Matt Dann Cultural Centre - Audience development projects (2010-2014)

2010-2014

MATT DANN CULTURAL CENTRE

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS

Content 2010

p.2 Tashi Stories p.4 Krakouer

2011

p.8 Honey Spot p.12 Often I Find That I Am Naked

2012

p.16 Deep Blue Orchestra p.20 Shiver p.28 Treasure Island

2013

p.34 The Importance Of Being Earnest p.36 Freefall p.40 360 Allstars p.48 Jack Charles V The Crown p.54 Boats p.62 Scent Tales

AUG 2010

tashi stories Category: Children ‘Shiver’ was inspiredshow by true stories the Director

Danielle Micih collected over five years from people

whoisshared theirofaccounts Tashi the hero a seriesofofloss.

Australian books very popular with young children. He’s a very small boy, from a very small village far, far away.

Tashi tells the best stories ever, very big stories, and some would say tall stories about his old life, the people of his village and the extraordinary adventures he had there before he came to Australia and Imaginary Theatre has transformed them into exciting theatre experiences for children.

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Tashi Stories was my first performance at the Matt Dann Cultural Centre and my first opportunity to implement audience engagement strategies.

This show was a great way to introduce children to the magic of the theatre and the beauty of books.

My first initiative was to contact all the primary schools letting them know about the performance and offering them free Tashi books so that they could introduce young people to Tashi stories beforehand.

In collaboration with the Town libraries I also organised some story time sessions featuring Tashi stories and set up a display showcasing what the show was about. In the meantime, I conducted an intensive marketing campaign via the press including raffle tickets to win free entry to the show.

Prior to the show, Tashi performers hold an exclusive story time session at one of the Town libraries. Around 40 people, including children, parents and grand-parents, attended the preview showing of Tashi’s stories. At this showing, the two performers also awarded drawing competition winners with signed copies of Tashi’s omnibus books which comprised all of Tashi’s adventures.

TASHI STORIES///AUGUST 2010

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NOV 2010

krakouer Category: Theatre ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director

Danielle Micih collected over five years from people

who shared of trials loss. and tribulations Krakouer is atheir play accounts about the of the famous Aboriginal VFL players, Jimmy and Phil Krakouer. Both Jimmy and Phil had very successful careers as footballers, but when they retired in their twenties they found the going pretty tough.

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While Phil Krakouer did not perform in the play, we invited him to Port Hedland as part of our audience development program. During his visit to Port Hedland, Phil Krakouer visited schools and told the students the challenge he had faced. He succeeded in football in his youth, but when he retired, he had nothing to fall back on. He talked about the importance of getting an education.

As a result, a lot of new people came to the performance because of Phil’s talks to the kids - and because the play was relevant to them.

The actors from the play were also involved. They ran workshops at Hedland Senior High School and gave a talk to audience after their performance.

KRAKOUER///NOVEMBER 2010

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We also organised a meet and great session at the Wangka Maya Pilbara Language Centre with Indigenous Elders followed by a barbecue and a general kick around with the South Hedland Swans Football Club who have 95% Indigenous memberships. In return we offered to show Swans memorabilia in the foyer during the play which gave people the chance to better appreciate the club’s history.

We also linked Phil up with the Kicking Goals program, which is sponsored by BHP Billiton Iron Ore to encourage kids to stay at school.

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[1] Visit at the Wangka Maya Pilbara Language Centre.

[2] Phil Krakouer along with Town of Port Hedland Manager Community Development, Lorna Secrett, Community Development Officer, Sheila Cleaver and Events Marketing Officer, Cecile Lucas.

[3] Actor Jimi Bani, Port Hedland Mayor Kelly Howlett and Phil Krakouer.

[4] Phil Krakouer meets with local football players The Swans football team, Town of Port Hedland Club Development Officer Sarah Cunningham, Manager Community Development, Lorna Secrett, Community Development Officer, Sheila Cleaver and Phil Krakouer.

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KRAKOUER///NOVEMBER 2010

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JUNE 2011

honey spot Category: Indigenous ‘Shiver’ was inspired byTheatre true stories the Director

Danielle Micih collected over five years from people

who shared accounts Honey Spot istheir a play basedof onloss.

