Daramalan Theatre Company

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Daramalan Theatre Company (DTC) explores theatrical processes and subject matter of particular relevance for younger people, the Daramalan community and the wider society. Its program varies from group devised productions, classic and contemporary scripts, in-house scripted works and musicals. Each is given a fresh treatment that will be of benefit to the participants and audiences.
The underlining rationale is that our arts can be harnessed to focus on the very foundations of what it is to be human beings facing realities that both challenge and reinforce our human and spiritual potential.
The particular content of much of our work draws on a dichotomy between materialist, humanist and spiritual values. There are not many institutions in a position, nor with the resources and expertise, to explore this area in any real depth or even with such daring as demonstrated by Daramalan Theatre Company.
The chosen themes are often spiritual in nature while acknowledging the reality of contemporary experience: ennui, rampant materialism, the abandonment of spiritual values, the reduction of life and existence to commodities, the havoc caused by drugs and addictions, the growing violence between competing belief systems. Focusing on these issues gives greater leverage and support to curricula and pastoral care programs offered within the school. It also gives the wider community a focus for artistic relevance for everyday existence.
These themes are found in Shakespeare as they are in many great works of literature and art. The themes are a constant source of concern and creation for both students and teachers within Daramalan. The school has a very strong, embedded sense of purpose in the area of social justice. This gives rise to developing works that reflect this sense: eg. Alice Is Missing (2001), Cathedral Song (2002), Mack The Knife And Children Of The Bauhaus (2007), Alibrandi (2008), Ich Bin Faust (2010), Ishmael and the Return of the Dugongs (2016), The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (2016), The Trojan Women (2022), and The Heart (2024)
From the lone guitarist in The Flies (1999) to the full band / orchestra used in Romeo and Juliet (2000) and Peer Gynt (2004), use of live and pre-recorded music in Alice Is Missing, the cabaret band in Mack The Knife And Children Of The Bauhaus and “The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe”, the band and classical influences in “The Heart” (2024),  Daramalan Theatre Company has used music to enhance the dramatic action of all its work. This has led to some innovative work that opens new doors for development and presentation.
 
The Daramalan Theatre Company has won awards for many participants and productions over the decades of its existence. With the opening of The Joe Woodward Theatre in the Issoudun Performing Arts Centre in 2024, the company moves to another level in the creation and presentation of very significant theatre.
 
Joe Woodward
Artistic Director

Contact

For more information on the Daramalan Theatre Company, please contact joe.woodward@daramalan.act.edu.au

What’s On

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Daramalan Theatre Company presents

Into The Woods Jr

Daramalan Theatre Company is presenting a particularly intimate and engaging production of Sondheim’s famous musical about wishes and dreams. It is as if the cast is presenting a special performance just for you in your lounge room. You will be able to share a drink and snack in the space while being enthralled by the story of people seeking their wishes to come true.

With a very strong cast of singers, Sondheim’s beautiful and, at times, intriguing music will be performed to live on as echoes in your memory for a long time.

DTC casts commit to an extraordinary amount of time and processes to achieve high quality theatre. They spent a week of the July holidays and a full week of the October holidays detailing every move and every sound to perfection. With strong teacher support and dedicated students working as crew members, Into The Woods Jr promises fun and a sense of delight in theatrical presentation.

Young children, teenagers, parents, grand-parents, family members and people from the general community will find something that is awe-inspiring within the experience. The space, like a large lounge room, will provide the most hospitable environment for theatre in the ACT.

Into the Woods jr is presented in The Joe Woodward Theatre at 7.00pm on 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 October and at 1.00pm (matinee) on 17 Oct

Bookings can be made using this link: https://events.humanitix.com/into-the-woods-5c9llbjx

In addition, you might like to book a snack (your Savoury and Sweet Grazing Box): https://events.humanitix.com/savory-and-sweet-26