One Earth One Family - Corrugated Iron Youth Theatre

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Botanic Gardens, Darwin

June 4th, 1994, 1030 am, 1 pm

A co-production with Corrugated Iron Youth Theatre in conjunction with the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory, and Greening Australia, for World Environment Day.

One Earth, One Family workshops were held in Term Four 1993 and aimed to skill a core group of participants and to initially workshop some ideas. From that process David McMicken and Sarah Calver collated the ideas and formulated a structure. Tracks led three of the four performance groups to perform, one of these being Artability (a group designed to enhance performance opportunities for youth with disabilities). Each group presented two five minute pieces reflecting the before and after effects of certain situations pertaining to the conservation theme.

The project was designed by Melody Cooper. The performance venue, the Botanic Gardens, while aesthetically pleasing was unrealistic as a venue for daytime performances where the majority of participants and audience members were in direct sunlight. More shade was needed. This project showcased works by various groups who might not necessarily see one another's work. The Conservation Commission and Greening Australia representatives were very pleased with the result.

Program Notes

You do not exist alone; around you are family, friends, community. You have the ability to create; to make children, make a snack, make a present for a friend, or make a mess. Paper, plastic, glass, brick, old clothes, liquids and food waste cannot get up and walk around, so it is up to ...YOU!

We human beings who buy things, make things and move things are responsible for putting our rubbish, cans, bottles and such in places they need to go. We must protect our air, waterways, plants, native animals, frogs, insects, fish, and all other living creatures that do not have the ability to talk, to tell us how they feel, to tell us what is good, what is great ‑ and what is wrong.

When you put something in the bin, throw it over your shoulder, or pour it down the sink, it doesn't go away, it stays on our planet.

We all must be responsible and think about where things are going. One of the easy things for us to do is to recycle, to take our bottles, cans, plastic and paper to special places in the community, such as schools, so that they can be made into new things.

This play, 'ONE EARTH, ONE FAMILY', shows us four different stories of how we are connected to the Earth, our Planet. It shows us ways of doing things right and then ways of making mistakes. It is up to us not to make the mistakes. It is easy for us to do the little things that make a big difference.

Creative Personnel

Artistic Director: Maggie Miles
Choreographers: David McMicken, Sarah Calver, Berenice Franklin
Designer: Melody Cooper

Performers

Sink Sea Supper: Alexander Marks, Amy Hudson, Annie Cole, Ben Goodyach-Draffin, Chantal Marks, Felicity Wardle, Grae Saunders, Jason Davies, Jessica Greatwich, Kayt Douglas, Megan Burgess, Nicole Wills, Petra Linden-Ross, Rhys James, Sara Caldwell
Fishing: Amanda Mouthasm, Anna Whitehead, Charmaine Brown, Elisabeth Bell, Helen Atkinson, Leon Defrenne, Stephen Rowe, William Joswig
Songline: Chloe Coleman, Dale Rolfe, Imogen Studders, Jessie Brewster, John Nolan, Lani Studders, Margot Hudson, Matthew Gill, Rachael Lilliebridge, Sundari Forward

Scenario

  • One Earth One Family presented four different stories of how we are connected to the Earth, our planet. It showed us ways of doing things right and then ways of making mistakes and the damage done.
  • Fishing: Berenice Franklin – Artability group
  • This episode shows the impact our actions have on bush land and wild life and how we can minimise the impact so that wildlife and people can share the environment in harmony. The first section shows people fishing at a lagoon showing their respect for the environment with their responsible behavior. They are rewarded by seeing a rare sight of the dusky rats feeding and drinking at the lagoon.
  • The second section shows a group of people who fish at the lagoon, have no respect for the environment. The result of their fishing trip is disastrous for the dusky rat family whose homes are damaged and many die in their attempt to deal with litter and the disgusting human slackness.
  • Songline – Sarah Calver
  • The Songline cycle is a continuous dance reflecting the natural harmonious connection between the land and its inhabitants. The heartbeat of the land is strong, comforting, and peaceful, unifying all that travel along this dance line.
  • In contrast to the first journey, this cycle portrays the effects land developers, heavy machinery and road works have on the natural environment. The disharmony is shown through the heartbeat of the land. Images of concrete and greed devour more and more of the environment ... until only a small delicate section of land is left to survive, alienated from everything around it!
  • Sink Sea Supper – David McMicken
  • Proper use of the sink. Making sure that they do not put the wrong substances down our sink, our family ensures that the organisms in the ocean remain healthy. These in turn are eaten by small fish, which are in turn consumed by larger fish. Our family finally goes fishing and catches two fine fish for a healthy supper.
  • Improper use of the sink. This time our family puts all their scraps and excessive amounts of detergents and other pollutants down the sink. Unknown to them this makes the little organisms very sick. When the smaller fish eat them, they too become sick and die. Finally, the bigger fish has nothing to eat, as the water is full of death and decay. When our family go fishing for their supper they can only catch plastic bags, rotting carcasses and lumps of unidentifiable garbage. No supper.

Tracks Dance Collective 1994

Collective Members: Sarah Calver, David McMicken, Tim Newth, Berenice Franklin, Lisa Campbell
Brown’s Mart Community Arts Dance Development Offices: Sarah Calver, David McMicken

[Under Brown's Mart Community Arts – Executive Officer Ken Conway]

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