As part of the Art and About Festival, presented by the City of Sydney and Intimate Spectacle The Walking Neighbourhood took to the streets of Kings Cross and Redfern over a three week residency.
REDFERN “What would this neighbourhood be like without children”
Six young people joined us from a variety of OSHC (Outside School Hours Care) centres in Redfern to participate in The Walking Neighbourhood. We presented six sold out shows over three days. Our six young and confident guides presented five walking tours that took audiences all over Redfern and into Waterloo. History and imagination was a central theme on our Redfern tours, as the guides made very conscious decisions about how they wanted their audiences to feel. Holly, whose tour was called the Imagination Tour, wanted her audience to remember what it felt like to be a kid again, as she ventured to the Redfern Park, encouraged game playing and drawing within the public art work / playground. While, Ken’s Around the Block tour included a stop at the Tent Embassy where audiences got to speak with organiser Aunty Jenny, many commented that they would never have visited this significant place if it wasn’t for their eleven year old guide introducing them and showing them the way. Other guides explored local back streets, icons, were told stories and the history of this nationally recognised neighbourhood.
This group worked very quickly to develop their walking tours, as thought they had been preparing them in their minds for some time prior. The departure Lounge was in the 107 Projects on Redfern street and made the perfect intimate starting and finishing points. Thanks to everyone who supported these projects.
