat The Rehearsal Package is With a running time of 60 minutes this is a very affordable show for youth groups and schools to produce, available on hire for $80.00 per set for one month and an with a flat fee of $60.00 per additional $20.00 for each subsequent month comprising performance for school and small of one script, one Piano Vocal Score and Double CD (CD scale youth group productions with without vocals and Rehearsal CD with vocals). Future Release: a fee of $75.00 for the rehearsal package consisting of one script, All Shook Up - Young Broadway Edition one vocal score (a Photocopy License Approximately 75 minutes in length. for extra copies is available) and double CD. Like Grease, this is set Disc 1 is for rehearsal only and features children singing in the 1950's but uses the parts for ease of learning. songs that were made Disc 2 is for performance i.e. Backing Tracks only, all live popular by Elvis Presley, instruments. with a book written by Joe Cats - The Abridged Edition DiPietro (Tony Award Approximately 75 minutes in length, developed with winning author of younger Jellicles in mind. The CDs provide the flexibility to Memphis) and based on Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. edit the show to a suitable length for the performance age group and aid the learning and rehearsal process. Contact ORiGiN Theatrical for more information and free perusal materials. www.origintheatrical.com.au www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 42

1979 London Palladium production of The King and I.

Learning From The King (And I) Australian music legend and theatre icon Marty Rhone was a young man when he scored a role alongside Yul Brynner in the West End production of The King and I. He played the young lover Lun Tha and now 35 years later is returning to the musical as the Prime Minister in the Opera Australia/GFO production. Marty spoke to Neil Litchfield about his return to musical theatre.

became a pop star, Marty’s first big pop hit ‘Denim and Lace’ sprang from his role as a song-writer in the TV soapie Class of 75. A six-week appearance in the TV soap Number 96 added to his fame. “Whenever they brought someone new into the cast, the Number 96 publicity machine worked overtime. They would have your name and your photograph literally everywhere.” But there were both Marty Rhone has advantages and had plenty of disadvantages to Marty’s crossover acting satisfaction from his and pop music success. career. As a 17-year“As soon as I had the old, fresh out of school, his first professional gig huge success with was as a supporting act ‘Denim and Lace’, overnight it seemed like for The Rolling Stones. I was persona non grata He switched between in the acting fraternity. pop music, TV drama It was quite bizarre.” and musical theatre, but it didn’t always go That prompted Marty to look overseas for work. smoothly. “I found that all of a sudden I was “I started the 70s very involved with acting. I did the original Sydney season this hugely successful pop vocalist, but the offers for acting roles quickly of Godspell.” The Jason Donovan or Kylie appeared to shut down. Admittedly I Minogue of his time, a soap star who was extremely busy touring, but I 43 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

decided to go over to England to further my career, and as it turned out I found myself in The King and I with Yul Brynner at the London Palladium.” But making it to the audition proved a tight thing. “It was a strange co-incidence. I was in northern NSW to do a ‘Mean Pair of Jeans’ tour when the motel manager woke me up at seven o’clock in the morning to take a call from London. “It was my agent asking when was I due back in London, and would I be interested in auditioning for The King and I? “She didn’t mention Yul Brynner and I was umm-ing and ah-ing because I was half asleep and in the middle of a music tour. I said, ‘when do you need me back? I’m back on the 7th of November.’ Then she said, ‘well the audition is on the 8th, the day after you get back.’ “I said, ‘who’s in it?’ and she said, ‘Yul Brynner,’ which changed my attitude immediately. I couldn’t wait to get back. “I ended up auditioning seven times, which was very stressful. I also had to audition for Brynner to get the

final nod, and I then had to audition for the UK union, to convince them that I wasn’t taking a job away from an Englishman.” (Even so, the then Premier of NSW Neville Wran had to lend a hand by threatening to take jobs away from UK actors in Sydney if his job was vetoed by the UK union.) Working with Yul Brynner turned out to be a dream. “My first introduction to him was his choreography of the ‘I Have Dreamed’ sequence. He imparted his immense stage knowledge and stagecraft onto myself and my co-star. He turned ‘I Have Dreamed’ into arguably the showstopper of the production. We would get a standing ovation just about every second night, pretty much because of his amazing staging of the number. “Both the American-Japanese actress who played Tuptim and myself were very young, and when we ran it ourselves initially we would come out on the stage and virtually start singing down each others faces, and embracing, and touching, immediately.

“Brynner yelled out from the stalls, ‘Stop! Stop! Stop!” and came up on stage and said, ‘What is happening to you in this production? What is happening in the story?’ We said, ‘well, we’ve been trying to have these clandestine meetings while being prevented by the King and by circumstance.’ And he said, ‘And you want to have an orgasm in the first ten seconds?’ “What he did was to keep us apart for nearly the entire song. When it looked as if we were going to get close to each other, he would have us reverse our positions to other sides of the stage. Ultimately on the big musical crescendo, when I lift my voice and the orchestra builds to a crescendo, Tuptim would be down the front of the stage and I would walk slowly from upstage down toward her, and on a special musical cue, he would have me wrap my arms around her and pull her into my body.” “It was one of the magic moments of the show, and it was all in his staging.” Marty also fondly recalls Brynner’s choreography of the curtain calls. (Continued on page 45)

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Marty Rhone

Yul Brynner

(Continued from page 44)

The King and I opens in Brisbane “Just the way he had the children at the Queensland Performing Arts march out to ‘March of the Siamese Centre on April 13, then moves to Children’, and then they would part the Princess Theatre, Melbourne and he would appear through this from June 10, followed by a season gauntlet of young kids, stride down to at the Joan Sutherland Theatre, the front of the stage, survey the entire Sydney Opera House from auditorium and the audience and take September 7. this almighty bow. It made you realise why he became the star he was.” really go back and concentrate on my Now 35 years later Marty Rhone is acting career after a fairly long hiatus.” excited to reappear in the musical. _________________ “Unfortunately I’m not of an age where I can still play the young lover, The revival of John Frost’s Tony Award-winning production of The King but I’m thrilled to be cast as The and I, co-produced with Opera Kralahome. It’s a non-singing Australia, will star Lisa McCune as role. I’m really looking forward to English governess Anna Leonowens, some wonderful scenes I play with Lisa opposite Teddy Tahu Rhodes (Brisbane McCune. I’m Lisa’s main antagonist. I and Sydney) and Jason Scott Lee try to convince the King that he (Melbourne) as the King. shouldn’t employ her. It’s my view, as The King and I, Rodgers and his Prime Minister and his confidante, Hammerstein’s fifth musical together, that she is not there for legitimate was based on Margaret Landon’s 1944 reasons. novel Anna and the King of Siam, “I’m delighted to be back doing which took its inspiration from the musical theatre, ironically not as a memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a British singer, but as an actor, which thrills me governess to the children of King even more because its some validation Mongkut of Siam (now Thailand) in the for my decision, only fairly recently, to early 1860s. 45 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

John Frost’s Australian production premiered at the Adelaide Festival Theatre in 1991. Directed by West End director Christopher Renshaw and starring Hayley Mills as Anna, it played to sell out houses around the country. In 1996, the production went on to win four Tony Awards on Broadway: Best Revival of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Musical (Donna Murphy), Best Scenic Design (Brian Thomson) and Best Costume Design (Roger Kirk). The Broadway season was followed by a US tour. In 2000, the production opened at the London Palladium with Elaine Paige as Anna where it played for nearly two years before embarking on a UK tour. Christopher Renshaw returns to Australia to revive the production, with its Thai-inspired set design by Brian Thomson, costumes by Roger Kirk, lighting by Nigel Levings and sound design by Michael Waters. Susan Kikuchi will recreate the original Jerome Robbins choreography as well as the choreography of her mother Yuriko who appeared in the 1951 Broadway production and the 1956 film.

The Junior Theatre Project Hal Leonard Australia has engaged music theatre veteran David RogersSmith to work with schools to develop or improve their music theatre programs. A few lucky schools in Victoria have won individual workshops. Anne Wilson, a music teacher from Huntingtower School, said, â&#x20AC;&#x153;The kids all loved the sessions and are still talking about it. I was also greatly inspired by the sessions. It has helped me with our rehearsals this week.â&#x20AC;? Hal Leonard also runs an annual conference for teachers in Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne called Sing It! Stage It! Later this year the company plans to bring together a number of school and community theatre groups who perform Broadway Junior shows for day-long celebrations. The groups would get to workshop scenes from their productions in front of industry experts, do singing and dance workshops with industry professionals and then do a concert for their parents.

Tintern

Huntingtower

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Rockin’ Robin

Judith Prior’s What’s New Pussycat World Premiere The Blue Mountains College in West Otago New Zealand staged the World Premiere of Judith Prior’s What’s New Pussycat in February. The jukebox musical based on the story of Puss in Boots was a hit. Director Vicki Crawford chose it because of the large number of parts including acting only roles and the availability of a CD backing track. Student Shani Hayes who pioneered the lead of Puss reports.

