Entertainment
1 December, 2023
Best of JUTE’s talent
JUTE graduates will showcase their acting smarts in an exciting new Cairns-made production, Koalazilla, at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre tonight and tomorrow night.
In association with Overall Arts and the senior graduating class of JUTE Actors Studio (JAS), JUTE Theatre Company will present Koalazilla, an exciting new work by Cairns’ emerging playwright Keziah Warren.
Developed within the supportive, creative development framework of JUTE Theatre Company, Koalazilla is a fun and fast-paced political satire set in Paper City, exploring the universal themes of corruption, conspiracy, and the courage to stand up against injustice.
All is well in politically correct Paper City until one day when the city’s government, corrupt to its core, endorses an environmentally disastrous mining project.
While deftly juggling the roles of co-producer, director and JAS facilitator, Amber Grossmann of Overall Arts said Koalazilla had been a rewarding project and was the perfect platform to challenge and demonstrate the skills and growth of JAS’ acting cast and other young and emerging creatives.
From its base in Cairns, JUTE Theatre Company has 31 years of experience creating new works – a process that generally takes several years and requires much moulding and shaping.
JUTE’s artistic director and CEO Suellen Maunder said the organisation was proud to develop new Australian stories and never tired of providing guidance, frameworks and support that generated the next wave of theatre makers like Amber, Keziah, the young designers and, of course, the young actors from JUTE Actors Studio.
“This week’s performance showcase of Koalazilla is a harvest of what we sew. We can learn and achieve great things by collaborating and supporting one another,” she said.
“For JUTE, this is a perfect example of the transformative power of theatre, both for creatives and audience,” Ms Maunder said.
