Bach to Bush
The Bach to the Bush tour is designed to take the joyous music of JS Bach’s ‘Coffee Cantata’ to areas of regional NSW devastated by fires and drought. Covid-19 restrictions put a spoke in our wheel until finally our first staging took place at the small town of Bobin, near Wingham and the Manning Regional Gallery, Taree. We hope this will be the first of many.
The Coffee Cantata production is entertaining and can be enjoyed as live theatre regardless of musical tastes. It is designed for a cabaret setting, so the audience can ‘eat, drink and be merry’. We have staged it equally successfully in a tiny community hall (Bobin), and in a larger Regional Art Gallery (Taree). At Bobin the community came together beforehand for a meal. We were thrilled to be the catalyst for these fun, uplifting, celebrations.
Members of our team come from regional areas and know how rural communities pull together in moments of crisis. We approached the ABC Rural team, who were enthusiastic and suggested communities they think would benefit from our event, such as Bobin, Balmoral, Willawarrin, Cobargo, Batlow, Malua Bay, Capertee and Blackhead.
The rural tour has been made possible through the generosity of our wonderful donors and by funding from Creative Partnerships through the Australian Cultural Fund. It helps us keep ticket prices to a minimum, while still being able paying our hard-hit, talented performers.
LOCAL PERFORMERS ARE INVITED TO REHEARSE
Local performers and/or school children are invited to join our performances at each location. We will offer coaching and tutoring online, and can work with local performers to encourage and motivate them while they’re still in isolation.
LOCAL SCHOOLS CAN GET INVOLVED
Our design team has developed an education package that includes a kit for teachers and support sessions online for children to create their own mythical creature costumes from recycled materials. Instructions for a simple rhythm game will be demonstrated to teachers and via online sessions to students. This will be performed with Grieg’s ‘Hall of the Mountain King’ at the performance with the children in their costumes.
TAKING TOURIST DOLLARS TO THE BUSH
Another way to assist these communities is for our supporters to attend our country performances once the tour schedule is finalised. It’s a chance to explore the scenic regional areas and help boost the economies of the small communities and surrounding towns. When tour dates and times are finalised, we’ll be posting them on social media and they will be advertised in Destination NSW. If you want to get the tour schedule in your inbox contact us.
We also invite volunteers to act as ‘roadies’ which would be an enjoyable way to be part of our touring troupe and see some great parts of regional NSW.
WAYS TO JOIN OUR COMMUNITY
We welcome all kinds of volunteers. There are opportunities for volunteers to learn and share skills our upcoming production of Peer Gynt.
Become a mentor or mentee. We particularly welcome skilled, creative, arts practitioners, perhaps retired Super Citizens, who are willing to act as mentors. We also welcome mentees who wish to benefit from the skills and experience of others.
Suggest someone for our Social Inclusion Program. It provides creative opportunities for people who might otherwise be excluded or marginalised through disability or disadvantage.
Get a paid gig. Our productions provide work opportunities for professional musicians, singers, and actors.