The evolution and construction of any theatre is eternally fascinating. Elements of collaboration, persistence, intellect, resilience, humour, patience and invention are required - the creative process is unleashed as players and creatives forge forward to arrive at Opening Night - delivering a theatrical ‘baby’ ready to be invested, received and judged by the anticipating audience.
This journey is much more heightened in the construction of a new play - CAMP by Elias Jamieson Brown, commissioned by Robyn Kennedy and directed by Kate Gaul - is a play with historical and political elements - chronicling the rise of a movement in Australia.
The birth of LGBTQI rights and the subsequent advocacy it ignited for further human rights at home and globally, is a salient story demanding to be told to an audience ignorant of what has gone before - but also to an audience who forged that movement and who hopefully will find further and deserved recognition in this theatrical treatment.
The play is being served at World Pride - a gathering of the global tribe in Sydney - where the reverberations of the movements early days can now be rightly celebrated - alongside a recognition of what is still left to be accomplished.
How will this play be received? What does it take to build a production from the ground floor? Who are the players tasked with this responsibility?
In this episode of the STAGES podcast, we chart the development of the play CAMP, speaking with the creatives and artists involved and examine that tumultuous time in history (not that far away) when the story of CAMP was born.
The STAGES podcast is available to access and subscribe from Spotify and Apple podcasts. Or from wherever you access your favourite podcasts. A conversation with creatives about craft and career. Follow socials on instagram (stagespodcast) and facebook (Stages).