I am so very grateful and excited that we reached out inital target! The support for this project has been amazing. We are well into rehearsals now and have a few public performances coming up - www.cabaretfringefestival.com/space-encounters/ - before we head off on tours of schools. If you do still wish to make a pledge then you are able to do so. I have the most popular rewards still available and some exciting new ones too! Any extra funds will help me with transporting the sets and costumes to Adelaide (a lot more expensive than first expected!) insurances, accomodations, trailer hire, design costs, rehearsal and audition costs.
WHO IS EMMA KNIGHTS?

I have decided to finally bite the bullet and start my own production company. I have been working in both professional and amateur theatre for over 14 years and have gained a wealth of knowledge and experience from the people I have been lucky enough to work with. I have always been very passionate about the Arts in South Australia but have been consistently told that to make a living, I need to move interstate. It is my hope that my company will produce many shows that will educate, entertain and provide opportunities for other talented South Australian performers.

With that said, I did move interstate for three months last year to sunny Queensland. It was my first professional contract and I was able to live out a lifelong dream of being a pianist and a robot!

Here is a photo of myself training up some young robots on our regional tour in 2012!



As the show has now toured for three successful years in Queensland, they are putting it into storage. Rather than allowing these wonderful sets and costumes to sit in storage for an undefined amount of time, I am keen to purchase these materials and bring the show to schools in South Australia.

WHAT IS MY IDEA?

The first show I will be producing is called “Space Encounters”. It is an opera aimed at primary school aged students. This show has toured both metropolitan and regional schools throughout Queensland, including Children’s Hospitals and many Special Education schools. The show had a successful three-year run in Queensland and I hope to give it a new life down South! I plan to take the show to schools in both the metropolitan and regional areas of South Australia. This not only gives children in remote areas access to opera but, as a unique theatre experience, is also of interest to the local communities.

Many of the children who attended performances during the Queensland tour had never seen an opera before and, after the show, were very keen to see more. I believe this is very important in both keeping this art form alive and giving children another way to express themselves (as evidenced in this article: http://video.msnbc.msn.com/nightly-news/50280592#50280592). The show is extremely interactive for students, and being exposed to and involved in various music and singing activities is proven to be good for one’s health and assist both right and left brain function, helping children in other areas of learning (http://www.ehow.com/facts_4964238_effect-learning-music-children.html).

One Queensland school in Mt Isa posted an article about the show’s visit, including children's comments and photos:
http://www.sjmtsv.catholic.edu.au/documents/newsletter_docs/166_Newsletter%20August%2030%202012.pdf

I will be holding auditions for the show for the three singing roles – baritone, mezzo-soprano and soprano as well as for the role of Roland the Robot who is also the pianist. I hope to cast local artists and will be offering professional rates.

WHAT IS SPACE ENCOUNTERS?

The show tells a story of two astronauts and their robot, and their adventure to a new planet where they encounter something they were not expecting! The show has historical and scientific facts and involves the audience in the story via dialogue and singing. The show also raises issues such as: who am I?, solation, helping others and friendship. At the end of each show there is a 10-minute question and answer session with the artists. It is a great introduction to opera for young audiences and is sung in English, which makes it accessible for all.

WHY YOU SHOULD DONATE/WHY AM I ASKING FOR SUPPORT?

Well, apart from some great offers available, I am putting on this show myself. I have noticed that other artists in Adelaide are keen to create work and get an education program into schools. This provides an opportunity for them to assist with achieving that goal. I am able to cover the costs of licencing, transporting the sets to Adelaide, promoting and paying the artists and it would be a great enabler to have some assistance with the purchase of the sets, costumes and props. The target amount I have set will enable me to purchase everything from Queensland so I can start touring the show in South Australia. It would be wonderful for the community to support this very worthy project to bring this theatre experience to South Australian children. If I am lucky enough to reach over my target (fingers crossed!) extra funds will be used for insurances, rehearsal space hire, trailer hire and stationery to send out packs to schools to start getting bookings :-)

Schools not supporting opera