Round Earth Theatre Company
Address | Strahan Australia |
---|---|
Location | Tasmania |
Opened | Perth 1972; Strahan 1994 |
Website | |
http://www.roundearth.com.au |
The Round Earth Company, founded by the late
History
The Round Earth Company was established in
In 1975, the family company travelled to North and Central America, Britain, Europe, Egypt, and India for four years. They linked up with various communities and performance companies along the way, participating, for example, in rain and harvest dance rituals in Hopi villages in Arizona, with Canadian companies creating stories in remote communities, and with travelling troupes in India that performed legendary epics.
In 1980, the family returned to Australia and based itself in
Zootango
From 1987 to 1993 The Round Earth Company established a professional company in Tasmania after the demise of The Island Theatre Company, to provide the state with an ensemble company. However, Zootango, as the new company was known, lost the public funding on which it was dependent. "In 1997 a change of Federal policy towards regional theatre resulted in the withdrawal of Arts Tasmania and the Australia Council's combined yearly funding for the Company of $220,000. The company reduced the number of its productions but was forced to cease operations in late 1997."[6]
The Ship That Never Was
In 1992, Round Earth went solo again, attempting a return to the road with A Bright and Crimson Flower, a large-scale epic about Australian Prisoners of War under the Japanese. Between 1992 and 1995 A Bright and Crimson Flower performed in Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and New South Wales.[7]
In 1994, in response to a request by Alan Coates, a Tasmanian Parks Ranger, The Round Earth Company, facing bankruptcy, took a two-person play to Strahan on the
Tour guide and information service
In 1998, the Company undertook to operate the Strahan Visitor Centre, curating an exhibition created by Robert Morris-Nunn and Richard Flanagan, and providing printed information to tourists. As an added income stream, the company provides up to four daily guided tours on Sarah Island, incorporating dramatic performances.
Published information booklets included The Sarah Island Conspiracies by Richard Davey[8] and The Travails of Jimmy Porter (2003),[9] the memoir written on Norfolk Island in 1842 by James Porter, one of the leaders of the escape on the Frederick.
See also
References
- ^ a b Eaves, Rick. "The Ship That Never Was: Play about convict escape celebrates 25 years in Strahan", ABC News, 12 January 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2019
- ^ Sarah Island at official website. Retrieved 30 December 2019
- ^ Richard Davey interviewed by Rob Willis in the Rob Willis folklore collection [sound recording]. Recorded with Olya Willis on 30 January 2009 at Strahan, Tas. Digital master at National Library of Australia, Oral History and Folklore collection ; nla.oh-5747-0115.
- ^ Davey Richard, 1938-2013. Ashes; Davey Richard, 1938-2013. Eye witness; Davey Richard, 1938-2013. Black man's house; Davey, Richard, 1938-2013, (stage director,); Webb, David, (musical director,); Winspear, Les, (stage director,); Davey, Kathi, (costume designer.); Winspear, Julie, (costume designer.) (1984), Broken dreams : [theatre program], Round Earth Company, retrieved 30 December 2023
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: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Short Biography, Author: Richard Davey, at australianplays.org Retrieved 30 December 2019
- ^ "Agency Details: Zootango Theatre Company". Tasmanian Archives Online.
- ^ A bright and crimson flower a Round Earth Company Production [written and directed by Richard Davey] Fern Tree, Tas. : The Round Earth Company, [1995] 1 videocassette (VHS) (165 min.) : sd., col. ; 1/2 in. held at State Reference Library Hobart
- ISBN 978-0-9750051-0-1
- ISBN 978-0-9750051-1-8