SUGARLAND: BEHIND THE SCENES
CONTEXT: The Place Katherine is a town in Northern Territory 2 hours south of Darwin. Its population is made up of 30 different nationalities and the climate is governed by a WET and a DRY season.
→WATCH: SUGARLAND:THE PLACE https://www.atyp.com.au/whats-on/ productions/sugarland In this video you see some of the places where the young people in Katherine hang out. These have become the locations within the play: Low Level, Hot Springs, the Skate Park, the Footy Field, Maccas. Some of these locations are unique to Katherine itself, others could be in any town, anywhere in Australia.
AFTER WATCHING YOU HAVE A GO: THE VIDEO: → Have a think about the locations that make up your life story. → Select 5 places and create a scene list for your top 5 places. Flesh them out into scene descriptions. → Draw a map of your locations. → In groups of 4 or 5 compare your scene lists. Which ones do you have in common? Which ones are different? → As a group select 4 locations and create a soundscape for each one. → Share with the class.
→ for tips about creating a soundscape go to www.atyp.com.au/ education/onlineresources
DISCUSS: → Identify the things the young people like about their town. → What are some of the challenges of living in Katherine? Katherine has the highest rate of homelessness in Australia. Young people aged 12 to 18 make up the largest age group of people experiencing homelessness in Australia. → How do you think the rate of homelessness in Katherine affects people’s sense of belonging and identity? → In groups of 4 create a tableau that reflects your discussion.
CONTEXT: The People The greater Katherine region has a population of 24,000 people. How does that compare to where you live? 60% of these people identify themselves as indigenous. The two largest clans of Indigenous people in Katherine are the Jawoyn people and Wardaman people. You will find saltwater, freshwater and desert people in Katherine.
→ listen to our cast and creatives www.atyp.com.au
The Royal Australian Air Force RAAF base Tindal is 15km out of town.
→WATCH: SUGARLAND:THE PEOPLE https://www.atyp.com.au/whats-on/ productions/sugarland
AFTER WATCHING YOU HAVE A GO: THE VIDEO: → Discuss the types of people that live in Katherine how does this compare with where you live? → Identify the biggest issue for schools and young people in the town.
A TRANSIENT POPULATION The indigenous population and proximity to the RAAF base contribute to Katherine schools and the town having a transient population. This means people come and go, don't stay very long, attendance at school fluctuates. Why is the population transient? RAAF families serve for short periods of time in different places. They may be there for a year, three years or move on after five. Families like this often become the new faces in town, learn to adjust quickly and are supported by other RAAF families. Indigenous people have a deep connection to their families. If a family member is in need that is where their focus and responsibility will be. If there is a death in the family, a sorry day, that is the priority. School comes after these community responsibilities. Thus the perception at school is that the indigenous population in Katherine seems transient.
CONTEXT: The People
→WATCH: SUGARLAND:THE PEOPLE https://www.atyp.com.au/whats -on/productions/sugarland
REFLECT: → Discuss how the transient population effected the game? How did you make adjustments? When were things particularly difficult? → How does this exercise reflect the transient nature of the population in Katherine? What would it be like to go to school with different people coming and going? How does this relate to your school? How would this transience affect your ability to put on a school production? Do a group activity? Have a friendship group? Know who you are and how you fit in?
AFTER YOU HAVEWATCHING A GO: THE VIDEO: → As a class, stand in a semi circle. Place 4 or 5 people in the space in front of you. Start with a nursery rhyme you all know eg Ring a Ring a Rosey. Something with actions works best. The group starts the song and the actions. → At sudden intervals one person leaves the group to join the semi circle. One person from the semi circle joins the group. → Once you get the hang of it experiment with altering the timing of when people join and leave the game. Sometimes there is a big gap where no one re-enters. Other times there might be a big influx of people. How do you adjust to the transient population in the game?
EXTENSION: → Have a go with a scene you have been working on in class. Use a movement improvisation. Use a series of tableau.
EXTENSION: → Build a scene around this idea of transience. Think about the types of characters you will use. How do they connect with each other? → WRITING TASK: write about what it is like to be the person always moving on. The person having to make new friends, adjust to new schools, new places. How does it make you feel? What are your coping mechanisms? Do you like always moving or find it difficult? How do you find a sense of self?
→ BEFORE YOU SEE THE SHOW Listen to our cast and creative interviewed by radio national http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs /booksandartsdaily/darwin-festival3asugarland/5683078
CONTEXT: The Culture What is it like to live in Katherine?
→WATCH: K BLOCK G’s”It’s Thaa Life” https://www.atyp.com.au/whats -on/productions/sugarland
This Hip Hop video was created by the young people in Katherine during the residencies run by ATYP and Desert Pea Media in 2011.
AFTER WATCHING YOU HAVE A GO: THE VIDEO: REFLECT: → What do you like about the hip hop
Their lyrics give you some clues as to what it is like to grow up in Katherine.
NZ to Iraq all corners of the map We’re the East side South Side bringin it back On the track on the mic We about to drop these raps Introducing the K Block G’s This is the place the skate park and hot springs Spot the big crocs in the river and drop things Hip hop brings u a lesson of the land Listen close to my flow and you’ll understand .
video? → What does it tell you about the young people in Katherine?
YOU HAVE A GO: .... Truth is brother we all bleed red From all corners of the map we bring it back see Rappin on track like a lyrical factory The fact be Thru the wet and the dry Everybody role together like clouds in the sky
We'd love to hear what it is like living in your town. Have a go at making your own hip hop video that tells us about your life and your town. Lyrics are all important in this genre. Send us your lyrics, send us your films! We'll feature the top clips on our website alongside our own K BLOCK G’s ‘It’s Thaa Life’