Regional New South Wales (NSW) audiences will experience the sounds of a critically acclaimed Australian orchestral string ensemble, enjoy an award-winning West End comedy and travel back to the Stone Age as part of a NSW Government arts touring initiative.
Deputy Premier and Minister for the Arts, Troy Grant said five companies, including the Australian Chamber Orchestra, Critical Stages and Erth Visual and Physical, have been granted a share of almost $300,000 to tour their productions across regional NSW.
The productions include CDP Theatre Producers’ stage adaption of British comedian David Walliams’ number one bestselling children’s book Mr Stink, and Performing Lines’ Saltbush, a work following two friends from different Aboriginal backgrounds as they cross Australian landscapes.
Mr Grant said funding provided through this round of the NSW Government’s Performing Arts Touring grants will support concerts and dance and theatre works being presented throughout regional NSW in 2017.
“This program will bring quality, entertaining and educational performances to regional NSW towns including Bathurst, Byron Bay, Cessnock, Dubbo, Griffith, Nowra, Port Macquarie, Queanbeyan, Shoalhaven, Taree, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga,” said Mr Grant .
“This funding provides adults and children in regional communities with the opportunity to attend a variety of performances, and also engage directly with the touring performers through workshops, forums and education activities. It also creates jobs for artists and arts workers, showcases performers to new audiences and strengthens touring companies by providing opportunities to expand their professional networks through collaboration and partnerships with regional NSW.”
Mr Grant said ensuring people have access to a diverse range of arts experiences, no matter where they live, is a key aim of Create in NSW, the NSW Government’s 10-year arts policy.
Recipients of the 2016/17 Performing Arts Touring funding (Round 1) are:
Australian Chamber Orchestra ($82,798):
The Australian Chamber Orchestra’s regional touring and education orchestra, the 17-piece string ensemble ACO Collective, will perform and deliver music education activities at six regional NSW centres. The tour will also include an exhibition of ACO Virtual – a multimedia interactive installation – at several locations. Locations: Armidale, Bellingen, Byron Bay, Kempsey, Lismore, Port Macquarie.
CDP Theatre Producers Pty Ltd ($104,712):
CDP Theatre Producers will stage 44 performances of Mr Stink at venues across NSW, reaching more than 15,000 NSW young people. Mr Stink is a new Australian production adapted by Maryam Master from the award-winning book by David Walliams. Locations: Bathurst, Cessnock, Dubbo, Griffith, Newcastle, Orange, Port Macquarie, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Wollongong.
Critical Stages ($24,415):
Critical Stages will present 16 performances of Stones in his Pockets to venues across NSW, in addition to holding workshops, forums and Q&A sessions. The work, written by Marie Jones, tells the tale of a quiet Irish community turned upside down by the arrival of a Hollywood movie shoot. Locations: Byron Bay, Griffith, Queanbeyan, Tamworth.
Erth Visual & Physical Inc ($65,411):
Erth will stage 23 performances of its critically acclaimed production Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium across NSW. The production takes parents and children to the bottom of the ocean, at the beginning of time, where they will meet amazing prehistoric marine reptiles. Locations: Cessnock, Dubbo, Griffith, Port Macquarie, Shoalhaven, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga.
Performing Lines ($20,917):
Performing Lines will deliver 13 performances of Saltbush to NSW venues and engage in workshops locally. Saltbush follows two friends from different Aboriginal backgrounds and their spiritual guide as they cross Australian landscapes. The production allows children to interact, play and perform in the production through the use of sensor and infrared cameras. Locations: Bathurst, Nowra, Taree.
For more information, visit: www.arts.nsw.gov.au for details.
Image: Saltbush – photo courtesy of Performing Lines