Backbone Youth Arts and Digi Youth Arts co-create a stage adaptation of Trent Jamieson’s, The Giant and The Sea.
LETTERS OF SUPPORT
COLLABORATORS
PAST BACKBONE WORKS/COLLABORATIONS
Absolute Objectivity
In a world of memes, music, magic, and rigged elections, two unlikely heroes fight for freedom.
Absolute Objectivity is a new Musical Comedy presented by Backbone.
With an eclectic array of music written by iconic Brisbane singer/songwriter Jeremy Neale (Velociraptor) and book co-written by Sampson Smith (Backbone's ever famous in house genius from Architects of Sound, Sui Ensemble and Candy Social Club), Absolute Objectivity is set to be the biggest thing since Y2K.
Absolute Objectivity takes audiences on a journey to the world elections in the year 2054, where since the mysterious disappearance of left-wing messiah Turny Banders the CEO of the world’s largest, and only, corporation ‘Dooglecorp’ has run unopposed as World President for two decades.
But this year, it could all change. Meet our unlikely hero CC, and their cat Pickles and join them on an adventure deep into the internet where they uncover censored truths, evil lies, and find out if anyone really sees with absolute objectivity.
“What I loved most about this show was the playfulness between the audience and the actors. In my experience, musicals have been seized by the upper class and made into private showings of immaculately rehearsed, polished works of high culture where audiences sit neatly in a darkened room and all the action happens on stage. By contrast, Absolute Objectivity is messy, ludicrous, and full of life. [...] I believe it has the potential to rise to cult status and loved as deeply and strangely as The Rocky Horror Picture Show. Absolute Objectivity is nothing like I have ever seen before. It is the most fun I have ever had at a musical.”
— Lauren Hale - Nothing Ever Happens In Brisbane
PILOT ARTIST RESIDENCY
PROGRAM DATES: May - December 2022
LOCATION: Backbone at Seven Hills Hub
NUMBER OF APPLICATIONS RECEIVED: 36
NUMBER OF EVENTS:
1 new dance work - 2 public performances.
1 new theatre work - 3 public performances.
1 new visual art installation - 1 public performance + installation open for 3 weeks.
8 masterclasses delivered.
NUMBER OF PAID ARTISTS: 14
NUMBER OF AUDIENCES: 635
Pilot Artist Residency supported three young artists with part-time employment to engage in the first creative development of a new work or idea.
These 3 artists were weaved into the fabric of operations at Backbone, gained access to industry leading mentor Chelsea McGuffin, participated in a series of 8 masterclasses to leverage producing skills for independent practice, and given free access to space at Seven Hills Hub to make their idea come to life.
To culminate their learning experiences, Pilot Artists in Residence presented the first showing of their new idea at Backbone Festival 2022.
MASTERCLASSES:
Networking Through Creative Play with Anna Yen (Independent artist)
Backing Yourself to Take a Risk - Producing 101 with Scott Maidment (Founder, Strut and Fret)
Creative Accounting Crash Course with The Creative Crunchers
Marketing for Independent Artists with Sampson Smith (Marketing Specialist, Brisbane Festival)
Allyship in Disability Arts 101 with Bree Hadley and Madeline Little (Undercover Artist)
How not-for-profits Operate and Survive with Sue Rider (Lead judge, Matilda Awards; Previous: Chair, Backbone & Artistic Director, La Boite)
Circus skills with Chelsea McGuffin (Founder, Chelsea McGuffin & Co.)
Technical & Design consultations with Steven May (Founder, Steven May Productions)
Image of Pierrot Directed by Martelle Simon-Green, photograph by Jade Ellis Photography
MEET THE ARTISTS
DAKOTA HANNINGTON
Dakota, also known by his stage name Baby Blue, is a proud Mununjali & Irish choreographer and dancer. Having performed with some of Meanjin’s most influential collectives such as The House of Alexander and District Studios, Dakota is now making a name for himself as a solo performer, and sharing those skills with his community. Dakota’s dance style is unique, informed by his experiences in hip hop, vogue and whacking.
