To download the TOM Script (working draft, 14/1/10), Right-click the play's title and select "Save As".
CONTACT:
Mooroolbark Community Centre
Ph - 9726 5488
E-mail – mooroolbarkcc@yarraranges.vic.gov.au
WHERE?
Mooroolbark Community Centre
125 Brice Avenue, Mooroolbark (Behind the Moo Bar).
Project Summary
The Youth Safety Performance Project is an innovative new arts initiative based in the Mooroolbark Region of the Shire of Yarra Ranges. The project involves the production of an original cross-art form performance conceived and developed by young people for young people throughout 2009.
The core creative team, the See Hear Say (SHS) is made up of local emerging artists under the artistic directorship of Jayden Kenny and mentored by an established local artist Paul Towner. With the logistical support of the Arts, Culture & Heritage, Mooroolbark Community Centre, Youth Services and Road Safety the artists will create a performance package which aims to increase awareness of safety issues pertinent to Yarra Ranges young people, in particular, binge drinking, sexuality, graffiti, safe partying and drink/drug driving.
The finished product will be a school’s touring performance entitled TOM designed to engage secondary school students in year levels ten to twelve. The performance will premier as part of Youth week in March 2010 and roll out into local schools and Shire of Yarra Ranges cultural venues between March and May 2010.
Artistic Vision
The cross-art form performance of TOM follows the journey of a young protagonist as he faces a series of common challenges. The intimate narrative is enhanced by a strong visual design, innovative costumes, multi-media animation, movement and live music. The production cleverly weaves realism and a relatable storyline with dream-like surrealism presented to young people in a highly engaging visual format. The production design incorporates fast-paced layering of different artistic elements such as music, physical performance and animation presenting the material to young people in their preferred visual language (not unlike a music video).
Performance Synopsis
TOM is a funny, intimate look into the psyche of an adolescent boy as he grapples with the age-old issues, anxieties and dangers of becoming a young adult. At the start of the performance, we discover Tom in his bedroom, lying in a cesspool of inactivity, sexual frustration and boredom. As the narrative progresses Tom’s furniture comes to life, intent on showing him that contrary to what he believes, he is in control of his circumstances and his happiness. As Tom comes to terms with this new knowledge, he finds himself confronted by the behaviour of his peers, including his friend’s new interest in drugs and a young girl’s interest in him.
Performance Methodology
TOM will address issues and anxieties that are attributed to growing into young adulthood. The production will tackle binge drinking, sexuality, graffiti, peer pressure, bullying, drink/drug driving and drug use. The performance is designed to SHOW not TELL. In other words, rather than preach to the target audience, the core issues are subtly interwoven throughout the visual mis-en-scene, the dialogue, song lyrics and physical movement sequences. The performance will be carefully constructed to provoke an emotional response to the characters circumstances and provide interactive stimulus for further thought or discussion amongst the young audience after the production.