Prepare to be captivated as JUTE Theatre Company’s acclaimed First Nations residency program, I Gut This Feeling, hits the road on Monday, May 13th, embarking on a journey to five remote communities with its two-hander touring show. This innovative program, part of JUTE’s Dare to Dream initiative, promises an unforgettable theatrical experience for students in grades 4 to 9, focusing on addressing and preventing childhood trauma through a clever and comical play developed by First Nations playwright Isaac Drandic. JUTE Theatre Company’s Award-Winning First Nations Residency Program Takes to the Road
The play, I Gut This Feeling, commissioned by JUTE Theatre Company, cleverly weaves a modern-day fairytale to deliver a vital message about staying safe and trusting one’s instincts. Set in a strange world, the story follows Djirra, a young girl seeking to return home safely. Along her journey, she encounters peculiar creatures offering advice, but discerning who to trust becomes the ultimate challenge.
Featuring an all-First Nations touring cast and crew, including talented young actors Sheyan Walker and Shahnee Hunter, I Gut This Feeling promises to engage and inspire audiences with its relatable storyline and powerful message.
JUTE Theatre Company’s ‘Dare to Dream’ program aims to showcase new theatre works by, about, and for First Nations peoples. Each production is preceded by a residency program where First Nations creatives work with local communities to rehearse and produce the play. Following performances, the team stays in each community for a week, working with students to create their own stories of hope, which are then performed for the community.
Since its inception in 2016, the Dare to Dream program has impacted over 20,000 young people in regional and remote communities of Far North Queensland, fostering engagement, enlightenment, and empowerment through dynamic theatre experiences.
Monica Stevens, JUTE Theatre Company’s First Nations creative producer, emphasized the program’s transformative impact: “Dare to Dream breaks from the convention of passive social teaching methods to thoroughly engage and empower young people. The rapport in the theatre workshops is genuine and transformative for young people who may never have had this type of experience in remote and isolated communities.”
“I Gut This Feeling will be JUTE Theatre Company’s first touring residency program for 2024,” Stevens added. “During May and June, it will visit the remote communities of Cooktown, Pormpuraaw, Kowanyama, Croydon, and Mornington Island, bringing the magic of theatre and the power of storytelling to young audiences.”
The tour will culminate with a showcase and Q&A about the Dare to Dream residency program on Friday, May 3rd, 2024, at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre, providing an opportunity to celebrate the program’s impact and engage with the local community.
Don’t miss the chance to experience the enchantment of I Gut This Feeling and witness the transformative power of theatre in remote Indigenous communities.
I Gut This Feeling Tour Dates and Locations:
- 13-16 May: Cooktown
- 20-23 May: Pormpuraaw
- 27-30 May: Kowanyama
- 3-6 June: Croydon
- 12-19 June: Mornington Island
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