98th ISPA Congress MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA MAY 30 – JUNE 4, 2016 REIMAGINING CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PEOPLE & COUNTRY 2 MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER FOR CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, 3 STATE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 4 MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OF PROGRAMMING, ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (ISPA) 6 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS (ISPA) 7 LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN: A SHORT HISTORY OF ISPA 8 MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA 10 CONGRESS VENUES 11 TRANSPORT 12 PRACTICAL INFORMATION 13 ISPA UP LATE 14 WHERE TO EAT & DRINK 15 ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 16 THE ANTHONY FIELD ACADEMY SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 18 THE ANTHONY FIELD ACADEMY SPEAKERS 22 CONGRESS SCHEDULE OF EVENTS 28 CONGRESS PERFORMANCES 37 CONGRESS AWARD WINNERS 42 CONGRESS SESSION SPEAKERS & MODERATORS 44 THE ISPA FELLOWSHIP CHALLENGE 56 2016 FELLOWSHIP PROGRAMS 57 ISPA FELLOWSHIP RECIPIENTS 58 ISPA STAR MEMBERS 59 ISPA OUT ON THE TOWN SCHEDULE 60 SPONSOR ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 66 ISPA CREDITS 67 ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE CREDITS 68 We are committed to ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to become immersed in ISPA Melbourne. To help us make the most of your experience, please ask us about Access during the Congress. Cover image and all REIMAGINING images from Chunky Move’s AORTA (2013) / Photo: Jeff Busby ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF PEOPLE MESSAGE FROM THE MINISTER FOR & COUNTRY CREATIVE INDUSTRIES, Arts Centre Melbourne respectfully acknowledges STATE GOVERNMENT OF VICTORIA the traditional owners and custodians of the land on Whether you’ve come from near or far, I welcome all which the 98th International Society for the Performing delegates to the 2016 ISPA Congress, to Australia’s Arts (ISPA) Congress is held, the Wurundjeri and creative state and to the world’s most liveable city. Boonwurrung peoples of the Kulin Nation. For the Wurundjeri, Boonwurrung, Taungurong, Dja Dja I cannot think of a more fitting location for this Wurrung and Wathaurung groups that form the Kulin gathering. Melbourne and the state of Victoria more Nation, Melbourne has been an important meeting broadly are home to a diverse, multifaceted performing place for events of social, educational, sporting and arts sector – from the oldest theatre company in the cultural significance.T oday, Melbourne is a significant country and national treasures such as The Australian gathering place for all Indigenous Victorians, and Ballet and Circus Oz, to world-renowned independent as people from all over the world gather for the innovators; magnificent heritage theatres to state-of- Melbourne 2016 ISPA Congress, we acknowledge the the-art performance spaces and gritty venues. people of the Kulin Nation and pay our respects to It is against this backdrop that you’ll be meeting with their Elders past and present. creative leaders from as many as 50 countries to discuss, and shape, the future of the performing arts. This year the Congress focuses on the theme of reimagining. Through a program of performances and keynotes you will develop relationships, exchange knowledge, examine international best practice and imagine what the future holds for your practice and for the performing arts more broadly. Here in Victoria, we’ve been reimagining the future of the creative industries and the role they play in our society, our economy and our culture. Innovation, participation and international engagement are key components of Creative State, the Victorian Government’s recently released creative industries strategy. This strategy brings with it the largest ever government investment in our state’s creative and cultural sectors and it puts them at the forefront of Victoria’s future growth, prosperity and liveability. It’s a strategy that is underpinned by collaboration, partnerships and a global world view, themes that I hope will also characterise the 2016 ISPA Congress and your experience here in Melbourne. Martin Foley MP Minister for Creative Industries, State Government of Victoria 2 3 MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR OFFICER, ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE OF PROGRAMMING, ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE Welcome to this year’s ISPA Congress, proudly hosted by Arts Centre Melbourne in Australia’s most creative We’re delighted to welcome you to Melbourne, the state. We look forward to bringing people together for a home of the Wurundjeri and Boonwurrung peoples, the remarkable experience. birthplace of Dame Nellie Melba, Dame Edna Everage, Arts Centre Melbourne, Australia’s largest performing Kylie Minogue, Cate Blanchett and Flea, the laboratory arts centre, sits at the gateway of the Melbourne Arts in which companies such as Chunky Move, ILBIJERRI Precinct and