Foreword

BY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR DIANNE TOULSON

Welcome to TW Season 2022, Theatre Works is an artist-first organisation and we exist to support emerging, established, local and national artists as they achieve their vision on stage with as little compromise as possible. We encourage risk-taking and live for new ideas.

In 2022, we bring a lot of our history with us both metaphorically and literally; the return of programming not yet realised, new programs, new artists and works, and perhaps most importantly more hope. Hope is not a passive waiting. It is a longing, a desire, a need and an action. It is a radical investment in a better future.

We are deeply aware that creatives, cast and crew invest their own funds, resources and an immeasurable amount of time and energy into projects, and so we have committed to reschedule all of the 2020 and 2021 postponed shows in future programming if that is the artists’ wish. This includes our new Fringe alternative Mullet Fest (the other side of Fringe) programmed to kick-start our 2022 season in January. Stories shared on the Theatre Works stage are legendary and its story tellers are bold. TW Season 2022 traverses diverse performance styles and rigorous creative methodologies across all genres, investigating unique perspectives and creative approaches but they all sit under one or more of these three categories: Urgent stories: works that have to happen now, that can’t wait. Ambitious works: projects that dream big and make no excuses for their scope. Future thinking: works exploring or in pursuit of the future of theatre/performance in form, content, process and/or audience engagement. Our artist development programs continue to thrive and in 2022, our Companies in Residence will be presenting readings, developments and - in one case - a full season of work. The She Writes Collective’s Radical Acts Festival initially scheduled for May 2021 will be delivered in March 2022 and we are thrilled to continue our ground-breaking Associate Artists Program for emerging creatives. Theatre Works’ inaugural First Stories Festival, an initiative run #ByMob4Mob, will empower First Peoples emerging writers and storytellers to find their voice in their own way - with the support and mentorship of renowned Aboriginal artists. These initiatives are only made possible with the generous support of our donors. If you have an idea about how you can support one of our development programs, please get in touch – we would love to have you around for a cuppa. In 2022 our new space will explode onto the scene (pun intended). Located around the corner from our Acland St location, Explosives Factory will be our second home for workshops, residencies and more intimate performances. With almost 50 shows confirmed and a few more to be announced, our 2022 season is here to be explored, experienced and enjoyed. Live. If you would like to support Theatre Works and future generations of independent theatre-makers, please: 1) book tickets in advance and, 2) bring your friends! We look forward to welcoming you back.

Dianne Toulson

Executive Director