Arts CQ Inc – Living History Project (2018-2019)
About the Project
The Rockhampton Heritage Village "Living History Project: Site-Specific Performances" entailed the production of five short plays incorporating local playwrights and performers. Themes in the plays highlighted aspects of the Rockhampton region’s history at two Rockhampton Heritage Village Market Days.
When and Where
The entire Living History Project was three years in the making, with on-site performances taking place at the Rockhampton Heritage Village on the 2nd of June and 8th of September 2019.
Fact, Figures and Statistics
|
Number of attendees at performances:
|
371 |
|
Number of participants:
|
10 |
|
Number of artists/cultural workers employed:
|
8 |
|
Number of people employed in other paid positions:
|
0 |
|
Number of volunteers engaged:
|
2 |
|
Type of sectors partnered with:
|
Heritage tourism |
|
Percentage of survey respondents answering 'good'
or 'excellent' to the question:
Overall, how would you rate this activity?
(response options - excellent, good, average, poor, very poor)
|
94% (total of 53 respondents) |
RADF Funding
$14,070
Outcomes Identified by Grant Recipient/s
- Successfully raising the profile of locally made theatre product in support of Heritage Village tourist experience
- Developed a great ensemble cast and allowed writers the opportunity to have work performed and workshopped.
- Garnered strong interest from patrons and Village ‘members’ alike resulting in placement of recorded work in the Village and three potential projects for the Director of the play.
Reflections and Learnings
- Close liaison with the venue supervisor on placement and timing of competing events.
- Need stage management at the macro level to continue to grow.
- Spend more on sound technician and sound gear to ensure the audience can fully engage.
- Make the plays longer.
- Insist writers workshop and rewrite their work with dramaturg rather than it being an optional extra.
- Have writers in early rehearsals and insist they work with director and creative team.
- Provide more context for shorter plays.
- Integrate plays more into ‘fabric’ of the places in which they are to be performed.
- Absolutely need Stage Manager and crew for more rehearsals.
Audience Feedback / Artist Comments
"Plays add to the realism of the place."
"Total enjoyment."
"The use of venue was great."
"Wonderful acting, the actors seemed to enjoy it as much as the audience!"
"Very well done. Characters were very realistic and easy to relate to the story."
"We all really enjoyed. Venue good, sound good."
"A great production – excellent actors."
"I really enjoyed it and will watch all the others being done today."
"Very well presented."