Edwin Kemp Attrill is a theatre artist and activist from Adelaide, South Australia, who has received several awards for his contribution to community arts and cultural development.

Themes edit

His work is focused on interactive techniques and social justice themes.[1][2]

Career edit

In 2011 Attrill became the Artistic Director of the University of Adelaide Theatre Guild,[3] one of Australia's longest running amateur theatre companies.[4] He was the first Artistic Director of the Theatre Guild since Chris Drummond. [3]

Attrill was the co-founder and Artistic Director of ActNow Theatre, which he started when he was 17 years old.[5][6][7][8] ActNow Theatre originally created guerrilla-style street theatre performances about social justice issues.[9] It eventually moved into staged work and community-based projects, focusing on community arts and cultural development, and known for its "boal-ian" forum theatre[10] to create interactive and issue-based work. Under Kemp Attrill's role as Artistic Director, ActNow Theatre receiving multiple awards and federal and state funding.[9]

Attrill's roles on various projects with the company included as director and facilitator of interactive performance Responding to Racism, which received a South Australian Governor's Award for Multiculturalism,[11][12] as one of the executive producers and the director of photography of theatre/film COVID-19 response project Decameron 2.0,[13] and as co-director of co production with Taiwan's Very Theatre called Virtual Intimacy.[14][15][16]

In 2020 Kemp Attrill notified the ActNow Theatre Board that he would not be seeking to renew his contract, citing a focus on “the next stage of his career and professional development”, and leaving the role at the end of 2020.[17][18] He is currently the creative director of social enterprise Replay Creative[19][20] which aims to improve access to film and online audiences for local performing arts organizations.[21]

Awards edit

References edit

  1. ^ Marsh, Walter (7 January 2019). "'Space is political': ActNow opens its doors with MakeSpace". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  2. ^ "愛情與永恆 不一定會在一起—專訪《虛擬親密》導演周東彥". 明潮. Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  3. ^ a b "Edwin Kemp-Atrill, AD Adelaide Theatre Guild". Arts Hub. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  4. ^ "It should be called 'the theatre of love'". InDaily. 9 June 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  5. ^ a b "Current Winners | Awards Australia". awardsaustralia.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  6. ^ Marsh, Walter (7 January 2019). "'Space is political': ActNow opens its doors with MakeSpace". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  7. ^ Dexter, John (30 August 2016). "Rehearsing for the Real World with ActNow Theatre". The Adelaide Review. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  8. ^ Parker, Libby (23 February 2015). "ADELAIDE ARTISTS ACT ON YOUTH ISSUES". Upside Adelaide. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  9. ^ a b "Edwin Kemp Attrill Steps Down as Artistic Director and CEO of ActNow Theatre". www.broadwayworld.com. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  10. ^ Parker, Libby (23 February 2015). "Adelaide artists act on youth issues". Upside Adelaide. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  11. ^ "Multicultural Affairs". Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 28 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  12. ^ "Responding to Racism". The Wire. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  13. ^ "Shutdown artists and companies make the world their stage". InDaily. 16 February 2021. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  14. ^ "Asia TOPA: Virtual Intimacy » Witness Performance". Witness Performance. 16 March 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  15. ^ "兩廳院藝術基地計畫 後台搖身創作空間 | 文化 | 中央社 CNA". www.cna.com.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  16. ^ "劇場讓愛自由 狠劇場新作虛擬親密澳洲首演 | 文化 | 中央社 CNA". www.cna.com.tw (in Chinese). Retrieved 15 June 2021.
  17. ^ "A Message From ActNow Theatre's Chairperson". ActNow Theatre. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  18. ^ "TNA E-NEWS NOVEMBER 2020 | Theatre Network Australia". www.tna.org.au. 16 November 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  19. ^ "CARCLEW - Skilling Up". Centre for Creative Photography. 17 November 2021. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  20. ^ "Edwin Kemp Attrill". ActNow Theatre. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  21. ^ Sturt, City of Charles (28 October 2022). "Business SA's SAYES Entrepreneurship Program - Edwin Kemp Attrill". City of Charles Sturt. Retrieved 24 November 2022.
  22. ^ "Testimonials". Awards Australia. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Previous Winners". Awards Australia. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  24. ^ "2015 Ruby Awards celebrate the best of SA art". InDaily. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  25. ^ Austlit. "Kirk Robson Award | AustLit: Discover Australian Stories". www.austlit.edu.au. Retrieved 23 July 2021.
  26. ^ "ParlInfo - Australia Council-Report for 2017-18". parlinfo.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 10 June 2021.
  27. ^ "Australia Council Awards | Australia Council". www.australiacouncil.gov.au. Archived from the original on 2 April 2021. Retrieved 4 April 2021.
  28. ^ "Bruce Pascoe celebrated with Australia Council's Lifetime Achievement Award in Literature". NITV. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
  29. ^ "Multicultural Affairs". Department of the Premier and Cabinet. 28 March 2019. Archived from the original on 2 April 2019. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  30. ^ "Responding to Racism". The Wire. Retrieved 10 June 2021.