Jack Davis’ celebrated book. Brought on stage by Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Honey Spot is a piece of quality Indigenous theatre about the power of friendship between Tim, an aboriginal boy, and Peggy, a white girl, who seem to have nothing in common. Dance is what will bring them together as Tim agrees to help Peggy in her performance assessment for a ballet scholarship.

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HONEY SPOT///JUNE 2011

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Leading up the show, Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company hold a Noonga Dance workshop for Hedland Senior High school students allowing young people to engage with the creative team and learn more about traditional Indigenous culture.

The cast also hold a Q&A session after the performance where young people were able to meet with the performers and discover what’s behind the scene.

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HONEY SPOT///JUNE 2011

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AUG 2011

often I find that I Am naked Category: Comedy Theatre ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director

Danielle Micih collected over five years from people

who Ishared their Iaccounts of loss.

Often Find That Am Naked is a wonderful piece of Comedy Theatre about the search for love and bad dating stories. Often I Find That I Am Naked is a polished black comedy following the life of Jezebel, a professional Australian woman who spends her time shopping, drinking cocktails and looking for love any way she can – speed-dating, Facebook, text sex, and on the search for Mr. Right she too often ends up with Mr. Right Now!

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OFTEN I FIND THAT I AM NAKED///JUNE 2011

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Dating in the 21st century is complicated. With so many possible avenues to meet Mr Right, how many disastrous speed dates, mobile games and online fabrications must the modern woman endure?

To promote Often I Find That I Am Naked I decided to encourage a ‘Girls Night Out’ event, including a ‘Best Dressed’ competition for our female customers.

For this, I sourced sponsorships from local businesses including hairdressers, beauticians, fashion outlets and restaurants to put together the ‘Dream Pamper Package’ that every woman would need to be the most beautiful and prepared for dating. Four of our sponsors formed the panel for our ‘Best Dressed’ competition and joined Often I Find That I Am Naked cast on stage after the show to award our winners. The night was really successful with a full house attendance.

[1] Judges and sponsors of our ‘Best Dressed’ competition.

[2] Often I Find That I Am Naked cast [3] Winners of our ‘Best Dressed’ competition on stage with Often I Find That I Am Naked cast, sponsor and judge Claire Fotti and Town of Port Hedland Events Marketing Officer, Cecile Lucas.

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OFTEN I FIND THAT I AM NAKED///JUNE 2011

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SEPT 2012

DEEP BLUE ORCHESTRA Category: Music ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director

Danielle Micih collected over five years from people

whoband, shared their accountsand of loss.

Part part orchestra part theatre, Deep Blue Orchestra combines an orchestra with electronic music, visual projections and choreography. The group has been described as challenging orchestral musical culture through incorporating promotional techniques used in popular music, and including multimedia elements in performance. Deep Blue Orchestra also made it to the finals of Australia’s Got Talent in 2011.

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Deep Blue have established a youth education program called Young Blue, where school students get the opportunity to take part into workshops and then play with the group on stage.

As part of our audience engagement program, we worked in partnership with Hedland Senior High School where free music workshops were held on the day. Deep Blue Orchestra and the students worked together on a common song that they presented on stage during the show.

DEEP BLUE ORCHESTRA///SEPTEMBER 2012

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[1] Town of Port Hedland Community Development Coordinator, Veronica Clarke, lucky winner of an ukulélé.

[2] Town of Port Hedland Community Development Coordinator, Veronica Clarke, with Deep Blue Orchestra cast.

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DEEP BLUE ORCHESTRA///SEPTEMBER 2012

[3] Hedland Senior High School students with Deep Blue Orchestra.

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SEPT 2012

SHIVER Category: Contemporary Dance ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoDirected shared their accounts of loss.

by Perth Choreographer Danielle

Micich, Shiver is an evocative dance theatre work which takes an honest look at life and loss in all unpredictable cruelty and beauty.

In this piece, Danielle Micich explores the gamut of human emotion experienced by four people faced with loss.

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Three weeks before the show Shiver Director Danielle Micich and Perth based artist Annette Carmichael visited Port Hedland for three days to explore the community experiences of loss. In this project, community members were invited to share their stories of loss and contribute to a collective artwork featuring lost notices.

