The Rainbow Tree
- About the Work
- Touring & Tech
- Marketing & Engagement
The Rainbow Tree; where everyone’s welcome and anything is possible.
Synopsis
What happens when you invite seven children from Rainbow Families to create a show? You end up with a disco koala, a wildebeest, a farting unicorn and a fairy that can freeze tickle monsters all co-habiting in a very tall, yet tiny Rainbow Tree. This is what it’s like living in a Rainbow Family. Everyone is welcome and anything is possible.
The Rainbow Tree is musical storytelling with moving image. Written with children from Rainbow families, it shares personal and imagined stories around the idea of family, identity and community. Performed by two queer super Aunties, Aunty Bear and ZaZa from Fat Fruit (Bec Matthews and Sarah Ward) with singing and live music, played on instruments and objects you could find around the house. The songs are brought to life through the projected visual images of Jolyon James (Arena Theatre Company) featuring animation, illustrations and the children themselves.
The stories of The Rainbow Tree were collected through Zoom meetings during the six month Melbourne lockdown. These children were isolated from their friends and extended families and had limited opportunity for adventures. This did not stop them imagining new worlds to explore. Worlds inhabited by animals and magical beings, where they could be super versions of themselves and dig up 4005 golden cupcakes.
There will be two Auslan interpreted shows, brought to you by the extraordinary Kirri Dangerfeild, who has translated the songs into Auslan. Fat Fruit have a focus on making all shows as relaxed as possible. The Rainbow Tree will have a break out area, fidget toys, noise cancelling headphones and toys to cuddle and squish. A number of the performances will be interpreted for Deaf and Hard of Hearing audiences.
Short Reviews
Michelle Gale (CoM Child Safety Officer, Community Services)
McKenzie, 4 yrs (One of the collaborating children of Rainbow Families)
Reuben (One of the collaborating children of Rainbow Families)
Video
Technical Information
Lighting
The lighting plan for The Rainbow Tree is adaptable for a range of venues. The following list of equipment is indicative of the requirements of a space the same size as the minimum performance area with a capacity of 60 audience pax.
Venues without overhead rigs will need to provide additional equipment (eg Lighting trees. Sandbags).
Please note these requirements may be able to be adapted to fit your venue equipment stock:
- ETC Ion console
- 12 x RGBW LED Pars
- 4 x RGBWA LED Battens (eg Fusion Bars)
- 2 x LED Pin Spots (or generic pin spots with dimmers)
Audio
The soundtrack for The Rainbow Tree is a mix of pre-recorded audio, live music and spoken text. Pre-recorded tracks are triggered by the drummer via Qlab onstage right.
Substitutions to these requirements may be possible in consultation with us prior to our arrival at your venue:
- High quality professional sound system appropriate for space and capable of significant SPL (110db without distortion at ops) with a low visual profile.
- This loudspeaker system must be sufficient enough to provide a high level of amplification equivalent to the size of the venue.
- Each loudspeaker requires its own individual output send from the console.
- 2 x foldback for performers (eg Meyer MJF – 1 on each side)
- Minimum of 6 channel inputs on stage
Console:
- Digital console (minimum 12 input channels, 2 Aux sends, stereo out) with internal EQ and FX (mainly reverb)
Microphones (see channel list for usage / notes):
- 2 x channels of Shure or Sennheiser radio mics with antenna system
- 2 x Handheld radio Microphones
- 1 x Sennheiser E906
- 1 x Sennheiser SM81
- 1 x B52A (Kick drum)
- 1 x SM57
- 2 x SM58 Vocal Microphones
- 1 x DI (Uke)
- 1 x Stereo USB DI (Qlab L&R)
- 1 x talkback microphone (FOH Ops)
- 4 x adjustable black microphone stands
- 2 x adjustable low black microphone stand
- Batteries for radio microphones (Good quality rechargeable preferred)
Staging
Staging for The Rainbow Tree involves a projection screen upstage flanked by two black drapes either rigged or on push-up stands (venue to supply). Painted carpet lies on the stage floor splitting two band areas. The band areas are decorated with a number of decals and bells.
