We're back with a new episode of the Theatre Thoughts Podcast. On this episode of the podcast, we sit down with Creative Director Natalie Rose of Shopfront Arts Co Op to discuss the newest work of their Harness Ensemble, Where Shall We Meet?
Natalie’s time in theatre spans over 20 years and with a wealth of experience behind her she had more than enough theatre thoughts to satiate our appetite. Listen to Natalie discuss where the group POST and the Harness Ensemble came from, the importance of making theatre reflective of its audience, and where she wants to see Shopfront go in the future.
Tickets for the performances of Where Shall We Meet at Shopfront Arts Co Op from 5th-9th October can be booked at shopfrontarts.org.au or through this link.
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ABOUT NATALIE
Natalie Rose is one third of the performance collective POST, Creative Director at Shopfront Arts Co-op, and has been involved in Australia’s Contemporary Arts scene for the past 22 years. Her work has been seen nationally and internationally at Sydney Festival, Belvoir, Sydney Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Cambridge Junction (UK) and Sydney Opera House. Most recently with POST, Oedipus Schmoedipus has toured to Santiago Chile, West Kowloon Cultural Precinct Authority in Hong Kong and in 2020 was to be showcased as a part of AsiaTOPA at Arts Centre Melbourne. Their 2017 Sydney Festival work Ich Nibber Dibber was remounted at Sydney Opera House and Malthouse Theatre. Nat has facilitated workshops for the past 22 years for young and emerging artists with and without disability. In 2022, she will continue to develop this work, direct Shopfront’s Harness Ensemble in the third full-length work Where Shall We Meet? and devise a new work with Young People from Shopfront and ATYP titled The Lies We Were Told. Nat was most recently selected by the Australia Council for the Arts as a 2022 Arts Leader recipient.
WHERE SHALL WE MEET?
Where Shall We Meet is a compelling and powerful new performance from our Award Winning Harness Ensemble - a group of emerging artists with and without disability and mental health diagnosis.
In this new work directed by Natalie Rose and Jane Phegan, the vibrant differences of life experience within the group have led to a compelling and powerful performance in which they celebrate otherness, welcome difference and break apart the boxes they have casually been squashed into. Exploring ideas of connection and the desperate things we will do to hold onto others, Where Shall We Meet tackles the messy process of connecting with others in an increasingly disconnected world.
Do you know where you belong?
PODCAST HIGHLIGHTS
01:22 - About Natalie
05:10 - Where did this idea come from?
11:25 - Making new Australian plays
14:36 - Where Shall We Meet?
19:58 - Where next for Shopfront?