AUDIENCES should look forward to a “unique theatre” experience when they sit down at The Score, according to creative director Kamarra Bell-Wykes.
Ms Bell-Wykes, who is a part of the Ilbijerri Theatre Company, collaborated with other program designers from Zeal Theatre and Melbourne University to create a “choose-your-own-adventure” style performance that is “designed to create conversation around sexual health and respectful relationships among the Aboriginal community and specifically young people.”
The Score begins on September 5, from 3pm and 7pm, when the cast of the play will put on a “high energy” ten minute performance. The audience will then be asked for the next hour to engage in conversations about the play, where it could go from there and the way they would like to be involved.
“I just wanted to make it more accessible, and for the participants to be more involved in the conversations and creating the work,” Ms Bell-Wykes said.
“Because I expect that it will be a more meaningful and enjoyable process for the people involved.”
Ms Bell Wykes said that Ilbijerri will then hold daily workshops over three days where young people within community are encouraged to play designed games, talk further about what should happen and then complete the rest of the play.
On Friday, people involved in the workshop will then put on the completed play to the broader community.
Ms Bell-Wykes said that alongside designing the theatre program, they have a “huge participatory research lab” through Melbourne University that “is happening alongside the work to be actually testing the model, making sure that we’re using informed theory about the model”.
“Swan Hill will actually be the first community group that we run the program with and we will be continually kind of assessing and refining the program with kind of feedback from the young people,” she said.
The event will take place at Harrison Hall, Swan Hill College, and people can register interest at ilbijerri.com.au/event/thescore
