Zest Fest

Zest Fest Finale

by 9grace
So, the Zest Festival is officially  over. It's been such a beautiful festival and has brought so much joy to so many people over that past five years, I can't believe this year was the last. I've honestly loved being part of the Zest Fest so much that, if it was continuing, it would have been one of the reasons as to why I might have stayed here rather than going to board in Perth next year. Anyway, this year's final Zest Fest really was amazing. I loved every second of it; watching the performances, revisiting memories, and performing myself! As well as the weeks leading up to it. The Kalbarri Comedy Crews sketch went great! It was a bit cheesy, and we forgot some bits, but that is honestly the beauty of improve; it doesn't matter too much, because you're making most of it up! Not to mention, we got nearly, I don't know, perhaps 15 new props that morning that we had never practiced with before, and had to incorporate into the performance. We got lots of laughs from the audience, and we got lots of great comments afterwards. We were all really excited as well! It felt great, everyone loved it, and we had a ball rehearsing and performing! I have to say, the whole crew put in their best efforts in the weeks leading up to the performance, and on that day especially.  Everything went without a hitch! With that, I'd like to give a massive 'thank you' to Bec, you helped me out so much! Thanks for getting me into this! Also to Julian and Jody from The Comedy Emporium. This wouldn't have been possible without your time and devotion. We all loved working with you so, so much! Also thanks a bunch to Meg, Kayden, Samantha, Jordyn, Brearly, and Anzel for being part of the Kalbarri Comedy Crew. I really hope you all had as much fun as I did! Working with all of you was a real privilege. Being project coordinator for the Kalbarri Comedy Crew as well as being able to be part of such a fun project has been so great, and I had an awesome bunch of people to work with. I've made so many great memories! [caption id="attachment_369" align="aligncenter" width="632"]14295473_983237918451766_7458248_n1 All of us dressed up after the performance. Good times :)                                     Me on the far right[/caption] Here is a short video that was (quickly) filmed by Julian during one of our rehearsal breaks (hence why we are all a bit awkward). Still, I think it give a good insight into what went into creating the skits that went into our performance. https://youtu.be/gT6IrLxprsE After the performance, most of the crew went home to rest for an hour or so before heading to Red Bluff for the main performance of the weekend: The Chamber of Rhetoric. That night was spectacular! Everyone came rugged up to sit on the rocks and watch the event. The night opened to a few spectacular pieces by the Perth Symphony Orchestra String Quartet , before we were serenaded by the Giovanni Consort choir/A-Capella group. Next, Red bluff itself was lit up by a projection of familiar, historical, and influential faces. Everyone was then in awe at performing artist Theaker Von Ziarno's daring aerial performance. The dramatic piece was full of heart stopping stunts and beautiful choreography! Finally, I closed the event by reading my poem The Zuytdorp (I will post this soon) as the signal pyre was being lit in the background. The whole night was fascinating! Unfortunately I didn't get to stay for the next day of the Zest Fest as I had to leave for Country Week. Still, I am absolutely baffled at how spectacular the whole weekend was, and how Bec managed to pull it off in a few weeks! I would truly love to be able to create such a gorgeous festival as this when I am older, and I am so utterly grateful to have been part of it. I hope those who were here to experience such a day were able to enjoy it as much as I did. And to those who haven't been able to experience the Zest Festival, I hope I have described it well! If anyone wants to find out more about the Zest Festival, check out some of my other blog posts! (tagged art or zest fest) Some have links to other websites also. Thank you again to all the talented people involved in making the final Zest Festival so memorable! Yours faithfully, Grace

The Zuytdorp

by 9grace

This is a poem I wrote based on the history and wrecking (1712) of the Dutch trading ship, The Zuytdorp, which was also part of the inspiration for the Zest Festival.

I think this is what you would call an ‘extended personification’. Anyway, here it is!

Yours faithfully,

Grace

The Zuytdorp

Standing tall,

She opens her arms,

And catches the wind in her sleeves.

Soon she closes her eyes,

And gives in to the command of the sea,

Rocking, swaying with the wind and the tide,

With time, she allows the current to pull her forward.

As the wind grows, she opens her cloak,

And embracing its strength and power,

Allows it to guide her,

Deeper into the waters she is yet to know.

Others have taken her journey before her,

Some have returned,

Others she will never know,

Still, she is not afraid.

