CDP Theatre Producers – sharing the journey of an Australian and Chinese International Co-Production during Covid and beyond.
Author: Vicki Middleton, Middleton Arts.
李奎 Kui LI and 刘欣 Xin LIU in Klokwerk
On a chilly Beijing evening last Dec, CDP Theatre (Sydney) and Tong Productions (Beijing) premiered a brand new Australian Chinese international co-production, Klokwerk 神奇钟表街 (Clockwork) at the Dahua City Performing Arts Centre in Beijing. “Internally Klokwerk was dubbed ‘the show that won’t die’” said Yolande White, Co-Director at CDP. “Not that we ever wanted it to – far from it – but planning started with the Tong team in 2019 just before the world and travel borders closed. At several stages since then we have had to make twists and turns to keep the project alive throughout the Covid hangover. Whenever we thought it was ‘tools down’, we managed to pivot, reinvent or change plans and somehow, despite the barriers constantly thrown at the project, we finally made it to opening night! It’s been a labour of love and an immensely rewarding project.”
李奎 Kui LI and 杨慤 Que Yang in Klokwerk
A number of times Klokwerk 神奇钟表街, really did look like it would fall through, but a decision last year to rehearse the show in Beijing, rather than Sydney, with a full Chinese cast and an Australian/Chinese creative team finally got the project across the line. CDP’s Australian team set off for Beijing in Nov 2024 for four weeks of rehearsals, supported by the NFACR (National Foundation for Australia Chinese Relations) and Creative Australia. Co-Director Andrew Threlfall said,” This marked the first time the artists were able to come together in person on the rehearsal floor in five years, so it was a defining moment in the project. Like all rehearsal rooms, you enter with a healthy mix of trepidation, zeal and a list of questions, but this situation was heightened….. will the teams get on as well together in real life as they did over zoom? Will the creative ambitions discussed for so many years transpire in the final work? Will Chinese audiences warm to the work?”. Yes, yes and yes were the outcomes.
Klokwerk 神奇钟表街 is a multicultural, cross-artform modern fairy tale for children. The work has evolved as a physical theatre piece, using dance, movement, music, and shadow to tell a story of friendship, difference, conflict, tolerance, loss and love. Co-devised as an ambitious new theatrical work for 4–10-year-olds and their families, the plan is to tour Klokwerk 神奇钟表街across both countries and beyond over the next few years. Made as a non-verbal work to transcend language barriers, the piece draws upon Eastern and Western styles of theatre making, providing audiences with an experience of cultural depth.
张驰 Chi Zhang and 刘欣 Xin LIU in Klokwerk
Klokwerk 神奇钟表街 deepened and propelled the CDP and Tong relationship, as it has evolved from a touring partnership to a co-production partnership. Through the development, the company were able to build a stronger understanding of each other’s artistic and producing practices. A significant part of the creative process was to unearth different approaches to making work and cultural idiosyncrasies and work through them, as well as navigate language barriers. Inevitably there were ‘lost in translation’ moments, and it was in these moments we found we were able to dig deeper on a creative level, in our attempts to unearth and merge both companies’ stylistic approaches.
The show was enthusiastically received by Chinese audiences, and CDP and Tong are in discussions regarding future plans. This was CDP’s 11th international co-production, but the first in China. For CDP it has opened pathways to touring circuits and presenters in China and exposed our Australian creative team – Liesel Badorrek (Director), Richard Tulloch (Writer) and Shannon Burns (Choreographer) overseas. The artists underwent a unique professional development opportunity that broadened their international and collaborative experience, exposing them as international artists working on a global scale. The experience of working overseas has been limited for Australian artists in recent years due to border closures, and whilst many have the opportunity to perform in Australian work overseas (as touring exports), less are able to gain the experience of making work overseas with global artists of a different culture.