I felt instantly at ease upon entering the Woolangabba Art Gallery for the closing night of The Maids, as part of The Anywhere Festival.
The instant rush of comfort stemmed from the sweet welcome, Stephen Nothling’s magical art, and the structural historical nuances of the building.
I had recollections of my elaborate catholic all girls’ boarding school as I walked up the stairs to the garret of the Woolangabba Art Gallery.
The character, Claire (Amy Hauser), of The Maids was walking, humming and ahhing while waiting for the audience to settle in.
On time, Solange (Re’anne Duffy) entered dressed as a maid and the corresponding scenes covered Claire as the Madam and Solange as the maid.
These scenes were alive, real and compelling and erupted to a crescendo, as the elaborate ‘red dress’ was unveiled.
The maids, Claire and Solange were on a path to destroy their ever-elegant Madame (played by Caitlin Hill) while destructing themselves.
Madame swaggered into the room, styled in a gorgeous sequined hounds tooth gown, and immediately sets forth her opinions, lack of empathy and hellish truth upon the fragile maids.
The Maids was directed and constructed to use every tiny bit of space of the upstairs of the Woolangabba Art Gallery with minimal props and appealing over the top creations of wardrobe by Harpi designs.
The actor’s portrayed their characters in realistic and captivating real time.
Spittle, tears, sweat and laughs were authentic and harrowing.
Genet’s The Maids is very much a parable for today with its brutal conflict played out between the haves and have-nots, and it challenges the audience to think about the possibility of change.
It is seventy years since Jean Genet’sThe Maids was first performed at the Theatre de l’Althenee in Paris and it is now Brisbane’s turn to observe this modern classic.
Theatrical devotees are invited to attend the 2017 Anywhere Festival’s up close and personal version of Genet’s The Maids.
The Maids will be presented upstairs at the Woolloongabba Art Gallery from Tuesday 9th to Saturday 13th of May.
Anatoly Frusin, theatre and opera director and acting teacher at Southbank TAFE (where he is currently directing second year students in AMidsummer Night’s Dream), describes The Maids as a ritualistic and satirical examination of the power structures within society.
Frusin said, “It is wonderful to revisit this intense, confronting and passionate play again, I directed The Maids about 25 years ago in New Zealand, and felt the time was right to have another go with some of the incredible graduates from our Acting and Performance Program.”
“I was then introduced to a fabulous designer and recent graduate from the Fashion Program at TAFE and decided that the production must happen,” said Frusin.
The designer of the moment is Kristy Power of Harpi Designs, and her extravagant creations are crucial to the games of identity that lie at the heart of the play.
“Kristy’s amazing gowns are almost like characters themselves, and are integral to capturing the ritual masquerade of The Maids.
“Being in the non-traditional space upstairs at the Woolloongabba Art Gallery the audience will feel like they are both in the maids’ garret and at an intimate fashion show.
“Plus there is a cool bar downstairs!”
The rest of the creative team that is Mad Women on the Shore consists of Amy Hauser, Re’anne Duffy and Caitlin Hill.
The actors are several generations of graduates and Anatoly is very excited to be working with actors he has helped train and seen develop over the years.
Amy Hauser is an emerging Actor and Performance maker who has recently graduated from the Bachelor of Acting and Performance program at TAFE Brisbane.
She has a particular interest in creating, developing and performing works that are intelligent and are relevant to serious topics in today’s society.
Amy has done the majority of her creative work for stage theatre, some of her work includes, The Frogs (Xanthias), Mother Courage and her Children (Kattrin) and The Skriker (Josie).
She is currently involved in the ongoing performance art project House of Milkand has worked with multiple directors and mentors including Brian Lucas, Norman Price, Lisa O’Neill and Anatoly Frusin.
Re’anne Duffy graduated from Brisbane TAFE in 2014, she has worked with Metro Arts and was granted a two week Short Fuse residency where she created her solo piece Jar’d.
Since graduating, she has been involved in the 2high and FAST festivals.
In 2016, Reanne and Anatoly formed Mad Women on the Shore and debuted their first production One Women Wouzeck for the MELT Queer Artist Festival at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
Caitlin Hill graduated from Brisbane TAFE, studying acting in 2014, she has played Justine in Sven Swenson’sTiptoe, Willow in Girl cried Wolf’s The Wives of Wolfgang, Ensemble for Belloo Creative’sHanako and Juliet for Share House Theatre Company’sRomeo and Juliet.
Caitlin created Boys Taste Better with Nutella with Peter Wood for Short & Sweet Theatre Festival, winning Best Script, Best Actress and Best Overall Production whick led to a development at the Brisbane Powerhouse.
