Past Events

Tropical Arts Started in 2008

 

Highlights to date have been Tropical Arts productions ‘The Tempest’ performed in 2008. ‘The Merchant of Venice‘ in 2009, and Tropical Arts workshops and training events.

Tropical Arts first major production was William Shakespeare’s ‘The Tempest’.

This was a Shakespearean play about a Shipwreck on an island and the ensuring conflicts of culture and understanding. Tropical Arts production of this play saw an connection to modern Australia through the use of Indigenous Actors.

In 2009 Tropical Arts performed ‘The Merchant of Venice’ this play was about power, conflict and the crisis of money. This play was made relevant and real to audiences through its connection with The economic down turn and the plight of regaining money and control in modern society.

TROPICAL ARTS Association Inc & Tanks Arts Centre present …

The Merchant of Venice

Revitalised, original & relevant – Shakespeare for this place, this time.

The GFC (Global Financial Cricis) has either ripped your world apart or passed you by.  But the ongoing question is this: what part does money play in our lives?  Are you held, by the throat?   Are you laughing as others suffer under the weight of their financial contracts?  Have your finances affected your friendships or your marriage?  Should governments stand by and follow the letter of the law as the fat cats crawl away?  Difficult questions – Shakespeare asked them (and many more) 400 years ago.

October 13 – 17:  Tropical Arts’ production of Shakespeare’s “The Merchant of Venice”, draws on local talent to tease out the subtleties of this complex comedy.  An ensemble cast painting with a broad brush from across the diverse community of Cairns:

Money, money, money, love, bigotry and justice are entwined in this fast-moving production. A cast dripping with local talent.  A show designed for the Tanks Arts Centre.

Synopsis

Shakespeare’s “Merchant of Venice” tells a contemporary story:  a story of an honest man endangered by economic circumstances beyond his control.   Antonio, the Merchant is willing to help his good friend, Bassanio, a gambler, take one last wager – to win the hand of the renowned, beautiful heiress, Portia.  Antonio borrows heavily from Shylock, the Jewish money-lender to furnish his friend with enough cash. When Antonio’s ships are all wrecked at sea, it seems he must pay the forfeit, with a pound of flesh from nearest his heart.  Not even the Duke of Venice can shake Shylock’s claim to his bond.  There are also a trio of love stories where the women turn the tables on their lovers and prove that a strong, intelligent woman is a greater asset to her husband than any other.

To end 2009 Tropical Arts had a Host a Murder Christmas Party, set in the year 1953 at the Merchant Vee and Co’s Circus Extravaganza. This host a murder was written and hosted by Tropical Arts’ Marianne Buchanan McNamee, all 43 of the ‘Merchant of Venice’ Cast, Crew and friends were give a circus character and given a variety of clues to see if anyone could work out who the killer was.

Tropical Arts 2010

Tropical Arts has been running a variety of workshops and events as it gears up for the next big ‘Shakespeare at the Tanks‘.

Such workshops have involved an 8 week drama workshop series on Scriptwriting, directing and performing which concluded with a Showcase on July 31st 2010

Thanks for  Joining Tropical Arts at the VIBE Lounge on July 31st 2010

On the 31st of July a selection of original works that were created and developed at the Tropical Arts Scriptwriting, Performing and Directing Workshop Series where performed at the VIBE Lounge in Cairns.

These 8 short plays were later  to be performed at The Pyramid Race and The Atherton One Act Play festival.

For more information about upcoming plays and workshops contact tropicalarts@yahoo.com

May 2010 Performance Making Workshops

TROPICAL ARTS WORKSHOP SERIES#1

Performance Making Workshops were held Saturday 15 May 5.30-9.30pm Saturday 22 May 5.30-9.30pm @Gordonvale Community Hub, 17-19 Cannon St

International Theatreman Willem Brugman facilitated a series of workshops for people who wished to develop their performance making skills. Beginning with a series of skill exercises for the performer and working in ensemble, Brugman was then able to draw out ideas for performance. These were then workshopped showing how any creative spark can become a piece for performance.

Participants brought their own ideas for a performance (however undeveloped or developed), or worked from the stimuli offered in the workshop.

Willem Brugman has worked with some of the World’s most influential Performing Arts Practitioners and theorists: Eugenio Barba, Jean Pierre Voos, Peter Brook, Pina Bausch, John Cage, Augusto Boal and many more. And those that participated in these two Weekend Workshop Series enjoyed working with him too!

Tropical Arts and The Great Pyramid Race

Tropical Arts performed on the Gordonvale Stage for the Great Pyramid Race, on Saturday the 14th August 2010. Members from the 8 week drama workshop series  performed the play ‘The Scary Singing Pirates’ by Marianne Buchanan McNamee. It was a funny little play that involved the audience in the action.

Also at the Great Pyramid Race Tropical Arts held a stall and sold merchandise for the next big Shakespeare at the Tanks play ‘Measure for Measure’.

Tropical Arts upcoming Performances and Events.

THE GREAT PYRAMID RACE: Tropical Arts will be holding a store and selling merchandise for their upcoming play ‘Measure for Measure and performing the piece ‘The Scary Singing Pirates’ by Marianne Buchanan McNamee at the  THE GREAT PYRAMID RACE, on the 14th of August.

WHEN THE WHEELS FALL OFF THE WORLD: Tropical Arts hosted the event ‘When the Wheels Fall Off the World’ which was performed at the Cairns Botanical Gardens, on Collins Avenue from August 19th- 29th.

Tropical Arts took a series of plays up to the  ONE ACT PLAY FESTIVAL in Atherton from September 4th – 5th. These plays were developed as part of the Scriptwriting, Directing and Performing 8 week drama workshop Series. The plays taken up to the festival are: ‘Fruit and Pixie Salad’ by Heidi Davies, ‘Matriarch Rule’ by Neil Ferrero, ‘Tachyon’ by Nick Charlton, ‘Writers Block’ by Kirsten Lovett, ‘Walls of Claustrophobia’ by Nick Charlton, ‘Day of Death’ by Marianne Buchanan McNamee, ‘Have you Seen my Chicken’ by Heidi Davies, ‘The Beauty Shop Song’ by Marianne Buchanan McNamee, ‘Fifteen’ by Heidi Davies and ‘The Scary Singing Pirates’ by Marianne Buchanan McNamee.