TRACKS : Works : 2009 : Endurance

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Tracks Works

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2009: Endurance — The Velodrome (bicycle stadium), Darwin

Work : Director's Notes : Media Response : Audience Response : Creative Personnel
Performers : Scenario : Thank You : Sponsors : Funding Bodies

Work

Poster

Capturing the dogged spirit, passion and resilience of the Northern Territory. Transforming a bicycle-racing track into a spectacular outdoor theatre, ENDURANCE features a cast of over thirty dancers, long distant runners and bodybuilders.

photos : video : tv promo : dvd

Director's Notes

	This story is set during one of our intense November build-ups, the time just before the first big rain of the wet season. Locals know this is the ultimate form of endurance. Often referred to as “Mango Madness” or “Going Troppo” this is a time when some reach the end of their tether and get up and leave town. As a constant bead of sweat runs down the back of your neck, relationships may endure or break down.
	ENDURANCE is a story of the Aussie battler, in our case three contemporary Darwin Aussie battlers. These people want to get on with life, have dreams, fall in love, set goals, save the world, and plant seeds for the future. People just like us who know that life has its highs and lows, that things live and die, and this is all just part of the bigger journey.
	In my karate class I watched my fellow classmate being tested for his black belt. In this endurance test he had to fight each member of the one-hundred-strong school, starting with the newest recruit through to the most highly ranked. At the end of this he was left alone, his body a breathless piece of quivering jelly. My heart goes out to him, but this was his choice, what he needed to do to fulfil his dream of becoming a black belt.
	Another day, I watched a young boy ride his bike down to the beach. He had a kite. Carefully he unravelled the string and ran - up went the kite, then down came the kite - it didn’t fly. Patiently he readjusted the string and again he ran, up then down came the kite. Again he made readjustments. This continued for the next hour, the sun now well set. I went down to him to see if I could help. I couldn’t. He had made the kite at school but it didn’t fly and he just wanted to make it work. As far as I know his kite never flew but he never got flustered. I admired his endurance.
	In making this work, we thought about people’s commitment. Is choosing to run a marathon any different to committing yourself to a relationship or indebting yourself to a mortgage? To what do we commit in order to become the person we dream of being? What must we let go of? How do we deal with the things that are thrown onto our life’s path, things that appear as obstacles put there to test us? Often we are left alone to make the big decisions.
	Tim Newth

Media Response

“The high-energy production…challenges the boundaries of traditional theatre.” Daniel Bourchier, Northern Territory News

Audience Response

	“You fill me with pride that the Northern Territory can produce such excellence” Tom Pauling AO QC, Administrator of the Northern Territory
	"I was so impressed with Endurance. Loved how there was always something to entertain the eyes, and how a journey was created for the audience, by the three different stages. And as for the soundscape...AMAZING!!" Jason De Santis
	"Loved the show – incredibly moving & beautiful, innovative as always, inspired location and story telling- just lovely." Katie Saunders
	"Don't miss this if you are in Darwin!! It's awesome!" Nim Jayawardhana
	"Another Tracks masterpiece. I laughed, I cried, you took my breath away…Exquisite." Gail Evans
	"Awesome show." Nicole Boucher
	"Stunning. Each panel of the triptych a sparkling gem from the dust of the Territory itself." Darryl Butler
	"Really impressed by the Endurance show, wonderful performances, great music and ingenious staging. Viva Tracks." James Dunlevie
	"…a beautiful and visually stunning performance." Eden Thomsen
	"So captivating." Poppy Kathopoulis
	"It is a true Territory experience." Gerry McCarthy, Northern Territory Minister for the Arts
	"…a very memorable and thought provoking show. The concept was realised and made visible in the multi-layering of the show both in its setting and staging, the roaming audience, the tiered levels of performance beyond the stage to the perimeters, its fantastic soundscape and in the actual content that inspired the movements and performances - this truly excited me as your unique talents in identifying performance spaces to enhance and add meaning to your concepts was yet again brilliantly done. Awesome work and once again Tracks successfully challenged and extended audiences appreciation of Dance." Sarah Calver
	“Mesmerizing…emotional engaging…It seemed like everyone belonged including the audience. The creators of Endurance know this community connected through an inescapable, shared experience. In knowing their community so well, Tracks Dance continually adds to the unique cultural hear of the Northern Territory.” Caroline Reid, Lowdown
	"...fan-bloody-tastic! Loved the venue, loved the concept, loved the music, loved the dancing, loved the eye-candy, loved the energy – talk about endurance!” Claire Pallant

