Integrated dance theatre group ‘Sprung!!’ will take to the stage next weekend for the original production of ‘French Café’ at Brunswick Picture House.
Sprung!! is a not-for-profit community organisation based in the Northern Rivers that stages impressive performances for dancers with and without a disability.
The group is back with their special blend of social diversity, integration, artistic excellence and intimacy with ‘French Café’.
Raffle tickets are also on sale to go into the draw to win an exclusive trip to France, with two return flights to Paris and a week’s accommodation at Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, available now at sprung.org.au/raffle.
All funds raised will support Sprung!! participants, programs and projects.
The group’s Artistic Director and Choreographer Michael Hennessy said ‘French Café’ emerged from a workshop with visiting Canberra performance artist Liz Lea and the life-affirming French rock music of Les Hurlements de Leo.
He said while the quirky production was very ‘un-French’ in many ways, it would bring a cabaret-style dance theatre experience celebrating the parade of life and human foibles in a café.
‘The unique point of difference with our productions is we use a wholly disability-led process of creation which puts these performers front and centre in terms of creating their own unique characters, concept and choreography and then I have the privilege of helping moulding it into a professional production,’ Mr Hennessy said.
‘Each character will vie for audience attention and gradually reveal the rich complexities of their unique personality and relationships.’
Mr Hennessy joined forces with co-director Kate McDowell to bring the quirky production to life with seven emerging professional performers with disability and three cabaret artists, including 25-year-old Max McAuley who has danced with the integrated ensemble since it began eight years ago.