By Luke Voogt
Geelong theatre-lovers could step into a Shakespearean wonderland in a COVID-safe concept dreamed up from a performing arts grant.
“Our audience will be immersed into three different worlds,” said Hamlyn Heights actress and producer Amanda Labonte, who received a Creative Engine grant last year.
“It’s something so new and so different to what we’ve done before.”
Labonte revealed the concept as Geelong Arts Centre on Wednesday announced another $16,000 for local performers in its Creative Engine program.
Such grants were “lifelines”, helping artists to keep creating during COVID-19 rather than looking for work “stacking shelves”, the long-time thespian explained.
“The only thing that I feel has been able to keep us alive has been the development of new projects,” she said.
“In a year or two there’s going to be some really rich, beautiful productions coming out of this because [local theatre groups have] had that time to pause, develop and play.”
Inspired by an immersive, multi-room production of Hamlet in New York City, Labonte is exploring using The Palais Geelong or similar venue to journey through the scenes of A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
She hopes to create her surreal, socially-distanced show, The Dream Laboratory, using the venue’s spacious theatre.
The concept could easily be adapted to a larger audience or made more “hands on” if the COVID-19 situation improved, she said.
Like Labonte, Blink Dance Theatre’s Lyndel Quick is using her grant to adapt to the pandemic.
“I think [these] grants help us and a lot of other Geelong artists to take creative risks,” she said.
The artistic director from Inverleigh plans in October to film her new production Memory House, originally intended as a live show.
“We got through about a week and a half of rehearsals before COVID-19 hit and things really shifted,” she said.
“All live performance has evaporated overnight.”
Geelong Arts Centre is turning its focus towards live-streaming with the Creative Engine program including two new $2000 grants for broadcast infrastructure.
“There’s actually some really exciting potential in reaching people you hadn’t before,” Quick said.
“Let’s face it, these technologies are not cheap. Not everyone has access to this equipment and the world-class facilities that Geelong Arts Centre has.
“When larger arts organisations put their arms and umbrella around small arts organisations, it can increase our profile.”
Details: geelongartscentre.org.au/creative-engine
