Circus West - using street theatre for stormwater education
 Grant number: 3096
Grant funding: $50,200
Local government area/s: Dubbo City Council
Location/s: Dubbo and surrounding areas, Wellington, Trangie and Sydney (Olympic Park)
Project partners: Dubbo City Council, Dubbo West Public School |
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Stormwater education in semi-arid regions of NSW presents different challenges to stormwater education in coastal regions. Unlike in coastal estuaries and on beaches where pollution can be seen coming and going with the changing tide, in western regions pollution is washed into the rivers and flows downstream and out of sight.
Stormwater attitude surveys conducted by Dubbo City Council in 1998, 1999 and 2000 indicated a low awareness of stormwater pollution. The council needed to develop strategies to increase awareness of stormwater pollution.
Objectives
As the inaugural stormwater community education project in Dubbo, the project objective was to raise awareness of stormwater issues in schools and the community.
Description
Dubbo City Council used street theatre to deliver messages on stormwater pollution to community members who may not have been receptive to conventional educational methods.
Circus West is a school-based circus troupe, established in 1991, that has performed in the central and far west of NSW and in Sydney. The troupe consists of students from Year 3 to Year 10 and is based at Dubbo West Public School.
Through Circus West's performance titled 'Storm Warning', the council could deliver messages about stormwater pollution to more than 7,000 local residents.
Methodology and tools
Two performance scripts, one targeted to theatres and the other to street performance, were developed to explain stormwater pollution and describe the health of the Macquarie River. A professional scriptwriter and other street performance specialists working as artists-in-residence with Circus West collaborated on the scripts. The aim was to deliver positive and encouraging messages about stormwater, supported by a brochure handed out at the end of the show.
The show was launched and subsequent performances staged as part of Centenary celebrations.
'Storm Warning' was adapted to suit various venues, and was performed at the project launch, as street theatre in Dubbo CBD, in schools and as a cameo at Sydney Olympic Park and a cotton growers' convention.
The following were developed:
- the 'Storm Warning' performance script
- the 'Storm Warning' video
- an information brochure.
Project outcomes
- Community awareness of stormwater issues was raised.
- Over 6,000 school students were exposed to positive messages about stormwater pollution over a 10-day period.
- This project was a dynamic and effective launching pad for an ongoing stormwater pollution community education project.
Tap into the talents in your local community.
Be prepared for bad weather! Have an alternative venue prepared just in case.
Project resources and further information
Phone Dubbo City Council on (02) 6801 4000.
Stage 3 grants details
Page last updated: 26 February 2011