Directly in front of the stage area is additional carpet and cushions for children in the audience.
Required equipment:
- Appropriate ladders/EWPs for access to OH Rig (minimum 2 ladders)
- Access to basic tools including tech guns, shifters, hammers, saws etc
- Floor to ceiling black drapes to frame the projection screen
- 1 x set of treads (at least 1.2m wide) allowing access from stage level to the auditorium in the case of raised stage areas
- Rigging points over audience for strings of fairy lights
- Rigging point for bells and decal at edge of performance area and at the screen
- Cushions for children’s seating area at front of stage
In-Brief Video Requirements
The Rainbow Tree requires a projection screen upstage centre, ideally with a projector set up to rear project pre-recorded images run from the same Qlab machine set near the drummer.
For smaller venues the company can tour with the required screen and projector to achieve this. For larger venues, presenters will need to supply these elements.
Please contact us to discuss.
Crew Notes
Day One
- 2 x Mechanists (8 hour call)
- 2 x Lighting technicians (8 hour call)
- 1 x Lighting programmer (8 hour call)
- 1 x Audio / Video technician (8 hour call)
- 1 x Audio operator (8 hour call)
- Sign language interpreter (4 hours)
Day Two
- 1 x Mechanist (4 hour call)
- 1 x Lighting operator (4 hour call)
- 1 x Audio operator (4 hour call)
- Sign language interpreter (6 hours)
Show calls:
- 1 x Lighting operator (3 hour call)
- 1 x Audio operator (3 hour call)
- Sign language interpreter (3 hours)
Load-out (for company equipment only – does not cover reset of space)
- 3 x Mechanist (4 hour call)
- 1 x Lighting tech (3 hour call)
- 1 x Audio tech (3 hour call)
Transport Notes
Depending on the scale of venues and length of tour, freight for The Rainbow Tree can be in a large, hitop van. Touring company would need at least a medium sized car suitable for 4 adults.
The full set (including instruments) cannot travel by plane, however there is the option of sourcing many elements locally at the presenters expense if this cannot be avoided.
Audience & Marketing Notes
2-7 year olds: The show is colourful, raucous, musical and engaging, and features a host of outrageous costumes and gorgeous animations. It will be stimulating for young children and also contains important lessons about family, compassion and difference.
Rainbow Families and their allies: The show is made with and for Rainbow Families. It provides an opportunity for these families to see themselves and their unique circumstances reflected and celebrated, fostering pride in one’s identity.
Adults with or without children who want to get lost in a child’s imagination: Many adults have reported attending the show and being moved by its queer message of celebrating difference and embracing diversity.
Selling Points
- The show is made WITH Rainbow Families FOR Rainbow Families. It has involved collaboration and consultation and thus is engages with rainbow families and tells their stories authentically.
- The show is musical, hilarious, fun and silly, while also delivering important messages about inclusivity and respect for people’s diverse needs and identities.
- The show assumes a basic level of understanding of queerness and does not feel the need to justify or explain its queer philosophy, but also makes room for those wanting to learn more about Rainbow Families. It is an inviting for allies and those curious to learn.
- It is inclusive in content and form. Fat Fruit take care to make shows accessible with Auslan Interpreted shows and an understanding that audience members can come and go as they require.
Community Engagement
Details
Genre
Audience
2-7 (+ adult queers & allies)
Venue Format
The Rainbow Tree is designed for end-on stages (including community halls and black box performance spaces) with the audience in close proximity to the stage. Auditoriums that allow for younger patrons to sit at the edge of stage are ideal. The stage should be a non-raked floor surface with no uneven areas, and have control over ambient light.
Duration
45 Minutes
Available Until (from - to)
31/12/2023
Budget & Fees
What are these? Find out more.In Development - work which will be produced and premiered in time for touring during 2022/2023. Please contact the Producer directly for Budgets and Fees.
Remount: $27,000 - $30,000
Weekly Sell Off: $21,000 - $25,000
Per Performance: $TBC
