Off the Leash Theatre will present its immersive, multimedia installation "On Waking" at the Drouin Community Hub next week, telling the classic Ned Kelly story from a new perspective.

Held at the Hub between Thursday November 14 and Sunday November 17, the "On Waking" installation will feature a performance of the original play written by Jeannie Haughton, a screening of the locally produced film adaptation, Q&A session and educational gallery experience.
Written by Jeannie Haughton, Off the Leash Theatre toured "On Waking" around the One Act Play Festival circuit in 2018.
When it was time to bring the performance back home to West Gippsland, Victoria went into COVID-19 lockdown and live theatre was shut down.
With special permission from former West Gippsland Arts Centre manager Rob Robson, the company was able to create a film adaptation of "On Waking". Musician Hannah Comrie Weston wrote and recorded a musical score for the film.
Off the Leash vice president Keira Jarred said the "On Waking" installation explored the Ned Kelly story from an overlooked perspective.
"It tells the story of Ellen Kelly, Ned Kelly's mum," Keira said. "She was a prisoner at the same prison Ned was in when he was hung. It explores themes of motherhood, regional Victorian experiences, grief and also the way we live life with the hands that we're dealt. The play centres the female experience. So much of the Ned Kelly myth is based on this idea of mateship and bravado. He's held up as a bit of an anti-hero, but so much of his life and even his incarceration was based around the women in his life."
Keira said the installation involved a number of elements that contributed to an overall immersive experience.
"There will be a performance of the play, Kellie Bray who played Ellen Kelly when the show toured the one act play festival will perform in that role again," Keira said. "There will be a short break (after the performance) and one of the rooms off to the side is set up as an art exhibition. It will have information on the history of the Kelly gang, images of regional Victoria, projections on the walls."
After the break, a Q&A session featuring different key players in the creation of "On Waking" will be held, followed by a screening of the film.
"This is the first time the film will be screened and the first time the play will be read locally," Keira said.
"To finally be able to bring it home to where it was written, where it was created, is really special."
Keira said audiences can expect to leave the installation with a new insight into the classic story.
"They can expect to learn something that they didn't know, have a different perspective on an old story and hopefully think about the kind of history and the stories that we have locally," Keira said. "I hope that they learn from it, but I hope that they also enjoy it. It's beautifully acted, the story telling is wonderful, and these are people that are creating art in our community, and that's exciting."
"On Waking" will be held at the Drouin Community Hub from November 14 to 17. Tickets are available to purchase online at https://www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1293246