We had a lot of fun putting on What’s New Pussycat. There were big roles and small roles with just singing or just acting to tailor to everyone’s needs. From the moment we heard the storyline we all knew the part we wanted for ourselves. On the first night of rehearsals we sat down and sang through the soundtrack; from the beginning we all sung loud and got into it because they were the songs we knew and loved. The characters had such quirky personalities that it made the show entertaining and made acting them fun and challenging. As there were so many dance numbers and different roles both big and small we all got a chance to shine, stand out and feel important. We all supported each other when we forgot our lines or did the wrong move.

Kookaburra Kids Judith Prior has released a new musical for middle school or primary students, Kookaburra Kids. Students at an Australian holiday camp discover that the local Mayor plans to close the camp and redevelop the site. Using social media and the good old bush telegraph they launch a campaign against this. Music includes traditional songs such as Kookaburra sits in the old Gumtree and I am an Australian. 47 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

ssycat

What’s New Pu

Rockin’ Robin

When it came time to perform the show just came alive for us all with the audience laughing, clapping and singing along. So many people approached us after the show and said how much they enjoyed it and it was the best show they’d seen yet. Hearing comments like that made us feel proud. Rockin’ Robin By Judith Prior. Burnie High School. Ben Lohrey directed Rockin’ Robin at Burnie High School in Tasmania and is currently in rehearsal for What’s New Pussycat. Having previously tackled musical productions that have an original score, Rockin’ Robin marked our first foray into the world of the “jukebox musical”. We were attracted to the musical because of the terrific score that contains many very well-known and catchy musical numbers from the 50s, 60s and 70s. This, coupled with a very humorous script, strong lead roles for both males and females and the scope for the inclusion of a very large ensemble (we had 120 ) made Rockin’ Robin the ideal choice for our 2011 whole school production. It was our most successful musical to date. The cast and the band loved working with the musical score and audiences loved the story, the characters, the witty dialogue and the big production numbers. Based on the success of Rockin Robin, we had no hesitation in jumping at the chance to secure the rights to the new Judith Prior musical What’s New Pussycat for our 2013 show and we are very much looking forward to our season in September.

Rockin’ Robin

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Can I Video a Show?

It’s a question many companies putting on a show want answered. Can a play or musical be videoed for an archival copy, sale to cast or just a YouTube promotion? Rights holders - Stuart Hendricks (SH) and Nikol Mckail (NM) from Hal Leonard Australia, Kim Ransley from Origin Theatrical (KR), David Spicer from DSP (DS) and a representative from APRA answered questions at a forum held in Dunedin by Musical Theatre New Zealand in March. SH: Over the past six or seven years we have gone back to rights holders. We now have 40 shows with video

permission. All our Disney shows have permission plus other shows like Fame and Eurobeat are OK. You need to check our website to see if the rights are available. Unfortunately it is not every show, but it is constantly growing. Also the types of video licences vary. Sometimes it is for archival, other times for distribution. But you can’t just assume that you can video it, purely for archival purposes. KR: Yes that is a misconception out there. Is there a cost involved? SH: Usually about $150 to $200. Some are about $400. KR: In particular the

owners of Chicago and Grease won’t allow you to video the show. What if High School students are doing a show and need a video for their qualifications. What do you do 49 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

there if students can’t use it? Is there wriggle room? Or should we not ask? Answer: Most plays for school assessment are covered under the Department of Education. Such instances are mostly approved at no cost. DS: It is really up to the writer of the show. There is no blanket rule to it. Some of them are cool about it, others are not. SH: It also depends if the writer has those rights. KR: We have some Rodgers and Hammerstein musicals that they own the film rights to, so they can assign them. But for The Sound of Music they don’t own the film rights so they can’t allow it to be videoed. SH: Sometimes the writers don’t have video recording rights. For instance Annie is based on a cartoon. So the people who wrote the musical don’t own the film rights. It is controlled by a third party who has not made this permission available. Social Media...How much can you video, even in a restricted work, for YouTube for a promo as a piece of journalism? KR: We allow three minute promo videos of most shows. But you can’t have more than 30 seconds of any one song. You can show these promo videos on Facebook or your theatre website. Some owners say no YouTube, but you could use Vimeo. Most of our shows you can do a three minute video teaser, however you have to ask for permission and we then advise you of the terms and conditions of this approval. NM: Taking a step back, speaking of our catalogue. We actually need to make sure you have permission to video it in the first place. Always check with each show. It is not automatic that you can do a promotional video or post onto YouTube.

it. What happens with that? Are people turning a blind eye? SH: No. Various publishers employ people to monitor and remove unauthorised content.

SH: We’ve just signed Bonnie and Clyde and that is the first show we have that states in the representation that you have YouTube permission. That may be the way of the future. DS: I represent many shows with popular songs in them and I just have to say no. Although you can video some dialogue in these jukebox shows - Back to the 80’s, for instance, has a song by Madonna in it, and you can’t get permission for the song to be videoed. Can I ask APRA does the rule apply that you can have a 30 second clip of a song on YouTube? APRA: You stilll need a special event licence to film which would go through AMCOS. For YouTube you need individual permission for each song from the publisher. DS: Even thirty seconds of it? APRA: Yes.

Maverick Musicals Gail Denver: All requests must be received in writing. If the recording is for a school or group's reference (library, collection) only, and/or sold at cost no charges apply and permission is granted. If the recordings are to be sold for a profit, we charge a ten per cent royalty of the price charged by the group/school. We allow upload to YouTube. DS: What about those clever people in Brisbane - Harvest Rain. They often do four or five YouTube episodes of a rehearsal diary. They use piped music under the rehearsal action...is that a model others can follow? APRA: If it does not come from a grand right (that is performance in a theatrical context), it has to go to the publisher. KR: We look after grand rights of whole musical. If you want to use snippet of music on your website or for advertising purposes a publisher (for example Universal Music or Warner Chappell) has to approve it. DS: We all know if you go to YouTube that rules are being broken. There are whole channels devoted to

Dominie Drama Policies vary from publisher to publisher, and in summary: Nick Hern Books, Hanbury Plays, Society of Authors & IT&M Permission to video requires approval from the publisher and is usually dependent on the title, however permission is often granted for assessment and archival purposes. Permission would also need to be received from prior to uploading a clip onto YouTube/Facebook, etc. Pioneer Drama Services Encourage customers to use YouTube, Facebook, video blogs and other social media tools to promote productions. In addition friends and family are welcome to videotape performances for their own personal use and they also allow companies to produce videos to be onsold.

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Always Working With Animals And Children Andrea Munn knows how to teach an old dog new tricks. She can turn an unruly mutt into Toto in a few months. Last year her dog whispering powers were tested to the max when her prized pooch became the lunch target of a hungry cross breed just minutes before the curtain went up on The Wizard of Oz. David Spicer reports. The scene was very ugly. Dozens of Munchkins were hysterical. The Tin Man, Scarecrow and the Lion in full costume crowded around a wounded Toto in the car park of the Parramatta Riverside Theatre in Sydney’s west. Toto - alias Suzie - a cross Shih TzuMaltese, was seriously injured. Andrea Munn recalls how it happened. “We were outside going to the park to the toilet. Somebody yelled out get Toto. By the time I picked her up the dog had me and her. I had to get Suzie out of the dog’s mouth. It was clamped around her stomach. So I fell on the two of them. It frightened the dog and made her let go. If I had put

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my hand in and pulled her out Suzie, would have been ripped to pieces.” With 20 minutes to curtain-up the Producer Neil Gooding was preparing to announce that The Wizard of Oz would be without Toto tonight. But could an emergency visit to the vet to

Toto, alias Suzie, in The Wizard of Oz

patch up her stomach save the day? Read on to find out. Ironically, training a dog to perform, whether in a show ring or on the stage, is all about controlling their stomach. That is the gospel according to Andrea Munn, who was recently was

inaugurated into the Spotlight Hall of Fame - a community theatre award based in Sydney’s southern suburbs. Since being introduced to community theatre in 1998 Andrea has volunteered to help out in more than 100 productions. Her dog training principles are simple. “Praise the positive and ignore the negative. The dog has to know you are in charge. You don’t let them go through doors in front of you. Wait till you are through. It is hierarchy thing.” “Don’t throw food down and walk away. Make them sit and wait. Many make them shake hands or do high fives. Make sure it is not a free-for-all.” Can you teach an old dog new tricks? “I believe you can. I have never had any trouble. I walk around with a pocket full of treats. I trial my dog and make them go to toilet before they go into the ring. They are very good at routines.” When it comes to theatre Andrea says the most important thing is that the dog knows you are going home with them. “It must not be frightened that it will be left there. I use rewards, but by the end of the season the dog just does it.” In The Wizard of Oz the first challenge is for Toto to run on stage to greet Dorothy. “Suzie struggled because of the lights. As soon she got on stage from the dark wing her eyes did not adjust. She took about five paces and stopped.” “So we got Dorothy to go to her (half way).” How did she know to go Dorothy? “She got to know where I was. Someone holds her on the other side of the stage and she comes across. “While Dorothy sings ‘Somewhere Over the Rainbow’, Suzie has to sit on bails of hay. You pray she will stay there. We started off by putting treats there. Then she learned she had to stay there. “She also had to learn to not be frightened when the witch threatens to throw her into the river, or be scared of the bubbles or smoke or wands that

