Media Release | Co3 tours Under the Same Sky to north-west WA
30 September 2021
Free workshops & screening of Perth Festival hit Archives of Humanity
“extraordinarily artistic…emotive, powerful and original”
– DANCE AUSTRALIA
“‘riveting to watch…CO3 has probably been given its signature masterpiece with this show”
–THE AUSTRALIAN
Co3 Contemporary Dance is on a regional tour of Western Australia and brings its exciting Under The Same Sky program to Karratha on 4 October and Broome on 6 October. The tour is made up of three elements: a bird making workshop, a dance workshop and a free public screening of ARCHIVES OF HUMANITY. Regional communities will have the opportunity to see this five-star, highly acclaimed world premiere production that captivated audiences during Perth Festival in February and see how birds made by the community formed an integral part of this new dance work.
Devised and directed by Artistic Director, Raewyn Hill and commissioned by Perth Festival, ARCHIVES OF HUMANITY both celebrated community and explored ways individuals respond and care for each other in a crisis. It featured an inter-generational cast of 21 dancers plus a remarkable set of over 1500 fabric birds hand-made by members of our WA community using a piece of their own clothing.
The concept of community members creating the set was developed by Raewyn Hill and Japanese sculptural artist Naoko Yoshimoto. The process involved collecting individual’s written stories reflecting the life of the garment, immigration and isolation during the evolving pandemic. The stories were then displayed on a wall for audiences to read as they entered the performance and the birds united, soared above as a collective symbol of endurance and hope.
At the free bird-making workshops, suitable for both beginner and advanced sewers, community members will be guided in how to create a single bird made from an old garment. The finished birds will either be kept by the maker or form part of a future local installation accompanied by the maker’s own story. Workshops are open to adults and children 12 plus.
The dance workshops are delivered by Co3’s professional teaching artists, Russell Thorpe and Mathew Morris, who also performed in ARCHIVES OF HUMANITY. They are suitable for beginners and open to anyone aged 12 plus.
The workshops will be followed by free public screenings of the ARCHIVES OF HUMANITY production. Artistic Director Raewyn Hill will be in attendance at the Broome screening.
“We are delighted to be on a five-week tour throughout regional WA. At Co3 we create work that is responsive to our people, our place and our community. It is important to us that regional communities have access to a diverse array of contemporary offerings. Through our carefully devised workshops, we encourage and give space to the community to connect individually and with one another. These interactions and points of reflection are critical in which the arts can play their full role; adding to the vibrancy and wellbeing of a flourishing society.” – Co3 Artistic Director Raewyn Hill
Monday 4 October
Karratha- Red Earth Arts Precinct (REAP)
27 Welcome Road Karratha WA 6714
9am-1:30pm Bird Making Workshop, Read Room
3:30-4:30pm Community Dance Workshop, Rehearsal Room
6:30pm-7:30pm (doors open at 6pm) Archives of Humanity Screening, The Shelf, BYO picnic.
To register for free tickets to workshops and the screening go to the What’s On Section at www.redearthartsprecinct.com.au
Wednesday 6 October
Broome- Broome Civic Centre, 27 Weld Street, Broome WA 6725
10:30am-2:30pm Bird Making Workshop, Sammy Room
3:30-4:30pm Community Dance Workshop, Jimmy Chi Hall
*7-8pm Archives of Humanity Screening, Jimmy Chi Hall, Bar open from 6-8:30pm.
*This event includes an exclusive pre-show meet and greet and post show Q&A with two of the performers in the original production; Matthew Morris and Russell Thorpe, and Co3 Artistic Director, Raewyn Hill.
To register for free tickets to workshops and the screening go the What’s On Section at www.co3.org.au
This project has been supported by Lotterywest’s Building Communities Fund.
Ends.
Media Contact: Tracy Routledge 0412 223 221 or tracy@trpr.com.au
SUPPORTED BY
Wesfarmers Arts
Principal Partner.
DLGSCI/ Lotterywest
Government Partner