About Us
The Deadly South is about COMMUNITY
The Deadly South is a performing arts organisation located on the South Coast of NSW.
A collective identity and breeding ground for creatives to collaborate, connect, learn and share their talents with the world.
A united front that represents the performing artists of the South Coast of NSW.
The Deadly South aims to create a viable and sustainable performing arts industry on the South Coast, allowing regional artists to develop and sustain their careers here, at home, whilst also giving them the resources to look further afield.
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Since COVID19 there has been a huge migrational shift from metropolitan areas to regional Australia. We need to support and facilitate this trending migration to our advantage as a community.
How? - By creating local (return trade) revenue streams through regular events and community interaction with the arts and also through external revenue via way of tourism (transient trade).
The motivation behind the concept comes from the awareness of the lack of support and opportunity that comes with regional living. As an artist, you have to wrestle with the demographic difficulties of creating without the connections and popular culture that the city provides. It has become widely accepted that one must relocate to the city to succeed.
A registered not-for-profit The Deadly South has been servicing the community in a variety of different ways - through paid events, paid interviews, cross-promotion and advocacy when corresponding with larger organisations such as South Coast Arts and South East Arts.
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With 2023 on the horizon The Deadly South aim to continue its Freak of the Week season and will produce its next Cabaret season in March. The Deadly South will continue to work with the community, listening and responding to its needs and desires.
Why the name "The Deadly South"?
WHAT'S IN A NAME?
“That which we call a rose/ By any other name would smell as sweet.” (Shakespeare)
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On the contrary... For me, the name in formulating this venture was paramount to the ‘why’ and the ambition behind it and I felt that if the name didn’t meet the level of determination behind the ‘why’ there was nothing to move forward with.
Born out of my own frustration from my experience in trying to engage with venues to organise events and promote local musicians outside the immediate region I became aware of this huge gaping hole. A hole that no matter who I reached out to could not be mitigated or justified something needed to change, but I needed an army.
The word deadly has its own meaning as well as being used in various cultures for certain purposes, in particular with the Australian Indigenous community. For me, the word deadly represents an “unrivalled force with consequence" which is what we stand for as a collective. The unrivalled force is - a united arts community and the consequence - events, projects and activities that engage both artist and audience. The South Coast of NSW is a sleepy tourist destination that for too long has gone with little notice or reputation of its enormous arts community. The amount of talent, enthusiasm and entrepreneurial expertise in our region is definitely sufficient to put us on the national and international arts and cultural map.
This is our why... we believe that if united The South Coast of NSW has the potential to be an unreckonable deadly force. Ready for bureaucratic battle and dismantle the constraints of regional accessibility. We will not stand down, we are ready for the battle and as an army of the arts, we endeavour to create a viable and sustainable future for our
creative community.
- Amy
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Get to Know Us
Amy Lawry
Director
With a passion for visual arts and branding, Amy Lawry started her career as a Graphic Designer in 2000 specialising in illustration and identity design. Amy’s interest in marketing eventually led her to event management and involvement in the entertainment industry. However, her passion has always been music and the creative arts.
Growing up in Adelaide, the love of festivals and live entertainment has always been in Amy’s veins. She’s now excited about applying her experience and skillset toward something that not only she is driven by, but something that is regionally needed. Amy is looking forward to being a part of a growing industry and being a voice for the creative artists of NSW South Coast.
Claire Chapman
Producer
Claire Chapman is a theatre maker and performance artist with a particular interest in audience participation and interactivity.
In the past, her work drives its feminist undercurrent through comedy and story-telling, relating to her audience by sharing common experiences.
Claire uses her practice to connect with her community and to find a space to belong. She isn’t as interested in the outcome, rather the process and the people she works with.
Beginning her career in 2016 Claire has been mentored and worked with renowned contemporary theatre-makers and performers and performed across locations in Australia, the UK and Spain.
Returning home to Ulladulla she is passionate about working with her local community, shifting her practice from performance to facilitation, aiming to help regional artists establish and maintain their careers here on the South Coast.