Posts Tagged: theatre

Tara Lawrence: co-founder Elsewhere Theatre Company

“I love what I do and it makes me so happy to see my actors striving for their best while enjoying the full process.”

Co-founder and instructor for Elsewhere Theatre Company, Tara runs the Brisbane program (they are also running out of Melbourne), which on a day-to-day level involves directing productions as well as running all of the administration work.

So how did Elsewhere get started? “A close friend of mine and myself started the company in mid-July of 2017 and from then on we have loved the work this company has brought us. We are both working actors and found we wanted to create our own opportunities, as well as provide like-minded young actors the chance to create and perform work they are passionate about.”

“I’ve always been trained as an actor, even throughout high school and when I was studying at University.  I have a love for performance which is what I feel has led me into the work I am doing today. There is something about live theatre that no other experience can replace which is what I find really special about the art form.”

What are you currently working on project-wise? “I am currently directing a production with Elsewhere that will be performed in mid-February. We are performing Michael Gow’s ‘Away’ and currently we are in our final rehearsal stages just perfecting things before we present the finished production!”

“I don’t really have any down time to be honest.” So what time does that leave for hobbies? “In my spare time I’m either reading new scripts or working on scripts I already have… I wouldn’t change it though, I love constantly having work to do that I love.”

Tara and her business partner Ali heard about Visible Ink in 2017 and have been regulars since then. “I thought it was too good to be true! After looking through the space, I found it to be a very warm and welcoming environment, which is perfect for us.” And what about other opportunities? Is it easy to get involved in theatre, especially in Brisbane? “Look around your local artist’s hub, or if you want to get involved in theatre I’d suggest taking a look at your local theatres and just having a chat with different artists. It’s great to chat and often you’ll find people are quite open to having a friendly chat.”

“Just go for it. There’s nothing better than finding work in what you love and if you truly want success you need to put in the effort.”

You can find out more about Elsewhere Theatre Company, their productions and workshops via their website, facebook, Instagram @elsewhere.theatre or you can email them directly at elsewhere.theatre@outlook.com.

First rehearsal down!

CR Productions are busily preparing for the Short and Sweet Festival in July.

To find out more about CR Productions check out their Facebook page: facebook.com/crtheatre

Melina Wightman and Lia Stark

Melina Wightman and Lia Stark (both 23), are two artsy ladies who enjoy creating and practicing their performance art (as well as updating their tindr profiles) at Vis Ink. Melina and Lia are prevalent in the theatre world of Brisbane (and beyond), the women behind local theatre success Love Letters. The girls have a sweet kind of sisterhood that can be witnessed in their Instagram snaps. They seem to have mastered the art of combining business and friendship-Melina describes working with her best mate as ‘an immense pleasure’.

Melina is a doe-eyed, loud-mouthed QUT theatre graduate who pays the rent working as a barista “I’m living that sweet art graduate hospo lifestyle, as much as I make fun of the trope I really enjoy working as a barista… One day I hope to be able to support myself purely off artistic means, but as a young artist still developing my craft and a name for myself in the industry, art is my part time job, my hobby, my cruel and tender mistress”!

Melina became active in the theatre circuit early in her university degree, working with Vena Cava productions on multiple projects, most notably curating and coordinating a multidisciplinary arts festival Fresh Blood. Melina has previously collaborated with Ruby Donohoe in several different capacities on projects such as Kabul, and Eye Resolution. More recently – ‘I worked with the Suicide Ensemble on the shows The Reality Event: Game/Suicide which was performed at Anywhere Fest 2015 and the 2015 Melbourne Fringe Festival’.

Melina loves theatre, visual art and food, and cites Broad City, Sex and the City, and her relationships as her primary inspirations – ‘I suppose when you’re an artist, cathartic release is to turn your life qualms into some resort of physical representation of that’.

Visible Ink…

‘is an invaluable source of resources and space, I’m a poor young artist gal, and spaces like this that are free to hire for rehearsal and meetings are sooo important’!

‘is so friendly and inviting, easy to access and such a depth of resources to support young creative people’!

‘It’s always booked out’!!!

-Melina

Lia is twice a university graduate (in both fine arts and marketing) and a café worker with a distinctive cloud of dark curly hair and a dry wit- “When I’m not having an existential crisis about my life, I’m keen on travelling, doodling and hanging out with my dog. I’m still young, so right now I am just trying to absorb as much of the world as I can and funnel it into my work and writing”.

Lia, like Melina, has previously collaborated with Ruby Donohoe, although on a different project, An Act of Intimacy, and has also worked with Vena Cava Productions, writing and directing two original works for the Fresh Blood festival. Lia has also worked internationally – ‘For 6 months last year, I had to the immense honour of working with immersive theatre masters Punchdrunk with their Off-Broadway show Sleep No More. It was large-scale, deep-end, on the job learning. Also in New York, I studied with the Imporabale Stage, a female-run movement and physical theatre company based in Brooklyn.’

