Youth arts company Jopuka Productions, based at its Tuggerah space, The Launch Pad, is set to expand its theatrical program to the south of the region, with help from a $5,000 Central Coast Council Community Support Grant.
Jopuka Founder and Artistic Director, Joshua Maxwell, said the funds would go towards venue hire for a short season of the play Little Girls Alone in the Woods at Woy Woy’s Peninsula Theatre, as the company moves to make theatre more available to young people in the south of the region.
The play, by Morgan Rose, is an adaptation of The Bacchae and puts a contemporary feminist lens on the Greek legend of Dionysus, the god of wine, fertility, festivity, theatre and ritual madness.
“Most of our audiences are under 30 so often we have young people come to see the shows and become involved,” Maxwell said.
“We have been asked since we started when we will be doing a show at Peninsula Theatre and have worked hard to find a project and model we could take to other parts of the Coast.
“We want to make our shows as accessible as we can and this trial program will see everything from auditioning to rehearsing and performing in the southern section of the Coast.”
Auditions and rehearsals for the show will be held at Erina, which will be performed for a one-week season at Tuggerah’s Red Tree Theatre in November before moving to Peninsula Theatre in December.
Auditions will be held next week with rehearsals to begin almost immediately.
Maxwell said going forward the company plans to direct versions of its youth productions for both the north and south of the region.
“We know the benefits and impacts of the arts on young people’s mental health and engagement,” he said.
“Having Council come to the party is a vital part of what we do.
“It will help us make theatre accessible to young people all over the region and allow us to reduce ticket prices for younger audiences.”
The grant was one 18 approved at the Council meeting on August 23, with as total of $58,788.46 allocated.
Other successful applicants were: Central Coast Cross Country ($4,083.48); Wyong Creek Literary Institute ($1,205.30); Achilles Hunter Central Coast ($2,750); Crestani Scholarships Limited ($2,954); Gosford Musical Society ($4,978); Gosford City Community and Information Service ($4,159.95); Avoca Beach Surf Life Saving Club ($5,000); Kincumber-Avoca Cricket ($4,680); Chain Valley Bay Progress Association ($3,050); Wamberal Surf Life Saving Club (1,576); Davistown Progress Association ( $1,184.73); Central Coast Family Support Services ($1,800); Umina United Soccer Club ($4,178); Coast Family History Society ($1,729); Mooney-Cheero Progress Association ($5,000); Rotary Club of East Gosford ( $2,160.00); and Northlakes Public School P&C Association ($3,300).
Terry Collins