I'm looking forward to next year's programme with much pleasure, and hope that your practice of having Matinee performances will continue. Thanks for the productions I've been able to attend this year. I've found them enjoyable, thought-provoking and very well presented.
Margaret Lucas
Thank you to the Elysium Theatre team at the absolutely gorgeous Sandgate Town Hall for hosting Eleanor's Story: An American Girl in Hitler's Germany for two performances. I felt so well taken care of. And thank you Liam for your phenomenal tech skills, I think this was a perfect start to the tour!
Ingrid Garner
You guys are good eggs & it was nice to spend that time with that beautiful audience. Met a few of the ladies over at Cardigan Bar who were till raving about my dance skills. Might have to bring Swing Man here next. [my swing dancing show I'm touring next year].
Thanks again for looking after me.
Damien Callinan
I am honoured to be able to work with Sharyn from Elysium Theatre. Sharyn worked on my journey and created this really touching idea of bringing the story into real life picture. I watched the play and I had Goosebumps. It was very real experience and it took me back to that moment of my journey. It was a memorable night. The puppets are played in a way that really demonstrates the real life and the feeling it shows is ultimate experience. It was a combination of teamwork that made it possible how these the play was going to operate.
Imtiaz Ali
In 2017, I was privileged to participate in the joint Australian Catholic University and Elysium Theatre production, Who Are We? We Are from Narratives of Hope. This ensemble performance was delivered by primary school-aged children, as well as ACU staff and student volunteers working together to create a live performance that vividly recounted the stories of Australia’s first peoples, refugees and migrants.
Sharyn played an integral part in the production, from puppeteer trainer and mentor, to playwright, director and producer. Preparation for the performance commenced with learning how to create puppets out of brown paper. This was followed by movement and performance training, script writing and numerous, highly engaging rehearsals. Sharyn provided clear guidance and exceptional support throughout these activities. She cherished our contributions and encouraged us at every turn.
The production included a diverse group of incredible people. Sharyn was always sensitive, grateful and eager, helping to create a wonderfully creative, empowering and successful environment. At all times, Sharyn worked tirelessly and thoughtfully to coordinate the production. She consistently encouraged members of the Ensemble to think deeply, to work collaboratively, and to employ the puppets effectively. The production was a resounding success, thanks in no small part to Sharyn’s vision and efforts.
Having had no experience with puppeteering before, I found the ensemble to be challenging and enormously enjoyable. It is simultaneously challenging and empowering to channel perspective and expression through a brown paper puppet! Yet as was discovered during the Narratives of Hope production, the puppeteering medium is a highly effective way to give a voice to those would otherwise have no way to share their story. Whether this is due to language barriers or shyness, the puppets take the pressure off, whilst immersing the audience in positive and powerful narratives. This is a form of theatre that is accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. I would highly recommend brown paper puppetry! It’s fun, challenging, empowering and hugely rewarding.
Elyse Flavel, BA
Team Leader – AskACU Centre Brisbane
I was privy to Sharyn Henry’s workshop she conducted with a group of refugees and their mentors at ACU. The group consisted of diverse cultural backgrounds and ages. I observed the remarkable transformation, which took place through ten weeks of the course. Some individuals were very hesitant to convey their emotions in the beginning. Some were quite extreme introverts for whom it was an uphill battle to connect and collaborate with others in the group.
Seeing each other’s efforts, they progressively influenced one another. Gradually they found more and more courage to engage and they opened up. The culmination of the workshop was a presentation in front of an audience. The outcomewas full of exuberance in the group, coupled with pride in their accomplishment. To be on the stage for the first time is challenging, yet this group came out victorious with smiles on their faces. Their performance deeply touched everyone in the room.
Sharyn conducted the workshop professionally with a ‘hands on’ approach, helping where most needed and putting them at ease. I believe that all the participants took away with them something unforgettable and lasting.
Zoli Mauritz
Music By The Sea believes that ART is essential for the wellbeing of the community
Response by Associate Vice-Chancellor Queensland Professor Jim Nyland to Narratives of Hope and Elysium Theatre's recent production - WHO ARE WE? WE ARE.