Lia loves theatre, literature, comedy, feminist theory, and ‘ARTS OF ALL KINDS’. Lia’s inspiration is derived from a piece of sage advice ‘(You should always aim to be the person you needed in high school) and that has just always pushed my artistic endeavours. If I had hilarious, feminist, sassy, independent successful woman to talk about human relationships, high school would have been a lot more bearable. So that what I’m trying to be’.

Visible Ink…

‘a safe space for young creatives. It’s free. It’s there to help us make the best art we can.’

‘A+ facilities, free printing and a place to network and experience other artists’.

‘Keycards are such a pain! I wish you could be staffed 24/7 but I know thats not always possible’.

-Lia

Find out about Melina and Lia’s current project, Love Letters:

http://instagram.com/loveletterstof*ckbois

Terra Nemo Theatre Company

No strangers to Visible Ink, members of Terra Nemo Theatre Company have had an active involvement with the space through past projects. “Visible Ink is not only a central venue for young artists to use but also has such fantastic experienced and friendly staff, plus lots of other creatives coming in and out to network, it’s what made it our first choice to rehearse ‘Witchery.’ There is such a welcoming vibe and you’re always made to feel at home.”

‘Witchery’ rehearsals (August 2014), photography by Anissa Roberts, featuring Gwilym Temple, Nicholas Prior, Hayley Mcallister, Alex Carlton-Thomas and members of the ensemble.

‘Witchery’ rehearsals (August 2014), photography by Anissa Roberts, featuring Gwilym
Temple, Nicholas Prior, Hayley Mcallister, Alex Carlton-Thomas and members of the
ensemble.

The group have been working hard developing and rehearsing their ambitious new production, their biggest to date, bringing in over twenty artists from around Brisbane including actors, directors, designers and choreographers. “We’ll be converting our venue into a fully functioning nightclub called ‘Pulse’, inviting the audience to not simply watch but involve themselves as a variety of story lines play out.” We’ve been assured that while a full functioning bar will be present in their new production, it’s still an all-ages gig, and it seems they should know a thing or two about nightclubs, Divi, one of the Terra Nemo directors is also a DJ.

The Terra Nemo crew is made up entirely of young, emerging artists, and they take a fresh outlook on theatre production, “our aim it is to create exciting new theatrical works, where everyone can collaborate and experiment with their own ideas, taking on risks and challenges.” The experimental approach doesn’t stop at the creative product, they even take on new models for creative economies, “because artist development is our focus, we don’t put a price on our tickets but offer our audiences the option to donate what they feel their experience ‘was worth, if at all’ after the performance, and use any funds that we do receive to make our future shows even more exciting”. This in itself becomes an important feedback mechanism to reflect and help their members grow professionally.

“We created the company to provide young artists something different to involve themselves with, an independent company where they can not only perform under direction but experiment with others roles, network with like-minded people and create something that they can call their own. We want to encourage young adults from in and around Brisbane who may be new to theatre to come and give it a try, to open a forum for discussion and to see the level of professionalism their peers can achieve when they have the opportunity to do so. Being able to produce a full-scale work from scratch, with minimal funding, that you can call your own is a really rewarding experience. It’s even better when you get to do it with friends, both old and new.”

‘Crystal Blue Sky’ (April 2014), photography by Daniel B. Jauwhannes, featuring Bella Bosscher, Alex Carlton-Thomas and Eleni Pergaris

‘Crystal Blue Sky’ (April 2014), photography by Daniel B. Jauwhannes, featuring Bella
Bosscher, Alex Carlton-Thomas and Eleni Pergaris

Encouraging people from all creative disciplines is an important focus of the group, “we want to try smashing them all together to create performances that was really interesting”, and this multi-disciplinary approach also carries through to their down-time,  “usually if someone isn’t learning lines or designing costumes then you’ll find them doing something like writing music or painting!” And this perpetual activity may be the secret to their enthusiasm and success, keeping things fresh and exciting. On creative pursuits, Terra Nemo offer this advice:

“The best thing you can do is just take the dive. If you have an idea that you really believe is worth pursuing, start researching how to do it. Get the wheels in motion. If you’re unsure, talk to someone. Get your friends involved. Come to somewhere like Visible Ink. There really is no one stopping you but yourself!”

 You can catch Terra Nemo Theatre Company‘s latest production, ‘Witchery‘ at Jugglers Art Space, on Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd September. They will also be announcing their 2015 program towards the end of the year.

More Informationfacebook.com/terranemotheatre
Websitehttp://terranemotheatreco.wix.com/tntc
Contact directly: terra.nemo.theatre.company@gmail.com