INTERVIEW WITH Co3 ARTISTIC DIRECTOR RAEWYN HILL | IN.RESIDENCE GATHERING.1

Setting the Scene

Q: GATHERING.1 is the fifth performance in Co3’s IN.RESIDENCE program and arrives as part of the company’s 10-year celebrations. What does this moment represent for you and Co3?

A: This moment is both a reflection and a launchpad. It celebrates a decade of risk taking, resilience, and growth while opening space for bold, new voices. GATHERING.1 is a living expression of Co3’s evolution, deeply focused on the community and driven by a commitment to collaboration and contemporary relevance.

Q: The performance is described as being shaped by themes of unity, ritual, and human connection. What inspired those themes, and why are they important right now?

A: These themes emerged from the times we live in fragmented, fast-paced, and sometimes isolating. We wanted to create something that reminds us of the power of coming together, of being present. Rituals whether sacred or social offer structure, and unity brings purpose. In GATHERING.1, we return to the essential act of connecting through movement.

The Audience Experience

Q: This isn’t a traditional sit-down show, audiences are invited into the space itself. Can you paint a picture of what people will experience?

A: Audiences will step into an open, vibrant environment where performance spills into every corner. The Liberty Theatre transforms into a pulsating, responsive space part dance floor, part ceremonial ground where movement, music, and people safely coexist without boundaries.

Q: How does this kind of shared space between performers and audience affect the energy or meaning of the work? 

A: It dissolves hierarchy. There is no fourth wall, no passive viewing. Energy moves both ways, it is unpredictable, alive. Audiences are not just witnesses; they contribute to the rhythm and pulse of the evening by being eye to eye with the performers. It demands presence and that is powerful.

Q: You’ve brought in DJ Aslan and MOWGLI to create live soundscapes for the night. What role does music play in shaping the atmosphere of GATHERING.1? 

A: Music is the emotional anchor. DJs Aslan and Mowgli bring an incredible sensitivity and pulse to the space. Their soundscapes evolve in real time with the dancers, responding to shifts in energy and guiding the collective journey sometimes meditative, sometimes electric.

Q: What do you hope audiences will feel or take away from being part of GATHERING.1, especially those who may not be familiar with contemporary dance? 

A: I hope they feel welcomed, moved, and maybe even surprised by what dance can be, by their own reactions, by a sense of belonging. Contemporary dance does not have to be distant or obscure it can be immediate, embodied, and deeply human.

The Creative Team

Q: You’ve invited Mitch Harvey (Staged by Zee Zunnur), Logan Ringshaw, and Kimberley Parkin to choreograph for this work. What drew you to these artists for such an intimate and interactive performance? 

A: These artists have distinct voices and a shared curiosity. Mitch brings theatricality and precision, Logan is visceral and poetic, and Kimberley offers raw emotional intelligence. They are makers of the future and I feel privileged to have the opportunity to curate their work.

Q: What kinds of conversations have you shared with the choreographers as they begin developing the work? 

A: We have been exploring the idea of ‘gathering’ as both structure and spirit. We asked: What does it mean to come together? How do we create shared meaning through movement? How do we celebrate? The choreographers are encouraged to draw from personal rituals, cultural memory, and physical intuition as starting points.

Looking Forward

Q: As you launch this season and reflect on 10 years of Co3, how do you see IN.RESIDENCE shaping the next chapter of contemporary dance in WA? 

A: IN.RESIDENCE is a space for experimentation, risk, and artistic growth. It nurtures generations of choreographic voices while challenging conventional formats. As Co3 enters its second decade, this platform will be central to evolving our identity anchored in WA, connected to the world, and committed to innovation through collaboration.