“Jordan and I got in my car and drove to the North Parramatta vet (Andrea has the greatest praise for them). They took her in, put some staples in her stomach, gave her some pain relief, anti-biotics and she went on. “She was a bit dazed (and by accounts less energetic in her performance) but was fine. Everyone was carrying on around her. I was bit sore too, as I think the dog headbutted me.” Despite the drama, Andrea Munn gets enormous satisfaction from helping her dogs perform and says they are very good with little children. “My dogs are very well socialised. They love people patting them. I get parents saying they could not get their child near a dog before they met mine. “My one rule is nobody feeds them. Firstly, I don’t know what they are feeding them, and I don’t want are floating or the house going round them to expect to be fed when they and round in a tornado. see children. “It was just trust. I am always in the “I got bitten once by an overwings.” zealous Labrador which expected All this was achieved after starting food.” training on Suzie in December, for a And the same rule should apply production that took place in March. about small dogs becoming bait to Andrea has another prized dog bigger ones just minutes before the which she has had since a pup at eight curtain goes up. weeks. Primrose is a Golden Retriever a veteran of Annie at the Regals Musical Society in Rockdale. “Annie is a little bit harder than The Wizard of Oz. The dog has to go on stage to the exact place where Annie stands. In the dress rehearsal we used treats. By time we opened, we didn’t need them.” The dog has a crucial part of the narrative in Annie in the child being able to prove her identity. “The Policeman asks her to prove that it is her dog. You have to train it to not come over when it’s called Sandy but only when it hears Come Sandy.” The next gig for Primrose is a new production of Annie at the Parramatta Riverside Theatre for Packemin Productions next February…at the scene of the doggie bite drama. Which brings us back to exactly what happened when Suzie became a lunch target with 20 minutes to curtain -up? Primrose in Annie at The Regals

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of aspects of the production process. They catered for staff talents and passions which they may not be using in their current positions. The support we received was beyond our expectation, as well as all of the secret interests and hobbies we became aware of about each other. We provided training and workshops on topics such as designing, creating props, front of house, and also were able to enrol staff in external professional development such as stage makeup. Our staff replicated these sessions with their student crew for each stagecraft area. Role modelling our enthusiasm and dedication to the project made it easier to get the same level of commitment from our students. Our staff provided specialist training When Staughton College in Victoria Ownership and collaboration by our in acting, singing and dancing as well as music tuition at regular rehearsals. staged The Wizard of Oz in 2013 more students and staff was paramount to than 220 students and 58 staff its success. Most of our time was spent Making this a ‘real life’ experience for members took part. The Producer/ gaining the support and confidence of our students, we auditioned everyone and ‘called back’ each student by Choreographer Jackie Lewis reflects on both students and staff, our greatest phone to hear their excited screams on the exceptional experience staging the barrier being students believing in the other end. themselves, having the confidence to production brought the school. We also moved away from after give it a go and understanding the school rehearsals to weekend “Believe me, every step is worth it! professional experience we were rehearsals to provide a place for Have you any idea just how wonderful planning. this place really is?” The Oz Guard’s To build our staff team we created students to be safe, respected, line from the opening scene of Emerald role descriptions with SMART (Specific, welcomed and have a purpose on the weekend - elements not always Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and City truly captures my thoughts when apparent in some of their lives. reflecting on the journey of producing Timely) goals that were broken down to manageable tasks within the myriad our first ever whole school musical production. We were committed to providing an enriching experience for our students. Current whole school data clearly identifies student connectedness to their school community as one of the most significant factors in determining their social, emotional and academic success. Therefore, the aim of our production was to engage students and facilitate success to promote greater individual growth, achievement, enjoyment and attendance at school. Students were given the opportunity to contribute to acting, singing, dancing, choir, instrumental music, prop and set building and painting, technical sound and multimedia work, make-up and hair design, backstage assistance, publicity and leadership roles.

When The Whole School Is ‘On Stage’

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Once we were into the development stage, students around the college gave off a cult-like feel, asking others, “Have you caught Wiz fever yet?” which was spreading fast. As well, future student leaders were emerging and began working independently. The successes of our production ranged from small individual goals being achieved to high range or long term goals including raising the profile of the college in the community, increasing enrolments in performing arts subjects, and improving relationships and positive culture within the college. We were also able to engage the community in our production with local businesses supporting us through donations of time, money or goods, sponsorship and attendance at our show. Students created billboards throughout Melton advertising our show and we were also able to celebrate our success in our local newspaper. I was also very proud to be able to secure three of our students scholarships to study

performing arts after hours for the 2014 academic year. Overall, I don’t believe that anyone working on this production ever imagined how amazing, talented and creative our Staughton students and staff could be. Our sell-out audiences were excited to find many unexpected surprises and be inspired by our dream finally coming to life on stage. As a whole school team, we feel great pride, excitement and sentiment toward the production that captured our hearts in 2013. Staff are now rejoicing in our ability to work as a highly effective production team to provide such a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our students, families and the community of Melton. I am confident we have strategically paved the way for the successful future of Performing Arts at Staughton College and are ready to start the whirlwind process all over again very soon! Jackie has 10 years experience teaching Drama and Theatre Studies in both Independent and Government education.

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Plays For Young Performers From Dominie Drama From Pioneer Drama Services

OZ! Book by Tim Kelly. Music and lyrics by Bill Francoeur.. Cast: Flexible cast of 21, chorus, optional doubling Time: About 90 minutes A musical adaptation of “Wizard of Oz”.

The Rockin’ Tale of Snow White. Book by Barbara Alice in Wonderland by Lennon. Music by Bill Jonathan Yukich Francoeur. Lyrics by Bill Cast: Flexible cast of 15 to Francoeur and Barbara 29, optional extras, Lennon. doubling Cast: Flexible cast of 30, chorus Time: About 65 minutes Time: About 75 minutes What would happen if a New characters and comedic twists come to life as a 21st century Alice collided with Lewis Carroll’s legendary modern mom reads the Brothers Grimm tale to her restless Wonderland? children. In addition to the well-known cast this musical introduces us to some fresh new faces, while musical styles Invasion of the Student of all genres fuse to create a mixture of hip-hop, rock and Body Snatchers by Craig roll, doo wop and more. Sodaro Cast: 8M, 14F From Nick Hern Books Seemingly normal new high school student Orry 100 by Christopher Heimann, Neil Monaghan Constella and his family are and Diene Petterle actually aliens from the planet Vesperon disguised as An original play combining traditional humans to see whether Earth would make a suitable allstorytelling with physical theatre, created by inclusive resort for Vesperonians. The Imaginary Body. Cast: Min 2f; 2m; plus 1f/m Law & Order: Nursery Rhyme Unit by Jane Jeffries The Machine Gunners by Robert Westall, and Jim Jeffries. adapted by Ali Taylor. Cast: Flexible cast of 22-30 An adaptation of this children’s classic by (about 7M, 8F, plus 7-15 Robert Westall, voted one of the ten most that can be either), optional important children’s novels of the past 70 extras years. Is there a bigger group of psychotics and sociopaths Cast: 1f, 5m doubling (2f ,11m possible) than nursery rhyme characters? Detective Green and the Punnish Sir have been called in to investigate a crime scene Be My Baby by Amanda Whittington where a Mister Humpty Dumpty has been found shattered A poignant drama about attitudes to teenage and fowl play is suspected. pregnancy in 60s Britain. Cast: 6f Totally Awesome 80S. Book by Flip Kobler and Cindy Noughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman, Marcus. Music and lyrics by adapted by Dominic Cooke Bill Francoeur. A bittersweet love story with echoes of Cast: 7M, 12F, plus 3 roles Romeo and Juliet, set in a society divided by that can be either, optional racial bigotry and a world rocked by chorus terrorism. Adapted from Malorie Blackman's Time: About 120 minutes best-selling novels. With nods to iconic 80s teen movies and celebrities and Cast: 8f 8m with doubling a rockin’ score that captures the hit sounds of the decade, with big hair and eyeliner, MTV, Betamax and Atari, leg Contact Dominie Drama for perusal scripts and warmers and parachute pants. licensing. www.dominie.com.au/drama 55 Stage Whispers SPARK 2014

Costuming Props And Sets

Visit the Stage Whispers Costume Classifieds www.stagewhispers.com.au/costumes and Costumes Props and Set Directory for more information. www.stagewhispers.com.au/directory-central/192 Please read on to learn about our featured suppliers and tips on stagecraft. NIDA students

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Children’s Performing Company Of Australia For thirty years the Children’s performance, to boost and to equip Performing Company of Australia has young people with skills for life. been providing high quality performing The company also offers a range of services and performances to schools. arts training to young people aged between 5 and 18 years. Costume Hire Now with 17 locations across The CPCA has a vast costume Melbourne, its mission is to introduce collection which it makes available for concerts, theatre productions, and young people to the joys of the school shows (Minimum hire: 20 theatre, from rehearsal to costumes).

