2017 Highlights
December 20, 2017
As 2018 approaches we wanted to thank you for your support and for being part of our community. Here’s a recap on what has been a huge and exciting year for us. This year we presented four World Premieres and created some fantastic partnerships.
We kicked off the year with Hakawati hosted by El Phoenician restaurant, our first partnership with Sydney Festival. In April, we celebrated the Western Sydney Wanderers with local talent Eric Berry’s photographic exhibition, which accompanied David William’s Smurf In Wanderland produced with Griffin Theatre Company. In June award-winning Parramatta author Felicity Castagna adapted her novel The Incredible Here and Now for the stage in a moving and poignant snippet from our local streets and to complete the year Neil Gooding directed a magical production of Shaun Tan’s much-loved picture book The Red Tree.
In October we hosted the inaugural Martin Lysicrates Prize and welcomed back NIDA for playreadings of new works by their graduates. After months of mentoring our inaugural Page to Stage playwriting program presented with Playwriting Australia culminated with four readings. We also look forward to hosting another year of Playwrights of Parramatta (POP) .
Along the year we were thrilled to host creative developments for the New Asian Collective, Michael Mohammed (with support from Griffin Theatre Company), Tommy Murphy (with Ensemble Theatre) and more – so watch this space.
Our very first International collaboration Kirana Childrens’ Opera took place with Maltese company Soundscapes. Once again we worked with UTS to bring our Backstage Pass program opportunities to young students in Western Sydney. Once again we hosted our Creative Futures mentorship program with Nick Atkins, Concey Bosco and Amanda Sullo.
Of course this year we say a big thank you and farewell to our Directorate Annette Shun Wah, Shakthi Shakthidharan, Wayne Harrison and Paula Abood for their enormous contribution in helping us establish National Theatre of Parramatta in our first two years.
As an evolving organisation we look forward to an exciting future. Stay tuned for the next chapter.
We’re looking forward to a fantastic year ahead, and from all of us at National Theatre of Parramatta we wish you a joyful festive season.
Best wishes
Joanne Kee
Executive Producer
Photo: Eric Berry