As a part of his Pilot Artist Residency, Dakota developed an immersive dance experience, ‘Sad Boys Luv Art’, a work that explored divine masculine and feminine expressions in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Dakota has continued his relationship with Backbone, joining the team in 2023 to lead hip hop workshops as part of Backbone’s Studio Sessions at Seven Hills Hub.
SAD BOYS LUV ART
Explore the enchanted deities that roam your binary in this immersive walk-through experience.
Transit through a world of male femininity and its enchanted creatures.
Be submerged in a creation that defies the commercial standard of masculinity and what it holds.
Be consumed by the magic and power that follows you on your journey, what creatures will you find?
“The concept of bringing together different forms of performance to celebrate male femininity was ingenious. By taking us into a fantasy world, Baby Blue showed us a dreamlike ideal world in which the masculine and feminine play together harmoniously. ”
MARTELLE SIMON-GREEN
Martelle Simon-Green is an award-winning director, writer and performer based in Meanjin (Brisbane). She received her BFA (Drama & Literature) from QUT. In 2018, Martelle developed La Silhouette (dir. SUI), an immersive theatre work that ran for two domestic seasons (Backbone Festival 2018, Brisbane Powerhouse Melt Festival 2019), before touring to the UK for a season at Battersea Arts Centre (UK, Homegrown Festival 2019). La Silhouette was awarded Best Independent Production (2019) at the Matilda Awards, and was nominated for the Lord Mayor’s award for Best New Australian Work (2019). In 2021, Martelle performed in the debut season of Tangerine Hour (dir. NDRNCE) for Metro Arts. She was a director and dramaturg for the 2022 season of Caribbean-Australian play, Dominoes and Rum (dir. Prince Brown). By night, Martelle is also a drag and cabaret performer under the pseudonym Duckie Darling. She has produced LGBTQ+ events for Backbone, Metro Arts and Brisbane Powerhouse and performs at queer events locally.
In 2022, Martelle was a Pilot Artist-in-Residence at Backbone, where she debuted her play Pierrot as writer and director, for Backbone Festival.
Martelle began as a teaching artist with Backbone Youth Arts Young Creators Program in 2021. Through her Pilot Residency she also developed and ran multiple education programs with Backbone. In 2023, Martelle has continued her relationship with Backbone in a part-time role as Lead Facilitator and Associate Producer.
PIERROT
Dive into the moonlight, lament in your longing, and laugh through loneliness at Pierrot; an ode to the infamous eternal clown.
Transcending hundreds of years of tradition, Pierrot reimagines this historical popular culture staple through three contemporary interpretations. Alongside his silk collar, pantomimic humour, and painting his face with moonlight, it is Pierrot’s unworldly naivete that has stood the test of time. Through Pierrot, he is brought back to life and given a voice thrice over, with original texts performed by three local performing artists, each of whom change him evermore.
A man in love with the moon, interpreted by three performers, Pierrot is a lovelorn lamentation on naivete, moonlight and the clown who never dies.
“This show created big explosions for me: it is literally pure magic!”
MICAH RUSTICHELLI
Micah Rustichelli is a Meanjin-based, multidisciplinary artist working primarily in painting and performance art. Since 2016 Rustichelli has been developing an expanded practice which investigates the role of the self and the body in relation to art making.
More recently, the artist has been exploring these performance ideas in the context of circus and contemporary dance alongside their interest in applying performance in fine arts, expanded sculpture and drawing.
In 2022, Micah joined Backbone as a Pilot Artist in Residence, developing a new body of work ‘Howling Jackals’ exploring the duality of deliverance and destruction in eschatology.