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“I would recommend using CPCA for all your costuming needs. Their range is HUGE and they have options and sizes to suit all ages. The staff understand what goes in to organising a performance - whether it’s a concert for 200 students or a solo dance routine which is really helpful. I’ve used CPCA for over 5 concerts this year, and always receive great feedback on the quality of the costumes!” Beth Thomson Primary performing Arts Co-ordinator Aitken College Rates start at $25 per costume and get cheaper the more costumes you hire. For further information: Contact CPCA on (03) 9384 1644 or visit www.cpca.com.au

Making Costumes Without Much Sewing

Tracey Nuthall from Costumes Without Drama has given a handy demonstration for Stage Whispers TV on ways to make costumes without much sewing. She decorated a ruche Cinderella style skirt in just a few minutes. “I love double sided sticky tape. I love glues which can be washed out,” she said. “They are a very good aid to your sewing, especially if you want to put something together quickly for a non-permanent attachment.” Visit Stage Whispers TV (in the link below left) to see her demonstration. Costumes Without Drama rents large sets of costumes to schools across Australia.

Online extras! Tracey Nuthall has some great timesaving tips. Scan the QR code or visit http://youtu.be/quDAHEOXKNA

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Costume Marketplace

Many theatre companies which have costumes to hire for Fancy Dress are facing stiff competition from internet cheapies. Instead they are turning to renting out entire sets to other companies. A cross section is now listed on www.stagewhispers.com.au/costumes where entire sets can be promoted for $11 a year.

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GMS Costumes (NSW Central Coast) www.gmscostumes.com.au GMS Costumes Manager Leslie Normet says rental of entire sets of costumes helps companies which don’t have the resources or storage space. “We had the Ballina Players fly down to see our Sound of Music and said we’ll take the lot,” she said.

GMS Costumes’ Grease

“We have five whole shows out at the moment including The Producers, The Wizard of Oz and Bugsy Malone.” A rental of a large set of costumes typically costs in the vicinity of $3000 plus laundry. Almost no cast is too large. “We had 50 nuns in The Sound of Music. It was a sell-out.”

Currently being made are Hairspray and A Christmas Carol. The GMS Costumes website features up to 100 pictures from the last 30 musicals performed by GMS. Contact: (02) 4324 1305 or gosfordmusical@bigpond.com. Spotlight. Theatre (Gold Coast) www.spotlight-costume-hire.com Just as prolific is the Spotlight Theatre Company. “We produce a minimum of ten shows a year including two for kids,” says Spotlight Theatre’s Tony Alcock. “We just sold off our Spamalot set, after a couple of hires. We’ve always got shows being built. A four metre Hairspray canister and a Drowsy Chaperone bi-plane which comfortably seats eight are currently up for grabs.” He says Spotlight beats on-line sellers because of the variety of stock they have. “On the internet costumes are very similar, whereas we have a large retro wardrobe. Recently we did a steam punk wedding and our wigs were very popular for a big comic convention.” Contact: (07) 55394700 or mailbox@spotlighttheatre.com.au

Spotlight Theatre’s Drowsy Plane

adding to its extensive stock of costumes that cover every style and period from Sullivan to Sondheim. Complete production sets include Singin' in the Rain, Crazy for You, Funny Girl, A Chorus Line, Company, Into the Woods, Chess, West Side Story, Chicago, The Boy from Oz, Hot Shoe Shuffle and the complete professional productions of The Wizard of Oz and Man of La Mancha. Contact: 1300 826 788

CLOC Costumes and Properties (Vic) www.cloc.org.au/hire/hire_default.htm Ballarat Lyric Theatre Costumes Anyone who has attended one of www.ballaratlyrictheatre.com.au/costumeCLOC Musical Theatre's productions hire knows the fantastic range of quality The company has over 3000 costumes on offer. CLOC is always costumes that include their award-

winning productions of Cats and Les Miserables. An old popular release is Joseph, a new popular release is their set from Hairspray. Ballarat Lyric is also the custodian of the professional costume set from Eureka. The shop is open 4-6 Tuesday and Thursday night. Contact: (03) 53324817 A Stitch in Time Saves Bankstown’s Wardrobe Department (NSW) www.bankstowntheatrecompany.com While extensive renovations were being completed by their local council, Bankstown Theatre Company in western Sydney was forced to find (Continued on page 61)

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Bankstown’s Guys and Dolls

(Continued from page 60)

other premises for their rehearsals and performances. This caused a myriad of problems for their famous wardrobe department. “Fortunately, we are back” said Wardrobe Master, Tony Attard. “We have returned to our home at the Bankstown Arts Centre and the

enthusiasm to get back to business is amazing. For decades, our dedicated volunteer staff has been working together to supply costumes to theatre companies throughout Sydney and beyond.” One wardrobe stalwart, Betty Cairncross, spoke up proudly. “The time out in the cold proved to be one Bankstown’s Jerry’s Girls

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of the best things that could have happened to our wardrobe department,” she said. “It has caused us to look at every single costume we owned, and to freshen them up or to replace them with sparkling new outfits.” Contact: 0449 882 533.

Dressing Up For Show

Coral Drouyn spent a magical morning in the costume archives of Arts Centre Melbourne looking at past and future exhibitions and wonderful collections dating back over a hundred years. She came away full of excited memories of how she fell in love with theatre. You’re a child, sitting in the dark, and your parents have brought you to your first live show. Most probably it’s a musical, or a ballet, or maybe a pantomime. You weren’t allowed to go to “grown-up” plays. The curtain rises, the lights go up …and you fall in love instantly and completely; a love that will last a lifetime. You’ve just seen your first fantastically fabulous costume! If “clothes maketh the man” then surely “costumes maketh the show”. I remember seeing my Dad as Buttons in Cinderella. He had a royal blue bellboy suit with gold buttons and a pillbox hat. Cinderella wore a white, hooped crinoline ball gown with crystals and pearls and satin bows. It looked like chiffon but closer inspection showed it was actually white curtain Terylene. It didn’t matter…I was already hooked. I (Continued on page 63)

Costume worn by Kylie Minogue in her Showgirl tour, 2005. Designed by John Galliano. Gift of Kylie Minogue, 2006. Arts Centre Melbourne, Performing Arts Collection

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Costume worn by Dame Joan Sutherland as Anna Glawari in The Merry Widow, The Australian Opera, 1978. Designed by Kristian Fredrikson. Gift of Opera Australia, 2013 Performing Arts Collection, Arts Centre Melbourne

Costume worn by Dame Edna Everage in An Evening’s Intercourse with Barry Humphries, 1981. Designed by Bill Goodwin. Gift of Barry Humphries, 1985

was perhaps 3 years old, but the images remain in my memory like colour photos snapped by my eyes and stored for life in my brain. I don’t look at them often, but I know they’re always there when I need them. I was practically born amongst costumes. (My mother came off stage in labour, after a heavy dance routine, went to the hospital and I was born an hour later.) My mother was a tiny

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principal boy, and a famous Aladdin in British pantomimes. I remember her “transformation” costume, after the Genie grants Aladdin’s wish; a black thigh length tunic, completely sequinned but with emerald green beaded dragons on it with large “ruby” eyes. She wore emerald green silk (not the usual fishnet) tights with it. This was 1949 and I still remember the audience gasping at that costume when she appeared. I am certain every single person reading this has a costume in their memory which affects them the same way, and many of you are part of theatre (whether it be Main Stage or Community, Independent or High School) because you had a dream of standing on a stage in a beautiful costume, and that dream came true. Costumes can make or break a show. Imagine if the ‘Ascot’ scene in My Fair Lady had NOT been black and white; or Dolly Gallagher had worn a black dress instead of a red one as the black-tailed waiters sang Hello, Dolly! in the iconic musical of the same name; or Dorothy had not worn red shoes in The Wizard of Oz. Imagine Kylie

strutting her stuff in leggings and a tee shirt instead of those Gold Hot Pants (which I actually SAW in person this week. So, so tiny, and PAINTED….not gold lame like I thought. Amazing!) or Wicked without the costumes? Costumes create magic; they weave spells. No witchery of the “eye of newt, leg of frog” variety, but spells made of baubles, beads, silks and satins, velvets and velour, feathers and fur. Those Costume from The Boy From Oz, 1998 Designed by Roger Kirk Gift of Gannon / Fox, 2001

were the things that seduced us…and colour…lots of colour. And it wasn’t just dresses and suits. There were hats, and shoes, and jewellery, feather boas, wild ties. Each ingredient simply added to our fascination. And who could forget Dame Edna’s glasses, and even her wigs? They were as much a part of the costumes as the outrageous dresses. Few of us remember that Dame Edna started in an ugly tweed coat from an op shop and a cloche hat; she was decidedly downmarket! One thing we never gave much thought to was, “What happens to those costumes when the show is over…or the company closes down?” Just thinking about that made me sad and anxious….where do old costumes go to die? Do they feel abandoned and neglected like so many of our performers from yesteryear, once basking in the adulation of the audience, now lonely and forgotten? Sadly that is the fate of a few, but not all. Some are put in storage for the next production, some are given to cast members, some are auctioned off, but a great majority of them are gifted to museums or arts centres. They live on in retirement, and most of us will never see them again. Arts Centre Melbourne’s Performing Arts Collection has the largest collection of theatre memorabilia in Australia over 500,000 costumes, accessories, programmes, contracts, playbills. The collection is so big it is spread over several locations around the city. But a huge part of it lies in the archives under the grassy mound that separates the Arts Centre theatres from Hamer Hall.

