Opening their doors La Boite will help with the development of up-and-coming Brisbane artists and theatre companies in July’s 'La Boite HWY'.
La Boite Theatre Company’s seven own Artists-In-Residence and a range of talented local independent artists and theatre companies will bring their creative laboratories directly to their audiences.
Glyn Roberts, La Boite’s current Creative Producer, has created an agenda to establish a pathway for artists to work with the actual theatre company, and not just use their facilities – just as the name HWY suggests.
For several years, the ‘La Boite Indie’ programme has supported independent artists without a space to perform in. However, the company has now turned it focus to becoming a platform where artists can not only work at La Boîte’s theatre, but have the opportunity to be supported by the company as well.
“[We found] that artists just really wanted to work as closely to La Boite as possible, be embraced by La Boite and work with us. We felt we needed to create a whole system in which we could get working artists, and put them on a single trajectory that gave us the best chance at one day presenting their work in our 400-seat roundhouse theatre,” Glyn explains.
At each night of ‘La Boite HWY’, a different independent theatre company or artist will perform in the roundhouse theatre, but the performance content certainly can’t be predicted. “Depending on where it’s at in its development, the work might be half a piece, and then the artist will take you through where it might go next, or it could be full reading of a play.
“Essentially each night, there will be a window for an audience to access an artist, and the process of what they’re working on. Each work is definitely something that La Boite is considering for the future.”
Glyn RobertsThe festival-style event will also host a series of international and local producers, speakers and artists throughout a range of workshops, presentations, industry panels, forums and master-classes. During the 13 days, there will something for every local artist to learn, courtesy of some of the best arts practitioners in Australia and around the world.
“Marnie (Karmelita), the Programme Director from Brisbane Powerhouse, and I will be running a two day producing bootcamp, so we can really help emerging and already established independent producers to get their heads around the ever-changing nature of independent work in Australia,” Glyn says.
“There will be workshops on directing by Todd MacDonald (La Boite’s Artistic Director), and there will be workshops on dramaturgy and day-long master-classes in playwriting.”
Glyn relocated from his hometown of Melbourne, after spending the majority of his career at the helm of over 20 full-scale productions, and curating creative events for theatre companies and universities similar to the upcoming ‘La Boite HWY'.
Though now as La Boite's Programme Manager, the 33-year-old is able to combine his skills in playwriting, producing and educating in one role, providing a stepping stone at La Boite for emerging practitioners to grow and enhance their talents in the Brisbane arts scene.
“We want people to come and be inspired and understand the process that they need to go through to work with La Boite and what makes a cutting edge performance in such a great centre for art in Australia.”
HWY shows at La Boite Theatre, 11-23 July.
