Current Events
Forum Theatre - Belonging in Coffs Harbour
October 2024
Interactive Forum Theatre is a powerful social platform, designed to encourage healthy dialogue around community issues - participation is voluntary.
Using the universal language of image, we bring you an entertaining night of theatre, exploring aspects of what it means to ‘belong’, with further potential to deepen thought, increase empathy, and ultimately improve the way we treat one another.
This style of Forum Theatre comes from Canadian-based Theatre for Living (TfL), which was adapted from the Theatre of the Oppressed works designed by Brazilian visionary and director, Augusto Boal (as featured in the NSW high school syllabus).
In Forum Theatre, we show the audience a play all the way through, and then start playing it a second time. Audience members can stop the action during a replay and enter the stage themselves, replacing characters with whom they identify, and try to solve problems or issues inside the story. The theatre becomes a creative rehearsal for transforming ourselves, our communities and the world.
The plays we present are created by local community members, all with a lived experience of the subject matter, in a week-long workshop intensive.
While based on real-life events and issues, the plays and characters we create are entirely fictitious – short plays based on the collective life experiences of the workshop participants.
Support People (often counsellors) will be present at performances, however this is NOT designed as therapy. This event is about the process of creating great theatre, and a meaningful community dialogue about the issues of belonging … all in the safe space of play!
This project is proudly funded by NSW Government (Regional Youth), and City of Coffs Harbour through its Arts and Cultural Development Grants program. Our work is further made possible by the support of the Murwillumbah Theatre Company Inc.
When: Friday 11 October, 2024 at 7pm - ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Where: Jetty Memorial Theatre - 337 Harbour Drive, Coffs Harbour, 2450
Tickets: $15 - $20 (concessions are available, please reach out if you’re in need).
Bookings: Tickets can be purchased online or at the Jetty Theatre box office: 02 6648 4930
FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Adrienne: 0422 570 346 / connect@umbrellatp.com.au
Forum Theatre - Belonging in Coffs Harbour
September - October 2024
A powerful and exciting community theatre opportunity!!!
We are looking for 20 people to participate to participate in a 6-day Interactive Forum Theatre workshop, exploring issues of anti-racism and cultural integration in Coffs Harbour.
No acting experience is necessary, just a willingness to engage, to be open about your life experiences, and have a desire to play! We invite you to join us in developing this important and uplifting community event.
Where: This project will take place in Coffs Harbour, with the Friday evening performance at the Jetty Memorial Theatre.
When:
Info Session / Introductory Workshop: Friday afternoon 20th September, 2024.
Session One: 3:30 – 5:30pm OR Session Two: 6:30 – 8:30pm
REGISTRATIONS are ESSENTIAL – contact connect@umbrellatp.com.au or 0422 570 346 to book.
Interviews: Saturday 21st OR Sunday 22nd September 2024.
Duration is less than 1 hour. You will be asked to do some improvisation work with Adrienne during the interview, but no preparation or prior experience is required – just a lived experience of the issues and a willingness to play!
Workshops and Performance:
Sunday 6th à Wed 9th October 2024, from 9:00am – 4:30pm
Thursday 10th October, 2024 from 10:00am – 5:30pm
Friday 11th October, 2024 from 1:00pm – 9:00pm
***Selected participants must be able to commit to all dates and times in October***
Thanks to funding from NSW Government and City of Coffs Harbour, along with the support of the Murwillumbah Theatre Company Inc., there is NO COST involved to participate in this project.
What is Forum Theatre?
Our style of Forum Theatre comes from Canadian-based Theatre for Living (TfL), which was adapted from the Theatre of the Oppressed works designed by Brazilian visionary and director, Augusto Boal (as featured in the NSW high school syllabus).
In Forum Theatre, we show the audience a play all the way through, and then start playing it a second time. Audience members can stop the action during a replay and enter the stage themselves, replacing characters with whom they identify, and try to solve problems or issues inside the story. The theatre becomes a creative rehearsal for transforming ourselves, our communities and the world.
The workshop will use theatre games and exercises to build trust and skills, and to explore experiences around the issue. While based on real-life events and issues, the plays and characters we create are entirely fictitious. We use theatrical imagery and symbolism, no one is asked to stand up and ‘tell their story’.
Together, we will create short plays based on the collective life experiences of the workshop participants. All ages, abilities and backgrounds welcome.
A full-time Support Person will be in the workshop and at performances, however this is NOT designed as therapy. This project is about the process of creating great theatre, and a meaningful community dialogue about the issues of anti-racism and cultural integrations … all in the safe space of play!
