LEGS ON THE WALL

	SPRING NEWSLETTER SPRING IS IN THE AIR... Hi, Well, the sun is shining, people are enjoying the terrace, the flowers are out around the Red Box, days are getting longer….  and we have a new PM! Legs has been busy in the studio with Gavin Robins and NIDA lifting and diving, strutting and marching our way through the development of Fight Flight Freeze. It’s a deeply topical new outdoor work, particularly in the light of recent debates about regulation and policing of public space. We’ve welcomed (and sadly farewelled) some of the gallant Legs Board and staff and our landlords are embarking on the process of giving the building swanky and practical new polished concrete floors. We’ve cast Man With the Iron Neck, Directed by the brilliant Josh Bond and written by the sharp as a knife Melissa Reeves and we are about to embark on an exciting new partnership with NAISDA Dance College. Spring has kicked off at a fitting time of renewal and change that will see new voices blossom and emerging talents spring forth at Legs. … and like most of the Australian arts community we are making our survival plans for the Winter. But enough seasonal metaphors… Kath                                                                                                                                                    FIGHT, FLIGHT, FREEZE - a new work in partnership with Gavin Robins and NIDA "In our everyday lives we are surrounded by images of people intimidating others, fighting and fleeing for protection and safety. In our predominately privileged world we are committed to protecting our space, often at the expense of others." Gavin Robins - Director FFF and head of Movement at NIDA.  This new work represents the first step in a new partnership with NIDA that supports the development of new voices and performers in physical theatre, and supports Legs performers to transition into artistic leadership positions. This production sees Kathryn Puie work with Gavin Robins as Choreographer of the piece and Jessica Wong work alongside physical theatre students from NIDA. Both Legs On The Wall and NIDA want to develop highly physical and versatile actors who will feed into Legs On The Wall and contribute to the evolution of contemporary Australian physical performance. The collaboration with NIDA also provides the opportunity for Legs performers transitioning into artistic leadership roles to have the opportunity to work with Gavin Robins, honing their leadership skills as performance makers. "Legs On The Wall is an organisation with a 30 year history at the forefront of physical theatre making, and one which our current Head of Movement, Gavin Robins, has helped to create. NIDA sees its collaboration with Legs as a great way to link NIDA students with the physical theatre industry and to an organisation where employment opportunities and professional development can be fostered during the students’ time at NIDA." Lynne Williams CEO NIDA                                                                                                                                                    SUMMER PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH NIDA We are also working in collaboration with NIDA in offering some exciting new Summer courses in 2016. The one-day Introduction to Flying with Legs on the Wall will offer a hothouse day in the Red Box with three Legs performers covering contact improvisation, wall running, adagio, silks and yoga. Off the Floor is a 5-day course gives you the opportunity to train with NIDA and Legs tutors in the fundamentals of aerial and adagio work and apply these skills to creating character driven, devised performance. The week concludes with an Open studio showing of your work.                                                                                                                                                    OUR NEW WORKS... THE MAN WITH THE IRON NECK "The Man With The Iron Neck is a project that is very close to my heart and one that I know relates to many other Australians on a most personal level, it’s a personal story and an idea that I have been wanting to bring to the stage and share with audiences for years. I think audiences will be challenged, excited and inspired by the work because it is a story that relates to peoples lived experience that is seldom heard. I am really excited about what we can make with this dream creative team, and feel really honored by the level of enthusiasm that they have for the project." Josh Bond, DIRECTOR       THE MAN WITH THE IRON NECK will be an exciting and breath taking new piece of Australian physical theatre, exploring crucial contemporary themes, that are often difficult to talk about, in a dynamic style that is accessible, engaging and uplifting. This new work focuses on the story of four young people in a regional community in Australia in the late 1990s, two brothers, a cousin and their Aunty, and what happens when they lose a brother. It's a story of survival, a story about the push and pull that many young people go through as they grapple with the pull towards self-destruction and pushing the boundaries of their physical and emotional limits. This is not so much a story about suicide, as a story about embracing life - a moving, physical rendering of humour and inevitable poignancy. We head into development in December and we can't wait to see this talented cast jumping and flying around in the Red Box!                                                                                                                                                      SO ABOVE, AS BELOW (working title) We are really excited to be working with Gavin Webber and Josh Thomson on a new work. Fresh from their COCKFIGHT success in NORPA, these guys represent some of the best and most engaging physical theatre being made in Australia.  