The Griffin Theatre Company is focused on Australian writing. Located in Sydney’s historic SBW Stables Theatre, they lead the country in developing and producing great Australian stories, and are dedicated to supporting Australian artists.
The Girgensohn Foundation supported the Story Lab program. Story Lab is presented by Griffin Theatre Company, in association with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre. It is a program for emerging writers, directors and theatre-makers from a range of cultural and artistic backgrounds. The 6-day series of workshops, presentations, performances and discussions explores cross-cultural and cross-art form performance making.
The goal of Story Lab is to challenge participants’ ways of thinking, to exchange storytelling methodology, develop critical dialogue and discourse, explore notions of culture and identity, and forge professional networks. Participants are mentored by some of Australia’s leading artists and facilitators, providing a unique opportunity to diversify their practices by looking at alternative ways to make work, and alternative people to make work with. The program had a significant impact on both Griffin and the participants.
The key impacts for participants are
- Gaining new skills in performance making
- Collaboration with directors and actors
- Dialogue about contemporary practice
- Expanding networks for potential future creative collaborations
- Access to Griffin staff and ongoing engagement with the company
Three participants in the 2012 Story Lab were subsequently supported by the Australia Council’s cultural leadership program to take up a residency program at Griffin. Nakkiah Lui had a play performed at the Belvoir Theatre in 2013. Jenevieve Chang told her story on ABC TV.
The key impacts for Griffin are a deeper connection with young theatre-makers and their stories, and partnerships with interstate theatre organisations and their networks.