ONE THE BEAR

2017

Theatre

Artist/s: Candy Bowers (lead), Nancy Dennis, Kim Busty Beatz Bowers, Susie Dee, Jason Wing, Sarah Seahorse, Daniel Anderson, Claire Christian and Sista Zai

One the Bear is a fairy tale for the hip hop generation. Set in a garbage tip, this is the story of a young female bear that wants more for her tribe.

Garbage sparkles and catches on beams from broken streetlights as One and her best friend Ursula get up to mischief and mourn the dank life they lead. The two spit rhymes on living under Human Hunter law and dream of the days when bears were free eating fresh fish rather than packaged fish fingers. But what happens when One is given the opportunity to speak for her community? What happens when fame knocks at the door?

Lead artist Candy Bowers facilitated over 15 in-school workshops throughout 2016, for local and Western Sydney high school drama students. These practical programs informed new work development, while introducing young people to techniques in hip hop theatre, building skills in improvisation, rhythm, voice and physicality. Candy Bowers further extended education opportunities providing workshops for young people with youth organisation, White lion. These programs were provided over several sessions to assist young people in developing agency and self-expression, using practical skills in hip hop theatre, comedy, spoken word and creative writing.

High school students’ engagement with this new work was supported with an online education resource and classroom workshops developed by Dr Christine Hatton (Lecturer, School of Education - Drama at University of Newcastle), hip hop drama exercises developed by key artist Candy Bowers, script excerpt as well as video artist interviews with the creative team directed at young audiences.

Booked out schools shows were attended by schools from across South West Sydney, including young people disengaging with mainstream education, youth services, Wiritjiribin, as well as young people with challenging behaviours

Partners: White Lion