War of the Worlds

War of the Worlds is a ground-breaking collaboration between Arena Theatre, Riverland Youth Theatre and D’Faces Whyalla. It is a text-based community theatre work that will be performed simultaneously in three Australian regional towns. The premise for this new version of War of the Worlds is that on the night of an alien invasion, three regional theatre companies are presenting parallel versions of scenes from the classics. As chaos begins to descend on Australia, these companies find the only communication they have with the outside world is with each other. Together they confront their situation and help each other to survive.

Ensembles of young people from Bendigo, Renmark and Whyalla each perform for their own local audience, while streaming scenes and dialogue into the other two towns. Part of the artistic rationale for War of the Worlds is that the collaboration will echo the fictional plot. Regional perspectives will be shared and contrasted, as we build this ambitious performance. Our hope and expectation is that our young people will be empowered and validated by the connections they make, and the scale of this cross-borders project. In November, creatives from the three companies met in Renmark, South Australia for a week-long initial creative development. We worked with first draft scripts written by Riverland Youth Theatre Artistic Director, Fleur Kilpatrick, and discussed them with the young performers they are being written for. We talked about the technical complexities of the project, and outlined a plan for how we would continue to develop the project.

Dates and Venues

November 2022

Renmark, SA

Artists

Fleur Kilpatrick

Christian Leavesley

The Company recorded a deficit of $228,017 and negative operating cash flows of $790,965 for the year. This result was due to changes in the timing for the production and public launch of Journey, the major immersive project developed throughout 2022 with funding provided by the Commonwealth through the RISE fund, established as part of the COVID-19 Creative Economy Support Package.

When the additional funds required to fully finance Journey were not secured within the original timeframe, production of Journey was paused, allowing more time to secure the required funding.

The Company holds sufficient cash reserves and guarantees of future funding to continue operations.

Sharon Custers Executive Director (Outgoing May 2022)

Christian Leavesley Artistic Director

Gemma Robertson Producer Executive Director (May to July 2022)

Debra Allanson Executive Director (Incoming August 2022)

Kerry Brown Marketing Manager

James Bodin Brown Admin and Operations Coordinator

Wendy Buchan Accountant

Anne Henshall (she/her) (Chair) has workedin Performing Arts Marketing and Event Management with Bendigo Venues & Events, the Bendigo Easter Festival and Bendigo Writers Festival for over 11 years. Previously a Board Member of Variety - the Children’s Charity Victorian Tent and the Bendigo Trust, Anne was also the creator of the Bendigo Kids Character Carnival, one of the Executive Production team on NED - A New Australian Musical that premiered at the opening of Ulumbarra Theatre and also produced a musical as part of a health promotion project for Bendigo Community Health. Anne has a passion for performing arts and the very real benefits to young people’s health and wellbeing whether through participation, performance or as part of an audience.

Debra Allanson (she/her) brings with her a wealth of experience in the creative industries through her work in television, film and innovative digital platforms, and deep strategic and operational management roles. She has worked extensively with start-up teams across a range of digital media businesses including an online platform for children’s creative development and expression. Debra is a longstanding member of the Vicscreen (formerly Film Victoria) investment and incentive committee having previously been a Board member for nine years, and is a former board member of Barking Gecko, Western Australia’s theatre company for children and their families.

Emily Fiori (she/her) is an experienced marketing and communications professional who is passionate about growing audiences and communicating the value of the creative industries. With more than a decade of experience leading high impact strategic media and marketing campaigns, Emily is the Senior Manager Marketing & Communications at VicScreen. She has previously held positions including Theatre Marketing Project Manager at Visit Victoria, Marketing and Communications Manager at Chunky Move, and Marketing Campaign Manager at Melbourne Theatre Company. Emily holds a Bachelor of Arts, Arts Management from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts

