10 words or less – sum up the experience.

A joyful, challenging, confidence and momentum building, expansive adventure!

Where are you currently at with your project? 

After the work-in-progress showing event at HOTA in July where we shared a small portion of the work, I’m filled with gratitude and optimism about the future of AWAKE. I have completed a full Draft One of the larger work, which will run for about 80 minutes, and we have tested some of the content and shared with an audience who responded with enthusiasm, passion and overwhelming positivity, both to this work as it is now and the chance to see it realised in its entirety in the future.

Your ideas about your performance work exploring grief and ritual, ‘AWAKE’, evolved during this residency. Tell us about what changed and how that happened. 

The original concept for this work has certainly evolved in the making, but I also believe it remains the bedrock on which the work now lays. I was interested to begin with in making a theatrical ‘experience’ that audiences could engage with across a longer duration. As I researched and started writing, I realised that we needed someone to travel with on this journey – someone to care about, to root for. From that, the character of The Widow emerged, and the larger theatre work unfolded very organically from there.

What did you learn about the work from doing a public work-in-progress showing towards the end of your residency?

The work-in-progress showing was a wonderful opportunity to test out both the form and content of the theatre piece, and get reactions from audience much earlier than we often get the chance to in theatre. We often share for the first time at a preview performance or even an opening night, but sharing a work-in-progress gives us the chance to see if we are headed in the right direction and apply any learnings in next developments. We learned from the showing that audiences are incredibly receptive to, and even hungry for, this kind of theatre. And now we really can’t wait to share the full production!

You spent time with Artist Provocateur, Wesley Enoch AM, as part of the ArtKeeper program. What effect did that have on your project, your practice or your ArtKeeper experience?

The opportunity to connect and spend time with Wesley across the last six months, and benefit from his extensive experience and insights, was a true gift. He pushed me to go further, to ask questions of my own assumptions, and to be bolder. I know that his gentle, cheeky guidance helped the work grow to be so much more than it would have been without his influence. And I have no doubt that he has changed the way I will approach my future works, too.

What’s next for the work, and for you?

The next steps for AWAKE will be seeking further opportunities for the work including interest from potential presenters and venues, funding for the next phase of development and consultation and testing focused on production design. After such a wonderful response from our test audience at HOTA, we are keen to keep up the momentum and get AWAKE out to broader audiences as soon as we can!

The second half of 2024 will also be about seeking out further opportunities, including funding and organisational support, with my company White Rabbit Theatre. We will be going into creative development on a soon-to-be-announced new work for families, as well as touring regional Queensland with our show, Ready or Not, that had its pilot season at HOTA earlier this year through the HOTA Housemates program. We also hope to lock in a presenting partner for a 2025 premiere season for our play, Carnivore, which was also developed this year.

Images & video by ArtKeeper Storyteller in residence Lachlan Woods.