Schools & Youth
Eva and Heather are both very experienced in
working with young people of all ages. Eva has
coordinated the Mallacoota Youth Festival on
several occasions and co-directed a youth theatre project called ‘Rumours of a Ruinous Wall’ alongside acclaimed director Jessica Wilson in 2008. Eva also coordinated the East Gippsland Shire Council three year Youth Capacity Building project from 2002 to 2005.
In 2007 Eva and Heather developed a program for a group of school aged children who all have a sibling with a disability. These weekly sessions over several months connected and supported these children through music, drama and performance. Similarly, they developed a term long program for a group of ‘disengaged’ indigenous and non-indigenous grad 5 students at Bairnsdale West Primary School. As you will see from the testimonials attached, funding bodies, students, teachers and parents alike have given very positive feedback about these programs.
Music & Songwriting
Eva & Heather have developed a unique method of supporting young people of all ages to write their own songs around topics of interest to them. Using fun ways to explore their dreams, concerns, passions, fears and aspirations, Eva & Heather support young people to craft these into music and song.
Eva & Heather have also supported individuals and groups of young people in their own music and songwriting endeavors, including recording their work onto CD.
Percussion
Eva & Heather have a great percussion kit of various drums and instruments which they use to lead young workshop participants on a ‘groovy’ journey influenced from African, Brazilian and Rap rhythms. Small groups or up to 100 participants, Eva & Heather support young people to create a dramatic, dynamic percussion piece, which can become an exciting performance.
Often dramatic elements are incorporated
into the percussion workshop, for example,
there may be two opposing ‘gangs’ who
each have their unique rhythm, which in the
end complement each other or blend as the
gangs find middle ground or unite.
Participants are actively engaged in the
development of the ‘storyline’ for the
percussion performance.
Improvisation, Drama & Performance
Eva began her drama and theatre experience from a young age, growing up in Mallacoota, immersed for over 20 years in the renowned Easter arts festival there. She had the opportunity to work with well known writer - directors in this time, and has since worked on projects with the likes of Jessica Wilson and Donna Jackson. Eva spent time studying under Keith Johnston (created theatresports / world leader in improvisation) at Loose Moose Theatre in Canada, and has been teaching improvisation for many years.
Eva engages young participants in learning the principals and skills of improvised theatre. She loves supporting a group of young people to work as a team (even in a Theatresports ‘competition’) to create quality theatre …. on the spot! A youth Impro Show or Theatresports competition can be a wonderful addition to your event of festival.
Eva & heather also work with young people of all ages to support the creation of original dramatic performances. Often these are physical theatre based (physical performance to music and sound rather than scripts). The young people write, create and perform their own dramatic piece around topics of interest to them.
Moondust Detectives
This is a Roving children’s theatre performance that toured East Gippsland Shire for two weeks during the 2010 Easter School Holidays. It features Darren McCubbin, Dan Clancey, Eva Grunden & Heather Coulston. Click here to find out more...
(You may also be interested in the ‘Moondust Detectives’ roving performance and workshops)
Artwork by Liz Duthie
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