There is no glamour here, though Hamer Hall has just been lavishly renovated. Those of us who remember very basic dressing rooms and backstage facilities in theatres all over the country will not be surprised to know that behind the sumptuous padded walls of Hamer Hall, the archives are housed in cold spaces with chipping paint and not much comfort for those that work there. Why spend money on what cannot be seen. But the illusions, the dreams we all

diamante stars and moonstones….it is carefully wrapped in tissue papers and kept in a silver box and you can’t help but gasp upon seeing it. It’s wildly glamorous, but is it more important than the astonishing perfectly preserved Dame Nellie Melba purple velvet robe with its real ermine trim? Or Robert Helpmann’s lyrebird costume from the amazing ballet The Display, along with Prima Ballerina Kathy Gorham’s point shoes (there’s an autographed pair of Margot Fonteyn’s point shoes in the archives too). Best of all is that a few times a year Arts Centre Melbourne provides free exhibitions of some magnificent costumes we might never have seen before, or see again. Currently there’s an exhibition coming to an end in the Smorgon Plaza of the newly gifted Opera Australia costumes. Following it, on July 6th, is an exhibition of Geoffrey Rush’s costumes, including his gown for Lady Bracknell, his Captain Barbossa How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Nancye Hayes (far left), Patty Roberts (second from costume from Pirates of the Caribbean left front) and Judith Roberts (centre back). … and even his Oscar, Tony, and Emmy From the private collection of Kim Stone Wesble. awards will be on display. I personally remember, are handled with white want to see the incredible cloak from gloves and talked of with real affection. Exit The King. Imagine being close They’re kept on racks in metal enough to touch (but please don’t) so conservators, away from any possible much of what shapes our love of pollution. They are safe, and that’s theatre. Buy a coffee, take a sandwich, what counts. spend your lunch hour looking at that The Performing Arts Collection Tony and composing your acceptance houses all of the JC Williamson speech. Let the magic touch you and collection, including Camelot, My Fair make you smile. Lady, No No Nanette plus the Reg And spare a moment to say a silent Livermore shows, The Australian Ballet, thank you to the costume designers The Gordon Frost costumes from Hello, and the artists who wore their Dolly! with the great Jill Perryman, and creations. After all, without costumes, Crazy For You; Kylie’s sensational hot theatre would be…well….radio! pants, shoes and the amazing blue John Galliano leotard with its crystals,

Stage Whispers Costumes Just $11 a listing Have any costumes and props for sale or hire? Get noticed now! www.stagewhispers.com.au/costumes

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Staging for Theatres Large and Small

Acer Arena, Sydney

East-coast staging company Megadeck has been providing quality Australian made staging for the theatrical community for 20 years. With no two productions being the same, the company understands that unique stage sets are required for each show and involve many elements to ensure a practical, safe and visually stunning design. Megadeck’s in-house carpentry and welding departments allow for greater versatility when designing unique elements for a show. Pictured here is the set from Sydney’s Strathfield Musical Society’s production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. Marketing manager Courtney Dabb says the brief was a custom tiered rise with central access.

“We had to work within their budget and the result was a success giving them a safe and accessible stage for all performers.” At the other end of the spectrum was a custom made 26-metre diameter circular stage, built for the Hillsong Album 2011 performance, assembled in the 20,000 seat capacity Acer Arena, also in Sydney. “This was a unique stage design unlike anything else we’ve been commissioned before,” he said. Another project was an episode of So You Think You Can Dance in Melbourne’s Hamer Hall. “To record the events a Megadeck platform was required as a jib riser, for easy movement of the rolling camera crane, with safety rails and access steps included.”

The company uses a software program called CAD or Computer Aided Design. “We take the initial stage plan, incorporating that into CAD to ensure all engineering standards are integrated into our final stage design.” Companies all around Australia can assemble the stages themselves, or in Sydney, Melbourne and the Gold Coast have Megadeck’s professional trained crew install them on location. Aside from simple stage extensions and tiered risers, Megadeck stages can be illuminated for lighting effects, rolling for quick on/off performances, curved or angled, or used for levelling an uneven raked area. In addition to stage sets Megadeck can provide stairs, access ramps, flats and drapery to make your experience with Megadeck a one-stop shop.

Strathfield Musical Society’s Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat

So You Think You Can Dance at Hamer Hall

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Sound and Light and Special Effects

Visit the Stage Whispers Sound and Light Directory www.stagewhispers.com.au/directory-central/191. Please read on to learn about our featured suppliers and tips on doing it yourself.

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Theatres Welcome New ETC Lighting Consoles Leading Lighting Company JANDS has recently helped upgrade facilities in WA and SA.

struggling with their old Strand consoles. "We had a Strand 550 and a 520i console for years and they were really The iconic His Majesty’s Theatre, or at the end of their use-by date," said the Maj as it is affectionately known, is Matthew Nankivell, Head of Lighting at the only remaining working Edwardian His Majesty's Theatre in Perth. theatre in Australia. This stunning "More and more touring shows example of Edwardian era architecture were coming through that couldn't use is one of WA's most-loved heritage their show files with the Strand icons. consoles. Many of our shows have However celebrating history and all originated in a venue with an EOS so it things antique should not stretch to made logical sense to also go down the EOS pathway." the lighting department who were

Matthew Nankivell, Head of Lighting, with ETC Eos.

Tony Gordon, Lighting Board Operator, with ETC Gio.

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His Majesty’s Theatre has become home to an ETC Eos console in the bio box, an ETC EOS remote processor unit, and an ETC Gio console which is used on stage and in the stalls as a production console. "The ETC consoles have performed really well," said Matthew. “It was relatively easy to pick up thanks to similar syntax to the Strand and Obsession series of desks. As to which features I favour .... well really all of them, especially not needing to save shows on to floppy disk. The effects engine is great, and I find it to be extremely powerful. I like the customizable layouts and having features such as pallets, preset and group direct selects all at your fingertips on the touch screen.” The Gio is designed for those looking for sophisticated control in a manageable, road-ready package. "The Gio has been great for programming, especially as it has the backlit keys," added Matthew. "They

really make it usable when you're programming in the dark as you can actually see what you're doing. Eos and Gio are also backed up by Jands' service. "Whenever we have had an issue with the EOS, be it either programming or hardware issues, a quick phone call to Eddie Welsh has had the problem solved in a matter of minutes," said Matthew. Recently the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre in Mount Gambier (South Australia) became home to a new ETC Ion 1000 lighting console which will enable them to provide fully integrated control of conventional and moving lights. “We’ve always had a relationship with Jands equipment and systems so when the existing lighting console at Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre expired, the choice was simple,” said Ray Ellison, Country Arts SA Infrastructure Manager. “In selecting the ETC Ion 1000 we considered what consoles were being toured by professional artists and the case for software application based solutions.” "With capacity to control both moving lights and smart LED luminaries using device-based profiles, the Ion1000 is pretty future proof. We will be looking at updating our other four regional theatres with the ETC ION 1000 in the near future.” Fay Cakebread, Technical Manager at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre, said that the ETC Ion 1000 is a

particularly easy console to navigate and she has enjoyed getting to know it. "It's really quite self-explanatory however Jands supplied us with some great training," she said. Board operator Karen Kennedy had quite a steep learning curve migrating from the old Jands ESP console to the ETC Ion 1000 but now she has adjusted to the new console, she describes it as a lovely console to run.

