Monkey Baa Theatre, in collaboration with Drama NSW, is thrilled to offer an intensive workshop tailored for primary teachers, whether you’re seasoned in theatre or just starting out. Dive into the enriching world of school performances with our straightforward script-to-stage method.

Three action packed sessions:

• Experience the art of adapting children’s books for the stage. Through hands-on activities, you’ll learn how to seamlessly transition from page to performance, captivating young audiences with timeless tales.
• Enter the enchanting realm of puppetry. Our puppetry specialist will guide you on how to bring story adaptations to life, offering insights and techniques for effective character creation and narrative expression.
• Explore the transformative power of drama as a teaching tool. This session will equip you with techniques and strategies that not only amplify your teaching prowess but also deepen student engagement and comprehension.

Throughout this workshop, you’ll familiarise yourself with a variety of devising, movement, sound, and design techniques. With our comprehensive insights into easily implemented design elements, educators are set on a path to lead a successful and memorable performance. Join us for this enlightening experience co-hosted by Drama NSW and unlock the potential of theatre in the classroom.

Event information
Date: 2nd April, 2024
Time: 9.30am -2.30pm
Catering: Morning Tea will be provided. Lunch venues are accessible and near by the theatre within the Darling Quarter.
Venue: ARA Darling Quarter Theatre – Terrace 3, 1-25 Harbour St, Sydney NSW 2000

Presenting company
Monkey Baa

Monkey Baa Theatre Company

Monkey Baa creates great theatre for young people and for over 26 years we have presented award-winning theatrical experiences that inspire and empower audiences across Australia. We are one of Australia’s widest touring companies, with over 29 national tours to 135 regional and remote communities, 5 international tours and 4000 performances reaching more than 1.5 million young people. We empower young people to shape their lives through inspiring theatre and creative experiences. We create, present and tour performances powered by imagination, with eye-opening ideas and boundless fun. Our vision is a world where all young people are emboldened by creativity and our mission is to empower young people to shape and navigate their lives through inspirational theatre and creative experiences. Our productions are designed to captivate and empower young audiences, bringing to life some of the most beloved stories and characters from around Australia. From the magical world of Possum Magic to the inspirational tale of Josephine Wants to Dance, Monkey Baa offers a wide range of shows that inspire and enchant audiences.

Kailah Cabanas – Puppetry Director, Monkey Baa

Kailah Cabanas is a versatile performer and puppetry expert with a diverse background in acting, puppeteering, creature performance, and puppetry direction. She honed her skills at the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television, graduating with distinction. Kailah’s impressive career highlights include her role in The National Theatre’s acclaimed production of War Horse and her portrayal of the lead character Martha in Christopher Weekes’ short film Martha the Monster, produced by See Pictures. With an international flair, Kailah toured globally with Cirque Du Soleil’s spectacular arena show Toruk, The First Flight, based on James Cameron’s blockbuster Avatar. Additionally, she showcased her talent as the Puppetry Director and Lead Puppeteer in Causeway’s feature film Blaze, under the direction of Del Kathryn Barton. More recently, Kailah collaborated with Artistic Director Eva Di Cesare at Monkey Baa Theatre Company, where she demonstrated her puppetry prowess in productions such as The Diary of a Wombat and Edward the Emu. She also contributed her expertise as a puppeteer in the creation of a new horror film, Sting, directed by Kiah Roache-Turner, in collaboration with Weta Workshop. With her diverse range of skills and experiences, Kailah continues to captivate audiences and push the boundaries of puppetry and performance artistry.

Eva Di Cesare – Artistic Director, Monkey Baa

Eva is the Artistic Director and co-founder of Monkey Baa Theatre Company. She graduated from Victorian College of the Arts in 1989. Most recently she directed the company’s 2022 production of Sheena Knowles Edward the Emu which toured around Australia playing to over 50 thousand young people. She also directed Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s Diary of A Wombat which toured to 59 venues throughout Australia and won the 2017 Glug Award for Outstanding Presentation for Children. She also adapted and directed Where the Streets Had a Name based on the novel by Randa Abdel-Fattah. Eva has co-adapted Sydney Theatre Award winning play Li Cunxin’s The Peasant Prince, Helpmann award winning plays Jackie French’s Hitler’s Daughter and Sonya Hartnett’s Thursday’s Child, Tim Winton’s The Bugalugs Bum Thief, Morris Gleitzman’s Worry Warts and Gillian Rubinstein’s The Fairy’s Wings, Stephen Michael King’s Milli, Jack and the Dancing Cat, Susanne Gervay’s I Am Jack, Elizabeth Fensham’s Goodbye Jamie Boyd, Duncan Ball’s Emily Eyefinger, Jackie French and Bruce Whatley’s Pete the Sheep and Josephine Wants to Dance and Possum Magic based on the much loved book by Mem Fox and Julie Vivas. In 2013 Eva developed and facilitated the Discover the Stage – Digital Drama Workshops for the Sydney Opera House with Tim McGarry. They also co-wrote and directed the 2013 Opera House Babies Proms Series for CDP Theatre Producers, Simon Tedeschi: Pianist and Prankster for Monkey Baa, and Who Needs a Conductor Anyway? with Simon Tedeschi for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra which Eva directed.

Alexander Andrews – Learning & Engagement Specialist, Monkey Baa

Alexander believes young people are at their most imaginative when engaging with and learning through the arts. In his role as Learning & Engagement Specialist at Monkey Baa Theatre Company, he collaborates with students, teachers, and artists to craft enriching arts education experiences, fostering a deeper connection to theatre. He designs and leads workshops providing hands-on theatre making experiences, develops educational resources to enhance students’ understanding of and engagement with productions, conducts teacher professional development courses for integrating theatre techniques into the classroom, leads initiatives for increased youth access to theatre, and cultivates connections between arts and education through a range of projects. Beyond his role at Monkey Baa, Alexander is an Academic Lecturer at the Australian Institution of Music and the co-founder of independent theatre company Little Triangle. Committed to amplifying diverse voices in the arts, he champions storytelling as a vehicle for empathy and strives to amplify underrepresented perspectives in his as an educator and an artist.

Price
Member: $300
Non-member: $380
Preservice Teacher: $150