She is new to the world,

Yet carries a heavy burden,

Whole heartedly, she follows her instincts,

Placing her trust in the wind.

She has left…

Alone, she braves the storm,

Ragged and sore,

Though not all is lost,

As she comes to rest in calm waters.

Once in every lifetime, she discovers a new place,

Indulges in delicacies,

And rejoices in adornment,

Though she knows she cannot stay long.

Again, she surrenders to the strength of the sea,

And soon finds herself being lead by the wind,

Through the abyss,

To which she has come to call home.

Under the night sky, she maps the stars,

And watches the moonlight on the water,

Sometimes she looks upon the rocky shores,

Yearning to feel the rush of the waves.

Yet she knows she mustn’t,

For they hide a terrible danger,

But like sirens,

They entice her to play.

She is sailing…

Eternally,

She has avoided them,

Though her fate has already been chosen,

She is destined to seek them soon.

Under the veil of night,

She fails to identify the ragged coast,

Mistaking shimmering waves,

For the moonlight she has come to adore.

Slowly at first,

Then all at once,

She discovers her fault,

But it was too late.

Her mind searches for an escape,

And she attempts to change her course,

Though the ocean pulls her back,

And the wind catches her veil.

Soon, she opens her eyes to her reality,

With a heavy sigh, she surrenders to the ocean,

Allowing the wind to guide her,

For her fate has been decided.

She is here now …

*disclaimer; there are supposed to be stanzas but I couldn’t get the formatting to work.

 

When & Where

by 9grace

Alright, the official start of the Zest Festival is only 2 weeks away! Everyone knows that it’s happening, but when exactly, some people are still unsure of. So, I thought I would do a post of when & where everything is taking place throughout the Zest Fest weekend, but first, a bit of background info.

This year, the festival is celebrating the theme of Eendracht, Unity; accepting a world of difference. This year’s festival is also the last of the splendid 5 year event, making it all the more special, especially to those who have been majorly involved! This year’s festival memorializes the 300th anniversary of the sinking of the Dutch East Indies trading ship, The Zuytdorp, and includes snippets of the past 4 years of the festival, as well as all of the cultures and countries that the Zest Fest has visited in previous years. Coincidently, 2016 is also the 400th anniversary of the landing of Dirk Hartog, and so makes this last Zest Festival one to remember.

This year’s festival will have a special opening night. Unfortunately the night is an 18+ event, but it is said to be a wonderful show. Those attending will dance the night away to the beautiful sounds of the Perth Symphony Orchestra quartet and Giovanni Consort, at a masquerade ball at the Opening Night Pleasure Garden (16th of September, Rainbow Jungle).

The next day(s) hold an array of events around town and down at the foreshore. From kite flying exercises, to markets, to mazes, to comedy performances! All of which you want to attend.  Become lost in amazement in the History Maze, learn about the history of cultures from around the world, and seek the illusive Lady of Honor hiding within. Check out the KDHS displays at the Kalbarri DHS library, and then satisfy your food cravings at the trade winds tasting tent. Laugh away the afternoon at the Kalbarri Comedy Crew’s historical, and hysterical, performance; one which I can guarantee to be a treat! Finally, don’t forget to come down to Red Bluff at 7pm on Saturday the 18th, for an insightful and undoubtedly memorable Chamber of Rhetoric Performance.

Below is a copy of this years official 2016 Zest Fest program for the 16th, 17th and 18th of September.

Zest Festival 2016 Program

Just a short post this time! I hope to see everyone at some of the magnificent performances and events happening around town on the splendid weekend.

For more information visit http://zestfest.com.au/ or visit the Kalbarri Zest Fest facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/KalbarriZestFestival

That’s all from me for now,

Yours faithfully,

Grace

Three Weeks In!

by 9grace

Last Sunday (13th of August) was the 3rd official Kalbarri Comedy Crew workshop leading up to the Zest Fest. With the performance date approaching fast, everyone from KCC has been working hard in order to make good progress developing the comedy skit. With the guidance of comedians Julian Canny and Jody Quadrio from The Comedy Emporium, as well as Zest Festival Director Rebecca Millar, we’ve been doing just that.

The workshops usually start with a few improvisation games to get our minds moving. There’s a lot of laughs, usually at the expense of those who are performing, but it’s okay, everyone gets a turn to embarrass themselves!!