"It's so comprehensive, each time I use it I learn something new," she commented. "We only have conventional lights in our own rig so I am limited in the features that I use however I’m trying to make the most of my submasters. If I ever have a query I find that the online forum always gives me the answer." www.jands.com.au

Online extras! Discover the cutting-edge features of the newly released ETC Eos Gio Ti by scanning the QR code or visiting http://youtu.be/ocuFecSod9I

Karen Kennedy, Board Operator

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Lighting and Sound on a Budget a part in the audition into lighting, sound or stage management. In every high school there are likely to be at least few budding techies. Here’s a hint: they’re probably wearing black and they don’t say much. There are also plenty of TAFE and Uni courses with students who are looking to stretch / trial some newfound skills. 3. Plan ahead. Now that you have some good tech crew members together they should be communicating earlier rather than later with the hire company. Even in the early script reading and rehearsals your tech requirements will become apparent. Compile these as they come up. There is nothing like disorganised, 11th hour requests to erode discount and goodwill. 4. Prioritise. Chances are that the budget is not going to cover all the equipment you 1. Establish a good relationship 10 ways to save your show budget want. It’s at this time that you need to from a tech blowout. Marcus Pugh with a hire company. from Resolution X Lighting and Rigging A proven rapport with a hire company know which are the most important technical elements and also how much reports. can mean a larger discount. Once a each will cost you. hire or production company 5. Good Communication is key. Imagine a world where budgets understands your needs and venue they are better equipped to be able to These days there are a hundred don’t matter and we could all put on different ways to communicate but the best show possible without having service your needs. nothing beats a well worded email. to worry about money? Unfortunately 2. Find the right people. When communicating with the hire or this world doesn’t exist and the mighty There are plenty of passionate tech production company make sure you dollar rules. All of those responsible for people out there just waiting for the have all the details they might need putting on shows are used to working opportunity to work in theatre. Don’t just throw the person who failed to get like: What date does the show bump in within ever tightening funds but how can you get the most of your budget when it comes to hiring that essential technical equipment? Here are the Golden Rules.

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and when does it open? What venue is the show going into? Where can you get plans or specs for the venue? 6. Do your research. Research has never been easier, with the help of the internet. If you can find a contact at another theatre company that has done the same show as you they’re likely to have advice on how to achieve certain effects in that show. If your hire company has supplied to a similar production they will also have ideas that can help. 7. Ask for and take the advice. While techies and hire companies don’t always appear to be the friendliest bunch and can sometimes come off as downright surly, they will still have some good advice. Never be afraid to ask for advice because at the end of the day you’re all pushing for the same goal of putting on the best possible show. 8. Time and resources equal money. Hire companies have plenty of overheads to keep their business successful. If you are able to alleviate some of these costs, like picking and returning the hire equipment instead of having it delivered, these cost savings should be passed back to you.

9. The latest technology isn’t the best thing for your budget. There is a tendency to want the ‘latest and greatest’ piece of equipment, whether it’s needed or not. This is never good for your hire budget; it can be expensive to be an ‘early adopter’. You will find that there is usually a ‘workhorse’ in each category of equipment that is in abundance and a much cheaper option. 10.Don’t be afraid to negotiate The first quote you receive might not be the best possible price so don’t be

Fireworks On Stage Steve Lawrence from Geelong Fireworks reports.

Geelong Lyric Theatre Society. The Phantom of the Opera. Photo: Michele Domonkos www.domonkosdesigns.com

afraid to ask if there are any pieces of equipment that can be substituted to bring down the overall cost. Most hire companies will appreciate it if you let them know the budget you have to spend on the hire and then they can help to fit the hire within those parameters. Good tech can make or break a show but so can a budget, so make sure that you’re getting the most out of your hire company and remember that having a solid relationship will pay itself back in spades.

Theatrical Pyrotechnics can certainly add a great effect to your production, but you must ensure that the company you use is experienced. The pyrotechnician MUST know the product thoroughly - especially its effect in both height and width. With flames the heat output needs to be considered so you know how close you can have the actors, set and scrims to the product. When getting started ask does the pyrotechnician know the difference between upstage/downstage? You may need to “induct” your inexperienced pyro into “theatre speak”. A demonstration of products is a must in preproduction, then at tech rehearsal and the dress rehearsal. A spectacular recent effect we used was of Flame projectors during Masquarade in Geelong Lyric Theatre’s production of The Phantom of the Opera. We used remote controlled pyro technique devices, fired by a visual cue. The technician had to be on hand to see him in the right spot to hit the button when the Phantom appeared. Also when he disappeared we incorporated a four metre high puff of smoke. Even I was impressed to see the Phantom disappear. www.geelongfireworks.com.au www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 72

Projecting Wonderful Images Onto Your Stage If you’re going to use glass gobos then you need to ensure that the lighting fixture you’re using is suitable. If the gate is too hot you will destroy the gobo. Note that its not necessarily the wattage of the lamp that is the issue Can I but how peaky the light is and the project the gate temperature. An old fashioned 650W profile wonderful designs would often destroy glass gobos available as Gobos really fast, where the same using the lighting manufacturer’s 1kW unit would have an equipment in my hall? Joakim even heat over the image area and there would be no Odlander from Gobotech explains. issues. It’s not unusual for us to be asked if a fixed light The gobo itself is an image slide that can be made out hanging in a community or a school hall will do the job of of various materials. Years ago I made a very effective star projecting a gobo. pattern by using an aluminium can and a nail to punch The type of light required to be able to focus a gobo is small holes in it, then slotted the aluminium into the gobo called a profile. This is the light often used to focus on a slot. That was a simple home made gobo. lectern or solo spot, allowing you to achieve a sharply There are, however, thousands of standard patterns of focused beam of light. trees, leaves and anything else you can think of, that are The common lights hanging in your rig that can’t be cheap to purchase and can have great effect on a stage used to project gobos would be your Par lamps and your such as a leaf breakup used to give soft dappled lighting. A basic gobo is made as a steel stencil. The limitation is fresnels or other types of wash lamps that are designed to that the stencil image has to be designed to hold together bathe your stage in light or wash your rear Cyc in colour. Designs from various manufacturers vary greatly but you in some way; as an example the letter O would need to be should soon pick out a suitable fixture if you have one in supported by a tie line through it or the middle would drop your rig. out. Steel gobos are the cheapest option, with many A typical Fresnel (below): Front lens has a rough texture designs working perfectly well as a stencil. to achieve a wash of light. You can make the beam wider Glass slides are the next step. They allow intricate images to be produced with no tie lines. Even photographs and narrower with this unit but you can’t focus or insert a gobo. can be produced using this method, or we can A typical PAR lamp (top left): You can get different manufacture School Crests with a lot of intricate details that beam spreads, power ratings, long and short snouts and project well.

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these days even get LED colour changing units, but you can’t insert a gobo anywhere and there are no lenses to focus an image. A Profile (opposite page middle): This is what you’re looking for. A unit that has multiple lenses inside to make use of the focal point, marked at (3). This unit may look different to what is in your rig; yours may be boxier or even be “L” shaped but the essential items are all there if it’s a profile. At the front of the unit is the gel frame holder (1). This is where the coloured filter gets placed. If you look at the picture you will see the two knobs at the bottom of the fixture (2). The front one will vary the size of the beam while the one closer to the centre of the fixture will normally set your focus. Next up we see the shutters (3). This is the plane where you can focus; you will find that a fixture that is designed for gobo projection will at this point have a slot where a gobo holder can be inserted. Note that the sizes of the gobos do vary between fixtures though, as does the available image area. Most profiles take one of three standard sizes and if you’re unsure then the Gobotech website has an extensive listing covering many fixtures or you can call them with your questions. If you would like to use custom gobos, project your school crest or select one of thousands of available stock steel images then browse the Gobotech website or give them a call to get quality gobos made in Australia. You can even find them on Facebook if you like to see photos of gobos in use or to share your own projections.

www.gobotech.com.au sales@gobotech.com.au (07) 5531 4477

Blow Up Your School Steve Lawrence from Geelong Fireworks wants an explosion of colour at your next show.

There is an easy, affordable way to add impact to any school production, and that is to use Confetti Cannons. Forget the large gas powered systems that require operators and large CO2 cylinders etc., these are easy to use, hand held cannons. They don’t require a license, and can be operated quite easily. We are not talking about discount shop novelties; these are normally spring loaded and don’t have much of a load of confetti. A reliable cannon will fire a minimum of five metres indoors, and can be shot from both sides of the wings, or even with someone crouching down in front of the stage. The contents MUST be flame proof and non-staining. A simple twist of the cannon, which has a nitrogen gas cylinder contained in the base, forces a small paper disc to push the confetti or streamers out of the cannon….think GIANT party popper.