University response to the ‘Anthropocene’ epoch
We are entering the 'Anthropocene ' (no longer a passive, stable and clement world) era...it is a fractious, chaotic and unpredictable world now. Migrancy and population movements are unsettling vast swathes the developed world, as well as many parts of the developing world and it is imperative that universities are not neutral ground in this unknown and dangerous world.
Responding to these momentous struggles is challenging for universities, let alone individuals committed to creating cultural capital and transmitting the best of what has been thought and said. One of the most notable ways in which staff at ACU Brisbane have sought to actively engage with some of these emergent big challenges has been through the successful ‘Narratives of Hope’ series. Special thanks goes to all those involved in this ground-breaking program – to Melanie Seal-Moradi, Keith Skelton, Dan Klar, Elyse Flavel, Nica Tsakmakis, Erin Dougherty, Jake Hardiman, Jane Scott, and Michael Sobek; and students Cian Cattelini and Imogen Johnson. Particular thanks goes to Janine Quine for her successful leadership of this amazing program (detailed below) despite it being put together on the smell of an oily rag.
Now in its third year, Narratives of Hope, continues to grow and evolve in its reach and impact as a story-telling platform for those voices who are often not heard. They are the voices of youth and adults from diverse cultural, social and religious backgrounds who constantly have to negotiate the social expectations and structures that are oblivious to their needs. It is an opportunity for them to challenge public perceptions and help us grow in understanding with the support of volunteer ACU staff and students who act as mentors. In actual fact, it is a reciprocal learning experience, because no one walks away untouched by the experience.
This year, we had two very well attended events around Narratives of Hope. The first was a Narratives of Hope Ensemble puppetry production held at Sandgate Town Hall. WHO ARE WE? WE ARE was a collaboration between Elysium Theatre’s Sharyn Henry and former ACU mentors (Elyse Flavel, Keith Skelton and Janine Quine), former NOH participants (Rosalba, Nur and Mohammad) and new student volunteers (Jack – business and Krishna – OT). Using large brown paper puppets, it drew on previous stories with specific reference to Imtiaz’s story. Imtiaz came to Australia by boat as a 15 year old from Pakistan and nearly drowned. It was followed by young Muslim speakers who have been, and continue to be involved with ACU. People from the public have been asking if we will show it again.
Jim Nyland
Great to hear from you and to see that Elysium Theatre is still flourishing!
Anne Weir
Just writing to let you know we really enjoyed A Prudent Man last evening at Sandgate Town Hall. Lyall Brooks was brilliant.
Lovely to meet you and look forward to seeing future productions. Kind regards,
Jill Sullivan
Hello all at Elysium Theatre Thank you so much for bringing your marvellous show to Toogoolawah last Friday. I absolutely loved it and thought you were so talented I was embarrassed at the lack of punters and will be telling all I meet just what an opportunity they missed. We were talking to your cast members (whose names were not in the programme which was a shame) about audience likes and dislikes in Somerset and Deb said that ticket price is a very big factor. People don't want to pay more than $25 and as I said, they also don't. Like going out at night and prefer matinees These points may not be possible for you but I'd love to see you all here again and thought I should mention them. Hope Boonah was a bigger audience and thanks again for a great show Regards
Gail Webster
Having just moved to Sandgate (and Queensland) a few months ago I can't tell you how absolutely sure I am that I have made the right decision. Music by the Sea and your company Elysium Theatre have sealed the deal for me. Thank you so much and I will attend every possible event that I can to ensure the marvellous entertainment offerings continue. Regards
J
Last weekend Elysium Theatre presented Sharyn Henry in a production of the one-woman play Shirley Valentine by William Russell at Sandgate Town Hall. The play was originally produced in London and subsequently re-worked as a film. We meet Shirley at home literally talking to the wall, wondering how a marriage full of love and laughter slid into suffocatingly boring routine. Her girlfriend, however, has invited her to get away for a fortnight in Greece — should she go?
Shirley’s monologue is by turns hugely funny, moving and thought-provoking, likening her life to the Middle East (“keep your head down and hope the ceasefire holds”) and wondering why saying “I love you” seems to give the right to take someone for granted.
