A NEW regional touring initiative is delivering performances to the stages of smaller communities through Alive in the Upper Hunter, an exciting touring initiative.
Alive is designed to revive and strengthen live performance across the local government areas of Dungog, Singleton, Muswellbrook and Upper Hunter, bringing quality, accessible live performances to audiences in towns that too often miss out on regular touring theatre and cultural events.
The program is the brainchild of Arts Upper Hunter.
Multiple shows will reach multiple venues across the life of the program.
“The performances we’ve chosen are small-scale, affordable, proven crowd-pleasers that are ideally suited to our audiences,” said program manager Jenny-Lee Scharnboeck.
“And they’re not just designed to entertain, but also to inspire and get some real engagement with the performing arts.”
Some events will also include workshops and hands-on experiences, full of fun and insight.
Alive in the Upper Hunter is about reconnecting communities with the unique experience of live performance, according to John O’Brien, Executive Director, Arts Upper Hunter.
“We‘re also giving people the chance to step behind the curtain, join passionate professional artists in the creative process and develop their own skills through workshops and activities,” O’Brien said
The ice has been broken with three shows so far, puppet show Spike The Echidna in Merriwa, and SMILE – the Story of Charlie Chaplin in Singleton and Muswellbrook.
It will be Dungog’s turn on Saturday, 7 November, at The James Theatre from 2pm, for a one-hour mime- and music-melding ‘Masterpiece’. No words. One artwork. Two clowns.
“We’re so pleased to be bringing Masterpiece to Dungog,” says O’Brien.
“It’s this warm pair of performers who’ve turned a really simple idea into a full-bodied, often improvised work.
“And there’s live music too by a classical musician playing ‘one too many instruments’.
“It’s tight and it’s strong.
“Multi-award-winning duo raeandwill will invite audiences of all ages into a delightfully absurd world where laughter, connection and wonder take centre stage.
Masterpiece combines mime, clowning, physical theatre and live music to create a theatrical experience unlike any other. With no spoken dialogue, the show invites audiences from all backgrounds to connect through presence, play and shared experience.
“Dungog is lucky to already have its Shakespearience shows – so folk who saw Twelfth Night can come to Masterpiece a week later and make a festival of it,” said O’Brien.
You can find out more and book for Masterpiece through the Arts Upper Hunter’s Alive
page: https://artsupperhunter.com/alive/.
Scharnboeck said Alive in the Upper Hunter aims to build a sustainable network of venues, presenters and audiences that can support live performance across the region well into the future.
“Our real goal is to find venues and people with the enthusiasm to get behind a touring show, maybe through their hall committee, or doing promotions, or deciding which show should come to their area,” she said.
O’Brien said touring performances are experiencing something of a crisis.
“Costs are high, money is tight, audiences are hesitant,” he said.
“Luckily we’ve got a brilliant Regional Touring Grant from the NSW Government, but that won’t last forever. This is the time to make those connections and find the champions.”
The pilot program ends mid 2027.
In the meantime at least another couple of shows will reach Dungog Shire and beyond.
The Two Teabags is a sweet two-hander coming to Scone in December for a daytime show. Pack your nanna for that lovely nostalgic number.
https://artsupperhunter.com/alive/ will be updated as events come online.
For more information email rado@artsupperhunter.com.au or call John O’Brien on 0409 382 509.
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