Genet’s The Maids is very much a parable for today with its brutal conflict played out between the haves and have-nots, and it challenges the audience to think about the possibility of change.
In this theatrical and dangerous game, will it be the Maids or their Mistress who comes out on top?
Death Shrouds – Latest Collection by Harpi. Photography by Nick Green and Bella Cullen
During the previous month, Julie-Ann has carried out the following tasks:
Made amendments to Appendix B (timeline), C (Job description & specification) D (protocols plus the meaa code of ethics) of the original communication plan
Please find attached the Protocols and job description for further use by Foodbank, I will also send them in e-mail form so that you have an electronic copy
I have taken to daily social media updates as I believe that keeps the Foodbank Qld word out there (with particular attention to mornings)
The LinkedIn account is progressing but needs more work
I have added as many employees to the site as possible
Please find attached an evaluation of LinkedIn’s usage
The Pinterest site is progressing but I am open to suggestions of new boards (groups of locations??? etc)
The Facebook site has expanded with leaps and bounds, with more and more likes and views each day
Please find attached the “View Insights”
The Twitter account is progressing but needs a little more work
Please find attached
The google + account is under way, though I am having a few administration problems but am working on it
Discussion topics
I would like to start a competition on facebook within the next week so that we may have further social media interaction and a wider audience
I am working through the (other) communication plans, taking notes for our use and making recommendations for Gus.
Any ideas for stories for social media sites will be greatly appreciated.
Referring to the comprehensive Communication Plan (and specifically Appendix B – the timeline), Julie-Ann (the Communication Officer) has carried out the following tasks:
Made amendments to Appendix D and E of the plan (see attached)
Please make any additional comments to Appendix D – Protocols
Survey
Constructed a survey and e-mailed it to every business in the salesforce database
Correlated all responses, entered them into a database and came up with some figures (see attached survey responses)
Correlated all social media responses and promoted each organization accordingly (see attached survey responses)
LinkedIn account
Updated LinkedIn regularly with stories and links to welfare agencies and food sponsors
An evaluation of LinkedIn’s usage (see attached)
An “Impression” is the number of times the update has been viewed. “Engagement” measures how people react to the update. The calculation is “Engagement”/ total “Impressions” = measurement (the analytical data appears about 24 hours after the update is posted and will be posted and will be updated daily)
Pinterest site
There are three boards; welfare recipients, food sponsors and 2013 floods.
Facebook site
“View Insights” (see attached)
Twitter account
All social media sites are linked with each other
Recommendations
Need employees to link their personal LinkedIn accounts with Foodbank Qlds’ account, so everyone can have access to it.
Is it possible to somehow link the social media sites to the website (pinterest, facebook, twitter and LinkedIn)?
Impact Church (Springwood) would like to receive the Foodbank Qld’s newsletters and so on.
Is it possible to do a competition on facebook, so that we may have further social media interaction and a wider audience?
A prize of a food hamper for a welfare agency?
Other topics of discussion
Gus, can I look at the other communication plans you have been given and maybe I can use some of the ideas for implementation.
Have had a problem with creating a Google + account as I believe it is related to Gus’ google account(?)
What do you think of the idea of a blog?
Do we need it?
Is it possible to plan an event that helps promote Foodbank Queensland?
A sausage sizzle for sponsors and welfare agencies?
Foodbank Queensland received ninety three (93) replies to the survey from food sponsors and welfare agencies throughout Queensland.
The first question is as follows – How did you become aware of Foodbank Qld?
The answers were
Newspapers or magazines
Online
Welfare Agencies
Food Sponsors
Other
The responses were as follows;
11 respondents said Newspapers and Magazines
3 respondents said online
32 respondents said welfare agencies
6 respondents said Food Sponsors
41 respondents said Other (please see database for detailed messages).
The second question is as follows – Are you aware of Foodbank Qld’s current publications?
The responses were as follows;
49 Yes’
45 No
The third question is as follows – Do you read Foodbank Qld’s current publications?
The responses were as follows;
48 Yes’
42 No
4 Sometimes
The fourth question is as follows – Do you peruse Foodbank Qld’s internet sites?
The responses were as follows;
25 Yes
63 No
5 Sometimes
The fifth question is as follows – Are you aware of Foodbank Qld’s social media sites?
The responses were as follows;
29 Yes
64 No
The final question is – Would your organization like to affiliate with Foodbank Qld’s social media sites?
