Ballarat creatives offered new pathway to develop stage work

LOCAL creatives looking to develop new performance work will have access to time, space and professional support this year through a new program being launched by The Rat Lab.

The independent arts collective has introduced Ignite, a performing arts development program designed to help local writers and performers test ideas and progress new work.

Delivered with support from Creative Ballarat, Ignite is aimed at Ballarat-based creatives and will include workshops, creative development opportunities and a major work-in-progress component, with a focus on experimentation, skill-building and local storytelling.

The Rat Lab’s Dr Robert Reid said the program would support artists at early stages of development, giving them the opportunity to explore ideas before taking work further.

The first workshop, Finding Your Voice with Sharon Turley, will be held on 21 February and is aimed at performers, public speakers and anyone seeking greater confidence in their voice.

A second workshop, Dramaturgy with Jane Harrison, will take place on 22 February and will introduce dramaturgical thinking for playwrights and theatre makers.

Creative development opportunities are also on offer, with writers and artists invited to apply through an expressions of interest process.

“We’re looking for artists with an exciting idea or question they want to explore, who need time and space to test things out and see what works,” Dr Reid said.

The Rat Lab is a not-for-profit collective of independent artists providing rehearsal space and support for Ballarat writers, performers, directors and creators. It is based at the Arts Incubator on Camp Street.

“We exist to foster and celebrate new performance work for Ballarat audiences,” Dr Reid said.

“We focus on nurturing artists who tell stories by and about Ballarat, and who speak to the contemporary human experience.”

For more information, visit The Rat Lab’s website.