One hundred and eleven years ago, relatives of My Darling Patricia’s Clare Britton were murdered by an Aboriginal Bushranger, Jimmy Governor, on a property in the Hunter Valley. Taking it’s name from the ruins of this house Posts in the Paddock combines sculpture, animation, puppetry, performance and oral histories exploring this moment in history from multiple perspectives. My Darling Patricia collaborate with actor LeRoy Parsons, Jimmy’s great great grandson and Elder, Aunty Rhonda Dixon Grovenor who also shares a family connection. This is a very intimate and personal work of reconciliation.

Artists include: Bryony Anderson, Katy Beckett, Jenn Blake, Michelle Blakeney, Clare Britton, Nadeena Dixon, Aunty Rhonda Dixon Grovenor, Phil Downing, Marley Grovenor, Fiona Foley, Declan Kelly, Sam James, Halcyon Macleod, Kirk Page, LeRoy Parsons, Sam Routledge, Lily Shearer and Chris Twynman.

The development of Posts in the Paddock has been supported by The Australia Council for the Arts, Arts NSW,  Urban Theatre Projects, Casula Powerhouse, Bundanon Artists Trust, Moogahlin Performing Arts and Redfern Community Centre.

“My Darling Patricia is a company that uses an astonishing range of performance styles and techniques to explore the way we look back, from the 21st century, on what we have lost, forgotten and need to recover. But even for the company this story is extraordinary.”

John McCallum, The Austalian

“A distinctly unique company with the vision and patience of real artists. And this will be a pinnacle moment of accomplishment in their history. It seemed the personal stakes of the creators in this story of their families had made such specificity, culturally universal for the audience. Wonderful. POSTS IN THE PADDOCK, a wonder.”

Kevin Jackson’s Theatre Diary

We contributed an article on Posts in the Paddock to the Spring 2011 Edition of Ampersand Magazine-”From the Heart of the Forest to the Edge of the Road” the whole magazine is a great read.

Listen to a program on Posts in the Paddock by Daniel Browning on Awaye

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/awaye/posts-in-the-paddock/3673064

Performance Space Published this Catalouge of writing about the work.

Edited by Jeff Kahn, it includes an essay by Djon Mundine OAM about the themes and issues this work brings up.

Posts in the Paddock Publication

“My Darling Patricia has created a masterpiece of puppet theatre that will make you weep”.  The Age

Africa is inspired by the true story of three children from Hannover, Germany who tried to elope to Africa ,on their own and in the middle of the European winter. In My Darling Patricia’s production, this whimsical story of the unfettered imagination of young children is placed within a suburban Australian context of child neglect.

Where we see poverty and filth the children find giraffes, flamingos and leopards, and as the two worlds ultimately meet we are reminded of the heartbreaking resilience of a child’s optimism.
 
“It’s a stunning work.. . Realised with an admirable skill”. The Age, Melbourne, Australia

A Malthouse Theatre Commission

Credits:

Created, Designed and Performed by My Darling Patricia
Concept  Sam Routledge
Writer/Director Halcyon Macleod
Design   Clare Britton and Bridget Dolan
Composer and Sound Designer  Declan Kelly
Puppets Bryony Anderson
Lighting Designer  Lucy Birkinshaw
Stage Manager Darren Kowacki
Props and Set Dressing  Tim Varga-McGaw
Outside Eyes  Maryanne Lynch & Chris Ryan

Original cast/devisors:  Jodie Le Vesconte , Matt Prest, Clare Britton, Alice Osborne and Sam Routledge. Additional Devisors Katrina Gill & Tamara Rewse
Tower Theatre, 12 November – 29 November, 2009, Presented by Malthouse Theatre.

Africa will be on tour nationally in 2011 with Mobile States.

Developed in residence at Performance Space, Arts House, Hot House Theatre and Bundanon Artists Trust, Night Garden premiered in Sydney and Melbourne in March, 2009

Politely Savage was developed in fits and bursts with periods of quiet reflection from 2003-05. During the development of the work, My Darling Patricia participated in residency programmes in Sydney at The Performance Space and in Albury for Hot House Theatre’s ‘A Month in the Country’ enabling the company to enjoy sustained periods of development and research.

The audience size is limited to 40 people to ensure an intimate and personal experience.

Politely Savage was initially presented at Pact Youth Theatre in April 2005. Since then it’s been performed at The Performance Space, the Victorian Arts Centre, presented by Tilt for Melbourne Fringe Festival, and at the Adelaide Fringe Festival presented by Vitalstatistix.

Awards for Politely Savage:

• Best Independent Production, Sydney Theatre Critics Award, 2006
• Outstanding Production, Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards, 2006
• Best Design, Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards, 2006
• Best Theatre Show Adelaide Fringe Festival, 2007