Indigenous Technical Theatre Production Initiative

Supported by Urban Theatre Projects and Belvoir

Background
In 2009, at the first National Theatre Forum to be held in twenty years, Rachel Maza-Long decried the scarcity of appropriately skilled Indigenous Theatre Designers andTechnicians in Australia. At the time Alicia Talbot, Urban Theatre Projects Artistic Director, made a commitment to try to and redress this industry imbalance.

Belvoir and Urban Theatre Projects are currently developing a new work together. Our organisations’ artistic skills and working methods are very different but we believe that this is a creative advantage to both companies and the process of working together teaches both companies new skills.

When Urban Theatre Projects approached Belvoir about jointly supporting an Indigenous Technical Production Development initiative, it made immediate sense. Both companies acknowledge that we are in a position to support new professional opportunities for Indigenous Theatre Technical practitioners. We also acknowledge how much we value technical theatre practitioners and how, for a small professional group with a specific skill set, there is such a high and regular demand, across the industry, for their expertise.

The Offer
Urban Theatre Projects and Belvoir will jointly provide a 9-month professional development program to one emerging Indigenous practitioner in the area of Technical Theatre production and design. The successful candidate will work across both Belvoir and Urban Theatre Project’s programs in 2011. The candidate will gain experience in a range of contexts, from creative development to touring, working with diverse creative teams and guest artists.

The program will be designed in collaboration with the successful candidate to meet their specific skills development requirements and interests. The program will also focus on the development of key competencies and experience that professional theatre companies expect of technical personnel.

The program will be full time between January and September 2011. The successful candidate will be employed in accordance with the National Employment Standards and offered a salary of $46,800 pro rata, plus 17.5 % annual leave loading and Superannuation.

The Candidate
Belvoir and Urban Theatre Projects are calling for Expressions of Interest from young Indigenous people interested in a career in Technical Theatre production and design.

Expressions of interest will be accepted from:
• Individuals in their first 5 years of professional practice in a design or technical capacity in the Theatre industry,
• Individuals who will be completing formal study at a tertiary institution (TAFE, University, College) in the field by the end of 2010.

Expressions of interest should include:
• Your CV.
• A statement about how this initiative would benefit you and what existing skills you would bring to the program.
• Your career goals.
• An outline of your areas of interest and the skills you would like to develop during the initiative.
• Your influences – individuals, work or projects you have seen or been involved with that have moved you to pursue a career in the performing arts.
• Two referees.

Closing Date
Expressions of Interest are due by 5pm Monday 8 November 2010. Emailed and posted expressions of interest will be accepted and should be sent to:

Urban Theatre Projects
PO BOX 707
Bankstown NSW 1885
Email: bibi@urbantheatre.com.au

For more information or to discuss this initiative contact:

Pearl Kermani | Administration Coordinator
Belvoir
T: 02 9698 3344
E: pearl@belvoir.com.au

Bibi Serafim | Company Manager
Urban Theatre Projects
T: 02 9707 2111
E: bibi@urbantheatre.com.au