With support from the Australia Council for the Arts and My Place/Studio, Julia commenced work with mentor and collaborator, Bron Batten (VIC) on her concept for The New Bachelorette.

Working online due to pandemic, they spent over 40 hours discussing research and developing the project concept.

The first stage development took place in February 2021 in Perth, with support from The Minderoo Foundation Artist Grant , The Australia Council for the Arts through the SEVEN Project,and The Black Swan State Theatre Company, with additional funds provided through the NDIS and My Place WA.

This first development centred on exploring the conceptual structure of the piece and establishing initial artistic relationships with a group of male participants. This initial creative intensive culminated in a public showing for various industry representatives in Perth, including Minderoo, Performing Lines WA and Perth Festival.

This second creative development period took place in Perth in September 2021. It involved a rigorous physical, improvisational and performative program, designed to expand the perimeters of the central performance project, whilst simultaneously developing the participants core dramatic skills and abilities.

The creative team, led by Julia Hales and Bron Batten, worked cohesively in order to utilise the collaborating artists unique performative skills and past experiences. This responsive approach maximised the theatrical investigation and exploration throughout the development period. This benefitted the participants through contact with professional arts practitioners and access to training and skills building.

The New Bachelorette team has requested tech support, outside eye input and network building with TLGH collaborators.

TNB team acknowledges the work TLGH has undertaken in integrating filmic and performative forms and believe this could lend valuable insight into new dimensions of TNB. TLGH collaborator Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd worked with us on our second development and the TNB company is keen to continue working with him to further develop the in-camera style and layers of ‘reality’ television we would like to explore.

• Tech expertise of TLGH to explore HOW to generate and tell stories.

• Devising, creating boundary-pushing work within live theatrical forms

Developments #3 and #4 will continue with exploration of the form of The New Bachelorette with decisions reached by the end of the second development : Which version of the work will be presented?

The two developments provide a space for continued exploration of a variety of assistive and broadcast technology, experimentation with enhancement of text to speech apps, natural vocals, symbols and sound to create increased access for performers and audience members. An expected outcome of TNB Developments #3 and #4 is to identify and explore forms of communication and storytelling that increase the confidence and showcase the strengths of each performer. This element will be different for each performer with a disability.

The skills development of the performers both individually and as an ensemble is an ongoing and central focus for 2022 / 2023 TNB developments, in preparation for presentation in 2024.

TNB Developments #3 and #4 are an opportunity to continue practicing these individual performance skills and develop collaborative skills such as devising, group improvisation, kinesthetic awareness and ensemble work.

These two developments will lead the collective to develop the FORM of the work, finalising this by mid-April 2023.