Nests is a theatrical music installation for young children aged 3-8 years of age, created by Australian artists Ken Evans, Gillian Howell, and Rebecca Russell. It invites children to engage in free improvisation and musical dialogue with professional musicians, their parents, and each other, in an evocative and inviting forest environment. Nests features live musicians, beautiful instruments from around the world, and the sounds of the Australian bush. Presented at ArtPlay in 2013 (5 performances), 2014 (4 performances), Roola Boola Children's Festival (4 performances), MusicPlay at Melbourne Recital Centre (5 performances); featured performance at Engaging with Quality conference, ArtPlay (2 performances).
NTRO Output Category
- Original Creative Work : Other
Place
Melbourne, AustraliaVenue
ArtPlayMedium
Immersive theatrical music installationResearch Statement
In the field of creative arts performance for children, Nests addressed the research questions, "how and to what extent can an immersive, theatrical, evocative environment encourage very young children (3-5 years) to explore musical sounds in dialogue with others?" "Can this be done in the absence of explicit verbal direction and instruction?" Children in this age group tend towards self-focused or parallel musical play. It aimed to facilitate children's free musical exploration without explicit direction, and without creating aural chaos.
The Nests creators innovated with sensory elements (lighting, sound, smell, touch), embodied action, and a carefully crafted soundtrack that guided children's improvised musical dialogues with professional musicians and their carers, ultimately moving the participants towards a joyful ensemble experience without explicit direction or instruction.
Nests was highlighted by children's theatre scholar Dr Jennifer Andersen as a "standout production" of recent contemporary work for children (https://theconversation.com/the-fun-and-funding-fears-for-childrens-theatre-in-australia-45950). It was presented as an exemplar work at the Engaging with Quality Learning Exchange, a symposium on best practice in creative arts for children hosted by ArtPlay in July 2014 (Letter of Support verifying this attached).Size or Duration of Work
30 minute performance work
