Stories of trepidation, trouble, and triumph of women in the tent cities of the 18th century goldfields
Meet Sophie Heather, who has teamed up with Tish Bourke in acting and devising their new work Golden Dreams. Sophie has recently graduated in Fine Arts (Drama) from QUT.
Tell us about the show in 100 words or less
Golden Dreams sends audiences back to 1853 Melbourne to witness the stories of trepidation, trouble, and triumph that the women who braved the tent cities and goldfields faced. A fictional story based on true events, and rumours, Golden Dreams allows audiences to experience life through a lens that is often overlooked. This performance combines traditional theatrical conventions with dream sequences and physical theatre to explore the characters innermost fears and desires.
Anywhere Festival takes place anywhere but a theatre. Tell us about your venue. What is it about your space that adds to your audience experience?
Golden Dreams will be performed at the Woolloongabba Substation, which is a community hall owned by Communify. This is a non-traditional theatre space as it doesn’t have all the bells and whistles of a theatre - we won’t have the luxury of a stage, wings, or a lighting and sound board.
The people who came to Australia during the Gold Rush Era were met with land that didn’t accommodate the basic needs for survival – these people needed to improvise to survive. Interestingly, this space has provided the opportunity to channel the spirit of the diggers by forcing us to think of innovative ways to share the story without relying on traditional theatre technology. Audiences will enjoy witnessing the performance in an intimate space where the actors will be controlling the lighting onstage. Furthermore, this space continues to push the notion that theatre can be performed anywhere, and expensive technology isn’t necessary in sharing stories.
What is your creative process like?
Our creative process began with thorough research. Tish visited historical sites and museums that provided insight to the lives of people who braved these bleak conditions. I researched life for women in the 1850s, focusing on topics such as menstruation and childbirth, and the place of women in society. Our research is continually sprinkled through our performance which also provided starting points in devising our show.
Image + cover image: Marvin Media
Tell us your origin story. How did your collaboration start?
Tish and I met at university and worked together as key writers in our final student production, Stuck. We were keen to work together again, so we decided to pitch a proposal for a show in Anywhere Festival, based on an idea Tish discovered after her trips to Ballarat and Sovereign Hill.
Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?
I believe the target audience is quite broad – this show has a bit of everything in it. However, I feel people who will be especially drawn to this performance are those who are interested in stories based on history, particularly with a feminine perspective.
Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?
We have worked hard to graciously mirror the pressures women, who migrated to Australia, faced during this era. Therefore, Golden Dreams refers to triggering topics such as domestic violence, childbirth, and death.
Golden Dreams takes place as part of Anywhere Festival on the 14th, 15th, 21st, 22nd & 23rd of May at Woolloongabba Substation