These games are really fun: they usually start out with a couple people as performers, and then a subject or topic is pitched at them. Then, depending on what game we are playing, the performers have to develop a scene based on the suggestion. Some games like Insert line and Tag in (you could probably google the games and it would come up with a better description than what I have written here) involves either writing down absurd lines and excerpts from books or movies to use within the scene, without the performers actually knowing what is written down, or tagging another person to take the place of performer and take the scene somewhere else based on their ideas

Some scenes can go absolutely anywhere, and have the whole room rolling with laughter within a minute or so. I have gathered that there are a few basic rules or ‘guidelines’ that should be followed when improvising in order to keep the scene alive and interesting:

First Rule of Improvisation – Just go with it: You might have started the scene off by supposedly getting ready to go skiing with your best friend, but guess what! Now you are two annoying sisters trying to push each other off a cliff! Or, at least that’s what you think…

Something beautiful about these improvisation games is that, no matter how carefully you structure your lines, a scene can completely change direction in a matter of seconds, based on the reaction of your partner. This puts you on the spot, forcing you to say the first thing that comes to your head! This generally means you could also send the scene spiralling in a completely different direction to before. There is no way to predict how a scene is going to play out when you are doing improv, and that is what makes it so hilarious!

Second Rule of Improvisation – Never say ‘No’: Would you like to hold the dissected frog?? Of course you would! Because you are on TV, on a channel that doesn’t actually exist yet…

Saying ‘yes’ to just about anything that is thrown at you, in one way or another, is the only way to keep the scene alive. Sometimes that means, yes, you are in fact, a squirrel. It gets everyone laughing, usually at your expense, but hey, it’s a comedy act!

Third Rule of Improvisation: Ask questions, make statements: If you simply reply ‘yeah’ or ‘nah’ to everything your partner is saying, it puts a lot of pressure on them, making it hard to keep the scene alive. Instead, ask them a question in return, or make a statement on what they said. It really involves making a strong point or suggestion, and telling your partner, and your viewers, what is going on. This also allows you and your partner to bounce off and work with each other’s ideas throughout the scene. For example, (and this is a really bad example) “I heard it is going to rain today”, a reply could be “but it’s sunny! Those weather people always get it wrong.” Just something to keep the conversation, and scene, alive.

Anyway, after some warm up games, we have been getting into some brainstorming and scene building. Basically, any ideas that we have had over the week, or anything interesting we have come across when researching the VOC (oh, that stands for Vereenigde Oost-Indische Compagnie/Dutch East India Company) we will brainstorm in order to see if we can draw some inspiration off that piece of information for ideas for scenes.

Next, we will go off again, and brainstorm ways that we can incorporate our ideas into a funny skit. This, is a LOT harder than you would think. Trying to pitch the idea in a way so that those without much background of the topic will still understand and find the scene funny is quite a challenge. I think if we were doing a more contemporary show, with just some general comedy that anyone can relate to, it would be easier. Trying to incorporate the history of the Dutch and the VOC is the real challenge.

Even so, it’s been lots of fun, and we’ve come up with some good ideas! Julian and Jody, who have been coming up every weekend to work with the crew, have provided heaps of inspiration to everyone participating. Being comedians, they also bring a great vibe to the workshops, and have helped us all tune in our improvisation skills! I think all of us are a lot more confident with doing a small bit of improv and developing a basic comedy skit.

At our last workshop, Julian did a bit of filming on his phone and put it all together in a short film. None of us really thought we were actually being interviewed, so we all look a tiny bit awkward. Either way I think it is a good insight into some of the actually work we are doing for the project.

Unfortunately, the video is too large to upload onto the blog, but you can view it by clicking the link: https://youtu.be/gT6IrLxprsE.

I know this post has been really long! Sorry… I’ll leave it at that for now and post some more information later. Oh, there is still a spot open to become part of the Comedy Crew though! Come see me if you are interested.

Yours faithfully,

Grace

 

Kalbarri Comedy Crew, workshops and performance is sponsored by Country Arts WA and Healthway to promote the Drug Aware message.