During his Pilot Residency, Micah had the opportunity to work with HOTA on the Gold Coast & Woodford Folk Festival. Both of these opportunities, and the networking they allowed, have resulted in ongoing relationships and potential for future projects, including interstate employment. After participating in the Pilot Artist Residency, Micah, also secured an internship at Museum of Brisbane. He has continued his relationship with Backbone, recently being employed to perform at Teneriffe Festival 2023.
HOWLING JACKALS
What is real is a subjective truth for some, with apocalyptic consequences for others.
In the shadow of an ever-looming apocalypse there are those who fear it and those who look forward to its coming. Set in a post-revelations reality the cathedral is built on the fractured truths that have been left behind.
Howling Jackals weaves a distorted mythology in which tragedy and ecstasy occupy the same place in space and time, between truth and belief.
“Howling Jackals is the type of exhibition I love, creative, wholly unique, and deeply provocative. I spent a great deal of time studying each piece as they underwent a metamorphosis before my eyes.”
GOING GLOBAL
PROGRAM DATES: April - September 2023
LOCATIONS:
Melbourne, Victoria (Gasworks)
Wollongong, NSW (Merrigong Theatre)
Mackay,QLD (Mackay Festival)
Norwich, UK (Norfolk & Norwich Festival)
NUMBER OF EVENTS: 28
NUMBER OF PAID ARTISTS: TBD (10+)
NUMBER OF AUDIENCES: TBD (5,430+)
Going Global is a partnership between Backbone Youth Arts, Chelsea McGuffin & Co. (CMC) and Nicholas Clark Management (NCM). This is a long-term development partnership with a vision to manage the touring arm of CMC which has been established by CMC over the past 11 years. The aim is to develop a professional pathway for independent QLD artists to present, tour work nationally and internationally and undertake professional development pathways. In 2023 Backbone will work with CMC to deliver touring programs in an Auspice and tour management role. Working to build a strong partnership with Nicholas Clarke Management (touring agent) and create the foundation for future touring pathways development.
Le Coup
It's Fight Night at the Circus! Le Coup brings you the finest contenders from all around the country to fight for your attention, adoration, and applause. From sword swallowing to daring aerial feats, tap dancing to acrobatics, this ragtag troupe of travelling misfits will duke it out with common sense and even the laws of physics for your entertainment. A raucous vaudevillian adventure, Le Coup is a tribute to funfairs, travelling boxing troupes and the showmen and women of yesteryear. Featuring a ferocious live soundtrack by the bluegrass band Father Grant and The Blunt Objects, it’s a guaranteed knockout. Let the Boss show you the ropes as The King of the Ring, Sally the Ally Cat, The Bookie, Bloody Mary, and Fred put on a real show. It’s time to grab a drink, place your bets and pull up a seat ringside for a fight like no other!
YOUNG PRODUCERS PROGRAM
PROGRAM DATES: May - November 2021
LOCATION: East Brisbane Bowls Club & KEPK Gallery
NUMBER OF EVENTS: 3 public outcomes, 11 number of masterclasses
NUMBER OF PAID ARTISTS: 22
NUMBER OF AUDIENCES: 405
Backbone's Young Producers Program is the training ground for a new generation of creative producers and cultural leaders. Informed by 3 decades of training knowledge, Backbone provided 3 young producers with paid, part-time employment for the the duration of their training program, providing these young culturally diverse creators the chance to weave into the fabric of the organisation, learn what a producer does, and present an event of their own design as a part of Backbone Festival 2021.
Backbone’s Young Producer Program successfully provided 3 paid positions for young artists of diverse cultural backgrounds, career & capacity development, networking, and the opportunity to develop & execute a socially engaged project that reflect the cultural expression of contemporary youth.
Image of Vein Cage curated by Summer Hiskens-Ravest at KEPK Gallery, 2021
TYSON GODDARD - PRODUCER
A dancer, choreographer, producer and change maker; Tyson Goddard first connected with Backbone as a participant of the Young Producers Program in 2021. He used this opportunity to create the first iteration Rhythmology, presented at Backbone Festival.