at the intersection of our vibrant business Theatre Company, Polyglot Theatre and Lucy Guerin Inc district and our acclaimed sports and tourism precincts. create the work that they take to the world, on lands where the contemporary performing arts are part of a Our state has been enriched by people from more continuum stretching back tens of thousands of years. than 200 countries around the world who have chosen Melbourne as home, and this continues to influence our In Melbourne in 2016, we look forward with a mind on creative and cultural offering. the past, to discuss issues that concern all of us around the world, and to reimagine what the performing arts With the support of the Victorian Government, and with could be. We at Arts Centre Melbourne have been their clearly articulated strategy Creative State providing delighted to collaborate with our colleagues from a roadmap for the future, it is an exciting time to be around the Melbourne Arts Precinct and beyond to part of the creative industries in Victoria. deliver a program that captures themes of particular I’m sure this important Congress with its theme of relevance and consequence. We hope you’ll be REIMAGINING has much to contribute to our city’s fascinated, intrigued, challenged and inspired. already vibrant cultural dialogue. Moreover, we hope you’ll explore all of Melbourne’s As a leader of the performing arts industry, Arts Centre myriad, mysterious attractions, so that you return Melbourne and our team encourage you to delve deeply home not only with your minds brimming, but also with into that dialogue, to interrogate it, to share your your eyes, ears, taste buds and hearts full of all that thoughts and take with you ideas to help enrich your Melbourne has to offer. I wish you a wonderful Congress. own cultural environment and stimulate engagement Michael Stevens long after the Congress has concluded. Director of Programming, Arts Centre Melbourne We also look forward to hearing your stories and learning Program Director, Melbourne 2016 ISPA Congress from your innovations and successes so we can all continue to evolve. Enjoy your stay. Claire Spencer Chief Executive Officer, Arts Centre Melbourne 4 5 MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR, MESSAGE FROM THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR THE OFFICER, INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PERFORMING ARTS (ISPA) THE PERFORMING ARTS (ISPA) Dear Colleagues, Dear Colleagues, REIMAGINING! It is not merely a Congress theme. Any Welcome to ISPA’s 98th Congress, REIMAGINING. How apt one of us, not just in the cultural sector, but living in the a theme for our first Congress in Melbourne and the first world today, grapples with the need to constantly be in time we have been in Australia for 15 years. The country a state of reimagining just as a matter of daily life. we visited all those years ago has indeed reimagined As we think about the performing arts, today’s rapid itself. The increased recognition of First Nations people pace of change makes it difficult to lead towards and the concerted focus on creating partnerships in Asia a horizon when the other side may be so very have had a significant impact on the country and in unimaginable. So what better place to take up this particular on arts and culture. theme than in Melbourne – a dynamic international city Over the course of the next few days, we will be at the nexus of the Asian Pacific region.T his part of the experiencing the wide diversity that Melbourne has to world grows more influential in its global impact each offer with respect to its arts community – performances day. The 98th Congress will be our third in the region in from many different genres, a variety of venues and 15 years. It is essential that we stay connected here, voices from around the world. As always I encourage you as technology continues to make our world smaller to reach out to individuals you may not have met before and change is the only constant we can embrace. The and broaden your experience. performing arts in this region have made their mark on With every International Congress on which I have the world. Its festival culture has set a standard for us worked, I have always been overwhelmed by the all. Its diverse perspectives are a guiding post for each of commitment and dedication brought by the Congress us to consider and apply in our own communities. host to ensure that you, the delegates, benefit from the In the program curated for us by Congress organisers, experience of the meeting and the local culture. This we are challenged to not just REIMAGINE but to is no less true here where our host team, led by Arts consider where we have been and who gets to Centre Melbourne, has brought together individuals and reimagine with us. As the world begins to address the organisations from throughout Melbourne, and indeed historical effects of global patterns of colonisation, Australia, to collaborate on this Congress. I also wanted shared experiences from First Nations people can only take this opportunity to thank the many speakers who help us connect more authentically.