19 November 2008

Job Opening at Barking Gecko

Barking Gecko is currently accepting applications for the position of Education and Touring Coordinator. Join the Gecko team. Click here to visit the job section of our site for all the details.

20 October 2008

Professional Development Day for Teachers

Barking Gecko hosted more than 50 teachers for a professional development afternoon gecko style. Damon Lockwood presented The Art of Improvisation while Artistic Director Jeremy Rice presented Theatre for Young People in Australia. Snacks and drinks concluded a great afternoon with friends and colleagues. Thanks to all the teachers who participated. 

30 September 2008

Gogo Fish returns from the Pilbara for public season

The cast of Gogo Fish have returned from the Pilbara, and are now ready to take on public season at the Subiaco Arts Centre Studio.

Gogo Fish runs from September 30 through to 11 October, Tuesdays to Saturdays, with 11am and 1pm performances.

Bookings through BOCS Ticketing on 9484 1133.

19 September 2008

Castle Rascals in Clarkson

Barking Gecko Theatre Company will be performing at the City of Wanneroo's family fun day on Sunday 21 September from 12 to 4pm.

Castle Rascals will be performing at 1pm and 2.30pm, with workshop performances at 12.30pm for the 5 to 7 year olds class, and 2pm for the 8 to 12 year olds class.

Anthony Waring Park, corner Aldersea Circle and Victorsen Parade, Clarkson

02 September 2008

Improvilicious - Father's day special!

Sunday 7 September Improvilicious performs for Sunday at Subi. This is a free concert presented by the City of Subiaco at the Subiaco Arts Centre. The show runs from 2 - 3.30 and unreserved tickets are available at the door from 1.15pm.

18 August 2008

Gogo on the road

Jimmy and Cass have hit the road today for Gogo Fish, with the first show at ECU Mt Lawley.  Keep an eye out when you're on the road for our Gogo actors, in our eye-catching gecko truck, which has recently been given a splash of vibrant colour thanks to Working With Children Check and Smarter than Smoking.

12 August 2008

New General Manager at Barking Gecko

We are excited to announce the appointment of Katherine McLean as our new General Manager.

Originally from Newcastle NSW, Katherine has called Perth home for the past 15 months. Having the role of Manager for the Million Puppet Project as part of UNIMA 2008, she is already familiar with the thriving West Australian and Perth arts scene.

Throughout her career Katherine has worked extensively, managing arts projects and community development initiatives. Through leadership roles with Abbotsford Convent Foundation, the Sustainable Living Festival and a host of additional festivals and artistic projects, Katherine brings a wide range of experiences to the role. Loving nothing better than a challenge, Katherine looks forward to sinking her teeth into the role of General Manager at Barking Gecko.

Katherine is member of the Community Cultural Development Advisory Panel for the City of Melbourne, a Director of Surfrider Foundation Australia and on the Board of Management for Community Arts Television (VIC).

A new General Manager brings new enthusiasm and excitement for the future of Western Australia's leading professional theatre company performing for young people.

07 August 2008

Our new website launches

Gecko sends out a big thank you to our friends at Clarity for our newly designed website.

We are very excited for this launch and all the updated information we are able to share through this new site. Take a browse through our show calendar and stay tuned as we continue to add past season information and photos in the show archives. Why not sign up for our e-news and be sure to vote in the poll question on our homepage.

The site has taken months of hard work from many people, specials thanks go out to Gecko staff Eleri Evans and Alex Melville and in particular the internet team at Clarity led by Director Angie Cocks, Stephen Walker and Neil Campbell for their design and implementation.

28 July 2008

Gogo Fish begins rehearsals

Today Gecko welcomes Jimmy James Eaton and Cassandra Vagliviello to rehearsals for Damon Lockwood’s Gogo Fish.  We wait with baited breath to see the final product!

25 July 2008

DAII Workshop

On Friday 25 July, students from Rosalie, Hollywood and Mosman Park Primary Schools, together with students from Mosman Park School for Deaf Children, took part in a special workshop, which is part of Barking Gecko’s contribution to the Disability and the Arts Inclusion Initiatives project (DAII). The DAII Project is a joint initiative by the Department of Culture and the Arts and the Disability Services Commission of WA. This project is in line with Barking Gecko’s mission to make theatre accessible to the broadest range of young people.

The workshop, inspired by Barking Gecko’s next show Gogo Fish, showcased elaborate prop and costume designs by designer Bryan Woltjen. Students were given the opportunity to make their very own sea creatures, with the support of tutors, Analisa Bell, Rhoda Lopez, Stevie Cruz-Martin and Caitlin Wills to create a fun performance using their creations.