From there, Tyson catapulted his idea into a re-development and presentation of Rhythmology at Metro Arts in 2022, supported by Mad Dance and Backbone.
Tyson has continued his relationship with Backbone, joining the team to produce the first Revel Dance in 2022. Tyson worked closely with Backbone to develop a series of 11 workshops, coordinating the choreographers and participants, and using his skills to create a positive self-determined space where young artists of diverse cultural backgrounds could safely express themselves and learn from industry leaders.
Tyson says this of his experience with Backbone:
“The opportunity to helm the creative development of my own production was a crucial learning experience for me as a young queer and POC producer. Like many young LGBTQIA+ artists, I found it difficult to find the proper channels for me to grow my production skills or industry knowledge. Many of the learning avenues available to POC and Queer artists are not conducive or accommodating of marginalised individuals learning needs on a culturally sensitive level. I found that the Young Producers Program supported by Backbone Youth Arts and Arts Queensland, provided a safe, understanding and flexible space that understood the crucial sensitivities needed for promoting a healthy learning environment for artists from diverse cultures and artistic practices.”
Since completing the Young Producer Program, Tyson has gone on to remount Rhythmology at Metro Arts, produced Revel Dance 2022 for Backbone and has created mentorship opportunities for the Rhythmology artists to work with leading Brisbane performers Polytoxic.
SUMMER HISKENS-RAVEST
Summer Hiskens-Ravest is a South American/Australian Artist, Musician, Curator and Producer, based in Meanjin working on Jagera Land.
Summer works across a diverse range of tactile and electronic mediums such as Printmaking, Painting, Textiles, Photography, Videography, and Experimental Music Performance; under the pseudonym Sylva Vy. Their practice is conceptually driven by themes of dadaism, anarchistic culture, and underground DIY practice.
In 2020 Summer graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Art, Specialising in Printmaking, at the Queensland College of Art, Griffith University. Solo Exhibitions include, Luz Mala Bad Light, at ForA Gallery, Meanjin 2021. Nihilismus, at Impress Printmakers Studio And Gallery, Meanjin 2021. Auditory Dream Distortion, Backbone Youth Arts, 2018.
In 2021 Summer participated in the Backbone Youth Arts, Young Producers Program, producing the event, Vein Cage: A Praxis of Existence and Identity, as part of the Backbone Festival 2021.
Reflecting on her journey so far, Summer declared:
“As a recent Graduate of The Queensland College of Art, Griffith University, I found this program extremely helpful for the further development of my career. The Young Producers Program touches on topics and ways of working that are not generally explored within institutional learning environments.”
Since completing the Young Producer Program, Summer has acquired a tattooist licence and is currently working as a tattoo artist.
KATIE RASCH
Katie Rasch is a Brisbane based videographer, photographer, producer and artist. She is passionate about creating tactile, narrative driven work of a huge variety and loves working collaboratively across multiple mediums.
Currently Katie is completing a garden installation work at House Conspiracy, using natural materials including plants to explore themes of cultural belonging and sacred spaces.
She has also co-written and staged managed a theatre production called People of Colours that has finished a sold out first run at the Brisbane Powerhouse for the Melt Festival in May of 2021.
Katie has a large amount of video and photography work in her portfolio. This includes event videography and photography where she has worked for multiple clients including Westpac, QPAC, University of Queensland and Brisbane City Council.
Katie Rasch is a Meanjin based Producer and artist who has worked across multiple mediums and is passionate about creating tactile, narrative driven work. She is a lover of all things sci-fi and during her time in the Young Producer Program, she curated an exhibition exploring Pacific Futurism - Astro Ark.
Reflecting on her time in the Young Producer Program, Katie said:
”[This program] has really broadened my horizons when it comes to my career trajectory. I have a much greater knowledge of the Brisbane arts scene in general and I have more understanding of how I can make my own and other people's ideas come to life in ways that are both financially sustainable and contribute to our communities.”
