17 February 2010
In April 2010, 8 performers from the Ever After Theatre Company will be working under the guidance of Back to Back Theatre in partnership with the Australia Council and Accessible Arts NSW at the Sydney Theatre Company.
The Back to Back and Ever After mentorship will culminate in a week long intensive workshop at the Sydney Theatre Company with actors from Ever After, run by Back to Back’s directors and performers (April 19th-23rd, 2010). There will also be an opportunity for interested people to participate in an open workshop run by Back to Back Theatre, as part of the workshop week. The week will conclude with an informal public showing in the large rehearsal room at the Sydney Theatre Company.
Back to Back is unequivocally one of Australia’s leading contemporary theatre companies. Formed in 1987 and based in Geelong, Victoria, the company is driven by an ensemble of seven actors perceived to have intellectual disabilities. Under the Artistic Directorship of Bruce Gladwin, the company has nurtured a unique artistic voice with an emphasis on the ensemble’s own commentaries on broad social and cultural dialogue. Created through a process of research, improvisation and scripting, new work is realised via collaboration between the ensemble, Artistic Director and guest artists. This process has proven very successful, with Back to Back regularly touring to international festivals and picking up prestigious awards including a Myer Foundation Performing Arts Award for its long-standing contribution to the development of Australian theatre and a coveted New York Bessie Award.
Ever After Theatre Company has a seven year history of devising theatre, and have performed at numerous community and corporate events as well creating their own major production each year. In 2005 they toured to the Awakenings Festival in Victoria to deliver a showing of their work. Last year they received a grant from the Ian Potter foundation to work with professional artists in movement skills, voice and design, and to develop the show ‘How to Handle a Fractured Heart’ which premiered at PACT THEATRE in August 2009.
With this extraordinary alliance, Ever After seeks to develop further skills in collaborative performance making led by the expertise of Back to Back ensemble members and directors.
If you would like to know more about this exciting mentorship project or would be interested in attending the informal showing at STC on Friday April 23: Contact Sue Johnston, on 02 9555 8988 or everaftertheatre@gmail.com