Sharyn Henry excels in the role, hitting exactly the right note, neither over nor underplaying her lines. The audience is always absorbed with the character, never the performance: it is a truly outstanding piece of acting and all who were privileged to enjoy it came away with the feeling that it was an evening thoroughly well spent. There is some possibility of further performances at other venues. If it comes your way, don’t miss it.
Bernard Parish
On behalf of Australian Catholic University’s Narratives of Hope project team, I am writing to express my support for Sharyn Henry’s and my conviction that you will find her programs and workshops worthwhile. To give you some context, Narratives of Hope was a digital story telling program which aimed to empower culturally and socially diverse youth and adults to develop agency and self-advocacy skills by identifying and communicating challenges faced and their hopes for their future in Australia. Participants were chosen from Multicultural Development Australia, Kedron State High School, Mary McKillop College and ACU. It was a creative platform in which to change perceptions about ‘the other’ and to build new communities of understanding as a result.
The outcome of partnering with Elysium Theatre to work with participants in our third year far exceeded our initial expectations. As stories were elicited by Sharyn, ideas on how to present shared, and how to effectively use large brown paper puppets taught, it became evident that it was now a community owned endeavour. Students grew in confidence as they learned new skills. All overcame their shyness in performing and were even able to answer audience questions at the end of their outstanding performance at Sandgate Town Hall. Audience feedback revealed that the show left a powerful impression on them and the content made them reflect on their own attitudes. All participants felt they had a voice and that they were heard.
The success of both the performance and the 10-week journey to that point was a direct result of Sharyn’s ability to:
In conclusion, I am very happy to endorse the programs and workshops offered by Sharyn Henry and Elysium Theatre and am confident that you will find her professional, flexible and creative in helping you achieve the outcomes you want.
Janine Quine
Clemente Program Coordinator
First Peoples and Equity Pathways Directorate
Australian Catholic University
T: +61 7 3623 7768
W: www.acu.edu.au
Almost Face To Face is a well-paced one hour dramatic monologue written & performed by Stephen House. Observed and written in Dublin, Steven is both creator and subject. Throughout the gritty narrative of the piece, he scrabbles to take down random notes. Subsequently he has distilled these same notes into the very authentic, earnest and polished performance they are now part of.
Sandgate Town Hall was an appropriately intimate space for Almost Face to Face to be performed. The audience arced attentively round the Raconteur and his solitary chair draped with a jacket. Moments of complete darkness, lighting effects and intermittent grabs of music the only enhancements to the sparse set. Every gesture, every expression and every change of his eloquent voice seamlessly added more definition to the places and the range of characters he evoked.
We were all in the claustrophobic room papered with memories, two storeys above the Liffey. Like him we were fascinated by the tragic self imprisonment of his needy companion Miss Big and the mechanics of her sad existence. We sensed the shift from tenderness to depression and frustration. The growing oppressive tension and mounting guilt he felt about abandoning her. And the distinct sense of liberation and space once he did.
But that liberation also made him vulnerable to the vices he had been keeping at bay down on the street. With pathos Steven vividly propelled us with him on his escape to the seedy bars and bleak gatherings of those on the fringe, and yet in plain sight. His temperate resolve rapidly weakened as he swirled recklessly amongst the allure and fleeting elation of prostitutes, drunks, dealers, drug addicts and anonymous sex partners. The desperate desire for temporary hedonism wrestled with kindness and empathy.
His final escape was like a closing of Pandora's Box. The corner turned with a sigh of relief. Away from the unresolved dense and intense world he had been inhabiting, with its tangled and tragic characters. The air cleared.
Almost Face to Face is an enriching experience. There is humour, and moving irony about human fragility, and at times explicit honesty. We are left to ponder the metaphors of the tale. Entrapment in it's many forms - physical locations, addictions, relationships and mental and emotional states. And the harder question, can any of us turn down the noise and face what we have become?
Marie Fitzgibbon
Margaret Lucas
Thank you to the Elysium Theatre team at the absolutely gorgeous Sandgate Town Hall for hosting Eleanor's Story: An American Girl in Hitler's Germany for two performances. I felt so well taken care of. And thank you Liam for your phenomenal tech skills, I think this was a perfect start to the tour!
