May 4, 2022
South Burnett residents aged 12 and above who would like to learn clowning and mask theatre techniques are being sought by Blackbutt’s Avocado Festival committee.
The committee is launching a Resilience Through Laughter workshop series with free clown and mask theatre workshops running between June and September.
The workshops will be run by teaching artist Clint Bolster from Brisbane’s Homunculus Theatre Company, and will have two streams.
One will cater for young people aged 12 to 17, and the other for adults.
Participants will have the opportunity to take part in a series of five workshops where they will learn performance techniques including comedy and non-verbal mask theatre, and how to apply these skills to a live group performance.
Each group will then develop a performance piece that will be staged at this year’s Blackbutt Avocado Festival on Saturday, September 10.
Avocado Festival president Jeff Connor said the committee was thrilled to be offering the free workshops to South Burnett residents.
“Last year our committee lead the development of the Blackbutt Arts Strategy, and this program is a direct result,” he said.
“In our public consultation survey, over 60 per cent of respondents indicated they would like to see more arts workshops and classes offered in the Blackbutt district.
“We welcome performers of all abilities and experience levels to come and ‘avo’ go – no experience is necessary to take part.”
Clint Bolster will be bringing 15 years of performing and teaching experience to Blackbutt.
He has performed at festivals and on stage across Australia and internationally in the United Kingdom, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan and New Zealand.
He has also delivered many workshops, artist-in-residence programs, professional development workshops for teachers, and performances for primary and secondary students, including many in regional Queensland.
The Blackbutt workshops have been supported by the Federal Government through the Festivals Australia program.
For further information, contact Avocado Festival’s Arts Project Officer Olivia Everitt on 0432-556-830 or email her
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Resilience Through Laughter workshops for youths aged 12-17 will be held from 4:00pm to 7:00pm on Fridays (June 17, July 15, August 5, August 19 and September 9).
Workshops for adults will be held from 9:00am to 2:00pm on Saturdays (June 18, July 16, August 6, August 20 and Thursday, September 8)
Classes will be held at Blackbutt Memorial Hall and the Blackbutt RSL Hall, and conclude with a public performance on Saturday, September 10 at the Avocado Festival.
Registrations for either of the workshop can be made online
[Photos: Supplied by Blackbutt Avocado Festival]
