6 June 2016

“The actors revealed a depth of empathy and understanding of young people through their sensitive and finely crafted performances…the Q&A session and physical workshop were a gift and provided genuine insight into the way in which theatre is made.” Teacher 

“Shadowboxing correctly showed what social media is like for my generation.” Female student

BACKGROUND

 In 2013 Black Swan put the call out to independent artists in Perth inviting them to submit an expression of interest to work with us on our new education and community production. Perth theatre-maker Ella Hetherington’s pitch was selected out of five submissions. Ella wanted to explore the many masks a young person wears when they engage in the online world. The idea was topical and relevant to our target audience of 12-17 year olds. 

DEVELOPMENT

Development commenced in late 2014 with Associate Director Jeffrey Jay Fowler and Literary Manager Polly Low offering guidance re the dramaturgical elements, as Ella tackled the writing process. In 2015 Jeffrey was appointed as Director of the work allowing Ella to focus on writing and evolving the two main characters she and actor Brendan Ewing would take on in performance. 

Final development and rehearsals commenced in May 2015. Patrick Howe designed the set and costumes, and Ben Collins designed the sound. The brief for the production’s set design was to create something mobile; what we came to term ‘flat pack theatre’. We needed to have the ability to quickly load the set into an ordinary vehicle and have the opportunity to perform two shows per day.

This 50 minute performance, titled Shadowboxing, created specifically for young people in Years 7-12 (ages 12-17), is the second production created by Black Swan to specifically tour to schools and regional Western Australia.Shadowboxing has been designed to accommodate a wide range of communities and is aligned to current social issues such as trust, identity and safety on social media and the current Drama, English, ESL and Society and Environment curriculum.

The play challenges the notion of identity, friendship and the balance of truth and make-believe. It explores the stories we tell, lies, honesty and dishonesty. What happens when we define ourselves by the opinions of others, rather than who we really are? In creating a persona, how long until the real you disappears into the myth?

Shadowboxing with Brendan Ewing and Ella Hetherington at Belridge Secondary College, 2015 (image: Rebecca Mansell)

TOURING

Touring presents its own unique set of challenges. We premiered Shadowboxing at the Koorliny Arts Centre in the southern Perth suburb of Kwinana on 4 June 2015, followed by a performance in the Fishtrap Theatre at Mandurah Performing Arts Centre. We then toured to the South Coast regional town of Esperance, playing to the entire Esperance Anglican Community School of nearly 200 students and teachers, under a bright skylight. The work was well received by all, with the school’s principal the first to ask a question of our actors during the post-performance Q&A session.

In the two weeks of metropolitan touring, Black Swan performed in 10 schools, one university and to over 1800 students and educators. One moment that will stay with me forever was a performance at a school where there was a keen student eager to operate the lighting for us. After the performance I thanked him for the work he had just done; operating the lighting for a production by the State Theatre Company. I watched his face as the penny dropped and he remarked that it was the single most exciting thing that had ever happened to him. Other students remarked that we had captured their lives onstage. Above all, students were most grateful for the opportunity to see live, high quality theatre in their school.

“I really enjoyed the show. Not once was I not engaged.” Male, under 18

Supported by the Department of Culture & The Arts and Department of Regional Development and Lands, the regional tour allowed us to travel to some of the more isolated communities in the north of our state. Taking in Denham and Carnarvon in the Gascoyne and Port Hedland, Karratha and Onslow in the Pilbara, we trialled a new method of delivering the work to the community. We encouraged schools to open up the performance to the general public to attend and venues to make the performance accessible to the whole community, not just schools. This meant that ordinary community or school spaces were transferred into art learning hubs.

I visited each of these communities before and after the tour, met with local government, educators, community members, youth groups, amateur theatre groups, business owners and venues, clearly explaining the project and its aims. Many were unsure that the community would even be interested in seeing a production targeted for young people. However, the feedback was very encouraging. Seniors and adults in the community loved the themes, remarking that they learnt a lot themselves about the elusive world of the internet and the issues young people face when engaging online. It allowed for further discussion between young people and the adults in their lives, about a topic that they usually find difficult to raise, let alone discuss in depth.

As part of the 2015 regional tour we performed to over 1,123 students and adults in seven towns across four regional areas in Western Australia.

“Fantastic representation of social media, moving, real, exciting.” Female, aged 18-24 

“Excellent production, well written play, well-acted.” Male, aged 55-64

“Support it in every way - this show works.” Female, aged 55-64

Video Link Shadowboxing filmed on tour in Denham and Carnarvon in 2015.

(Watch this video - it's fantastic and gives a great insight, Ed)

By Alena Tompkins

Education & Community Access Manager

Black Swan State Theatre Company