At Geelong Fireworks we have supplied many productions around the nation with our cannons, with the unique factor being that we custom fill our cannons - so you can choose confetti/streamers or a mix, and your own colors. Our cannons are pressurized to our specifications ensuring a mega blast. We also have snow confetti for that instant snowstorm. Confetti cannons are single use and disposable. They offer a low cost and easy to use way of adding that sparkle to your production. www.geelongfireworks.com.au www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 74

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Stage Management: The Glue That Holds A Production Together By Marcus Pugh from Resolution X

The good stage manager is early and late, they’re the first one to arrive each day and the last to leave at night Once the curtain opens, the most important person in that theatre isn’t because they need to know about out on stage, they’re not in the every element of the show from artistic audience and they’re not even in the to technical. A stage manager will bio box or foyer. It’s the stage manager usually be attached to a production standing in the prompt side wings before the cast is even auditioned and (that’s stage left for the uninitiated). will still be working on cleaning up The work of a good stage manager accounts and paperwork days or even should never be under-estimated weeks after the last curtain call. because it doesn’t matter how good As with theatre and life in general, the director or actors are, or how great communication and control is key. A the costumes, set and lighting looks, if good stage manager will take control the stage manager isn’t calling the cues and keeping the inner mechanisms of the show running it just won’t work. While there are the basics of stage management we all see, like calling the show and creating the ‘prompt book’, it is all the other stage management tasks that go unseen that can be the difference between a great show and one that doesn’t open. It is these ‘unseen’ things that are also the difference between production suppliers, be it in sales or hire. Choosing a quality supplier can ensure that your show or venue runs smoothly. Don’t just go with the cheapest option because this will come back to bite you when those ‘unseen’ tasks haven’t been completed.

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of a production from the first days in the audition or rehearsal room, while not stepping the on the ego of the director or producer. This control does not mean being loud and the centre of attention (that’s the actor’s job), a good stage manager will communicate the appropriate information when it is needed. Once a show hits the theatre, communication from the stage manager becomes even more important because they are accountable for the safety of all cast,

crew, front of house staff, not to mention the room full of paying customers. For this reason a quality reliable talk-back (or intercom) system is the most useful resource to any stage manager in the theatre. A reliable talk-back system should consist of quality components and cabling to eliminate interference; the whole system is only as reliable as its weakest link. While all good stage mangers are good listeners and effective communicators, they can be hamstrung by an unreliable talkback system when things ‘heat up’ in the theatre. For any stage manager to stay in control and communicate they must stay calm, no matter how chaotic things might get leading up to and during a show. A good stage manager stays calm because they know the show inside and out as well as having backup plans B, C, D etc. in place. This is

where the ‘after-sale’ service of a quality supplier comes into play. No matter what role you might be filling in your next show, know that whatever happens you can look to the stage manager, they will know what to do because they are the glue that holds the show together. There are a range of talk-back systems available for sale and hire from Lightmoves and Resolution X. Lightmoves also designs and builds custom Stage Manager’s Consoles. Please contact them for information or a quotation - they know all the ‘unseen’ things that go towards a smooth running venue or production. Contact Lightmoves for theatrical lighting sales: Ph (03) 9701 2500, theatre@lightmoves.com.au www.lightmoves.com.au Contact ResolutionX for theatrical lighting hire: Ph (03) 9701 2411, info@resolutionx.com.au

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Lighting up Sydney Harbour John Rayment has been the lighting designer for the spectacular Opera on the Harbour for the last two years. He shared his favourite moments of Carmen with David Spicer. I like the journey you take with lighting. The set sits there waiting for light to transform it - give it place, time, flavour and emotion. What I enjoy most is when the set transforms. I enjoyed the moment after interval with the fire lights. The whole set became another space. This stood in contrast to before interval where it was harsh and had the big café scene. I love the top of Act 4 when suddenly the (Carmen) sign is red and gold with flags, big and vibrant and brassy. I enjoyed it with the café scene with all the red bulbs. Some scenes were also pleasing with just Carmen and Don Jose performing with two side follow spots and a red ring. It was a nice moment which stood in contrast to everything else. The set made it feel intimate. Last year (for La Traviata) it was very important to have the Opera House and skyline part of the experience. Having established this thing on Sydney Harbour, we could close the city off a bit and make it a much more theatrical story. How did you go with the rain? If you are using digital equipment there are a lot of electronics you have to protect and have to waterproof. When the weather gets nasty it can knock a few lights out. Any big rig always has a five or ten percent failure rate. On the Harbour salt can make a mess of sensitive electronics. Then wind can wave everything about. Sometimes watching Gobos bounce up and down can be a little distracting. What equipment did you use? I don’t like to have a lighting rig that has one type of light or one brand. All have qualities that are useful and I like the mixture of them. I used Martin Mac III

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Performance, Vari Light 3500 profile and Clay Paky Alpha 1500. They all behaved well. The ring on the floor was LED (built into the stage) as was the big red bull that lit up. The big ring was a metaphor for the whole work. It’s a big game; someone is going to fight and someone is going to lose. It was a very powerful image. Do you use bold strong colours to convey emotions or are you working to balance that with the costumes and the drama at the time? There is both. Any lighting designer worth their salt will make the most of the costumes, lift them out of the piece and support them, also wanting to use the set to vary it visually and do that in a way that is emotionally supportive of the storyline and music.

No Flash in the Pan Training, safety and quality are the hallmarks of Geelong Fireworks. All shows are fired electronically, ignited by a senior pyro technician. The company has recently provided theatrical pyrotechnics and special effects for productions of Beauty and the Beast, Wizard of Oz and The Witches of Eastwick. The company has been serving theatres, schools and corporates in Victoria and throughout Australia with its mail order service for over a decade. Recently Geelong Fireworks has been getting many requests for magicians’ flash paper. A sparkling flash paper was used for Dorothy’s shoes in The Wizard of Oz, set off with a very small TOUCH IT

ignition system, and also for the fireballs from Daryl’s fingers in The Witches of Eastwick. Steve Lawrence, Director and Senior Pyrotechnician of Geelong Fireworks says, “We continued getting enquiries for different types of flash paper and products to ignite, shoot them across the stage etc. We have now the largest range of flash products in Australia.” Geelong Fireworks also offers the AIRSQUIB bullet hit system, a remote controlled unit that allows bullet hits on stage with complete safety and no pyrotechnic bullet hits. Anyone can use it and no surprises, as with other bullet hit blood bags leaking at the wrong time!

They even have fake beer concentrate to turn soft drink into realistic beer! And if you need to keep the crew away from food, check out their realistic fake cakes. If you have an idea you want to see turn into reality, or just want to chat about options, get in touch with the team at Geelong Fireworks.

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LED Shines in New Zealand

With increasing demand for video content to be incorporated in theatre productions, and the difficulties that projection of video presents, the use of LED screen surfaces is becoming more prevalent.

and event work across NZ. The LED surface is made up of 3m x 2.4m panels, which have the LEDs imbedded in a foldable fabric. The full cloth can be suspended from a theatre flying system, and weighs around 320kg. Video or still The Light Site, based in imagery is sent to the cloth in much the same way you would to a data Christchurch, NZ, has a 12m x 6m projector, using either a laptop or LED screen surface in its rental stock which is being kept busy with Theatre media server.

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For the New Zealand consortium tour production of Hairspray, The Light Site supplied the LED surface, complete with a Hypnotizer media server. This media server allows for the LED imagery changes (cues) to be synced with the showsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; music. The lighting and sound cues were also able to be cued in this manner, giving fully integrated cueing. The recent production of Beauty and the Beast, by NASDA, at the Ashburton Trust Event Centre, called for the use of the LED surface to replace some of the back drop scenery from an existing set which was too large for the venue. The LED surface was flown on the house counterweight system at the rear of the stage, allowing it to be flown out of the way when scenery needed to be moved past it. LED Surface available from: The Light Site Ltd Christchurch, New Zealand david@lightsite.co.nz +64 3 372 9101

One Stop Shop MultiTek Solutions is uniquely placed to provide all the technical demands of a production - Sound, AV and the latest in LED and regular lighting fixtures. Based in Geelong, but serving Greater Melbourne and regional Victoria, the company’s ethos is to make complex technology simple and reliable with knowledge & enthusiasm. MultiTek Solutions delivers Audio Visual and Theatrical installations to the Corporate, Educational and Entertainment sectors and thrives on projects that challenge their knowledge and skills and require them to deliver a very specific customised system. “We are big enough to handle large scale jobs such as the Lighthouse Theatre refurbishment in Warrnambool,” says Trent Young, the Co-Director, “but small enough to remain equally as passionate about smaller and more challenging spaces.” Shane Haugh, who heads up the theatre arm adds, “Our level of advice and assistance is completely guided by the client. Large organisations know their spaces and they know what they need so we work with them to achieve the outcomes they want, however for our clients that have limited knowledge, we offer our skills and experience to guide them through the process and ensure the final result ticks every box.” MultiTek Solutions have established relationships with all major suppliers and distributors which provides access to a vast range of products and services to compliment their desire to install the right products for a project.

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Ticketing, Seating And Curtains

Eternity Playhouse. Image courtesy of City of Sydney. Photo: Adam Hollingworth.

