Albany arts group Breaksea receives $110,000 to stage The Magical Weedy Seadragon at 2023 Maritime Festival

Albany-based arts organisation Breaksea has received a $110,000 funding boost to help stage an ocean themed production at next year’s Maritime Festival. The funding will go towards the development of Breaksea’s latest offering, The Magical Weedy Seadragon, an interactive performance for children to be performed at the Albany Entertainment Centre during the festival. Phase one of the project has already begun, with Breaksea holding workshops at schools in areas including Wellstead and Mt Barker. The production’s characters and themes have been inspired by suggestions from students. The production will also include the involvement of ALOTCo’s Let’s Shine performance group for people living with disability. Breaksea artistic director Matt Ward said two key themes emerged through the workshops which the plot has been developed around — the power of caring for others and a call to environmental action. The story follows a child who finds a magical sea dragon on a beach. It will star opera soprano Pia Harris, rising Albany actor Jarrad Inman, Emily O’Brien and Ward. Ward said the organisation was “over the moon” to receive the funding. “It will support writing and creating the work, providing professional development opportunities for people across the Great Southern and connection with children from remote schools,” he said. “We are thrilled that the City of Albany were our first champions and have also contributed to the project with $20,000 as part of the regional events sponsorship scheme.” The funding is part of the State Government’s Made in WA program that supports regional performance projects.