View from the Magpie's Nest

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September - December 2020

Great Southern , WA

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Great Southern artists of all disciplines and backgrounds were invited to join this project. The Creative Team who brought you Pilgrims of the Sea, The Vancouver Street Festival Noongar Song Project and By Other Eyes created a new work in 2020. 

 

An experienced and talented collection of artists including Matt Ward, Rachael Colmer, Jonathan Brain, Pia Harris, Rob Castiglione, Mand Marky, Rita Bush, Eliza Woods and Jon Doust ran workshops in creative devising through stories, singing, movement and visual arts.

 

Workshops focussing on developing skills in creative devising and learning how a new work is created was offered to total beginners, experienced or aspiring artists.

Experienced creatives worked alongside an experienced team of theatre practitioners, and community members in the Great Southern, to shape a new work based on stories of culture, identity, diversity and collaboration. 

 

“Our new creative development comes from a number of years of conversations with the Breaksea team, and from a very personal place for me.  I believe through creative processes like this, empathy can be established between participants, and by sharing performances with the community, this can flow on into the community.” - Rachael Colmer

 

“This project brings together some top local artists with experts with performance experience in London, New York, Sydney and Melbourne. Being able to create a new community performance work collectively is a great way to develop skills and create a positive shared future in our beautiful Great Southern.” - Matt Ward

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Details

The project occurred between September and December 2020 and workshops were held via zoom and in Albany, Denmark and Mount Barker. The project culminated in a public showing of selected scenes from the new work at the Albany Entertainment Centre in collaboration with WA Opera artists, the Kidogo Arthouse Fremantle and in Denmark, WA. View from the Magpie’s Nest is produced by Breaksea, supported by the City of Albany’s Vancouver Arts Centre, West Australian Opera, Denmark Arts, the Department of Local Government, Sport & Cultural Industries and Regional Arts WA.

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Artists

Matt Ward – Artistic Director/Producer

Rachael Colmer – Devising Director

Jonathan Brain – Music Director

Eliza Woods – Consulting Noongar Elder

Rob Castiglione – Film maker

Pia Harris – Voice teacher & Youth Mentorship Coordinator

Marianthe Loucataris – Production Management

Jon Doust – Creative Writing Guest Workshop Leader

Jen Mitchell - Visual Artist

Rita Bush – Dance Guest Workshop Leader