6 Chancellor Street

SHERWOOD 4075

 5 January 2007

The Executive Director – Bill Hauritz

Woodford Folk Festival

Queensland Folk Federation

PMB 2

Woodford 4514.

Dear Bill,

Woodford Fire Event 2007

Congratulations to Woodford Folk Festival [WFF] on a great Festival in 2006 – 2007, particularly the Fire Event!!

I trust that the following suggestion might be seen as constructively useful.

I appreciate that there might be alternative better means of delivering the same or a better outcome, and defer to the relevant WFF workforce committee’s talents in advising on achieving the best outcome.

I attended the Tuesday morning event Last Breakfast at the Troupadour hosted by Martin and John. Discussion turned to the Fire Event held at the Amphitheatre on the previous evening, and a general discussion of attendees understanding of the story/plot occurred.  It became apparent that whilst it was entertaining as a theatrical spectacle, there was a diversity of understanding, interpretation and confusion. 

I recall that some years ago WFF hosted a performance at the Amphitheatre by a student performance group (Secondary school students from the Maryborough-Hervey Bay area??).  The performance managers provided a handout, about 1/3 A4 sheet size, which described the performance (about 4 or 5 Acts with each act’s action précised to a concise sentence, as I recall).  This précis was most useful in maintaining understanding and contact with the performance as it unfolded. 

Can WFF consider providing a similar yet alternative distribution medium for this information to the benefit of all???  WFF could provide a précis using the Amphitheatre’s two projection screens for sub-titles, or super-text to the action as it is projected onto the screens, in similar fashion to the highlighted text provided for audience participation in communal singing at the Fire Event close. 

Could you please give this suggestion due consideration, as I am confident that it will provide enhanced appreciation of future fire-event theatre and its ‘take-home’ message/s?? 

I would appreciate being appraised of developments.

Regards

John C Taylor