Simone Collins Joins The KAGE Team
Co-creative directors of KAGE, Gerard Van Dyck and Kate Denborough, are excited to announce the appointment of Simone Collins as the Company's first General Manager.
Simone moved from Brisbane to Melbourne in July 2008 and quickly established herself through working with a wide range of artists and arts organisations.
Simone's first engagement in Melbourne was with the 2008 Melbourne Fringe Festival where she produced their four Federation Square projects. She returned to Fringe again in 2009 and took on the new role of Artist Development Coordinator. Simone was the Producer for Western Edge Youth Arts' Big West Festival show Frolic, Production Manager for The Emerging Writers' Festival, and has also worked with Next Wave, The Moomba Festival, White Whale Theatre Company, St Kilda Festival and Opera Australia.
'I am simply thrilled by the opportunity that has presented itself here at KAGE. KAGE create radical, emotional work and with two new works in development, Sundowner and Look Right Through Me, it's an exciting time to join. The appointment of a General Manager is a strong step for the Company and a real commitment to their future.' she said.
October marks seven months since Simone joined the KAGE team.
Our New Home At Abbotsford Convent
After completing our residency at the Victorian Arts Centre (in 2009) KAGE has now taken up residence at the Abbotsford Convent.
Amidst a hive of creative energy, we have our own office, Studio C1.5 in the Convent Building, and access to rehearsal space.
Simone was recently interviewed for the August Edition of THE MUSE, the Convent's e-newsletter. Take a look at it here.
Sundowner
Sundowner is one of two new dance-theatre works KAGE currently has in development.
Sundowner will explore the often hidden personal experiences of young onset dementia (YOD). The title comes from the disorder Sundowner's Syndrome, which is well known to those who provide care to the aged and/or infirm. Sometimes referred to as 'sundowning', it was once believed that the syndrome was caused as a result of missed day/night light cues, hence the sudden onset at sundown. 'Sundowners' experience periods of extreme agitation, confusion and irritability, making them difficult to care for during this period - good all day, but with the quiet of evening comes frustration, malfunction and blind rage.
KAGE is creating this new work in partnership with Alzheimer's Australia (VIC) and will continue developing the work in November.
Sundowner is a story of lament and at times grief and sorrow. Ultimately, though, it is a story of love: love of family, love of history, and love of life.
Director: Kate Denborough
Writer: David Denborough
Cast: Helen Morse, Stuart Christie, Michelle Heaven, Gerard Van Dyck plus five original Tivoli Lovelies
Composer: Kelly Ryall with Paul Kelly and Megan Washington
Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper
Set Designer: Dan Potra
Costume Designer: Paula Levis
Dementia Awareness Week
KAGE was delighted to have been invited to present a rehearsal excerpt of Sundowner as part of Alzheimer’s Australia's Dementia Awareness Week celebrations.
The celebrations last from the 16 - 26 September but KAGE were seen at BMW Edge, Federation Square on Friday 17 September. It was a free public event where leading clinician, Professor Henry Brodaty gave a seminal lecture.
KAGE even made it onto the Channel 9 news that night! Have a look at the photos on our facebook page - more to come.
Victorian Seniors' Festival
The Victorian Seniors' Festival, now in it's 29th year, is a statewide event with more than 1,000 events in October. As part of the fun KAGE will be presenting excerpts from Sundowner in the Studio. The Tivoli Lovelies will be there, it's FREE to Seniors' Card holders, and the Convent Bakery has kindly supplied afternoon tea for all. What more do you need?
Dates: Wednesday 6 & Thursday 7 October
Times: 2:00pm to 3:00pm
Place: Abbotsford Convent
RSVP: Call KAGE on (03) 9417 6700
Keep a look out for the Festival program and get along!
Look Right Through Me
KAGE's second show in development at the moment is Look Right Through Me.
Inspired by the imagination of Michael Leunig, this work will see KAGE returning to their original performance language where inventive choreography and stunning visual design are combined with beauty, subtlety and black humour.
The next development for this work will be happening later this month.
Insider Info
In other news, Kate recently choreographed the highly successful Threepenny Opera (a co-production between Malthouse Theatre and the Victorian Opera). She is also currently undertaking a directorial attachment with Peter Evans and the Melbourne Theatre Company.
Gerard can be found working at Bluebottle 3, teaching at VCA (School of Dance) and on RRR's SmartArts with Richard Watts.