Creative Personnel

	Direction	Tim Newth, David McMicken
	Original Concept / Design	Tim Newth
	Choreography	Joanna Noonan, Josh Mu, Jessica Devereux, Julia Quinn, David McMicken in collaboration with dancers
	Original Music / Soundtrack	David McMicken
	Costume Designer / Supervisor	Lynn Ferguson
	Lighting Designer	Tristan Bourke
	Sound Engineer	Matthew Cunliffe
	Production and Promotions Personnel
	Production / Stage Manager	Kelly Blumberg
	Production Manager	Suzi Cordell
	Sound Operator	Eugenio Hallen
	Wardrobe Assistant	Matilda Studders, Sam Edwards
	Front of House Manager	Nicola Jackson
	Lighting Operator	Tristan Bourke
	Lighting Operator Assistant Stage Managers	Mary Fox, Mara Dobrini, Jade Fitton
	Properties and Stage Construction	Don Whyte Framing, Grant Billsborrow, Chris Kluge
	Promotions / Publicity	Susan Congreve, Gail Evans
	Graphic Design	Mark Marcelis, Narelle Sullivan
	Photographic Documentation	Peter Eve
	Film Documentation	Todd Williams, Katie Saunders, Ian Redfearn, Andy Hyde

Performers

	Daughter: Shaan Myall Mother: Shauna Ricardo Office: Rachel Ortner, Ruttiya Suansri, Vera Tabuzo, Sid Vemuri, Kathryn Lawrence Gym: Catie Kirke, Rachel Ortner, Ruttiya Suansri, Carlo Novak, Shane Shewring, Eddie Costello Mini Me/Kite: Tahnee Cvirn
	Superhero/Boyfriend: Ricky Borg Girlfriend: Taylor Hailes Fantastic Four: Corina Nichols, Matthew White, Grant Nery, Ricky Borg Street/Office Crew: Vera Tabuzo, Sid Vemuri, Kathryn Lawrence Mini Me/Kite: Nathaniel Kelly
	Nephew/New Land owner: Erwin Fenis Uncle: created for Jo Lin, due to injury performed by Josh Mu and Tim Newth Labourers: Stevie Kirke-Groves, Kelly Beneforti, Caleb Japanangka Patrick, Paul Coleman Gardeners: Tanya Esden, Ellie Johnston, Xavier Lane-Mullins, Gener Lapina, Jenelle Saunders, Enrico Escalona, Nicole Lyne, Jessica Devereux (role shared between six performers each night) Mini Me/Kite: Jordan Medoza
	The Endurance Runners Karen Lewis, Phil Lewis, Kate Hosking, David Crane, Brooke Smith, Dean Becker, Steven Flynn, Chris Warfield, Clint Bailey, Seamus Christie-Johnston, Shelly Earle, Jarrad Williams, Roger Decurtins, Nikki Higgins, Rebekah Higgins, Catrina Collins, Rose Stephens (shared role across performance season)

Scenario

Introduction
• When we were young
The Hot and Bothered Mother and her Feisty Adult Daughter
The Busy Superhero and his Loveable but Neglected Girlfriend
The Young Asian Man and his New Found Home
• Endurance building - trying to fly a kite
• The principal relationship
• All in a day’s work
• The phone call - things change
• Getting physical
• The departure of the one closest
• Facing the world alone
• Big rain resolution with young self
Finale
• Northern town Thank You

Thank You

Ushers and Front of House Volunteers, Darwin City Council, Darwin Festival, Darcy Franklin, Wayne Miles - Tin Shed Gallery, Catie Kirke, NT Police, Fire and Emergency Services Training College and it's physical training team, Brenda Lord, Fiona Sommerville, Charles Darwin University, Lois’s Gymwear, Tina - Danceworld, Anne - Bay Side Dance, Finn O'Branagain, Corrugated Iron Youth Arts, Darwin Theatre Company, Suzanne Fermanis, Chris Kluge, Garry Ferguson, Pedro, Carl Farmer, Darwin Entertainment Centre, Anna Reece, Dennis Matthews - Telstra Shop Darwin, Damien Pree, Ray Petrie, James and his Correctional Services Team, David Taylor, Jill Vanda, Mike Clancy, James Shenfield, Kim Jackson, Helen McMillan, Top End Sounds, Wormald, Palm Springs, Temporary Fencing Hire Darwin, Darwin Party Hire, Night Watch Security, Stickers & Stuff, Quality Outdoor Exteriors, Force Rentals, Tracks’ family and friends.

A special thank you to Theresa deGroot & Steve Tiley and all the members of the Darwin Cycling Club, more info www.darwin.cycling.bvit.com.au.