Behind the scenes
Under Your Thumb
“Wouldn’t life be easy if it was all just black and white, but it’s not , there’s so much grey, isn’t there? Where we can get lost, confused, stumble down the wrong alley, take a wrong turn and end up abusing each other. Why can’t we control ourselves? Are we capable of change?”
This opening speech of Under Your Thumb sets the stage for a swath of though provoking vignettes depicting issues of abuse experienced by young people. Whether it be physical, sexual, psychological, emotional or spiritual, the impact it has on an individual’s life is long lasting which in turn affects our society. Funded by Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW , Northern Rivers Community Foundation and supported by Brunswick Picture House, Under Your Thumb was yet another youth audience directed choice for BYT . During the research and development phase representatives from the headspace Tweed Heads and Women’s Resource Service, Mullumbimby, assisted with consultations and an informative training session. BYT combined this with a survey, interviews, online information from websites such as Youth Action and Reach Out.com and personal experiences to create this original production.
After a successful tour of local High schools with many audience members rating it as the “Best ever!” production, BYT delivered a public performance at the Brunswick Picture House. Check out the promo video below!
The Company wish to acknowledge the sourced work by Mila Cuda and Jessica Romoff for their slam poem “Exes”, Emmeline May for Consent and Tea and Jamie Varon for “This is how we date now” used in Under Your Thumb. They wish to thank Charlie Gill, Lighting Design and light and sound operator, Myla Yeomans, Graphic designer, and previous BYT member Charlotte Dodds for choreography. Mike and Marion Russo for props and costume items and the many friends, supports and BYT family members who helped make it happen!
In My Skin
In My Skin, which explores issues of racism and prejudice was created in response to youth and community audiences requests after our previous productions Here Today and Gone Tomorrow. It’s a hot topic not only in Australia but world wide with increase awareness of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, asylum seekers, refugees and right wing groups and organisations inciting white supremacy.
In My Skin was funded by Country Arts Support Program Regional Arts NSW with financially support by Byron Council and a wonderful donation from Rotary Byron Bay. BYT wish to express our deep gratitude to these organisations as well as Byron Theatre, Drill Hall Theatre Company and Byron Youth Service.
The production incorporated 3D graphic projections interspersed between stylised dramatic scenes to transport the audience into a new future World where no culture or practices exists.
The Company also used song and choreographed dance to create a powerful, poignant production which raised many questions and hopefully galvanised audiences to take more action to create a more harmonious society.
Mind Made Me
Mind Made Me is one of BYT’s longstanding productions created in 2013. Originally funded by Northern Rivers Community Foundation, the production was created by seven cast members most of whom had a lived experience of dealing with mental health issues. Mind Made Me schools tour in 2013 and again in 2014 with additional development funding from Country Arts Support program, Regional Arts NSW, as well as several community events and conferences.
The process facilitated by Director of BYT, Lisa Apostolides was particularly challenging but often therapeutic for Company members, many of whom have a lived experience of mental health issues, as they researched, interviewed peers, shared personal stories and consulted with health professionals. The result was an incredibly emotive piece of youth theatre that has sometimes shocks audiences but with positive effect.
The production exposes the challenges faced by young people dealing with anxiety, depression, negative body image, non suicidal self harm, sexual identity and bullying.
Since it’s development BYT have delivered this production to 6 schools, 5 community events and 3 conferences performing to over 3,000 people.
BYT members wish to thank the Mental Health Association of NSW, Wellways and Open Minds for funding their production Mind Made Me which they performed at Lismore City Hall and the Drill Hall Mullumbimby during Mental health month, October 2017. “The response was amazing” shares Lae, one of the cast members. “The audience were really moved and touched by each scene, I learnt a great deal doing this production and our company has become even closer”.
140 Ballina Coast High School students and staff were the recent recipients of 3 Mind Made Me performances from BYT at their Well Being Expo held in November 2017. Audience members commented on how they were moved by the production and grateful that a youth theatre Company exists in this region tackling these issues.
BYT wish to thank Harry O’Meara our wonderful lighting and sound technician who will also be joining us for Gone Tomorrow! You rock Harry!
2017 Cast of Mind Made Me
Video clip of The Drill Hall Theatre performance for Mental Health Month 2017 : funded by WayAhead Mental Health Association of NSW
Here are some clips filmed independently at Byron Theatre as well as an youth audience member comment at the Richmond Valley Mental health Expo in 2014.
Broken Public Performance
Quote from an audience member
Hi, I am just writing to tell you how amazing your young performers were today. I am a youth worker with Nortec Youth Services and was completely blown away by how confident, powerful and mind blowing the performers were. The young people I brought today really needed to see young people, their age, succeeding with difficult content in front of an audience of peers. And they did it with such grace. Please pass on my compliments to the performers and organisers for an awesome show.
Jen Stockdale