To add to the legacy of Legs' famous style, the work will exist on two planes; one on the ground and one in the air.  "The show explores the idea where two worlds exist side by side, one below and the other floating above. The show is a comment about what we value, what we own, what we need and what is not seen, i.e. the influence and the impact of these choices and what we must leave behind when we're unable to hold it all in our hands."  Josh Thomson and Gavin Webber The development kicks off in November 2015 with a special Masterclass for physical performers.   Image: Josh Thomson by Jeff Dawson                                                                                                                                                     CLASSES @ LEGS We have seen some incredible physical skills emerge and develop during classes this term and we can't wait to see where they will be by the end of the year. Who knows...possible future Legs performers in the making?  Anything is possible but the main thing is that everyone has a blast! Rick Everett, professional performer and skilled tutor, will once again be leading all levels of skill and ability in the art of Handstand & Tumbling and Adagio/partner Acrobatics.  We welcome all levels of ability and enthusiasm so why not take a leap and learn from one of the best? DATES: Handstand & Tumbling Monday from 12 October - Monday 14 December  Adagio will run every Tuesday 13 October - Tuesday 15 December TIME: Beginner level 6.30pm - 8pm Intermediate/advanced level 7.30pm (warm up) 8 - 9pm    LOCATION: Legs headquarters The Red Box 91 Canal Road, Lilyfield 2040 COST: Term: $350 Drop in classes @ $40 per class EARLYBIRD REWARD! Sign up for the full term by September 22 and pay $300 per term.  You can find out more HERE or take a leap and register HERE or contact the Legs office for more information: E: admin@legsonthewall.com.au P: 02 9560 9479                                                                                                                                                  VENUE HIRE There's never a dull moment at Legs headquarters in Lilyfield and so far this year we have seen some fantastic productions and projects take shape in all of our studios so far this year. Our WAREHOUSE STUDIOS have seen everything from high fashion and design photoshoots using chicken models, to cutting edge hip hop, new theatre productions and ground breaking musicals. In the RED BOX we have had robots, musicals, theatre and intriguing product launches - not to mention our own production rehearsals, developments and aerial workshops! Do you need a unique space to rehearse, shoot, film or maybe you are looking for a unique and creative space to host your end of year Xmas event? We have dates available, plenty of parking, a lightrail stop just around the corner and the luxury of a secluded spot overlooking Iron Cove Bay. Curious? Contact the Legs office for more information or to arrange a visit: E: admin@legsonthewall.com.au P: 02 9560 9479                                                                                                                                                   CHANGES TO THE BOARD We have had a bit of a shift and a reshuffle on our Board over the last month and we now sadly say farewell to both our Chair, Moira Hay and our Secretary, Vivienne Skinner. After many years of wonderful work, they leave Legs bigger and better and we shall miss their smarts and advice. While it is sad to say goodbye, we are also very pleased to announce that the wonderful Simone Whetton will take the helm as our new Chair and we officially welcome our newest Board members, Narelle Beattie as Treasurer and Kirk Page, who many of you will remember as one of the talented Legs performers in several productions such as RUNNERS UP andEORA CROSSING. Inroducing... Simone Whetton Simone is a corporate M&A partner at national law firm, Colin Biggers & Paisley. Simone has a long running What's On segment on 702 ABC Sydney each weekend where she reviews the arts in Sydney. Simone is also on the Board of Griffin Theatre and a Senate elected Director on the University of Sydney Union. She was the immediate past Chair of one of Sydney largest community radio stations 2RPH, part of the national RPH network. She was also a director and former Chair of ARS Musica. Simone is a qualified speech and drama teacher and adjudicates at the Sydney Eisteddfod each year in Speech & Drama. Narelle Beattie Narelle joined the Legs Board in February 2015.  She is an experienced commercial executive who was recently appointed Director Corporate Services & Governance at Taronga Zoo.  Prior to this appointment Narelle worked at Opera Australia for almost 10 years holding the roles of first Finance Director and then later Chief Operating Officer.  Her time at OA gave Narelle extensive exposure to the performing arts sector, particularly venue partners and government funding agencies.  Narelle is a passionate theatre and opera-goer who believes strongly that good business practice can and should be applied equally from the smallest not-for-profit performing arts company to the largest.  She is loving being on the Legs Board. Kirk Page Widely acclaimed for his physical theatre, aerial and dance work, Kirk has appeared in Ochres for Bangarra Dance Theatre, which toured Australia and internationally, A Midsummer Night's Dream for Opera Australia and has performed numerous times for Legs, in productions including Eora Crossing and Runners Up. Kirk’s acting career has also seen him with roles in award wining TV and film productions, such as Redfern Now and The Turning and most recently has had roles in the theatre productions of Snugglepot & Cuddlepie and Black Diggers. legsonthewall.com.au