Ingrid Garner
You guys are good eggs & it was nice to spend that time with that beautiful audience. Met a few of the ladies over at Cardigan Bar who were till raving about my dance skills. Might have to bring Swing Man here next. [my swing dancing show I'm touring next year].
Thanks again for looking after me.
Damien Callinan
I am honoured to be able to work with Sharyn from Elysium Theatre. Sharyn worked on my journey and created this really touching idea of bringing the story into real life picture. I watched the play and I had Goosebumps. It was very real experience and it took me back to that moment of my journey. It was a memorable night. The puppets are played in a way that really demonstrates the real life and the feeling it shows is ultimate experience. It was a combination of teamwork that made it possible how these the play was going to operate.
Imtiaz Ali
In 2017, I was privileged to participate in the joint Australian Catholic University and Elysium Theatre production, Who Are We? We Are from Narratives of Hope. This ensemble performance was delivered by primary school-aged children, as well as ACU staff and student volunteers working together to create a live performance that vividly recounted the stories of Australia’s first peoples, refugees and migrants.
Sharyn played an integral part in the production, from puppeteer trainer and mentor, to playwright, director and producer. Preparation for the performance commenced with learning how to create puppets out of brown paper. This was followed by movement and performance training, script writing and numerous, highly engaging rehearsals. Sharyn provided clear guidance and exceptional support throughout these activities. She cherished our contributions and encouraged us at every turn.
The production included a diverse group of incredible people. Sharyn was always sensitive, grateful and eager, helping to create a wonderfully creative, empowering and successful environment. At all times, Sharyn worked tirelessly and thoughtfully to coordinate the production. She consistently encouraged members of the Ensemble to think deeply, to work collaboratively, and to employ the puppets effectively. The production was a resounding success, thanks in no small part to Sharyn’s vision and efforts.
Having had no experience with puppeteering before, I found the ensemble to be challenging and enormously enjoyable. It is simultaneously challenging and empowering to channel perspective and expression through a brown paper puppet! Yet as was discovered during the Narratives of Hope production, the puppeteering medium is a highly effective way to give a voice to those would otherwise have no way to share their story. Whether this is due to language barriers or shyness, the puppets take the pressure off, whilst immersing the audience in positive and powerful narratives. This is a form of theatre that is accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. I would highly recommend brown paper puppetry! It’s fun, challenging, empowering and hugely rewarding.
Elyse Flavel, BA
Team Leader – AskACU Centre Brisbane
I was privy to Sharyn Henry’s workshop she conducted with a group of refugees and their mentors at ACU. The group consisted of diverse cultural backgrounds and ages. I observed the remarkable transformation, which took place through ten weeks of the course. Some individuals were very hesitant to convey their emotions in the beginning. Some were quite extreme introverts for whom it was an uphill battle to connect and collaborate with others in the group.
Seeing each other’s efforts, they progressively influenced one another. Gradually they found more and more courage to engage and they opened up. The culmination of the workshop was a presentation in front of an audience. The outcomewas full of exuberance in the group, coupled with pride in their accomplishment. To be on the stage for the first time is challenging, yet this group came out victorious with smiles on their faces. Their performance deeply touched everyone in the room.
Sharyn conducted the workshop professionally with a ‘hands on’ approach, helping where most needed and putting them at ease. I believe that all the participants took away with them something unforgettable and lasting.
Zoli Mauritz
Music By The Sea believes that ART is essential for the wellbeing of the community
Response by Associate Vice-Chancellor Queensland Professor Jim Nyland to Narratives of Hope and Elysium Theatre's recent production - WHO ARE WE? WE ARE.
University response to the ‘Anthropocene’ epoch
We are entering the 'Anthropocene ' (no longer a passive, stable and clement world) era...it is a fractious, chaotic and unpredictable world now. Migrancy and population movements are unsettling vast swathes the developed world, as well as many parts of the developing world and it is imperative that universities are not neutral ground in this unknown and dangerous world.
