Update 20 March 2020:

Due to current circumstances, Arts House’s Makeshift Workshop: DEVISE – inclusive practice with ensembles has been cancelled. Participants have been contacted.

For further information or enquiries, please contact Arts House on 03 9326 3720.

Read a statement by Arts House’s Artistic Director Emily Sexton here.

Rawcus is a critically acclaimed ensemble of performers with and without disability. DEVISE Makeshift Workshop offers insight into the creative process and methodology Rawcus employs in its rehearsal room when creating new work with a diverse team of performers and designers.

Over three days you will break-down ideas of inclusive practice and how this is applied within ensemble and devising processes: what might it look like, how does it interact with design and how can we think about it in a broad and nuanced way?

A combination of discussion, performance tasks, devising exercises, reflection and exchange, participants will have the opportunity to work with Rawcus designers Emily Barrie (set and costumes), Jethro Woodward (sound), Richard Vabre (lighting) and try out ideas alongside members of the Rawcus Ensemble.

Who is it for?
This is for artists who are interested in ensemble devising processes, inclusive practices and access aesthetics with a special call for artists who identify as Deaf and disabled.

How to Apply
This Makeshift Workshop can support up to 12 participants. It is important that participants can commit to attend all three days. Participants are provided with a $300 stipend and lunch each day. Additional services including Auslan interpreting are available – please notify when applying. Lead Makeshift artists determine the application and selection process for participating artists.

Deadline for applications:

The online application asks you to consider the questions below. If you are unable to complete the online form and prefer to submit a video or audio response to the questions please send a URL link (Dropbox / YouTube/ Vimeo) by the submission date to Sarah.Rowbottam@melbourne.vic.gov.au

– Tell us about yourself and your practice?
– What do you want to get out of this workshop?
– What are the questions you are grappling with in your work right now? (Optional question).

About the Artists
“world class theatre – sumptuously imagined, visually stunning and profoundly moving” – The Age

Rawcus is a critically acclaimed ensemble of performers with and without disability. Rawcus devises new work that expresses the imaginative world of the Ensemble. Drawing on dance, theatre and visual art disciplines, the work is crafted with a precision that supports the performers but allows space for their inherent sense of anarchy. Rawcus’ performance aesthetic is characterised by a marriage of intense physicality and arresting visual imagery. Rawcus’ work is sculptural, unexpected, beautiful, funny and tender. Rawcus’ work has won numerous awards and has featured as part of Dance Massive, The Melbourne International Arts Festival, Next Wave and Melbourne Fringe. Rawcus has worked collaboratively with diverse Australian arts companies including Invenio Singers, Restless Dance Company, Born in a Taxi, The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Made.

For questions about this Makeshift, please contact Sarah Rowbottam – Producer, Arts House. Email sarah.rowbottam@melbourne.vic.gov.au  or call on (03) 9322 3720