From losing pets to precious objects to opportunities and friendships, experiencing loss is an essential part of being human. Residents were asked to fill in lost notices which were then displayed at the JD Hardie Youth Centre and shared on Facebook. A movie recording people’s stories of loss was also created and presented prior to the shown.

Local residents filling in Shiver’s lost notices in the Courthouse Gallery gardens.

shiver///SEPTEMBER 2012

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shiver///SEPTEMBER 2012

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The installation of the ‘Lost Notices’ at the JD Hardie Youth Centre was set up by Di Boyd, a local artist, who won a category in the Hedland Arts Awards in 2012 and 2013.

shiver///SEPTEMBER 2012

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The film realised by Danielle Micich in Port Hedland and named ‘What Have You Lost Port Hedland?’ is available on Youtube.

As part of their regional tour, the Dance Company teamed up with Performing Lines WA and Ausdance WA to be the first company to deliver a tour with a new approach and develop an audience engagement strategy.

Lost notices were also displayed outside on poles.

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[1] JD Hardie Youth Centre staff, Jane and Ashley, along with the Matt Dann Cultural Centre Venue Coordinator, Brad Holder.

[2] Laurence and Janelle, Friends of the Theatre and teachers at the Hedland Senior High School.

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shiver///SEPTEMBER 2012

[3] ‘Shiver’ cast along with Director Danielle Micich.

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OCT 2012

TREASURE ISLAND Category: Theatre ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoPresented shared their of loss. byaccounts Queensland Theatre Company

and Matrix Theatre, ‘Treasure Island’ is a magical coming of age story and the original classic pirate tale which explores themes of adventure and escapism, coming of age, role models and overcoming fears.

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staff at the Town library dressed up for the occasion and put together a display featuring pirate story books.

TREASURE ISLAND///OCTOBER 2012

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My Activities Booklet

G NG OTTSS DO ORRIIN NEECCTT D NN CCO ON OLLO CCO WO R DSEA RAFFL RAFFLEE RCH PIRATES MAZE ORREE!!!!!!

MO HM UCCH MU DM ND AAN

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As part of our audience engagement program for ‘Treasure Island’ the Town Libraries, the JD Hardie Youth Centre and the Matt Dann Cultural Centre joined forces to put together an incredible and creative school holiday program featuring a variety of activities for budding pirates. From treasure hunts and story time sessions to craft activities and games, this program offered it all!

In addition, I designed a school holiday booklet featuring lots of games including word search, colouring, pirate maze, connect dots and some great tips to create pirate costumes to entertain young people at home during school holidays.

This booklet was distributed throughout town and available in all the Town’s venues.

Prior to the show, and for those children who couldn’t get enough of pirates, the cast members of ‘Treasure Island’ held a onehour workshop featuring drama games and exercises at the Town Library where children were invited to come dressed up as pirates.

Pirates Costume You don’t need a sewing machine to put together great homemade costumes and dress-ups. You just need a bit of imagination to get the pirate costume that’s perfect for some high-sea jinx.

What You Need: • Black pant • Horizontal striped t-shirt (or white t-shirt) • Pirate eyepatch • Red scarf/fabric • Black t-shirt • Black marker pen or face painting crayon • Pirate sword (create one from carton box) 1/ Start by cutting up your black pant. Cut one leg shorter than the other and then fringe the bottom hems for a tatty pirate look.

k me blac Use so r leftove fabric te your to crea atch ep own ey

Or Blue /black stripes t-shirt

Turn a black t-shirt into a vest

2/ Cut the sleeves and the front middle half of your black t-shirt.

Wrap a red scarf or red fabric around your hip and your head and don’t forget your eyepatch!

3/ Make a pirate eyepatch (or buy one if easier).

4/ Accessorise with a headscarf and red sash belt.

5/ Draw on some facial hair and pirate scars with the pen.

6/ Give your pirate a sword.

Ah harrr! Go forth and swashbuckle little pirate!!!!

BONUS: Find Your Pirate Name!

Take the name of your first pet.............................. and the name of the street on which you were born................................................... Add Captain before the name and there you have it!