Zest Fest – The Past and Present – Part 2

by 9grace

Ever since I started working with the Zest Fest in 2014, I knew it was something I wanted to continue with. One of my goals has been to do as much as I possibly could for the Zest Festival and myself. I feel like I am somewhat on the path to accomplishing that goal because, as you would have read in the last post, my role has been gradually getting larger. The past two years, however, are nothing compared to the role I am taking on this year.

So far, I have been commissioned with putting together a team of students (including myself) to be part of a comedy performance. I am also responsible for organising timetables and scheduling workshops, rehearsals and training session with the crew and comedians to prepare for the performance. On top of that, I also have to keep a record and journal of the comedy workshops and performance, etc. to file a report on once the Zest Festival is over. I have previously written references (see my last post) and am currently half way through writing an application for a grant to fund the comedy workshops, performance, etc. Oh, almost forgot, I will also be MC (Master of Ceremonies – one who organises a social occasion; who introduces speakers or those in a performance) for the comedy performance! Furthermore, I will be constructing and creating props, as well as being a lead puppeteer for the main performance. This is going to mean even more rehearsals and training sessions on top of those for the comedy performance.

Turns out, I will be doing more than $500+ of voluntary work for the Zest Festival. It’s a lot, but majority of the time it is a privilege to be able to have such a massive role in something so amazing. It really doesn’t feel like work when you love what you are doing.

Now the Zest Festival is not until the weekend of week 9 – term 3, and major preparation has already begun! This means that those involved will be working on the Zest Fest from now until the end of September. This is perfectly fine by me, the only thing I am a little bit worried about is that I might struggle keeping on top of my school and workload at the same time. I definitely know that I will get nearly no school work done in weeks 8 and 9! (sorry teachers!)

The Zest Fest really is amazing. It has provided me with so many great experiences in the short time that I have been involved. Below is a photo of me in 2015, sitting in the Shogun’s lap. The Shogun, originally the goddess Kali in 2014, but transformed for the 2015 performance, is a nearly 4-metre-tall puppet constructed with bamboo and cane. He was one of the main characters in that year performance and narrator of the story.

image

17th September, 2015: Me sitting in the lap of the mighty Shogun!

I don’t have the official dates and times of the performances or the Zest Festival yet, but I will post them on the blog when I have access to them. I really hope everyone comes down to the festival to see all the amazing performances and events. We really do have a great line up for this year’s festival and it’s something you don’t want to miss!

So, that’s all from me for now.

Yours faithfully,

Grace

Zest Fest – The Past and Present – Part 1

by 9grace

 

So, I know this post might not be everyone’s cup of tea, but it is about something I am very passionate about and proud of, which is why I am posting it on my blog. (Oh, by the way, because this is a very long entry I have decided to publish it as two blog posts instead of one)

Anyway, anyone who is anyone and lives in Kalbarri will know that the Kalbarri Zest Festival is coming up soon, and that’s a pretty big thing, right!?

To anyone who hasn’t experienced a Kalbarri Zest Fest, it really is amazing. I’ve had so many wonderful experiences with the Zest Fest and there are so many things that I love about it, but I guess I had better start from the start.

Below is a copy of a letter of support or reference that I wrote for the Kalbarri Development Association Inc. and Artistic Director of the Zest Festival to include in some grants. It basically explains my experiences with the Zest Festival and what it means to me.

To Whom It May Concern:

My name is Grace Crogan, I am 14 and in year 9 at Kalbarri District High School. Ever since I was young I have had a strong passion for visual and performing arts. As a student living regionally, I am sometimes restricted to what the town and school can offer me as far as opportunities for me to develop my artistic skills. The Kalbarri Zest Festival is a rare and extremely appreciated opportunity for me to do so, and I would like to share with you what the festival means to me and how much I enjoyed being part of it!

2014 was my first year with the Kalbarri Zest Festival. I originally auditioned for a role as one of the main characters in the performance, however I ended up with an equally rewarding and exciting role of helping create, build and direct one of the massive 3-metre-tall puppets for the festival. I also walked alongside the puppet during the performance, manoeuvring one of its very large arms. It was such an amazing and rewarding experience. It was my first time working with puppets and after the performance I knew it definitely wouldn’t be the last. I’d just had my first taste of puppeteering, and it tasted delicious!