Responding to these momentous struggles is challenging for universities, let alone individuals committed to creating cultural capital and transmitting the best of what has been thought and said. One of the most notable ways in which staff at ACU Brisbane have sought to actively engage with some of these emergent big challenges has been through the successful ‘Narratives of Hope’ series. Special thanks goes to all those involved in this ground-breaking program – to Melanie Seal-Moradi, Keith Skelton, Dan Klar, Elyse Flavel, Nica Tsakmakis, Erin Dougherty, Jake Hardiman, Jane Scott, and Michael Sobek; and students Cian Cattelini and Imogen Johnson. Particular thanks goes to Janine Quine for her successful leadership of this amazing program (detailed below) despite it being put together on the smell of an oily rag.
Now in its third year, Narratives of Hope, continues to grow and evolve in its reach and impact as a story-telling platform for those voices who are often not heard. They are the voices of youth and adults from diverse cultural, social and religious backgrounds who constantly have to negotiate the social expectations and structures that are oblivious to their needs. It is an opportunity for them to challenge public perceptions and help us grow in understanding with the support of volunteer ACU staff and students who act as mentors. In actual fact, it is a reciprocal learning experience, because no one walks away untouched by the experience.
This year, we had two very well attended events around Narratives of Hope. The first was a Narratives of Hope Ensemble puppetry production held at Sandgate Town Hall. WHO ARE WE? WE ARE was a collaboration between Elysium Theatre’s Sharyn Henry and former ACU mentors (Elyse Flavel, Keith Skelton and Janine Quine), former NOH participants (Rosalba, Nur and Mohammad) and new student volunteers (Jack – business and Krishna – OT). Using large brown paper puppets, it drew on previous stories with specific reference to Imtiaz’s story. Imtiaz came to Australia by boat as a 15 year old from Pakistan and nearly drowned. It was followed by young Muslim speakers who have been, and continue to be involved with ACU. People from the public have been asking if we will show it again.
Jim Nyland
Great to hear from you and to see that Elysium Theatre is still flourishing!
Anne Weir
Just writing to let you know we really enjoyed A Prudent Man last evening at Sandgate Town Hall. Lyall Brooks was brilliant.
Lovely to meet you and look forward to seeing future productions. Kind regards,
Jill Sullivan
Hello all at Elysium Theatre Thank you so much for bringing your marvellous show to Toogoolawah last Friday. I absolutely loved it and thought you were so talented I was embarrassed at the lack of punters and will be telling all I meet just what an opportunity they missed. We were talking to your cast members (whose names were not in the programme which was a shame) about audience likes and dislikes in Somerset and Deb said that ticket price is a very big factor. People don't want to pay more than $25 and as I said, they also don't. Like going out at night and prefer matinees These points may not be possible for you but I'd love to see you all here again and thought I should mention them. Hope Boonah was a bigger audience and thanks again for a great show Regards
Gail Webster
Having just moved to Sandgate (and Queensland) a few months ago I can't tell you how absolutely sure I am that I have made the right decision. Music by the Sea and your company Elysium Theatre have sealed the deal for me. Thank you so much and I will attend every possible event that I can to ensure the marvellous entertainment offerings continue. Regards
J
Last weekend Elysium Theatre presented Sharyn Henry in a production of the one-woman play Shirley Valentine by William Russell at Sandgate Town Hall. The play was originally produced in London and subsequently re-worked as a film. We meet Shirley at home literally talking to the wall, wondering how a marriage full of love and laughter slid into suffocatingly boring routine. Her girlfriend, however, has invited her to get away for a fortnight in Greece — should she go?
Shirley’s monologue is by turns hugely funny, moving and thought-provoking, likening her life to the Middle East (“keep your head down and hope the ceasefire holds”) and wondering why saying “I love you” seems to give the right to take someone for granted.
Sharyn Henry excels in the role, hitting exactly the right note, neither over nor underplaying her lines. The audience is always absorbed with the character, never the performance: it is a truly outstanding piece of acting and all who were privileged to enjoy it came away with the feeling that it was an evening thoroughly well spent. There is some possibility of further performances at other venues. If it comes your way, don’t miss it.
