New crop of artists harvesting memories
Puppets have been sprouting in the wheat fields around Merredin, whose residents have worked with artists from Spare Parts Puppet Theatre to create a play about life on the land.
Farm, which had its world premiere at Merredin's historic Cummins Theatre last week, is the result of a two-year residency by Spare Parts in the Wheatbelt town.
The seed for the Fremantle theatre company to spend time in Merredin was planted by cast member Chloe Flockhart, whose family have farmed in the district for a century.
Spare Parts artistic director Philip Mitchell said Farm was inspired by memories associated with personal items contributed by the farming community.
"It was an exercise that kids and adults could do and a way of collecting stories," Mitchell said.
"Those objects hold the stories and memories that are being unleashed."
Supported by Collgar Wind Farm, the CBH Group and Shire of Merredin, the residency was like being immersed in an "intense laboratory" where inspiration could be drawn from the community, Mitchell said.
Another side of the residency is a flock of farmers, 100 life-size cut-out figures made by students at St Mary's School Merredin. They will be on display when Farm begins a two-week season at Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle on Saturday.