Christian Leavesley (he/him) is Arena Theatre Company’s Artistic Director and Co- CEO. Before joining Arena, Christian was the coArtistic Director of indie trailblazers Uncle Semolina(& friends), whose multi-award winning works were programmed around Australia, including Melbourne International Festival, Malthouse Theatre, Adelaide Festival Centre, Sydney Opera House, Arts Centre Melbourne and internationally in Europe and Asia, including The Barbican Centre London, The Shanghai Centre for Dramatic Arts and The Chao Yung Centre, Beijing. Christian’s directing work for Arena Theatre includes Starchaser (AWGIE Award for Best Children’s Play), Marlin (3 Helpmann nominations, including Best New Australian Work, 1 Green Room nomination, Drama Victoria Best Play for Primary Aged Children), Trapper (2 Green Room nominations), Sunny Ray and the Magnificent Moon (Official Selection for China Children’s International Theatre Festival and ASSITEJ International Gathering) and Air Race (Darwin Festival).Christian is a recipient of The Malcolm Robertson Prize for new writing, and in 2020 was nominated for the Regional Development Victoria Leadership and Innovation Award. Aneke McCulloch (she/her) has worked locally and internationally as an administrator, producer and project manager in government and cultural organisations for over 18 years. With postgraduate qualifications in Arts Administration from RMIT, and a Diploma of Business Governance, Aneke has broad practical experience gained from working with organisations such as the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Heritage Council of Victoria, Creative Partnerships Australia, Lucy Guerin Inc, National Institute of Circus Arts, Auspicious Arts Projects, City of Melbourne, City of Darebin, and City of Port Phillip. Aneke has also been a freelance producer with Seesault Projects. She is currently the Executive Office Coordinator for the Energy Demand Efficiency and Safety Division at the Victorian Government Department of Environment Land Water and Planning.

Janice Muller (she/her) is a theatre and opera director based in Newstead, Victoria who has worked across Australia for companies and festivals including Belvoir, Carriageworks, Sydney Festival, Sydney Chamber Opera, Queensland Theatre, Perth Festival and internationally for the HAU, Berlin. She also collaborates as a writer, dramaturg and producer and creates site-specific work. In 2016 she was Director in Residence at Malthouse Theatre, Melbourne. Janice is the recipient of several grants and scholarships including to the Royal Court Theatre in London. Her work has been nominated for several awards including for best director for Lake Disappointment which was nominated for five Sydney Theatre awards.

Liahn Nortje (he/him) is currently the Chief Finance Officer at Film Victoria, supporting the film, television and digital games sectors of Victoria and has oversight of all financial, operational, risk management and governance requirements as the Head of Corporate Services. Previously, he has held various senior finance and leadership roles within the screen, higher education and hospitality industries. Liahn is a member of CPA Australia and the Chartered Institute of Management Accountants (UK).

Abe Watson (he/him) Abe is an experienced arts manager and creative with specialist skills in theatrical production and operations, producing, and technical theatre. He is currently Artistic Operations Manager at Fine Arts and Music, University of Melbourne – home of two renowned cultural institutions: Victorian College of the Arts and Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Previously, Abe was Production Manager at Melbourne Theatre Company. Well-respected in the Central Victorian Creative Community, Abe is a Life Member of Bendigo Theatre Company (and former President), and worked in various operational roles across the Bendigo Venues and Events team for ten years. Abe’s producing and production management work includes Torch the Place, Berlin, Summer Series, Well That Happened, Cyrano and Touching the Void for MTC; Wicked, One Man Two Guvnors, Peter Pan for BTC; Assassins for 3’s A Crowd Inc.; First Date for Pipedream Productions; and, [title of show] as an independent production. Abe holds a Bachelor of Arts (French/MediaComms), and a Master of Arts and Cultural Management from The University of Melbourne. Abe studied linguistics and history at Université Paris Didérot and has a working French proficiency.

Sandra Willis (she/her) is a leading arts sector executive with extensive experience of the strategic leadership of arts organisations. She is currently General Manager of The Lyceum Club Melbourne, the world’s busiest Lyceum Club providing artistic, intellectual, social and professional enrichment. Previously she was Executive Director of Opera Queensland, leading the company through a significant turn around and the renewal of one of Australia’s Major Performing Arts Companies. A graduate of NIDA she has held various senior roles including Executive Producer, Touring and Outreach at Opera Australia, General Manager Oz Opera, Company Manager of Bell Shakespeare and Company Manager of Priscilla Queen of the Desert – The Musical. She has served as a partner of the Opera Conference, Branch Council member for the MEAA, Council Member for the Performing Arts Touring Alliance, Trustee of the Opera Australia Benevolent Fund and was a member of the Regional and Touring Arts Programs Expert Assessment Panel for the Office of the Arts, Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Tom Wolff (he/him) is an experienced and enthusiastic family lawyer living and practising in Bendigo. Tom is an active member of the Bendigo Law Association, having previously served as President. Tom is a passionate about many facets of the Bendigo Community, having previously been involved in the Star Cinema Committee of Management (including as Chair) and Eaglehawk Town Hall Precinct Advisory Group, and regularly sits on local Cricket and Football tribunals. Tom also brings to the Arena Theatre Company board his background in the performing arts. Tom was trained in Music Composition at the Sir Zelman Cowen School of Music and Performance at Monash University and has been an creator and performer in student theatre, independent theatre and live music for many years.