2010 Program
Development through workshops: 126 workshops
28 x Open drama workshops (4 x 7 week blocks) at Edward Eagar Lodge and open to anyone who is homeless or formally homeless. This program offers opportunities to engage with different theatre forms.
28 x Home-Delivered drama workshops (4 x 7 week blocks) at external welfare services and open to service clients. This program offers opportunities to experience Milk Crate Theatre workshops and performances, join our membership and other programs.
28 x Out-West drama workshops (4 x 7 week blocks) at Parramatta and open to anyone homeless or formerly homeless living in the west. This program is in partnership with the Homeless Service Coalition and Mission Australia's The Michael Project, a 3 year program targeting homelessness in men.
11 x Women's drama workshops (1 x 7 week block and 1 x 4-day intensive block) at women's services and open to homeless or formerly homeless women. This program offers theme based workshops, where the themes are decided by the women.
7 x Large Scale Public Show workshop rehearsals (1 x 7 week block) held in conjunction with a large scale public show and open to anyone homeless or formerly homeless willing to make a committment over time towards a large scale public show.
24 x Large Scale Public Show workshop rehearsals (1 x 12 week block) held in conjunction with a large scale public show and open to existing Milk Crate Theatre members on completion of a 2-day intensive acting workshop and willing to make a committment over time towards a large scale public show.
Large Scale Public Theatre Show: 1
Upcoming professional public production INTERSECTION is a large scale public show that enables Milk Crate Theatre participants to work alongside a professional acting and artistic team. INTERSECTION is a roving show that moves between 3 sites, culminating at Taylor Square. It will involve up to 40 participants including the Sydney Street Choir. It is a collision of epic Greek tragedy, interactive dialogue and city tour of homeless hotspots. It explores the crossroads in life - the moments where your life changes course - by tracking the intersection between two people, James and Sally, who meet one night at a crisis shelter. Ultimitely, it is a story about connection, the power of reaching out when things are tough, and how we can be stronger together then if we are alone.
Interactive Performances: 11
4 x original shows presented as 11 interactive performances in welfare services across the inner city and western suburbs. These performances are based on the real life stories of people we connect with at services and are sometimes grouped around particular themes. The story is performed in its entirety, then we return to various decision making points and open up a discussion to the audience about what could have been alternative options in the circumstances. The audience votes on their favorite suggestion and that audience member gets up and acts out the alternative model with the actors.
Community Development: 1
Woolloomooloo engagement project - Milk Crate Theatre uses the creative process as a starting point to work with particular communities.
Edge of Your Seat: attending 10 professional theatre shows
Milk Crate Theatre participants are invited to attend 10 professional theatre shows as a group, providing opportunities to network socially outside the workshops.
Milk Crate Theatre Membership: up to 250 members
Milk Crate Theatre participants are invited to become Milk Crate Theatre Members. The membership will provide access to subsidised theatre tickets, creative opportunities and voting for Milk Crate Theatre community representatives.
Education and Training Pathways:
2 x In-house trainees each year. Milk Crate Theatre members are selected and supported in gaining work experience and training in particular skills over 12 months.
1 x Pilot education accreditation program (Statement of Attainment in Vocational and Community Engagement) in partnership with TAFE NSW Outreach and in collaboration with INTERSECTION.
Building partnerships with organisations so that in-house trainees can be placed in paid apprenticeships with partner organisations in the arts and education sector.