Director Timothy Wynn sits down with Metro Arts to provide insight into their latest production – Dance Nation by Clare Barron – and THAT Production Company.
THAT Production Company was founded by a group of young people keen to carve their own path in theatre sector in Queensland. From our early days in 2009, we have grown and evolved considerably to where the company has industry recognition – winning multiple Matilda Awards and being synonymous with arts and culture, particularly in Ipswich.
It has always been a core value of the company to serve its audiences and community with inclusion, imagination and connection and we hope this is demonstrated across all our work regardless of the form. This extends to where we look to present our works, both in metro areas such as here at Metro Arts, and in more regional areas like the Redlands, Logan and beyond.
Collaboration is at the heart of what we do – whether that be with organisations, artists, other sectors or audiences, we constantly want to build bridges of enquiry around us to deepen our understanding of the world around us and to create lasting relationships that contribute to the sector and our community.
Image: Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donohoe (Metro Arts, 2023) Photo by Kenn Santos
I think the themes of Dance Nation hit a really modern human conundrum that centres on our relationship with our own ambition, self worth and “specialness” as well as how we navigate excellence and success with personal relationships. I find these concepts are thrust upon us all to grapple in a society where comparison and competition are so frequent in day to day life.
With reference to this work, there’s a scene that I find particularly moving early on in the play where two of our lead characters, both young girls, have their dance skills and differing abilities weaponised against them to the point their deep friendship becomes fractured. It’s a prominent moment because I feel so many of us can relate to it, regardless of if we were aspiring dancers or not.
Image: Dance Nation by Clare Barron rehearsals (Metro Arts, 2025) Photo by Kenn Santos
THAT Production Company started its life at Metro Arts in the old Edward Street building back in 2009 with a production of the play Spring Awakening by Frank Wedekind. We went on to produce three other works at that location over the space of a decade with The Rural Trilogy (Blood Wedding, Yerma and The House of Bernarda Alba) in 2010, Yielding by Emma Workman in 2018 (nominated for three Matilda Awards, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress and Lord Mayors Award for Best New Work) and in 2019 our production of David Finigan’s controversial play Kill Climate Deniers was programming as a part of Metro Arts LOCALS program of independent works in the Sue Benner Theatre.
At Metro Arts’ new home in West Village we brought our multi award nominated production of Sea Wall by Simon Stephens to the New Benner in 2022 after a successful run in Ipswich in 2021. In 2023 we presented in co-production with Metro Arts our award winning production of Every Brilliant Thing by Duncan Macmillan with Jonny Donahoe (winning Matilda Award for Best Independent Production and Best Actors for Jason Klarwein’s performance), with this work soon to begin touring regionally.
Image: Kill Climate Deniers (Metro Arts, 2019), Photo by Adam Finch
Dance Nation by Clare Barron comes with a particular set of challenges – first and foremost the ask for mature, adult performers to act and execute the choreography of 13 year old competitive dancers who have been training since they could walk. Barron suggests that we should consider this a “ghost play” with the actors playing the future selves these characters will become.
Jennifer B. Ashley, our choreographer and assistant director, has taken this need for choreographic interpretation as an opportunity to build each character through their movement. You’ll be able to tell the star dancer from the straggler without exposition, as well as the journey a character is on.
Image: Dance Nation by Clare Barron rehearsals (Metro Arts, 2025) Photo by Kenn Santos
My dream is to be a part of the creation of a new Australian musical – whether it be a known Australian story or based on the life of a brilliant Australian or a completely original, strange and whacky idea.
Let me at it.
Some dream collaborators for this would be Lewis Treston, Steven Oliver, Virginia Gay, Tim Minchin and Gillian Cosgriff!
Header image by Kenn Santos
