The JUTE National Regional Playwrights & Theatre Makers Conference
Happening each year, the JUTE conference is a rich bubbling pot of ideas, information, deep discussion, skills development and a good deal of fun and inspiration.JUTE Conference
The yearly JUTE National Regional Playwrights & Theatre Makers Conference is about bringing together isolated regional theatre practitioners and connecting them into the national theatre sector, building networks, developing skills and undertaking creative developments of new work.
The conference is usually held at the Centre of Contemporary Arts in Cairns.
Dates for the 2013 Conference are 18-20 October, more info.
To register your interest for the 2013 JUTE conference please email us on info@jute.com.au
Conference history & purpose
JUTE has produced very successful conferences from 2001 - 2011 and
the demand for the conference of this nature has not abated over those
years. With significant structures in place to produce a highly
professional but friendly conference, the quality of this event is
assured.
The JUTE National Regional Playwrights & Theatre Makers Conference
is about developing regional theatre artists and the sector, it is
therefore not targeted to general public. At a local level, it is
targetted to a range of established and emerging practitioners, JCU
Creative Industry students, drama teachers, JUTE’s young ambassadors and
their peers and amateur theatre makers keen to develop their practice
and their engagement with the industry. There has been a strong demand
for the conference over 10 years with the feedback from previous
conferences and the outcomes towards the development of the regional
theatre sector speaking for themselves.
Regional Artists often feel the effects of geographic isolation. They
can feel disconnected and undervalued outside of their regional
centres. Having chosen to pursue their practice in regional centres,
they lack the funds to gain access to skills development opportunities.
The JUTE conference has proven over the years that it can reignite the
passion for theatre making by providing the space and the opportunity to
connect and take part in discourse about the sector that can lead to
breaking down that isolation. In a practical way, it can connect them
with other theatre makers who might want to collaborate and produce and
tour their work. At the very least it provides some new skills for
regional practitioners to take back to their own community of artists
and can contribute directly to the quality of work being produced in
regional centres. The conference also plays a role in regional theatre
makers having a voice to advocate for the needs of regional theatre.
Roz Pappalardo (Performer/Playwright/Singer/Songwriter)
"I love that the JUTE theatre conference is a space where everyone vibrates on ideas and carving out live theatre, whether it be writing, acting, directing or producing. It was very inspiring to see JUTE lead the way to engage our collective theatre/arts community. As always with me, creative osmosis has taken place following the conference and a re-newed desire to perform and direct live theatre is driving me forward toward some exciting ventures. Thanks again for bringing me into conference fold and your ongoing interest and support."
Karen Jackson (Theatremaker)
Please note that it is intended that all participants attend all the sessions except where they are identified as "Optional". The style of the conference is very much about taking part in all of the sessions, immersing yourself so that playwrights understand how directors and actors approach their work, actors and directors understand the craft of the playwright, etc. We trust you will enter into the spirit of the conference. To see the optional sessions, please click here. You are required to express your interest to attend to those sessions, to do so you need to join SCHED by signing up. (SCHED will invite you to sign up when you click on a session) Please note that it is very important that you let us know your interest to attend the optional sessions.
If you require assistance with the online schedule please feel free to email or call us.
SPEAKERS
2012:
International Keynote Speakers
Ola Animashawun
Creative Director of Euphoric Ink playwriting consultancy; Associate Director, Royal Court Theatre; Freelance Presenter, Script Editor / Dramaturg and Outdoor Theatre Producer.
As a producer, dramaturg, director and youth drama worker for the Royal Court Theatre, Ola has inspired, tutored, cajoled, created, made and influenced the young, the not so young, the black, the white, the other, the bi-lingual, the multi-lingual, the visiting, the seekers, the leaving, the homeless, the disabled, the NEET, the tidy, those living with HIV, those living in cyberspace, in Poland, in Hungary, in Australia, in New Zealand, in South Africa – on the stages of the Royal Court Theatre, The Belgrade Theatre, The Dundee Rep, on national radio, in community centres, in schools, in hospitals, in colleges, in youth centres, under railway arches, in dilapidated buildings, under Hammersmith Bridge – since 1994. In 2004 he created the UK's first playwriting programme exclusively for Black & Minority Ethnic writers – Critical Mass – launching the careers of Bola Agbaje; Levi David Addai; Alia Bano and many others besides. He has gone on to repeat the programme in Birmingham; Coventry and Brighton to critical acclaim.
Justine Themen
Associate Director, Belgrade Theatre, Coventry.
As Associate Director, Justine holds responsibility for delivering to and shaping the artistic vision for the Belgrade’s progressive and wide-reaching Community & Education Programme, which includes a year-round programme of productions, a new writing programme, and a commitment to high quality work by and for the local community. She has worked as a freelance Theatre Practitioner, Writer, Director and Consultant for a range of organisations internationally, and as Culture Officer for the Ministry of Education & Community Development in Suriname. Her work is wide-reaching and innovative, from using theatre as a Development tool in the rainforests of South America & forging new dance-drama on the beaches of Senegal, to bringing interactive performance to thousands of school children across Coventry.
WORKSHOP FACILITATORS
Peter Matheson
Peter Matheson is a freelance dramaturg. Before this, he was a playwright (14 plays produced) and worked in theatre: working backstage, front of house, and on stage. He spent 13 years as the Melbourne Theatre Company dramaturg, reading thousands of scripts before leaving in 2002 to develop his writing but he developed his dramaturgy instead. He now works with hundreds of writers in all parts of Australia (and a couple overseas) expanding his dramaturgical base and developing their playscripts and skills; with some of the most exciting theatre companies developing a strong regional voice. JUTE is one of these. Recently he was a recipient of an Australia Council Fellowship and part of a Cultural Leadership program, developing cultural leaders’ dramaturgical skills.
2011:
Wesley Enoch, Queensland Theatre Company and John Paul Fischbach, Auspicious Arts Incubator