NORPA (Northern Rivers Performing Arts) has revealed a gutsy, adventurous and exciting year of performing arts for 2018 that firmly places the theatre company as a maker and champion of brave new Australian work at front and centre.
NORPA will premiere its new work Wildskin directed by Julian Louis, a thriller set in local bushland featuring an all-female cast, as well as Rovers, Wonderbabes and Horses Mouth, three powerful new theatre works created by NORPA Associate Artists Caroline Dunphy, Kate McDowell and Kirk Page.
“This year, we’re venturing even deeper into the wild, as we confront all kinds of animals, truths, and potentially the wilder parts of ourselves,” said NORPA Artistic Director Julian Louis “With provoking and challenging performances – plus a few laughs along the way – we’re inviting anyone who’s interested in examining the changing world around us, as well as the emotional landscapes within, to come along.”
Among the 2018 highlights will be the premiere of Peepshow by internationally acclaimed contemporary circus company Circa; Paul Capsis in his award-winning portrayal of Quentin Crisp in Resident Alien; and Catherine McClements in The Events – a Belvoir, Malthouse Theatre and SA State Theatre Company co-production that will feature a local Northern Rivers choir.
Thomas E.S. Kelly’s [MIS]CONCEIVE extracts contemporary gestural motif from Aboriginal archetypes through hip-hop and physical percussion; inspired by true events, Viral investigates the line between disassociation and raising awareness about such events; A Prudent Man is a darkly comedic political thriller exploring what it means to be right… in more ways than one; and Lady Rizo shares her “love-hate relationship with America” in Red, White and Indigo.
For young people and families there’s The 78-Storey Treehouse – the newest, biggest blockbuster in the Treehouse series; 360 ALLSTARS created by local multi instrumentalist Gene Peterson – featuring world champion BMX riders, breakdancers and freestyle basketballers in a radical urban circus; and two inventive and hilarious re-imaginings of classic fairy tales with Red Racing Hood and Big Bad Wolf.
NORPA has also launched a comprehensive year-round Education, Youth & Families program supported by Southern Cross University that includes a Summer Theatre Intensive (22-25 January, 2018), on-demand theatre workshops for schools, a student theatre club and work experience opportunities for young people.
For performers wanting to further develop their practice there are regular Training Ground classes in physical devised theatre practice, a curated Masterclass Series and Artist in Residencies.
“NORPA couldn’t exist anywhere else, which is why we’re motivated to keep bringing the stories of the Northern Rivers to life and cementing its reputation as a cultural heartland,” says Julian Louis “We do this by collaborating with talented artists and creating original work that’s ingrained with a real sense of this place we all call home.:
“In a small way, we’re shaping the Australia we want to live in by creating art that’s culturally respectful, inclusive, brave and playful, and by working for a company that’s been built around the same values.”
Tickets are now on sale, including subscription packages. For more information, visit: www.norpa.org.au for details.
Image: 360 Allstars – photo by Matt Loncar