JUTE Theatre (Cairns), in conjunction with Mudlark Theatre (Launceston), will present Dancing Back Home between Friday 4 June and Saturday 19 June. This new work showcases the talent of six young playwrights from across Australia, who, using the stage as their platform, explore, develop and present their own interpretations of ‘home’.

Dancing Back Home has been three years in the making and is the culmination of creativity from emerging playwrights and a strong commitment between JUTE and Mudlark Theatres from conception to curtain up.

JUTE Artistic Director/CEO Suellen Maunder says, “The idea for Dancing Back Home began back in 2007 when the National Young and Emerging Regional Playwrights pilot program brought together seven playwrights with the objective of developing skills and creating new work. Then, later that year, the group came together once again in Cairns when they attended JUTE’s annual conference. It was at this event that the group discussed writing a short play each on the theme of 200 kms; with each writer taking a view 200kms out from their perspective.

“At the time, JUTE and Mudlark Theatres agreed to pursue the project with a view to a possible co-production in 2010. Then, in October 2008, a three-day creative development workshop took place in Launceston – after which, JUTE and Mudlark committed to produce the work. A reading of the scripts took place at JUTE’s 2008 Conference (after which) further dramaturgical support took place with Peter Matheson in 2009.

Ms Maunder says Dancing Back Home is destined to inspire and entertain audiences with a kaleidoscope of talent. The short plays look at love, family and murder from six different perspectives.

The playwrights, and their work, are as follows:

Victoria Carless
Love and the future collide when Jack and Jill spill from his motorbike on the night of the country dance.

Carrie McLean
Bringing the ashes of her mother back home, a young woman finds her grandmother living a past that has trapped her. Can the ashes release them both?

Amy Losiak
The ties of motherhood go to any lengths. How far will you go to keep your loved ones near?

Finn O’Branagain
Pregnant and questioning, a young girl has to choose between her past and her potential.

Rod Ainsworth
A young woman hitches with what’s left of a relationship and gets stuck in her worst nightmare, caught between a gore-crow and a dingo.

Finegan Kruckemeyer
How do you survive the terrors of your past? Is there any way out? Ask these two as they try and find salvation in the present.

Dancing Back Home Cairns season runs June 4-19, 2010.

For more information visit JUTE Theatre's website.

To book, call ticketLINK on 1300 855 835 or visit the ticketLINK website.

Dancing Back Home will run in Launceston from June 24 – 26, 2010. For information on the Launceston season visit Mudlark Theatre's website.