With support from the Australia Council for the Arts and My Place/Studio, Julia commenced work with mentor and collaborator, Bron Batten (VIC) on her concept for The New Bachelorette.

Working online due to pandemic, they spent over 40 hours discussing research and developing the project concept.

The first stage development took place in February 2021 in Perth, with support from The Minderoo Foundation Artist Grant , The Australia Council for the Arts through the SEVEN Project,and The Black Swan State Theatre Company, and My Place WA.

This first development centred on exploring the conceptual structure of the piece and establishing initial artistic relationships with a group of male participants. This initial creative intensive culminated in a public showing for various industry representatives in Perth, including Minderoo, Performing Lines WA and Perth Festival.

This second creative development period took place in Perth in September 2021. It involved a rigorous physical, improvisational and performative program, designed to expand the perimeters of the central performance project, whilst simultaneously developing the participants core dramatic skills and abilities.

The creative team, led by Julia Hales and Bron Batten, worked cohesively in order to utilise the collaborating artists unique performative skills and past experiences. This responsive approach maximised the theatrical investigation and exploration throughout the development period. This benefitted the participants through contact with professional arts practitioners and access to training and skills building.

The New Bachelorette company, led by Juiia Hales and Bron Batten, were successful with their application to The Last Great Hunt’s Expeditions program and commenced on 20 June 2022.

The team went into development with the aims to have tech support, outside eye input and networking opportunities. All aims were achieved and more!

The company were provided with a rare opportunity to experiment with technology and the form of the work as well as utilise the TLGH costume store, props and space setups.

Technology

With full access to TLGH’s technology, TNB were able to access green screen, vision mixing, film making and off the shelf software

This technological experimentation allowed parts of the work to flourish, most notably, a ‘worm hole’ for disabled artists to turn the manipulation narrative around and face scanning software.

Outside Eye Input

Company artists, Chris Isaacs and Jeffrey Jay Fowler spent time with TNB company, learning how the work had developed to date, improvising with TNB artists and providing provocations for the team to consider as part of their process.

Each raised more questions for the artists and creative team. Questions around agency included: who’s show is it?; who has agency in the work and when?; and what is the narrative arc of the work?.

The Expeditions opportunity gave six emerging artists with a disability a chance to develop new work in a creative space with a team of experienced makers.

Networking

For many artists with a disability, one of the greatest barriers they face is industry networking. It is difficult for them to get in the door and once in, to be listened to and heard. Practically, networking usually occurs at shows and industry events and can be fast paced and competitive.

One of the major outcomes was the reported feeling of belonging… to the work, the company and to The Last Great Hunt. This is an unusual feeling for people and artists with a disability and its importance cannot be underestimated. Residencies provide that time within a company and a chance to get to know and network with professional artists, production personnel and producers.

Over the course of three weeks, TNB artists further cemented working relationships with one another and new relationships with TLGH company members. The team also finalised an ethical framework to underpin the process.

The time with Expeditions has given the TNB company a wonderful chance to develop their practice and the work within an existing company structure, building confidence for individual artists and creating new dimensions of The New Bachelorette.

END

Developments #3 and #4 will continue with exploration of the form of The New Bachelorette with decisions reached by the end of the second development : Which version of the work will be presented?

The two developments provide a space for continued exploration of a variety of assistive and broadcast technology, experimentation with enhancement of text to speech apps, natural vocals, symbols and sound to create increased access for performers and audience members. An expected outcome of TNB Developments #3 and #4 is to identify and explore forms of communication and storytelling that increase the confidence and showcase the strengths of each performer. This element will be different for each performer with a disability.

The skills development of the performers both individually and as an ensemble is an ongoing and central focus for 2022 / 2023 TNB developments, in preparation for presentation in 2024.

TNB Developments #3 and #4 are an opportunity to continue practicing these individual performance skills and develop collaborative skills such as devising, group improvisation, kinesthetic awareness and ensemble work.

These two developments will lead the collective to develop the FORM of the work, finalising this by mid-April 2023.