Milk Crate News

Issue 4 - Nov 2007

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD OF MILK CRATE THEATRE?

OUR FINAL LIVE PERFORMANCE for 2007!

Breaking the Circle

A story of struggle and strength – it’s hard to break from the group when it’s all you’ve ever known

Thursday 29^th November at 7pm

Edward Eagar Lodge

348 Bourke Street, Surry Hills

FREE for all – EVERYONE is welcome – DELICIOUS FEAST after the show

OUR NEXT OPEN WORKSHOPS will start in February 2008 at Edward Eagar Lodge

The Michael Project is GO…

Milk Crate Theatre is proud to announce its involvement in The Michael Project, a three-year project managed by Mission Australia, implementing an innovative, early-intervention approach to combating homelessness in men.

Milk Crate Theatre will be delivering a series of specially devised drama workshops and performances for the project’s participants, designed to cultivate creative expression, teamwork and communication skills.

The project is set to begin in 2008, so keep your ear to the ground for updates and more information as it unfolds.  

Get Ready for Intersection

Milk Crate recently was awarded funding from the Australia Council for the Arts – the Federal arts funding body, to begin creating Intersection in 2008– our first public outdoor show. Intersection will look at the stories of Sydney’s streets that aren’t often heard, and will involve a team of professional artists and actors working with community participants to develop live, interactive performance exchanges on the streets of Sydney. We can’t wait!

Rocking on in 2008!

We are very excited about all our programs for next year – Its going to be our biggest year yet. With our regular programs such as open workshops and shows at Edward Eagar Lodge, our Home-Delivered Programs at outreach centres, and our new additions of Stacked @ the Wayside, The Michael Project, and Intersection make sure you stay tuned for more great work in 2008.

Milk Crate Home-Delivered to the Matthew Talbot

This month we have hit the streets again, making our way down to the Matthew Talbot in Woolloomooloo. For 4 weeks in November the men at the Matthew Talbot will be improvising, creating, having fun and telling their stories through the Home-Delivered drama workshops.

2007 was the first year for the Home-Delivered program, and with the support of the Australia Council and the City of Sydney we managed to deliver to 5 service centres including Mission Australia Centre in Surry Hills, The Mercy Arms in Waterloo, The Wayside Chapel in Kings Cross, Rough Edges in Darlinghurst and Matthew Talbot in Woolloomooloo.

Home-Delivered will be on the road again in 2008, with at least 3 new centres added to the growing Milk Crate Theatre network. So keep your eyes peeled for workshops near you.

THOSE AROUND ME – Thursday 19^th October

As part of the Kaleidoscope Festival: Sydney’s Homeless Persons’ Festival

We changed the rules. Yes, for the first time in Milk Crate's seven year history, we turned the tables and created a show where the players got more stage time than the professional actors! Part community conference, part live debate and part performance, Those Around Me was an opportunity for everyone to get together and have a chat about what matters most to them in building a strong community, whilst participating in some exciting theatre to boot.

Forget APEC, this was where the real issues were discussed.

Featuring performances from some of our many Milk Crate Theatre drama programs this year including Edward Eagar Lodge, The Wayside Chapel, Mission Australia Centre and Rough Edges, and with some comic moments from the Milk Crate Actors Michael and Maurie, it was a huge success.

Here are some of the results of the audience votes:

How do we build trust in our community?

·         Try to listen objectively to what people are saying

·         Get rid of Johnny Howard

·         More truth and honesty from everyone

What services are most important?

·         Financial Management workshops

·         Celebrating people’s birthdays – a lot of people don’t have others around to help them celebrate

·         Teaching children about love and respect

How do we work together when we have different values?

·         More funding for Community Arts Programs – so we can foster group work

·         More hugs

·         More tolerance and respect for each other

What is one thing we can each do to take more responsibility in building our community?

·         Have a conversation with a stranger – surprise yourself

·         Volunteer

·         look at helping/counselling Aboriginal people in custody

Tom, John & Michael Hit the Shakespeare

Milk Crate regular participants Tom, John and Michael T expanded their repertoire recently by working with Bell Shakespeare as part of the Mission Australia Catalyst program. Tom and John performed monologues, and Michael did an unbelievable job as Technical operator/Wonderman. Well done guys - we are looking forward to utilising these skills more in the future!

Milk Crate Theatre is proudly supported by Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Wesley Mission’s Edward Eagar Lodge, the Australia Council for the Arts – Community Partnerships, the City of Sydney and Clubs NSW

If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation towards to work of Milk Crate please contact Katy at Darlinghurst Theatre Company on (02) 9331 3107