To apply, email connect@umbrellatp.com.au or phone 0422 570 346
Previous Work
Curtains - Collaboration with Byron Bay High School
June 2024
BBHS Musical
UTP had the honour of leading Byron Bay High School’s inaugural full-school, high school musical theatre production: Curtains!
A 20-strong cast and crew, ranging from years 7-12, blew audiences away with their rendition of this murder-mystery, show-within-a-show, romantic comedy to die for!
With lyrics by Fred Ebb and Music by John Kander, Curtains is set in the late 50’s in Boston, and features a colourful line-up of characters - with bullets flying as fast as accusations, they must sift their way through the charm, lies, blackmail, heartache, glitz and drama to uncover the truth!
Multicultural Playwright Program (Coffs Harbour)
November 2023
Multicultural Playwright Program is a three-day event which is designed to give multicultural/refugee students and their teachers a scriptwriting and performance experience. On the third day the students put on a showcase performance providing them with the platform to share their stories, some had no performance experience prior to participating in this program.
UTP also delivered a single-day teacher professional learning workshop, exploring various games and exercises to help develop a program of ideas and teaching strategies that engage and encourage their CALD and refugee students to share their experiences and work creatively with each other to express their ideas. Teachers were given a range performance starting points and ideas for students to work on back at school.
This project was made possible by the NSW Government and the Arts Unit.
TRIGGER - Collaboration with Byron Youth Theatre (BYT)
Interactive Forum Theatre - November 2023
A collaboration with the Byron Youth Theatre, under the auspice of the Byron Youth Service, exploring common triggers young people are facing in our region today, and the different ways we can respond to help. Using elements of Forum Theatre, we’ll explore internal, external, environmental and social trigger situations.
Theatre for living - Artistic Residency with Canadian-Based David Diamond
in Northern Rivers NSW, Australia - April-May 2023
We are THRILLED to have facilitated David Diamond in running one of his world renowned Theatre for Living Training workshops, right here in the Northern Rivers of NSW, with activists, artists, educators, mediators, and other people interested in stimulating authentic dialogue about issues facing humanity!
Theatre for Living (TfL) has evolved from Brazilian Director Augusto Boal's "Theatre of the Oppressed". Since 1989 TfL has slowly moved away from the binary language and model of "oppressor/oppressed" and now approaches community-based cultural work from a systems-based perspective that acknowledges a community (and all life on the planet) is a complexly integrated, living organism. At this time when polarization is deepening around the world, how do we build bridges of understanding and true collaboration - not more walls?
Training was followed by two live, interactive theatre performances, using Theatre for Living techniques: Moving Beyond Us and Them and Reclaiming Hope …
Interactive Theatre
Rainbow of Desire: World-renowned David Diamond presents his award-winning Theatre for Living work LIVE in the Northern Rivers, NSW!
Interactive Theatre
Cops in the Head: World-renowned David Diamond presents his award-winning Theatre for Living work, LIVE in the Northern Rivers, NSW!
RISING (Theatre in Education - TIE) - Collaboration with Full-On Theatre
Byron Bay - February-August 2022
Working in conjunction with Simone Museth (Byron Bay High School) we guided Year 11 drama students through their curriculum, incorporating the various elements required into the process work of a devised piece of storytelling, in a project led by Dave Houston of Full-On Theatre, in the creation of their original work: Rising.
Showcased at the Byron Theatre and the performing arts centre (PAC) of Byron High, the 60-minute shows were followed by live Q&A/audience feedback sessions, together with the cast, crew, facilitators and mental health care professionals to help guide anyone in need of wellness resources and other related support materials.
RISING
A montage of stories encapsulating real-life events, depicting the recent effects of climate change in our region. Artistically brought to life by the talented students of Year 11 drama at Byron Bay High School.
What started out as a project exploring climate change and likely outcomes if we continue to sit idly by, was swiftly swept up in a current of irony as the region experienced 2 devastating floods, mere weeks into the process, taking out the backstage rooms of the very theatre building the group work in and all the treasured items that they housed. Students became acutely aware of how much more challenging things are for those in schools that were completely inundated.
‘How did we get here? What will the future hold? How much more resilient need we be? How do we move forward and find solidarity together?’
Over this past year, Dave and Simone have led a collaborative process, as the students devise powerful content about bushfire and flood events, inspired by true stories, research, interviews and extensive discussions of their own experiences and opinions, weaving a production together that includes music, movement, and a delicate balance of stirring moments and comic relief.
