If you have a dog you’ll know it can teach you a lot about humans.
One of seven cultural activities to receive funding through the Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) is a play titled Pooch Park by Tania Nash which in telling us that life is better with dogs but not vain dogs that are hooked on instagram will also say a lot about our use of social media.
If you caught the action on the Noosa Ferry, in recent years for the Rogue Toad then you are going to love this latest from the Snap Crackle Theatre crew.
Theatre founder Tania Nash had great success with The Rogue Toad which was assisted by a Noosa Council RADF Grant back in 2018. This sell out play won an Anywhere Theatre Award and was so successful four more shows were sold out over the 2019 Summer holidays. The Rogue Toad explored social commentary on Australian attitudes to Racism. This time round she explores how social media is changing our world. “I live in a multi-generational home with my children and my parents and I notice the huge chasim between their understanding of what is beauty and how they relate to others in this world. I see that this is to do with the reliance on social media as a form of relationship building and self identity. Generational gaps are widening due to new social media platforms popping up everyday and with social media we have a new image of perfection, vastly different from that of ’our parents day.’” Pooch Park was written in response to this.
The idea of anthopomorphism was used successfully in exploring themes of racism and prejudice in Australian society in the play The Rogue Toad. “I know by creating animal characters and having them deal with human problems we managed to soften the finger wagging and generate conversation” Tania explains.
Pooch Park will follow in this anthropomorphic genre and explore the themes of
social media perfection. The characters are all dogs and explore the idea that we are losing connection and the gap Pooch Park will be performed at Chaplain Park, a well loved doggy park along the Noosa River.
Tania is an actor and director with a number of acting and directing awards from her work with Noosa Arts Theatre . She is also a presenter and educator – teaching theatre to all ages at Little Seed Theatre Company, as a relief drama teacher to a number of schools in the area and to the food industry in her character role as Miss Honey.
Tania team’s up with the hugely talented actor/director. Ali Lambole from Red Carpet
Theatre Company
Pooch Park will take place as part of the Anywhere Theatre Festival in May at Chplain Park, Noosaville.
Street murals in Tewantin, an EP of original songs, a book on the history of Noosa by our own Phil Jarratt, the creation of jewellery for a Melbourne jewellery biennial, artist workshops and the videoing of a theatre production are projects to receive grants under the Regional Arts Development Fund.
