promos

Here Today

Performed at Shearwater Steiner School, Mullumbimby.

This is our second forum production.

Forum theatre was developed by South American dramatist Augusto Boal, who originally called it Theatre of the Oppressed.

Theater of the Oppressed is an arsenal of theater techniques and games that seeks to motivate people, restore true dialogue, and create space for participants to rehearse taking action. It begins with the idea that everyone has the capacity to act in the “theater” of their own lives; everybody is at once an actor and a spectator. We are “spect-actors!” — a term which Boal coined.

Boal points out that when we are simply passive audience members, we transfer our desire to take action onto the characters we identify with, and then find that desire satiated as the conflict resolves itself on stage, in films or in the news. Catharsis substitutes for action.

Boal, following Brecht, calls this bourgeois theater, which functions to reproduce elite visions of the world and pacify spectators. He says bourgeois theater is “finished” theater; the bourgeoisie already know what the world is like and so simply present it onstage.

In contrast to bourgeois theater, “the people” do not yet know what their world will be like Their “authentic” theater is therefore unfinished, and can provide space to rehearse different possible outcomes. As Boal says: “One knows how these experiments will begin but not how they will end, because the spectator is freed from his chains, finally acts, and becomes a protagonist.

Broken

A four minute promo from the public show at Byron Community Centre in November 2016.

After each show we circulate a one page, anonymous survey to all our audience members, requesting feedback and suggestions for future topics to cover. Domestic and family violence featured highly in the surveys and this request was met by BYT cast and Director Lisa Apostolides by the creation of their first, linear play called “Broken”.

Funded by Northern Rivers Community Foundation and a donation from Splendour In the Grass festival, Lisa wrote the play which was then workshopped by BYT cast members and actor Sam Hemphill.

“ I decided to play a lead role of Lily in this production” shares Lisa “ as I didn’t feel it appropriate for the majority of the violence to be directed at a young person. I engaged Sam to play the role of my new partner who has difficulties in dealing with my teenage son, Daniel, played by Seth Freeman, from a previous relationship. Both Lily and Daniel suffer verbal, emotional and physical abuse.

The work shopping and rehearsal period were intense and fruitful in creating an extremely moving and powerful play which highlights the complex problems in such situations and how to access assistance. Other characters of Daniel’s girlfriend and her friends played by Serren Glenn, Tilka Fosmale, Kia Walsey and Brynn Davis-Hay created a fantastic supporting subplot adding to the tension and drama.

The Women’s Resource centre, the Men and Family Centre, Ontrack community program, headspace Lismore, ACON Lismore, local Police and Community housing were all consulted during the development of this play as well as feedback from an online survey.

Performances were held at four local high schools as well as community performances at The Drill Hall, Mullumbimby and Byron Theatre with outstanding response from young people and adults.

No One Way

No One Way, a production which focuses on the issues faced by LGBTIAQ+ youth was the next original theatre performance to be created by BYT in 2016. The community’s support for this production became apparent early on in the research and interview phase. So many wonderful LGBT+ community members came forward to share their experiences across a wide age range. The legendary 80’s DJ Stephen Allkins, now a Northern Rivers community member donated funds raised from one of his famous My House is Your House parties, which added to the Country Arts Support Program ( Regional Arts NSW) and Byron Council grant. This enabled BYT to create another stellar production which moved audience members to tears receiving standing ovations and overwhelming feedback.

From this production local young people and BYT members recognised a need for a social event for LGBT+ youth. Raani Jade Nichols and Lisa Apostolides secured a Byron Council Small Change grant as well as a Mental health Association NSW ( ACON sponsored) community grant and yet another donation from Stephen which enabled them to create the inaugural Northern Rivers FANCY FORMAL. Check out our events page for more details.

Northern NSW Youth Health Consultation – Ballina 2016

Further detail about the impact of mental health issues among young people is warranted as part of the NSW Youth Health Policy Consultation.

Mental health problems, alcohol use disorders and suicide and self-harm are the leading causes of burden of disease among young people in Australia.

American research has found that half of all anxiety, mood, impulse-control, and substance use disorders start by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.

Further detail about the impact of mental health issues among young people is warranted as part of the NSW Youth Health Policy Consultation.

Mental health problems, alcohol use disorders and suicide and self-harm are the leading causes of burden of disease among young people in Australia.

American research has found that half of all anxiety, mood, impulse-control, and substance use disorders start by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.

Further detail about the impact of mental health issues among young people is warranted as part of the NSW Youth Health Policy Consultation.

Mental health problems, alcohol use disorders and suicide and self-harm are the leading causes of burden of disease among young people in Australia.

American research has found that half of all anxiety, mood, impulse-control, and substance use disorders start by age 14 and three quarters by age 24.

Altered States

This production focuses on the issues relating to illicit drug use on young people, their families, friends and the community. Devised through facilitated workshops with Director Lisa Apostolides, Altered States toured schools in Byron Shire and also staged a public performance at the Drill Hall in Mullumbimby.

The production was an overwhelming success with many asking for more performances of this powerful work.