Interpreters from the WA Deaf Society were also present on the day, making the entire experience valuable and enriching for all students involved.

25 July 2008

Improvilicious is (clap clap) outta here!

After six weeks of schools touring and 2 weeks of public season at the Subiaco Arts Centre, Improvilicious 2008 has come to an end. Sam, Jimmy, Sean, Kerry, Andrea and Michelle had a blast travelling to various metro schools such as Churchlands SHS and Cannington Community College.

03 June 2008

Improvilicious begins metro school tour

After two weeks of intensive rehearsals, Improvilicious begins the 2008 school tour today. With multiple shows at Nedlands Primary on day one, the season is off to a busy start. After such a successful school touring season in 2007, the Improvilicious school schedule is jam packed this year. For education bookings or related questions contact our Education Manager, Analisa Bell on 9380 3085.

30 May 2008

Improvilicious performance for Drama teachers

A lucky group of about 75 Perth Drama teachers were given a sneak peak at the 2008 edition of Improvilicious.  Thanks to Marguerite Flynn  and Willeton Senior High School for inviting us to participate in the Drama Teachers Planning Day.

26 May 2008

Welcome back Emily

After eight months maternity leave, Emily rejoins the Barking Gecko team in a new role.  As Participation Coordinator, Emily will be the new contact for workshops. Welcome back Emily.

19 May 2008

Improvilicious rehearsals begin

With Term 2 underway, the touring season of Improvilicious is right around the corner.  We welcome back some familiar faces as rehearsals for Improvilicious begin. Three of your favourite performers from last year’s Improvilicious show are back and they have brought with them a new cast member and a new theme. Amazing inventions are in the spotlight this time as our two improv teams, Hearts and Bones, prepare to battle it out for the championship title “Mothers of Invention”.  Strange sounds and echoing laughter can already be heard from the rehearsal room. Tickets on sale through BOCS ticketing on 9484 1111 or http://www.bocsticketing.com.au/

16 May 2008

Goodbye to our Skylab cast

After several months of rehearsals and performances, we said goodbye to the cast of Skylab (Rebecca Davis, David O’Donnell and Attila Ozsdolay) on their last day of performance.

06 May 2008

Term 2 workshops begin

Interested in afterschool drama classes?  Barking Gecko offers a wide range of drama workshops for young people. Term 2 classes run for nine weeks and are held at the Subiaco Arts Centre.  Check out the workshop section of the website for our timetable and detailed description of each class.

30 April 2008

There is floor space in the workroom!

Thanks to Cameron and Craig’s efforts this afternoon, our Gecko workroom at the Subiaco Arts Centre has had a major makeover. It’s amazing how much space can be created from a little reorganisation, and a lot of recycling!

28 April 2008

Jeremy is off to Broome

This was our Barking Gecko Artistic Director’s last day in the office before heading up to Broome for a ten week sabbatical. Jeremy will be directing a children’s television series over the next couple of months. Jeremy, we all wish you a fabulous time up north and look forward to your return.

24 April 2008

Run Kitty Run performs at the Pilbara Rolling Spinifex Youth Arts Festival

A group of 10 Barking Gecko staff and artists headed up north to take part in the Pilbara Rolling Spinifex Youth Arts Festival - organised by Michael Leslie and supported by Rio Tinto Pilbara to be held in association with the Shire of Roebourne’s 2008 Youth Festival.

Two performances of Run Kitty Run were showcased at the Walkington Theatre.  The cast included Summer Williams and Brendan Ewing, from the 2007 premier, as well as Jesse Phillips and Skye Sobejko. Barking Gecko also led several specialized drama workshops, featuring our participation coordinator Anna Paterson, and Run Kitty Run writer Tiffany Barton, as tutors.  Artistic Director Jeremy Rice also got involved in the participation activities, offering open audition sessions and giving young people valuable experience and insight into the professional acting world.

30 March 2008

Skylab opens in Esperance

Skylab premiered at the Esperance Civic Centre on the afternoon of 30 March 2008. Artistic Director Jeremy Rice and Puppet and Props Designer Ian Tregonning joined the cast in Esperance and led workshops at the community Kids Day event. Taking inspiration from the show, children were encouraged to make their own rockets, aliens, and puppets using recycled material. The entire team also enjoyed a visit to the Esperance museum, which houses a large tribute to the American space station Skylab. Pieces of debris were scattered across this part of the state back in 1979. We enjoyed an enthusiastic and appreciative audience for this special Skylab performance. Thank you to Esperance Community Arts for this great opportunity.