Cinematic Theatre Comes of Age

The integration of live performance and the magic of the big screen is more popular than ever. Brad Jennings and Steven Maxwell have been pioneers of the art form. Their company Markwell Presents was founded in 2002 after the school teachers met and worked together to produce original work.

Brad and Steven coined the term Cinematic Theatre to describe the fusion of live performance and screen technology. The integrated use of video projection during stage scenes and scene transitions allows the stage to always be live with action, to become continuous, therefore creating a flow that engages the audience. They have devised a comprehensive creative development to production process of integrating stage video and live performance, which they teach to arts educators and students so they can put into practise the conventions and elements that theyutilise.

Cinematic Theatre has become popular where they are based in Queensland and was recently added to the Senior Queensland Drama Syllabus as a contemporary style for study. With the publishing of their Cinematic Theatre Handbook by Playlab they are hoping to spread the style across Australian schools and inspire new media and theatre projects.

Their first theatre collaboration was in 2001, when they produced Blow Out, written and directed by Jennings, managed by Maxwell at the Cow Shed, James Cook University.

They have written and produced 14 new plays for young people featuring Cinematic Theatre since then. Markwell Presents has also worked with La Boite Theatre Co, QTC and Zen Zen Zo to design and integrate visual sequences for their main stage performances. 

Markwell Presents also produce the YAiR project, anannual ensemble program that is an opportunity for young theatre makers to work and play in a theatre venue with a professional theatre company. YAiR brings together a group of 15 to 18 year olds who have been cast from an open audition, who then work on a theme and co-devise a one hour contemporary cinematic theatre performance. The production is then staged in a professional venue for a week, allowing the young performers to experience a performance season of dramatic work.

Markwell Presents provide positive learning experiences for secondary students in drama and film studies. They offer an extensive range of support services for drama and media teachers including professional development workshops, artist-in-residence programs, in-class workshops, text and script books and live performance DVDs.

For more information visit their website http://markwellpresents.com/and watch their trailer from their latest show –Spill.