Bernard Parish
On behalf of Australian Catholic University’s Narratives of Hope project team, I am writing to express my support for Sharyn Henry’s and my conviction that you will find her programs and workshops worthwhile. To give you some context, Narratives of Hope was a digital story telling program which aimed to empower culturally and socially diverse youth and adults to develop agency and self-advocacy skills by identifying and communicating challenges faced and their hopes for their future in Australia. Participants were chosen from Multicultural Development Australia, Kedron State High School, Mary McKillop College and ACU. It was a creative platform in which to change perceptions about ‘the other’ and to build new communities of understanding as a result.
The outcome of partnering with Elysium Theatre to work with participants in our third year far exceeded our initial expectations. As stories were elicited by Sharyn, ideas on how to present shared, and how to effectively use large brown paper puppets taught, it became evident that it was now a community owned endeavour. Students grew in confidence as they learned new skills. All overcame their shyness in performing and were even able to answer audience questions at the end of their outstanding performance at Sandgate Town Hall. Audience feedback revealed that the show left a powerful impression on them and the content made them reflect on their own attitudes. All participants felt they had a voice and that they were heard.
The success of both the performance and the 10-week journey to that point was a direct result of Sharyn’s ability to:
- listen carefully to what our aims were and then design a workshop that suited our requirements
- work sensitively with a range of age groups from diverse cultural, religious, and social backgrounds
- create a fun, non-threatening and supportive environment in which all participants felt able to discuss personal challenges, fears and hopes
- provide quality teaching sessions where participants were scaffolded in how to move their puppets effectively to give them life and emotion. This also extended to enabling participants to write their own experiences and ideas into the script.
- be collaborative so that participants had significant input into the direction of the performance.
In conclusion, I am very happy to endorse the programs and workshops offered by Sharyn Henry and Elysium Theatre and am confident that you will find her professional, flexible and creative in helping you achieve the outcomes you want.
Janine Quine
Clemente Program Coordinator
First Peoples and Equity Pathways Directorate
Australian Catholic University
T: +61 7 3623 7768
W: www.acu.edu.au
Almost Face To Face is a well-paced one hour dramatic monologue written & performed by Stephen House. Observed and written in Dublin, Steven is both creator and subject. Throughout the gritty narrative of the piece, he scrabbles to take down random notes. Subsequently he has distilled these same notes into the very authentic, earnest and polished performance they are now part of.
Sandgate Town Hall was an appropriately intimate space for Almost Face to Face to be performed. The audience arced attentively round the Raconteur and his solitary chair draped with a jacket. Moments of complete darkness, lighting effects and intermittent grabs of music the only enhancements to the sparse set. Every gesture, every expression and every change of his eloquent voice seamlessly added more definition to the places and the range of characters he evoked.
We were all in the claustrophobic room papered with memories, two storeys above the Liffey. Like him we were fascinated by the tragic self imprisonment of his needy companion Miss Big and the mechanics of her sad existence. We sensed the shift from tenderness to depression and frustration. The growing oppressive tension and mounting guilt he felt about abandoning her. And the distinct sense of liberation and space once he did.
But that liberation also made him vulnerable to the vices he had been keeping at bay down on the street. With pathos Steven vividly propelled us with him on his escape to the seedy bars and bleak gatherings of those on the fringe, and yet in plain sight. His temperate resolve rapidly weakened as he swirled recklessly amongst the allure and fleeting elation of prostitutes, drunks, dealers, drug addicts and anonymous sex partners. The desperate desire for temporary hedonism wrestled with kindness and empathy.
His final escape was like a closing of Pandora's Box. The corner turned with a sigh of relief. Away from the unresolved dense and intense world he had been inhabiting, with its tangled and tragic characters. The air cleared.
Almost Face to Face is an enriching experience. There is humour, and moving irony about human fragility, and at times explicit honesty. We are left to ponder the metaphors of the tale. Entrapment in it's many forms - physical locations, addictions, relationships and mental and emotional states. And the harder question, can any of us turn down the noise and face what we have become?
Marie Fitzgibbon
|
Music By The Sea (MBTS) is a proud supporter of Elysium Arts and with a shared passion for the Arts.
In 2023, MBTS will be celebrating 25 years of presenting monthly concerts in classical, folk, jazz and world music, at the Sandgate Town Hall. www.musicbythesea.com.au |