Most boards are made up of seasoned executives. Windmill Production Company’s Little Board is made up of young people. Every fortnight, a group of smart, creative kids meet at the Windmill office to explore art and theatre making, sit in on how productions come together, and consider what art as activism actually looks like, guided by Windmill staff, artists and the company’s senior Board. It’s free, weekly, and unlike any extracurricular on offer in Adelaide. We sat down with one of its members.
What made you want to apply for the Little Board in the first place?
I’d already had experience with Windmill. I was the voice of Beep in Beep and Mort, and I’d worked on Creation Creation. I loved working with them and was keen to keep the connection going.
Has being part of this group opened up something you hadn’t considered before?
Definitely. Getting to see behind the scenes and how the theatre world actually works gave me a real sense of what it could be like later. I’d consider acting or theatre when I’m older.
What do you think adults get wrong about what kids want to see on stage?
I think that adults think that themes that are considered scary and stuff like death, ghosts, and phobias are too confronting for young ages. Things like that were covered in Creation Creation and I really liked that, because it was educational in a safe way that was understandable for people of all ages. Windmill also added the aspect of a sleep paralysis demon in Mama Does Derby, which I think is really cool because the way they represent the demon is ‘scary’ but doesn’t seem so as the show progresses.
What’s something about you that might surprise the other members of the Little Board?
I’m a lot like the character I voiced in Beep and Mort. I have so much data in my head from years of reading, but I speak in monosyllables when I’m asked a question. Even writing the answers to these questions, it was hard to use full sentences.
Find out more about the Little Board: windmill.org.au
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