natalia ladyko says...

Natalia Ladyko is our kind of girl. Not content with being great at just one thing, she’s turned her attention to a whole raft of rather impressive skills, adding things like “stilt-walker” and “aerial artist” to her resume. Now she’s teamed up with some other talented folk to create Umbrella Theatre, which will reveal itself to the masses as part of Peats Ridge 2010. We caught up with Natalia as she prepares for her first big festival performance.

Covered: Theatre magic, The Dark Crystal, video games and world domination.

KB: The name Umbrella Theatre conjures up quite a few images, but what’s it really all about?

Natalia Ladyko: Umbrella Theatre is an intimate travelling venue where you’ll never know what performance you’re going to get. We have a growing number of shows we perform in Umbrella Theatre, with duration never exceeding 10 minutes. As you queue outside the red curtains, you’ll hear laughter, screaming and God knows what else. But you can never assume you’re going to have the same experience as the people before you, or the people after you! We rotate between performances and most of our pieces have alternate endings. Or do they? To be more precise, it is a three-metre tall, custom-made umbrella where magic happens.

KB: Who’s involved with the installation, and how did you all come together?

NL: Myself and a colleague, Ella McInnes, sat down one day at our favourite local. With beer in hand, pen and paper not too far out of reach, the ideas started pouring in. We decided to ‘try our luck’ at Underbelly Arts. That gave us space, time, a little money and a deadline to make this idea materialise, and both of us knew we couldn’t do it alone. It was a job too big for just two people.

There are 5 core members of Umbrella Theatre: Myself and my business partner Shani Moffat, as well as Matina Matzourios, Aesha Henderson and the newest member Samantha Hickey. We all met working for Erth Visual and Physical Inc. Friendships grew, then the idea, and we joined forces to make our words and drawings become action and things. All of us come from different backgrounds: acting, arts administration, physical theatre and design to name a few. But one common language we all have is puppetry, whether it be performing or making. With such eclectic backgrounds it is sure to make Umbrella Theatre rich in experiences for the members and audience alike.

It is our hope for the future to bring in other artists to collaborate with us! And for world domination of course.

KB: You’ve got quite a few strings to your bow – actor, dancer, stilt-walker, puppeteer – is there any that you’re more passionate about?

NL: I love performing. But I do have a special love for acting and physical theatre. I have a few ideas up my sleeve, but I hope to do my Masters within the next year or two with a focus on movement direction for theatre, film and television and new technologies (like CGI). I want to perform and have a creative hand in things from video clips to the remake of The Dark Crystal, from video games to the Olympic games. I say… ‘bring it on!’

KB: So do you think this is a natural progression for your work, or are you exploring new territory?

NL: I think this is a natural progression of my work, but I’m certainly exploring new territory too. I have been a puppeteer for going on five years where I’ve been exposed to many forms of theatre; street and stage. I have very eclectic tastes and I never stop. I’m always on the go, so to get a group of very talented people together and create something from scratch where I’d have a lot of artistic input, is a very natural progression for me. However, this is the first time I’ve created a living and breathing business and had a business partner. I’m certainly in new territory there… first of many I can assure you!

KB: The Umbrella Theatre was developed at Underbelly Arts Festival – how different was the original incarnation? And how can you see it evolving?

NL: It’s not all that different - it’s just going to get better and more awesome! We are currently in another round of creative development were we are tweaking the umbrella itself, making it look sexier and more enticing. Oh, and creating more intricate shows. We are just getting slicker with what we want and our method of working. It’s going to be a great process to look back on, but right now, we are all enjoying the ride!

KB: Obviously the atmosphere of a festival like Peats Ridge is a world away from an indoor theatre – how much does your environment alter the way you perform? Have you done big festivals like this before?

NL: We haven’t done a big festival like Peats Ridge before; that’s why we are so excited! Umbrella Theatre was made to go anywhere and for the performance to start ‘whenever’. The proposed site for Umbrella Theatre at Peat’s Ridge is awesome; amongst the great outdoors and towering trees (provided it doesn’t rain). We created a travelling venue, Umbrella Theatre, which means we can control the ‘climate’ inside, if the environment was to alter anything, it’s the vibe! And Peats Ridge always has an awesome energy, and we want to add to it.

KB: Can you sum up the Umbrella Theatre in three words?

NL: Great… The hardest question of them all… Not even five words? Quirky, entertaining and journey.

umbrella theatre, natalia ladyko, peats ridge, underbelly arts