Portfolio
As Big MAMA Productions, I provide visual theatre performances and workshops, in puppetry and other media, to tell an individuals or a community’s story as small or large scale events.
Scones with Nana
The play starts when two sisters arrive at the front of Nana’s house. Well, no, the story starts nearly 200 years before hand. The sisters believe that they have brought disgrace upon the family, that is until they hear Nanna’s story. It is designed to be a site-specific work for…
Stories of Strength : songs and stories from Anne Street Reserve 2021
‘Living on the Reserve – Stories of Strength’ was developed as a result of research done by the Notre Dame University’s Nulungu Research Unit into the story of the Anne Street Reserve from the 1960’s to 1980’s. There was a real fear that this important part of Broome history would…
Shorebird Quest
About the life and travels of the migratory shorebirds
who visit the Ramsar site of Roebuck Bay Broome, after travelling thousands of kilometres
via other endangered wetlands across the world. Gwen will work with a team of artists and Indigenous Rangers to collaborativly develop a large scale site specific performance on town Beach foreshore in May 2019.
Dinosaurs Stomp!
From 2020 – 2021 Supported by Regional Arts Fund and Dinosaur Coast Management Group. Puppet construction by Chris Hill and Gwen Knox Photos by Georgia Deguara
Song for the Martuwarra
Song of the Mardoowarra is an extremely beautiful puppetry work, suitable for all ages. Developed collaborativly with Dr Anne Poelina and inspired by traditional Nyikina creation story for the Fitzroy or Mardoowarra River in the Kimberley Region of Western Australia. It an exciting example of inclusive theatre which engages and works with the community on a number of entry levels.
Ngalyak and the Flood
There is an old Nyikina man who sits under a tree carving wood with his old pocket knife. As he carves he tells the story of Ngalyak or the Luma Lizard. He cracks jokes and laughs a lot. Next to him is his bag of tools and a collection of…
“Two Rivers Talking” Puppetry Workshops
“Two Rivers Talking” puppetry workshops with the Pandanas Park kids in the second week of the last school holidays. Great fun with Bernadette Agatha Trench-Thiedeman and Karen Hethey, Anne Poelina, Meredith Bell Even Jabby came out of his suitcase!thanks Danielle Odore and tropical upholstery for all the foam.
Anne Street Commemoration Oral History and Concert Project
The Anne Street Commemoration Oral History and Concert project is series of projects designed to tell the story of the Anne Street Aboriginal Reserve. It is the result of 2 years of research by Notre Dame University.
Worn Art
The 14 years that were Worn Art that ended in 2011. A community driven costume spectacular. While often featuring works by Artists from across the world, most works came from the local and higlhy creative community of Broome.
Costume Design
Gwen has created many costumes throughout her career including entries in each year of Worn Art and Kimberley produced TV and movie productions. Here are some highlights. Jandamarra’s War – ABC TV Written and Directed by Mitch Torres Worn Art
Staircase to the Moon
Based on the children’s book of the same name by Indigenous local author Bronwyn Houston, Gwen Knox is writer director of the play. The story is inspired by the natural phenomenon of the staircase to the moon where the moon reflects on the mudflats at low tide on Roebuck Bay, Broome.
Sandfly Circus
Sandfly Circus ~ the Theatre Kimberley incarnation started in 2007. It is taken from a name given by Eleanor Davies who used to help Gwen run short term circus projects after Gwen left full time teaching. When Gwen left full time teaching as a music drama specialist, she freelanced as…
A Ship of Dreams
A Musical Drama for Children Written by by Mary Durack, With Music by June Fitzgerald, Adapted by Gwen Knox 2008, musical director Damion Watkiss. Gwen performed in the original production in 1968.
Carnival of Light
200 hand made and hand held lanterns, several large lanterns, 200 children and 30 adult voice choir, live band made up of key Broome musicians, dancers and fire twirlers made up an truly magical performance on the mud of Roebuck Bay during the Shinju Matsuri 2012.
Shadows, Dreams and Memories
Traces the story of Japanese woman who lived in Jap Town, Broome in the early 20th Century. Her man is at sea. She writes him letters of love until she receives a letter to confirm that her man has been lost forever to tragedies that often stalk the pearling industry. Excerpts…
Big MAMA Productions
Gwendolyn Knox, is the proprietor of Big MAMA Productions. While the name was taken from a very large processional puppet that she helped create in the 90’s called Big Mamma, the name now means Big (mobs of) Making Art More Accessible. Gwen has worked in Australian arts in the community and education (BA Dip Ed.) for over 30 years.
She has a firm belief that:
- Change for the better can be brought about by utilising fun, creativity and mutual trust
- True fulfilment comes from what we we actively create for ourselves, not what others think is appropriate for us
- Communication through the arts can help facilitate change for the better for the individual or the wider community.
Big MAMA Productions makes visual theatre with puppetry, circus, dance, music, story telling, electronic media, collaborative design and development of visual and community theatre, and anything else that is needed to spin a good yarn.