Sydney students join rehearsal of queer pop epic, Flat Earthers: The Musical

University of Sydney students studying Production Strategies for Performance joined creatives in rehearsals for the world premiere of Flat Earthers: The Musical, as part of the artist-in-residence program offered by Theatre and Performance Studies.

The rehearsals were held on campus at the Rex Cramphorn Performance Research Studio, where students were given the invaluable experience of witnessing firsthand how professional production teams use specific lighting techniques to craft stunning visual effects on stage. 

Flat Earthers: The Musical is a love story – one that is enabled by our digitally obsessed world yet complicated by the absurdities that can be found on the fringes of the internet.

The musical’s plot parallels the virtue and vice that coexist on the world wide web, a place where both connection and conspiracy blossom, with sharp and witty dialogue that explores questions of belief and truth in the digital era. 

In the rehearsal space at the Rex, students observed how the Flat Earthers cast and crew grappled with the various complexities of a musical set in a digital landscape. 

“Theatre is a live, tangible experience where audiences gather in a shared space for an hour or two,” said Benjamin Brockman, Set and Lighting Designer for Flat Earthers.

“However, when conceptualising a musical that is set on the internet and centred around conspiracy theories – a world often characterised by individuals sitting in dark rooms behind keyboards – we faced the challenge of how to bring this digital realm to life on stage.”

The stage and lighting team quickly realised the crucial role of video and light projection in designing an internet world for live theatre.

“We aimed to create an environment that felt like being inside a computer while also allowing for moments of clarity beyond the screen,” Brockman said. “This search led us to a string curtain, which could effectively hold projected images while simultaneously enabling actors to pass through it.”

Projection mapping or video mapping is a theatre technique where images and video are projected onto a surface, creating an interactive and immersive display.

Specialised software and hardware including projectors, cameras, sensors, and controllers are used to map the surface’s shape, boundaries, and position, and then adjust the projected image or video to fit. The technique also allows the lighting design to be dynamic with other elements of the set, such as the movements of actors or the positioning of stage props.

“The versatility of being able to project our desired images onto the curtain material was invaluable; it gave us so much creative flexibility, including allowing us to light from behind and create the effect of people appearing within the digital world,” said Brockman.

The collaborative partnership between Griffin Theatre Company and the University of Sydney is fruitful for everyone involved, from established theatre artists to the next generation of aspiring theatre professionals.

For Brockman, engaging with students from the Theatre and Performance Studies major as a practicing designer is crucial, because it facilitates the direct sharing of current, real-world knowledge and experiences. 

“The interaction between professional artists and students bridges the gap between practice and theory and offers students insights into the latest industry trends and techniques,” Brockman said.

“This exchange not only enriches students’ education but also fosters a community of continuous learning and creative growth.”

By uniting academic, artist and student minds at the Rex, education and industry come together to inspire a transformative creative environment that resolves challenges, advances research and builds careers in theatre and performance.

“We’ve had a brilliant time making Flat Earthers with the support of the University of Sydney,” said Artistic Director and Co-CEO at Griffin, Declan Greene.

“Drawing on the resources and expertise of Theatre and Performance Studies has helped us untangle some of the knotty technical challenges of this musical – and it’s been really enjoyable to share some of our process with the Production Strategies students. 

“This kind of exchange between professionals and students happens too rarely in our industry, but it can have a big impact in terms of demystifying careers in the arts – we’re appreciative of the University of Sydney for facilitating this partnership, for their students’ benefit as well as ours.”

Dr Paul Dwyer, senior lecturer in the Discipline of Theatre and Performances Studies said: “It’s really precious for our students to experience theatre professionals grappling with the same problems that they encounter throughout their studies, but also to see the much wider palette of solutions that these professionals are able to access.

"There’s a real respect from Griffin towards our students, and it’s no coincidence that our graduates go on to work with Griffin after completing their studies, as playwrights, producers, stage managers, front of house staff and administrators. The exposure to professional practice and the journey of artists like Declan Greene, allows the students to project themselves into the theatre space and see how far they can go."

Flat Earthers: The Musical is a co-production between Hayes Theatre Co and Griffin Theatre Company. The musical is on now until 9 November – find tickets on the Griffin Theatre Company website. Hero photo: John McRae.