White t-shirt

Cut one leg shorter and fringe the bottom

Pirates

Maze

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Ages 5 

TREASURE ISLAND///OCTOBER 2012

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TREASURE ISLAND///OCTOBER 2012

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MARCH 2013

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST Category: Theatre ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoAdapted shared their accounts of loss. on stage

by Black Swan State Theatre

Company, The Importance Of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde was broadcast live from the State Theatre Centre of WA in Perth to regional WA audiences over the Westlink network. This was a great opportunity for regional WA citizens who cannot attend Black Swan performances to share a state-wide ‘live’ experience within their own home or community.

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Accompanying the Live Broadcast and as part of Black Swan’s regional engagement program, tutors conducted free drama workshops for young people at the JD Hardie Youth Centre and at the Matt Dann Cultural Centre for adults.

As a result of the enthusiasm shared by the participants during the adult workshop, the decision was made to pursue the journey by creating the first Matt Dann Cultural Centre Play-Reading group with monthly meetings. the importance of being earnest///MARCH 2013

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APRIL 2013

FREEFALL Category: Contemporary Circus ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoSouth sharedAustralia’s their accounts of loss. leading circus and physical

theatre company, Gravity & Other Myths, presented Freefall, a unique physical exploration of inner fears, human quirks and truths. Gravity & Other Myths used their extensive skill in circus and physical theatre to reveal the inner workings of seven young characters as they engaged head-on with their own fears.

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freefall///APRIL 2013

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Leading up to the live show, Gravity & Other Myths conducted two free workshops involving local youth.

Workshops included acrobatic and percussion.

They were an introduction to some of the features presented in their show.

These workshops were part of Port Hedland Youth Week program and were held outside, in the South Hedland Town Square adjacent to the shopping centre, which was a great way to attract people’s attention. These workshops were well attended and received the support of one of the local Indigenous youth organisations, the Lawson Street Youth Centre.

All participants received discounted tickets to the performance at the Matt Dann Cultural Centre which was also well attended.

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freefall///APRIL 2013

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JUNE 2013

360 ALLSTARS Category: Contemporary Circus ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people who360 shared theirisaccounts of loss.theatrical Allstars a phenomenal

performance exploring all sorts of rotation.

Boasting a stellar cast, including world champion athletes, world class dancers and world renowned musicians the production connects the street with the elite to deliver a radical urban circus. Together they reinvent the traditional circus by presenting contemporary performance styles instead of conventional circus art forms.

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360 allstars///june 2013

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Exploring rotation in all its forms, the 360 ALLSTARS national tour brought together internationallyrenowned dancers, musicians and athletes for a phenomenal performance turning the notion of ‘the circus’ on its head.

Exciting, edgy and showcasing a range of disciplines, 360 ALLSTARS was supported by a selection of one hour workshop opportunities available for young people which included breakdancing, basketball freestyling, BMX flatlanding, circus and drumming.

Workshops were held at the JD Hardie Youth Centre the day before the performance and were well attended with over 80 participants who all received discounted tickets to the show.

360 allstars///june 2013

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On the night, the audience comprised of young people and their family and local residents, was blown away by the performance which was then followed by a Q&A with 360 Allstars cast and a merchandise signing session.

On the same day, the Lawson Street Youth Centre received funding from an anonymous sponsor to subsidise tickets for young Indigenous people to attend the show, most of whom attended the workshops.

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360 allstars///june 2013

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360 allstars///june 2013

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AUG 2013

JACK CHARLES V THE CROWN Category: Theatre ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoBased sharedontheir of loss. the accounts life of Uncle Jack Charles, spoken

in his own words, Jack Charles V The Crown is a powerful one-man show that shines the spotlight on the colourful life of one of Australia’s near forgotten treasures. Jack is an actor, musician, potter and gifted performer, but for a good portion of his nearly 70 years he has also been homeless, an addict, a thief and a regular in Victoria’s prisons.

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jack charles v the crown///august 2013

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Considered an Australian legend, Uncle Jack is not only an established actor and musician but a Koori elder and an Aboriginal activist. As a role model for young generation, I organised a meet and great session with high school students and young Aboriginal people at the Lawson Street Youth Centre.

During this session, Jack Charles talked about his incredible life story, the importance to stand up for our rights and freedom, and the disastrous consequences of drugs and alcoholis keeping the crowd captivated.