In 2015, once I found out that the performance was going to include puppetry again I couldn’t wait to become involved. I would often go down to the workshop to help out creating and constructing props for the performance. It was something I loved doing both then and the year before because it gave me a chance to do something with my art skills. Best of all I was often given creative authority over what the prop could look like, so long as it met the needed criteria. This gave me an opportunity to test and extend some of my art skills, something I’m not often given the chance to do. To me this was a rare and precious privilege!

The style of puppets we were operating are called Bunraku puppets. They are life-sized with two or three puppeteers manoeuvring each. One operating the head and right arm, another operating the torso and left arm, and another operating the legs. In our case, we only had two puppeteers to each, so the puppets had robes and skirts to give the illusion of legs. Our puppets were handmade at the workshop, carved out of foam and given bamboo and fabric joints, as well as bamboo rods.

I was elated when I was asked if I could be the head puppeteer for one of the two main puppets, it was the only thing I had been thinking about for the past few weeks. For a couple of weeks my friend and I were put through some basic exercises and workshops to get us warmed up to working with the puppets. After a few weeks of workshops and call outs we finally had a puppetry team ready for training! I couldn’t wait!

Our Puppeteer training and rehearsals started even before the puppets were constructed. Starting out casual but soon becoming more intense as we only had a few weeks to prepare for the performance. Our rehearsals and training often started straight after school and went on until dark. As head puppeteer I controlled the head (thus also directing the torso) and right arm of the puppet. This position meant I was holding my arms level and sometimes above my head for long periods of time, hence the weeks of training to build up our strength. Although tiring, I absolutely loved every second of rehearsals and training. Not only was I learning new things everyday about puppetry and performance, but I was also developing relationships with people that I will forever hold treasured in my heart.

Over the course of rehearsals and training, we focused a lot on feeling tension in the puppet, and learning how to move with the puppet as one and not just as two puppeteers and a bunch of foam. I think that one of the goals in learning puppeteering was to not just control the puppet, but to become the puppet, and during the performance, to live as the puppet. It might not have been said out loud, but I feel as though that is what it all boiled down to. At the end of each rehearsal when we placed the puppet down, I always had a small feeling as if I was leaving something behind. So, I guess I must have been doing something right!

When the production night finally came everyone was ecstatic. The performance went smoothly with only a couple hiccups. In the performance, the puppet I was operating, named Hiraku, was one of the main characters – a Japanese Samurai, The Shogun’s advisor, and brother to one of the other puppets – Katashi. There were many difficult interactions between Hiraku and Katashi, as well as other puppets and characters. Towards the end of the performance, there was a dramatic fight scene where Hiraku had to try defend himself against five other samurai, in the end, Hiraku was killed. As Hiraku received the last blow, I heard a few small gasps from the audience. Though I could barely see because of the blinding lights, I managed to make out that a couple of people were crying.

When I finally put the puppet down after the performance, I felt a mixture of great excitement, as well as sadness. I had spent weeks and weeks preparing for this performance and it had come and gone so quickly. I almost wanted to do it all over again.

At the end of the performance I was told multiple times that people watching had been so entranced by the performance, they completely forgot that there were people operating the puppets. It felt amazing to know that I had succeeded at my task. At the conclusion of the 2015 Zest Fest I had made many close friends and wonderful memories. It was such a great experience and it means so much to me.

The Kalbarri Zest Festival is a great opportunity for the whole town to get involved in something great. Even in school, we spend weeks leading up to the Zest Festival learning about whatever topic the current year’s Zest Fest is about. The year of 2016 has only just begun and already I can’t wait for this year’s Zest Festival. Even more so, I cannot wait for my chance to be even more involved. The Kalbarri Zest Festival is supposed to be about bringing the community together to have a good time, to celebrate, and the learn in an engaging way about the VOC – Dutch East Indian Trading Company, the Zuytdorp and Batavia wreckages along our coastlines, as well as what values and traditions have been brought to our country by the people who have settled here. To me, the Zest Fest means all of this, and so much more. To me, it means bringing the community together to create something beautiful, that has been recognized even in some other countries! It means helping out, creating friends, having a laugh, learning new thing, doing things I never thought I would do as well as things I love doing most, and creating memories I will treasure forever.

So, now you know just how much I love the Kalbarri Zest Festival and what it means to me.

Sincerely,

Grace Crogan

Kalbarri District High School

For the rest of this post read: Zest Fest – The Past and Present – Part 2