REGIONAL ARTS AUSTRALIA
RAF CASE STUDY: THE FREDA EXPERIENCE
Image: George Mannering Canterbury Museum
Verity Higgins in collaboration with Jillian Pearce & Jim Coad celebrate
the life of the first woman to ascend Mt Cook
Premiered at the Castlemaine State Festival 17-22 March 2015, The Freda Experience chronicles in
performance the footsteps of Freda Du Faur, a young, adventurous Australian mountaineer who in
1910 smashed the glass ceiling by being the first woman to ascend Mt Cook (Aoraki) in New Zealand.
Audience members were treated to an exercise class in the style of the Dupain Institute, which Freda
attended in readiness for the climb, and where she met her lover Muriel Cadogan. Roped together
for safety, the audience were guided through ‘stations’ conveying aspects of Freda’s life from literary
salon to deep-sleep sanatorium; finally setting up a bivouac in readiness for the ascent of Mt Cook.
The Freda Experience explored poignant moments from Freda’s life and the jaw-dropping thrills of
high altitude conveyed through projection, original sound-scape and live action.
Regional Arts Victoria manages the RAF program in Victoria. The Regional Arts Fund initially
supported the professional development activity associated with the show. Quick response funds
supported the initial creative development with physical theatre performer Jillian Pearce and
projection artist Jim Coad. RAF and Creative Victoria funds were subsequently secured to finalise
development, rehearsal and production as part of the 2015 Castlemaine Festival.
‘Congratulations on an absolutely delightful journey and performance last night. It
was a highlight theatre experience for a number of people I spoke with.’
Martin Paten, Castlemaine State Festival Director, March 2015
For more information on RAF, visit: www.regionalarts.com.au or www.rav.net.au
For more on this project, visit:
http://madeinnatimuk.com/thefredaexperience/
https://www.facebook.com/thefredaexperience