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Just The Ticket

can be made to meet hire requirements. The software program can be integrated into other websites but most users have a link to the Whether it’s a school concert, an ticketing of their drama and musical TicketHost site. amateur theatre production or a performances. Students carrying Eric boasts that he has well over 99.9% uptime on his website, community fun-run, ticket buyers cash and office staff juggling now expect the convenience of spreadsheets will soon be a thing of averaging less than 3 hours downtime per year. being able to purchase their tickets the past,” he said. “Most events can be up and online. But many ticket agencies selling within 15 minutes. have steep booking fees that do Comprehensive reporting allows not find their way into the pocket of the organisation putting the ticket sales to show on. Breaking the mould is TicketHost, a new Australian owned and operated ticketing service provider. The system was designed from the ground up three years ago by computer programmer Eric Staples and has been continually upgraded in response to customer demand. “We have no lock-in contracts, no upfront costs and a service fee of just 35 cents per ticket plus bank fees,” he said. This works out at around $1 a ticket for a typical production and the system allows fees to be passed on to the ticket buyer or absorbed into the ticket price. “Schools in particular are amazed at the time savings they reap from using TicketHost for

be closely monitored and an array of tools gives the event organiser complete control,” he said. The system allows for general or allocated seating and producers can harvest as much data as they require. “For a triathlon we included dates of birth and medical details,” he said. Tickets are emailed as PDFs and payment is allowed on major credit cards, EFT and PayPal. TicketHost holds the box office receipts in a trust account, releasing funds to producers two days after the event - but interim distributions

For more details contact TicketHost Website: www.tickethost.com.au Email: info@tickethost.com.au

Before using TicketHost

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Social Media And Sold Gary Gumbleton, Head of Sales at Iticket, explains how theatres can ride the social media wave to fill their theatres. Why should you be using social media? Well, above all, it’s free (although you can pay for additional reach). It allows you to feed information directly to the people who are specifically interested in what you have to offer. There are plenty of social media sites online. If you’re new to all of this, it’s best to focus on Facebook and Twitter. Facebook is a very personal thing. You see your friends’ daily activities in one vertical feed and you slot in your 10c worth. Twitter on the other hand is a realtime list of both the general public and famous people’s updates and opinions; it’s fast paced and often people distribute news first on Twitter. Consider if you’re asking people to ‘like’ your Facebook page or follow your Twitter account ‘Why should they bother?’ You need to offer your fans something they can’t get anywhere else (or at least get it first online). Once you have the content to post online, the second question you should ask yourself is ‘How do I get people to interact with this content?’ An example I like to use is the recent Coke campaign where they printed people’s names on the bottle. Before my name was written on the side of the bottle, I would never have thought of taking a picture and posting it on my Facebook page. Now that I see

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Out Shows something on the bottle I can interact with, I feel the impulse to share this experience with my friends. Let’s bring it back to theatre. If a company posted about the musical Chicago starting in May, unless I am a truly avid fan of Chicago then I am not going to interact with this post. If you asked who your favorite character in a show was and included the poster of your up and coming production of Chicago, people will answer your question AND see your poster. The reason you want people to interact with the post is Virality. You want your current fans to see your post but one of your goals should be to increase your fan base. If I interact with the post, this interaction will show up in my friends’ feeds. If they are interested in the post, they will then ‘Like’ your page to find out more. There are only three reasons why a post becomes viral: Unexpectedness, Audience Participation and Tastemakers. A superb example of this is when Music Theatre New Zealand posted an image of the full Sound Of Music cast ‘then and now’. As the image was unexpected, people wanted to interact and share it with their friends. Now, bearing in mind that MTNZ has a healthy 2000 followers, this image was seen by almost 400,000 people because of the public interaction. Without paying for advertising, MTNZ had been inserted into almost half a million Facebook feeds at the flick of a wrist. This kind of virality is near on impossible to replicate; sometimes you just hit the jackpot. Any image you post on Facebook should be seen as ‘Marketing’. Your Facebook page itself is free ‘Marketing Real Estate’ so use it as much as you can. Ask cast members to use a show poster as their image for the duration of the season. A month or so ago I presented a forum on exactly this topic. When I opened up to questions, we came up with the perfect idea to offer exclusivity to your fans and increase virality without paid advertising: For your next show, get the lead actor/actress to be on your Facebook page (within a specific time period) to answer questions. People will not be able to be a part of this experience anywhere else online AND every time someone asks a question, this will show up in their friends feeds. The www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 90

Take A Seat

Hadley/Series Seating specialise exclusively in high quality tip-up theatre seating for the Performing Arts throughout Australia. They have extensive experience in manufacturing and installing seating from small Performing Arts venues to large concert halls/theatres. The upholstery has zip off covers for easy cleaning/replacement and the seat cushions have a quick change mechanism in case of damage or soiling. The tip-up mechanism is silent gravity: no springs to fail or maintain. Pricing is very competitive and the warranties are unrivalled. Specialist advice and budgeting is gladly given without obligation.

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Training

AIM Music Theatre. City of Angels - The Musical

Visit the Training section of the Stage Whispers website www.stagewhispers.com.au/directory-central/198 www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 92

had limited access to live performance. The performance was to be engaging though music, dance, puppetry and movement. The students created a story that follows Victorian students involved the journey of Gaia, a masked character who must in the SEDA Arts find and put back together Development program the pieces of a broken star. enjoy hands-on theatre Other students worked with making experience. Platform Youth Theatre in creating One Act plays The year 11 and 12 performed at various students gain nationally theatres around Melbourne. recognised Vocational The students have been in Education and Training charge of everything from (VET) qualifications, writing of original scripts to including Certificates in lighting and costume. Community, Dance, A select few students were Theatre and Events as well privileged to be granted as a Diploma of Events. Online extras! behind-the-scenes access to Recently, SEDAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Discover what makes studying at SEDA students helped manage the Australian Balletâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s different. Scan the QR code or visit performance of Swan Lake the State Schools http://youtu.be/VRVNezE96mg at Arts Centre Melbourne. Spectacular. Working Given access to call sheets alongside industry for each act and the opportunity to get professionals, students were involved in Earlier in the year students took up close to the dancers, this was an lighting, backstage and management. their production Star Puzzle to the experience that will provide the stage. SEDA Arts partner The Song Room highlight of the year for many of the students. hosted Star Puzzle at the National Applications are now open for the Gallery of Victoria, where the students 2014 Arts Development Program. put on performances for primary school children from in and around For more information on the SEDA Melbourne. Arts Program call 1300 11 7332, email Students were instructed to create info@sedagroup.com.au, or visit an original piece of work that targets www.sedagroup.com.au/arts primary school aged children that have

High School Performing Arts Program

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Commedia dell’Arte At Your School Journey to Italy … to the 16th Century … to a madcap world full of silly slapstick, mistaken identity and Pasta Bolognese! Make a Scene brings Commedia dell’Arte to your school. “Both performers make clear sense of the traditions of Commedia dell’Arte by expressing them with infectious vitality in a sparkling performance.” Stage Whispers. Pantalone’s Inn is an entertaining performance based on the Italian comedy of the 16th Century, Commedia dell’Arte. This performance is in English (with some Italian) and features the traditional masked characters of the commedia, complete with loads of silly slapstick, misunderstandings and bad wigs.

Pantalone’s Inn is suitable for Primary and Secondary students of Drama, Theatre Studies, Italian, English and History. Drama and Theatre Studies students can analyse theatrical conventions and playmaking techniques, while Pantalone’s Inn is culturally relevant for students of Italian. All bookings include a resource kit. Pantalone’s Inn is created by Rosa Campagnaro, and performed by Rosa Campagnaro and Fabio Motta. Both artists trained in this style in Venice (Italy), while Rosa also trained with Commedia Master Antonio Fava. Make a Scene are also available to conduct Commedia dell’Arte workshops.

Children’s Performing Company Of Australia Guest Speakers/Workshops The CPCA has many highly experienced and qualified actors, directors, dancers, choreographers and singers on staff who are well versed in

communicating and inspiring young people through the performing arts. Rates and subject matter negotiated on a case by case basis.

Schools Performances Its talented young performers can present short performances in Drama or Musical Theatre to entertain and inspire. Performances may be able to be tailored to support curriculum subjects. Rates and repertoire negotiated on a case by case basis. Contact CPCA 03 93841644. Or visit www.cpca.com.au

Book Nook

Book Nook is Australia's largest on-line performing arts specialist bookshop, stocking play scripts, drama theory and teachers’ resources, poetry, speech, dance, media and arts texts / biographies. The Book Nook’s primary customers are drama teachers (from public and private schools and private studios), as well as actors and students (especially seeking monologues for audition pieces), etc. A strong motivator for customers to use the Book Nook is the specialist knowledge available for consulting - so that a client can describe the qualities of the text they need and be given a number of options to choose from that fill their need, or that are compatible with their requirements. After 25 years in Brisbane under Geoff Andrews, the business relocated from Brisbane to Toowoomba under the ownership of Karen Wighton (a drama teacher) and Mary Sutherland (a theatre designer and art teacher). www.booknook.com.au www.stagewhispers.com.au Stage Whispers 94

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