Lismore-based Northern Rivers Performing Arts (NORPA) recently demonstrated the power of arts and culture to unite a community, tell ancient stories and build resilience after the 2022 floods devastated the region. Thanks to a Creative Capital grant from Create NSW, the creative team was equipped with a new state-of-the-art, fully-mobile and weather-proof AV kit to produce an epic outdoor theatre experience for the community.
A new stage show told through dance, video projection, spoken word and music, Flow, is a powerful First Nations story. It weaves a contemporary tale of a young man searching for identity in music, urban culture and nature, with an ancient story about how and why water flows through the region and its cultural significance to the Yaegl people of the Clarence River.
More than 2,600 locals came together to enjoy the five free performances, plus pre-event activities, workshops and talks as part of the outdoor theatre event series at The Quad, Lismore (Widjabul Wia-bul country) and Maclean Showground (Yaegl country).
NORPA Artistic Director Julian Louis said, "Seeing Flow transformed from an in-theatre performance, into an epic outdoor experience was an absolute thrill.
"This is theatre with purpose. As we listened to the Dirrangan story, we got to reflect on the rivers and water of our region and the stark warning of the nature of greed, intertwined with the deeply personal journey of a hip-hop artist trying to navigate his role in learning and sharing his culture."
NORPAs production of FLOW at Maclean photo by Kurt Petersen
Set on an incredible outdoor stage, Flow was made possible thanks to a new fully-equipped mobile production kit, including a weather proof lighting and sound rig. Funding provided through a Create NSW Creative Capital Grant supported NORPA's purchase of the kit, enabling the company to stage productions in non-traditional theatre spaces, including outdoors in all-weather environments.
NORPA lost its venue, and the region lost its major performing arts centre, in the 2022 flood.
The grant supported the purchase of the mobile kit including full IP54 (weather proof) production rig (lighting and sound) and will enable NORPA to stage productions in non-traditional theatre spaces, including outdoors in all weather environments.
The Watchout projection mapping system is taking NORPA's digital production standards to the next level and this will be enhanced by the 2 x 21k Projectors. This will give NORPA the capability to make remote venues transform into creative and unimaginable stage sets. The scaffolding system facilitates the height required to lift the projectors off the ground so that the full palette of a venue can be utilised.
"The new equipment is invaluable to ensuring NORPA's continued operations and creative output, resilience, portability, and self-sustainability during this important time of resilience building and flood recovery."NORPA Executive Director Libby Lincoln
NORPA also received funding to purchase a van to transport the production kit in.
"The purchase of the equipment reduces our hire for outdoor events significantly," Lincoln said.
"NORPA will realise enormous cost savings through having access to our own production kit, equipped with the up-to-date equipment including projection, projection mapping, waterproof sound and lighting, as well as our own transport.
"This will be invaluable to ensuring continued operations and creative outputs, resilience, portability, and self-sustainability during this important time of resilience building and flood recovery."
Learn more about the projects funded through Creative Capital
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