I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Stuart and Normal Leslie Churchill Fellowship (2023) Winston Churchill Trust (Australia), which allowed me to embark on an incredible research trip earlier this year across Chile, the United States, and the United Kingdom. My research focused on how to create extraordinary professional ‘public theatre’ with, for and by community. During my travels, I had the privilege of working with and learning from leading theatre companies, particularly examining large-scale public theatre initiatives such as the Public Theatre's Public Works Program in New York and the National Theatre's Public Acts in London. Additionally, my research explores the significant impact of smaller theatre company initiatives like Woolly Mammoth in Washington and Common Wealth in the UK - who create exceptional theatre works, deeply rooted in community engagement.
The report I have written advocates for the expansion of community-engaged theatre within professional spaces in Australia, drawing on successful international models. It highlights the profound cultural and social benefits that such practices can bring, and offers strategic insights into how these successes can be adapted to different cultural contexts within our own country. The findings emphasize the transformative power of theatre as a catalyst for societal engagement and sectoral evolution. It also speaks to a proposed model of working which I believe holds great potential for Australia, blending the strengths of both large and small-scale endeavours.
I am deeply committed to opening up a dialogue on how we can break down structural and financial barriers to make the performing arts more accessible, create improved pathways for artistic creation, and support theatre companies in diversifying and becoming more inclusive. This research is a step toward fostering informed practices in these areas.
My report is in the link below. Very excited to share.
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Goal-Oriented Creative | Brand Champion | Content Strategist | Inspiring Engagement through Great Storytelling
2moCongratulations Roche! It was an honor to work with you!!!