Bunbury stories brought to life in BREC original
In April, Bunbury Regional Entertainment Centre (BREC) invites you to look at your city from another perspective.
This is where… is a guided walking theatre experience. Audiences will be taken on a walk through the Bunbury CBD to see live theatre based on true stories, performed in the places they actually happened.
The BREC original production is the culmination of six years of research and development, starting at the inaugural BREC Artists Retreat held at Donnelly River Village in 2019. Creator Siobhan Maiden has collected a diverse range of true stories from Bunbury locals, and with her experience as a documentary filmmaker, radio presenter, and drama teacher, written them for live performance by actors.
“I really enjoy fiction, but there are so many incredible true stories that there is hardly a need to invent characters or scenarios.” Maiden said.
“I love honouring moments, people and places who often don’t expect it or think they deserve it. Finding beauty and value in the everyday, the ordinary and familiar enhances our quality of life, as we appreciate the here and now rather than seeing the grass always being greener elsewhere.”
Rather than recreating these stories on stage, actors will perform them in the actual locations they happened. Audiences will be guided on a walking tour of the Bunbury CBD, and they will stop at various locations to watch a scene based on real life stories.
More than 100 locals shared their firsthand stories with Maiden in the development of This is where… Of those, 30 were chosen and refined into 10 scenes located across the CBD. They explore Bunbury’s nightlife, car scene, current and former local businesses, and the people who made it all happen.
A theme which runs through all 30 stories selected is that they all reflect a small act of rebellion. Maiden didn’t seek this out as a qualifier, but it emerged during the process of curating them that there was a clear demonstration of courage displayed in each.
“I have deep respect for each person whose story appears in this work. They have taken risks, endured challenges, and may never know the ripple effects of their actions,” Maiden said.
“This is where… is a tribute to hidden courage. To ordinary places where something quietly brave once happened. The real answer to the title’s unfinished sentence is probably: This is where I showed courage.”
Your journey will start with your group in The Cube Theatre. A series of short scenes bring Bunbury’s past and present to life – blending local stories and glimpses of the city you thought you knew.
Then the show spills into the city, where across seven locations in the Bunbury CBD, you’ll encounter ordinary places that hold extraordinary layers of meaning – spaces where private moments linger, shaping who we are and how we belong.
BREC Executive Director Fiona de Garis said developing a brand-new production is a significant undertaking.
“It requires creative vision, technical skill and a great deal of collaboration. With This is where…, it has been a genuine delight to partner with organisations and businesses that share the CBD with us. Their generosity has allowed these stories to unfold in the very places they happened. Add in some talented local performers, and the stage is set for a truly special experience.
“It is a privilege to help bring local stories to life with care and respect, and I am very much looking forward to audiences sharing this experience and seeing Bunbury from a fresh perspective.”