What is Generator?
Generator is NORPA’s regional theatre making initiative.
‘We have a range of projects in development and each has a unique style and a unique story to tell. Our projects use dance, circus artists, live music, surprising locations, interaction with audiences and all manner of human and technological skill to tell the story. Our projects are ambitious and take us, and our audiences, to new places.
Generator projects connect us to our community – they are made to be relevant and to capture the imagination and spirit of this region. The project challenges the perceptions of what performing arts is – creating new works that are playful, site specific and physical. Our creative fuel is the region that we live in and the audiences that love our theatrical adventures.’
Julian Louis
Artistic Director & CEO
Please look at the menu links for current and past Generator projects
Professional Development & Associate Artists Program
Through Generator NORPA mentors artists and arts workers. Two artists per year become ‘associate artists’ and we track and support their involvement with the company and their ideas. These artists are also employed professionally on projects throughout the year.
Residencies
The Generator residency series creates a vital opportunity for NORPA and its partners to:
* collaborate with and connect to national artists, companies and producers,
* support the development of new work to premiere as part of NORPA’s season, and
* foster the development of local artists and connect them with leaders in their fields.
In 2013 NORPA is hosting residences for Force Majeure, Danger Ensemble, Gavin Webber from Animal Farm Collective and local artist Darren Green.
Partners
Our projects often collaborate with other groups or organisations such as SCU and the Home Project or Railway Wonderland and the formation of a new community choir. As part of Generator NORPA also hosts Experiments in the Dark, an initiative that encourages performance of short cross art form works by local artists.
Generator connects emerging local artists with leading theatre makers in the country. Each project looks to combine local talent with invited artists. E.g Open House was directed by one of the world’s best clowns from the UK Fraser Hooper and the show starred two of the region’s best acrobats.
Generator projects are designed to interact with the region – whether through its performance location and/or the process of making the show. Each project can take up to 3 years to make and involves creative development phases – each having outcomes along the way. This may be in the form of showings, video or gallery exhibitions.
Generator has been the focus and collaboration between Artistic Director Julian Louis, key NORPA staff members and Creative Producer, Marisa Snow whose position was developed through the Australia Council and OYEA (Opportunities for Young and Emerging artists), an initiative specifically for creative producers.
