LET'S FLY!

In Development

Let’s Fly is a new physical theatre work inspired by the environment, sky and local birdlife of the Upper Blue Mountains and Hartley area for children aged 4 - 8 years old. Exploring themes of love, curiosity and home this development is a collaboration of local artists with support of a Creative Producer. The work is in development with plans for a full production and touring.

About the Work

Let’s Fly! marks the first full collaboration between the four local artists forming a new collective grounded in physical practice, visual storytelling and creating original quality theatre for young audiences. The collective draws on a rich web of connections of professional experience, previous collaborations and shared practice in the creation of this new work.

The Let’s Fly! project stems from a desire to create meaningful, movement and image based works for young children. Aimed at a 4-8 year old audience, Let’s Fly! speaks to the ‘covid baby’ generation, as it explores themes of home, love and the draw to step outside and fall in love with the natural and unknown. Let’s Fly! offers a sense of belonging, while simultaneously celebrating the freedom and adventure that nature, movement and art can offer. The work is designed to be beautiful, playful, grounding and full of wonder, with a desire to inspire joy and connection to all the senses.

There is a shortage of work that is Blue Mountains made, inspired and about the place. We wish to showcase the uniqueness of the Blue Mountains, its wildlife, sky, and stories to then travel to all areas of NSW. We want to give local children opportunities to experience live performance that sparks creativity and ignites their imaginations, and Let’s Fly! will contribute to filling this gap. We believe that offering children a chance to engage with the arts—particularly through puppetry and dance—will help them develop a deeper connection to their community, their environment, and themselves.

Through this project, we also aim to expand our artists’ practice, particularly in the intersection between dance and puppetry, and create a new creative collaboration that will enrich the local arts scene. The stunning beauty of the Blue Mountains, home to a rich array of birdlife, will serve as a primary inspiration for the work. In particular, we will explore themes of environmental care, resilience, and freedom through the lens of native bird species such as the Regent HoneyEater (critically endangered) and Glossy Black Cockatoos.

Creative Development Videos

Meet the Artists

Renata Commisso, Lead Artist

Renata Commisso is a regional NSW-based independent dancer, maker, and educator. She spent 12 years performing in contemporary dance companies across Europe and North America. Since returning to Sydney in 2018, she has collaborated with The National Gallery of Australia, Sue Healey, Living Room Theatre, Opera Australia, Julie-Anne Long and more. Her choreographic works, including YOUWHO? and Motherhood were featured in Sydney Fringe and part of the Western Sydney University Curriculum. She has also worked as an inclusive choreographer and movement director for Look the Part (Bus Stop Films) and Fluffy (Sydney Festival 2022). A dedicated facilitator for children, youth and adults of all abilities, she facilitates workshops and classes for Milk Crate Theatre, Dance for Parkinson’s Australia, DirtyFeet, the Centre for Creativity (Sydney Opera House) and Sydney Dance Company. In 2021, she founded Move and Groove, a creative movement community that embodies her belief in the arts as a space for people of all ages to connect, create, and belong.

She is passionate about the transformative power of the arts and is committed to creating accessible, high-quality works that invite people of all backgrounds to engage, express, and thrive.

Jonathan Llewellyn, Creative Producer

Jonathan Llewellyn is based in regional NSW and freelances as a Creative Producer, Independent Presenter, Creative Thinker, Grants Writer and Arts Marketer. He is the Chair of regional arts development organisation, Arts OutWest, and works with individuals and organisations all over Australia.

He has conceived and delivered special events such as Sunrise on Whaluu in Bathurst, Music for World Peace Day in Cowra, and presents the annual Leila Waddell Concert Series in Bathurst.