The responses were as follows;
46 Yes (Julie-Ann has added them to Foodbank Qld’s social media sites, see table below)
34 No
13 Not sure (Julie-Ann has e-mailed these organisations explaining what it is and how they can help – waiting on responses)
Below is a comprehensive table of various organisations and how they are linked to Foodbank Qld’s social media sites (in relation to question 6 on the survey).
Name of Organisation
Linked In
facebook
Piniterest
Twitter
139 Club
Yes
Yes
Yes
Abbotsleigh Citrus
Yes
Yes
Acacia Care and Omega International Church
Yes
Yes
Access Street Vans
Yes
Yes
Annerley Church of Christ
Yes
Yes
Aussie Helpers
Yes
Yes
Yes
Australian Fresh Salads
Yes
Yes
Australian Tongan Association Inc
Brisbane Foster Care Support Group
Brisbane Markets
Yes
Yes
Burnie Brae Centre -Project Pantry
Yes
Yes
Caboolture Community Action
Yes
Catspaw Farm
Chermside Anglican Welfare Ministries
Yes
Community Action in Carole Park Inc
Yes
Education Queensland
Yes
Family Haven
Yes
Global Care
Yes
Yes
HelpForce
Yes
HOPE Community Care
Yes
Hosanna Church Brisbane
Yes
Ipswich Region Community Church
Yes
Yes
Impact Church, Springwood
Yes
Inala Youth Service
Yes
Yes
Yes
Just Squeezed Fruit Juices
Yes
Yes
Yes
King International Operations
Yes
Lighthouse Community Care
Yes
Logan East Community Neighbourhood Centre
Yes
Micah Projects
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
NerangNeighbourhood Centre
Yes
Yes
Perfection Fresh
Yes
Yes
Yes
Reach Out Community and Family Care Inc
Yes
River City Church Brisbane
Yes
Ronald McDonald House – Mater
Yes
Ronald McDonald House – SEQ
Yes
Yes
Yes
Salvation Army – Street Level Mission
Yes
Yes
Salvation Army – Brisbane
Yes
Yes
Sandgate House Youth Emergency Services
Yes
Yes
Sandhurst Fine Foods
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Scripture Union
Yes
Yes
Yes
Set Free Care
Yes
Yes
Shine Community Care
Yes
Yes
Sisters Inside
Yes
Yes
St Bartholomew’s Youth Accommodation
Yes
St Vincent de Paul
Yes
Yes
Yes
Steric Trading Pty Ltd
Yes
Yes
Yes
Suncoast Care
Yes
Teen Mission International Australia
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community Independent School
Yes
The Exchange Church
Yes
Yes
Yes
The Rock Family and Community Support Inc ( the welfare arm of the Rock Christian Church)
Yes
Twin Rivers Food Co-op
Yes
Uniting Care Community Refugee Claimant Support Service
Yes
Vibe Care Ltd
Yes
Vita Coco Blue Oxygen
Yes
Yes
We Care 2 Inc
Wickhams Farms Killarney
Yes
Wodonga Park Fruit and Nuts
Yes
Youth Housing Project
Yes
Yes
Additionally, while thanking the following sponsors on social media sites (23rd January, 2013), they have been added to the following sites:
Acacia Ridge Community Support Incpinterest –
Brisbane City Council Libraries Linkedin- facebook – pinterest – twitter
Goodman Fielder Linkedin – facebook – pinterest
Jupiters Casino Linkedin – facebook – pinterest
Lord Mayor Graham Quirk facebook- piniterest
SA Contingent Scouts Linkedin – facebook– pinterest -twitter
The role involves a range of communications to promote a positive image of Foodbank Queensland including organising advertising, online and digital work, plus various other tasks such as media releases and developing communications plan. The Communications Officer must work alongside management and administration to aid in the media development of Foodbank Queensland. Currently this position is voluntary.
Some key responsibilities:
CoordinateFoodbank’s internal and external communication channels
Develop a communication plan
Carry out key actions within the communication plan, such as;
Assisting with online and social media
Writing media releases.
Essential Criteria:
Relevant tertiary qualifications or equivalent previous experience in a communications role
Demonstrated experience in sourcing material and writing copy for publications,promotional material, sponsorship proposals and other strategic initiatives
Demonstrated professional writing skills
Develop, implement and maintain strong and effective communications with key stakeholders
High-level written and verbal communication skills with the ability to translate complex issues into simple messages
Demonstrated organisational and time management skills, and the ability to manage multipleprojects with competing deadlines
Commitment to the philosophy ofFoodbank Queensland and the ability and desire to uphold these values.
Desirable:
Demonstrated experience in event promotion
Demonstrated experience liaising with media.
Written applications which detail compliance with the essential and desirable requirements should be forwarded to gus@foodbankqld.org.au.