With live theatre performances unlikely to occur in the next six months, Flinders University drama students have embraced technology and innovation to aid their productions that have been cancelled due to restrictions placed on performing together and audience attendance.
Flinders University lecturer and SA Playwrights Theatre artistic director Dr Matt Hawkins has led his team of screen and media placement students in shooting small-scale drama in accordance with strict COVID-19 protocols. These protocols were developed by Flinders staff in response to the challenging conditions presented by social distancing.
The first project this group undertook was filming the Dear Australia monologues, which had been commissioned by Playwriting Australia in conjunction with the SA Playwrights Theatre.
“Without the highly talented Flinders screen and media students, actors would have had to record the monologues on their mobile phones,” says Creative Producer and playwright Lucy Combe. “With a combination of film editing and theatre techniques, the Dear Australia monologues have really come to life and are a great representation of the writing and shooting talent in this state.”
Dr Hawkins says Flinders students are at the cutting edge of new filming techniques that are likely to be in great demand to complete pandemic-era projects. “Our Finders students have really come to the party and are keen to be a part of the development of these new, safe protocols,” he says.
The Dear Australia monologues will be presented on the PWA Digital channels in July
Podcasting and audio storytelling have become increasingly popular during the pandemic, being an ideal way to tell dramatic stories while theatres are shut down. Third-year Drama Centre students studying playwriting have been re-imagining their plays as audio dramas, and this created another partnership opportunity with SA Playwrights Theatre, which is currently broadcasting its audio series Bordertown on Spotify and iTunes via the Auscast Network.
Training in basic audio recording was provided online for students, drawing on techniques learned during the recording of Bordertown. This included recording remotely using mobile phones and condenser microphones, and collaborating via Zoom software for virtual meetings.
“It’s all trial and error, initially, but it’s great to see students who wouldn’t ordinarily touch this technology work it out for themselves, further empowering them as performing artists,” says Dr Hawkins.
Drama student Emelia Williams found the process challenging but could see benefits from learning this different technique. “The advantages of podcast, especially during the COVID-19 shutdown, is that we are still able to deliver entertainment and art from our homes,” says Emelia. “It’s different from anything I’ve written before.”
Fellow student Brittany Gallasch is also enthusiastic about the process. “Audio drama is awesome because you have to use your imagination a whole lot more,” she says.”When you take away the visual aspect, you allow a listener to create images in their head. The dialogue, sound and music became very important in telling the story, and it was fun to explore the way sound can create an interesting mood and tone for the piece.”
The finished audio plays will be streamed via the SAPT Podcast later this month. Bordertown is available via Spotify or iTunes.