Continuing the Federal Government’s push to take high quality arts events to rural and regional audiences the Minister for Communications, Information, Technology and the Arts, Senator Helen Coonan, announced this week the formation of a groundbreaking partnership between the Australian Film Commission (AFC) and The Australian Ballet.

The partnership will simultaneously take a live performance of The Nutcracker to audiences in eight regional centres around Australia.

The AFC will use state of the art digital technology to enable audiences in Port Augusta, Yarram, Hervey Bay, Devonport, Katherine, Wagga Wagga, Singleton and Albany to experience the performance live from the Sydney Opera House. Audiences in the Opera House forecourt will also be able to enjoy the show.

The venues form part of the AFC’s Regional Digital Screen Network (RDSN). Launched in December 2006, the RDSN utilizes developments in digital cinema technology to provide regional audiences with diverse Australian programs that would be seldom taken to these centres. It also gives rural audiences the opportunity to experience these events at the same time as city dwellers.

The material screened on the RDSN includes short films, children’s films, Indigenous films, documentaries and films from the National Film & Sound Archive, as well as newly released Australian feature films.

“This is the first time in Australia that digital cinema technology has been used to give regional audiences the opportunity to experience a live performance by one of Australia’s flagship arts companies on the big screen at the same time as an audience in a metropolitan area,” Senator Coonan said.

As well as being able to witness Peter Wright’s lavish production of The Nutcracker audiences will get an exclusive ‘behind the scenes’ view of The Australian Ballet warming up and preparing to perform, through cameras positioned backstage. This idea will provide onlookers with a fascinating perspective of the company at work.

Senator Coonan said that, “This unique partnership between the AFC, The Australian Ballet and the Sydney Opera House represents an important step in making live performance more accessible to all Australians and shows how digital technology can transform our life experiences.”