The meeting ended with an improvised jam session with Uncle Jack and his musicians. jack charles v the crown///august 2013

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Many Indigenous organisations attended the performance, along with a few high school students who met Uncle Jack at the Lawson Street Youth Centre the day before. jack charles v the crown///august 2013

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AUG 2013

BOATS Category: Children show ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoBoats shared theirriveting accounts ofof loss. is the tale two mariners

embracing adventure and fleeing their pasts.

This highly acclaimed, buoyant creation was awarded Best Presentation for Children at the 2012 Helpmann Awards and offers a classic example of the extraordinary puppetry that has made Terrapin Puppet Theatre famous locally, nationally and internationally.

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boats///august 2013

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The first activity of our audience engagement program for Boats was the realisation of a fishing boat made of cartons and decorated by local children. The activity took place in the park on a sunny Sunday involving young people and their family. For this occasion, I created a photo booth frame with props and took pictures to start promoting the show on our social medias. Another craft workshop took place a few days later at the JD Hardie Youth Centre where a giant lighthouse was created to complete the final photo booth display.

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boats///august 2013

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In addition I also ran a cooking workshop at the JD Hardie Youth Centre teaching young people how to cook stuffed baked zucchinis. To fit with the theme, we decorated the zucchinis to make them look like boats.

More than just having a good time together, this activity was also a great way to introduce children to healthy food by teaching them new recipes and of course promoting the show. With over 15 participants attending the workshop, this was one of our most successful activities and a wonderful team project thanks to the support of the Youth Centre staff.

boats///august 2013

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The final photo booth featuring our fishing boat and the lighthouse was first displayed at the JD Hardie Youth Centre during the week leading up to the show, before being installed at the Matt Dann Cultural Centre for the show. Boats’ performers were invited to join our young audience members for a souvenir picture.

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boats///august 2013

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OCT 2013

SCENT TALES Category: Theatre ‘Shiver’ was inspired by true stories the Director Danielle Micih collected over five years from people whoCreated shared their accounts of loss.Scent Tales is the

by Little y Theatre,

bittersweet story of a baker and her sister inspired by an ancient fable from Middle Eastern storyteller Nasruddin Hodja. Using wit and puppetry, the play tells a tale of memory, sensory intrigue and a recipe for Love Bread that brings the baker to her senses.

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scent tales///october 2013

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This was my last project in Port Hedland, and similar to Shiver the previous year, Scent Tales received external funding to develop a wilder audience engagement strategy. This benefited all the venues in Western Australia.

They provided the giant inflatable cupcake which was displayed around town before the show.

On our side we developed our own program which kick started with a cupcake baking session at the Port Hedland Well Women’s Centre presented

by Masterchef contestant, Lilliana Battle.

This session gathered together a range of generations who were encouraged to join our cupcake competition afterwards.

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scent tales///october 2013

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On their arrival, Scent Tales performers held a free drama workshop for young people at the JD Hardie Youth Centre.

During this session, participants were taught how to create puppet from household props. The workshop also featured some drama excercices.

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Local residents were approached during the installation of the giant inflatable cupcake outside the shopping centre and asked to pose for a picture.

Community members were aware of this giant cupcake through intensive marketing campaings in the weeks leading up to its arrival and were encouraged to find it, take some pictures and tag themselves on the Matt Dann Cultural Centre Facebook page for their chance to win free entry to the show.

The audience development program ended up with a High-Tea at the Cultural Centre on the night where winners of our cupcake competition were awarded by Scent Tales performers and were offered free entry to a show of their choice in the 2014 season. scent tales///october 2013

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Scent Tales cast and crew caught binging on food just before the show!

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[1] Masterchef contestant Lilliana Battle with her friend.

[2] Port Hedland Well Women’s Centre Program Officer Tracey and CEO Denise Bevins along with Denise’s daughter.

[3] Audience members getting a treat at the end of the performance when Scent Tales performers shared their Love Bread they had been cooking on stage during the show.

[4] Scent Tales performers along with Town of Port Hedland Events Marketing Officer, Cecile Lucas.

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scent tales///october 2013

[5] Ukulele master Jason Lee and guitarist Greg Taylor were joined on stage by Scent Tales performer Rhoda Lopez to play together for the curtain raiser.

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A big thank you to everyone who was involved in our audience development projects and helped make them beautiful stories.

CĂŠcile