Does distance from major cultural centres necessarily imply a dearth of theatre experiences for regional and rural young people? This paper will explore Arena Theatre Company’s long-term commitment to visiting three schools in regional Victoria, more than five hours drive from Melbourne, Australia. We present an account of Arena’s artistic methodology of theatre making – ‘creative convergence’ – the name of a large ARC Linkage research project investigating the convergence of live theatre and digital media.
This paper presents a case study of one secondary college, its students and staff. We examine how the students became co-creators of Arena’s latest production, Trapper. In addition, we discuss their involvement in a laboratory-style project called AI, Artificial
Intelligence. We propose that Arena’s approach creates a sense of familiarity for the young people they work with and who work with them, and an ownership of theatre that is constructed through time and distance.
Christian Leavesley:
Artistic Director of Arena Theatre Company. He studied theatre at the Victorian College of the Arts, Monash University and the University of Missouri-Columbia. Leavesley’s works have been programmed in major festivals and venues in Australia, Asia, Europe and North America. He is a Partner Investigator on the ARC Linkage project Creative Convergence: Enhancing Impact in Regional Theatre for Young People (2016-20).
Alexandra Macalister-Bills:
Education and Programs Manager for Arena Theatre Company. Her work with Arena has seen her initiate and develop their Schools Workshop program, now a part of the ARC Linkage project Creative Convergence as well as managing multiple schools residencies. She has produced Arena productions including Trapper and Marlin. Alexandra holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne and is currently studying her Masters in Teaching (Secondary) at La Trobe University.