Since completing the Young Producer Program, Katie has gained employment as the Producer — Exhibitions and Events at the Institute of Modern Art (IMA).
REVEL DANCE
PROGRAM DATES: 22nd October - 17 December 2022
LOCATION: Seven Hills Hub & Brisbane Powerhouse
NUMBER OF EVENTS: 1 public performance outcome at Brisbane Powerhouse, 11 professional development workshops at Seven Hills Hub
NUMBER OF PAID ARTISTS: 10
NUMBER OF AUDIENCES: 120
In 2022, Backbone Youth Arts & local dance crew Rhythmology joined forces to present REVEL DANCE.
Together, we searched for the most exciting young LGBTQIA+ performers from diverse cultural backgrounds to develop a dance performance for Backbone’s event at Brisbane Powerhouse’s Melt Festival, Revel in the Queer.
Revel Dance Crew engaged 10 young artists (1 producer, 2 choreographers, 7 dancers) for a fully paid professional development program of workshops, as well as the presentation at the iconic Brisbane Powerhouse venue.
Revel Dance provided a platform for these young artists to create their own self-determined space, led by young Blak, Indigenous & People of diverse cultural backgrounds.
TYSON GODDARD - PRODUCER
A dancer, choreographer, producer and change maker; Tyson Goddard is the creator of dance crew Rhythmology.
Tyson first connected with Backbone as a participant of our Young Producers Program in 2021. He used this opportunity to create the first iteration Rhythmology, presented at Backbone Festival.
From there, Tyson catapulted his idea into a re-development and presentation of Rhythmology at Metro Arts in 2022, supported by Mad Dance and Backbone.
Tyson has continued his relationship with Backbone, joining the team to produce the first Revel Dance in 2022. Tyson worked closely with Backbone to develop a series of 11 workshops, coordinating the choreographers and participants, and using his skills to create a positive self-determined space where young artists of diverse cultural backgrounds could safely express themselves and learn from industry leaders.
BrandI DOLL - CHOREOGRAPHER
This proud Teppathiggi and Aragun (Badu Island) performer is a veritable triple threat: dancer, drag superstar and burlesque beauty - no wonder people are jumping at any chance to see Brandi grace the stage across the country.
She has honed her craft for years before making a big splash onto stages across Meanjin last year as the winner of Glax-She Centennial Pageant, joining innovative Brisbane collective, Polytoxic for their explosive show 'Demolition', 'Rhythmology' by producer Tyson Goddard, showcasing at the Commonwealth games 2018, Mardi Gras 2019, and many more across the nation.
Brandi first connected with Backbone as a cast member of Rhythmology, where she identified her desire to develop her skills in mentoring young artists.
Specialising in contemporary, jazz, hip hop, circus and burlesque, Brandi was engaged as a choreographer with Revel Dance Crew to not only provide a holistic workshop experience for participants, but to provide a platform and pathway for her to share her skills far and wide.
Brandi is now continuing to implement these skills, teaching workshops at places like Bombshell Burlesque Academy, and Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts.
CRIMSON COCO - CHOREOGRAPHER
Crimson is the ultimate femme drag performer bringing an electric, eccentric energy that combines her vast knowledge of hip hop dance styles.
Crimson is a proud Pinay, who embraces her roots from Filipino culture, and showcases the diverse range of south east asian talent. Starring in a range of productions such as: Boy & Girl, Rhythmology, Galaxshe and as a feature artist for Polytoxic, and co-founding Pink Milk dance workshops, Crimson is full of knowledge waiting to burst.
Crimson first connected with Backbone as a cast member of Rhythmology. Crimson identified she needed support in continuing her teaching practice.
Crimson was engaged as a choreographer with Revel Dance Crew, leveraging her developing skills into the successful presentation of Revel Dance Crew on the Brisbane Powerhouse stage.