Page 62 - Tropic Magazine Issue 223

TROPIC • ARTS

JUTE dives into

digital

INNOVATION ON SHOW
Our city’s much loved theatre
company is pivoting to digital as
it prepares for a fighting come
back.

After calling an immediate stop to
productions and workshops at
Bulmba-ja Arts Centre in response to conferencing, and basically, using the
COVID-19, JUTE Theatre Company’s benefits of technology to keep all balls in
Artistic Director and CEO, Suellen the air.”
Maunder said the team was using their From Ms Maunder’s perspective, one of
time wisely, working very hard behind the the hardest days in the history of JUTE was
scenes to digitally develop new scripts and March 17 when she had to call stop on the
revising dates for programs in order to be production, To Kill A Cassowary, after only
set and ready for an instant re-boot once three performances in its season, and to
the risk period had passed. make it even harder we couldn’t even hug
Ms Maunder said that the safety of JUTE’s our actors to comfort them. The tears in
team and artists and our community the eyes of veteran actor Steven Tandy said
was a priority and included in that, is a it all.
commitment to keep everyone employed “Everyone was just so invested in this play
and productive. and the audiences were loving it, lapping
“While this experience is unprecedented, up its message and having a good laugh at
it has been a period in which JUTE’s the same time thanks to the funny nuances
longevity and resilience has played an and comedic underpinnings of playwright,
important role and is inspiring innovative Laure Trott’s script,” she said.
ways of doing things using our digital “That said, we are very much looking THINKING OF WAYS YOU CAN
platforms,” Ms Maunder said. on the bright side and with no public SUPPORT JUTE AT THIS TIME?
“We have been working through how programming in Bulmba-ja Arts Centre
we might be able to undertake some of for the foreseeable future, the set and the Ticket holders may like to donate
our development programs digitally, staging will remain in place – ready for a their refund back to support
including a creative development day of a quick remount of the play once it is safe to JUTE who has committed to
new script where actors from WA, SA and do so. remunerating its artists for the
Cairns will read the script together via a “Let’s just say, we are planning to bring entire season. This would be
digital meeting program. While we are it back for a second season – To Kill A a wonderful show of support
used to digitally connecting for meetings, Cassowary 1.2.” to JUTE, the artists and Cairns’
this will be new for us. We’ll let you know For audience members that didn’t have the creative community and is a tax
how it goes! opportunity to see the play, all tickets have deductible donation through the
“Business to business interactions are been refunded but can be re-purchased Give Now website.
very important to JUTE and in this time when the show remounts.
we have navigated our way around the To donate: visit www.givenow.
need to meet in person through video MORE: jute.com.au com.au/JUTEtheatrecompany

62 • Tropic • Issue 23