In November 2014 two of the region’s most innovative and exciting physical performance companies worked with 24 young actors and dancers from the region, to create the new dance/physical theatre work CLIQUE.

The 60 minute show, performed at both the Bathurst Memorial Entertainment Centre and the Cowra Breakout Site, integrated dance and physical theatre to create a new work that asks the question of what it means to be part of the crowd.

Drawing specifically from the skills, experience and creativity of the young cast, aged 11 – 26, the show explored ideas of the collective, how groups of people form, exclusion and inclusion and why human beings have an innate desire to come together.

Co-director, Alison Plevey explained: “The work is more than just presenting an intriguing and unique performance. It is about creative process, collaboration and skills development for young artists and community audiences across two regional towns. Many of the participants are for the first time discovering their own artistic voice, beyond the technique of dance steps or theatre training, with all participants building their skills in making, collaborating and performing.”

This is the first collaboration between Lingua Franca and United Fusion, both companies who have an established history with working with young performers.

The project was made possible by the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports sustainable cultural development in regional, rural and remote Australia to give artists and communities better access to opportunities to practice and experience the arts.