An ‘act’ is a part of a play defined by elements such as rising action, climax, and resolution. In the same way that theatre does it, we are too but instead of a singular stage we have many ‘stages’ (rooms) to experiment with in this site-specific work. Each installation and piece of content will be a ‘scene’ in the ‘act’ that represents the designated era.

The ‘scenes’ in each ‘act’ create:

• The plot that helps the audience understand where they are

• The exposition which sets up the rest of the story with teasing information

• The inciting incident which starts all the action that will follow

• The major dramatic question is then formed which holds the rest of the ‘era’

• The majority of content in each ‘era’ is made up of complications or challenges which change the action (in our case the form or medium content is presented in)

• At this point the major dramatic question is answered 

• Finally, the exhibition culminates with a resolution, or the dénouement, where everything comes together, and the questions raised for the audience throughout their ‘journey’ are resolved.

The Press Gallery complex of offices, studies and gallery above the chamber does not present us with a traditional ‘white cube’ exhibition space. The somewhat unorthodox layout could be considered a challenge. Instead, Only Human sees it as an opportunity to present a visitor experience in a way that lends itself to the style of storytelling and interpretation we’d like to create.

To make the overall vision come alive the exhibition could feature:

• Immersive AV cinematic experience/s showing former and current journalists telling their never before told stories of the press gallery and the biggest stories of their time

• Contemporary first-person video and audio storytelling

• Sound showers using beautiful story-rich audio archive

• An App-based electronic letter board/s

• ‘Film set accurate’ scene and room re-creations.

• Engaging interactives

• Interactivity in the physical displays (light, sound, touch)

• Interpretation of heritage elements through sound/video/ ephemera within the ‘nooks and crannies’ across the space

• Archival still images and portraiture

• Ephemeral architecture/sculptural elements.

Extensive wall and floor space allows the complexity of story to unravel in distilled and clarified ways for impactful audience engagement. The content lends itself to ‘drama’ and emotional pull in the same way as theatre. The exhibition will evoke a personal resonance for each and every person that comes through the ‘show’. Visitors will leave the exhibition feeling they’ve learned something they never knew about Australian democracy, about politics, about the importance of journalism and truth telling and, inadvertently, about themselves.

In consultation with the MoAD project team, Only Human have defined some of the pinnacle stories and characters for each era. These will help the MoAD audience understand the importance, relevance and impact of the work of the press gallery and their supporting staff. This story-led approach will also bring our ‘theatrical’ and immersive storytelling concept to life.

We understand there are heritage limitations in ‘installing’ this sort of technology, but we want to deliver the ‘dream’ scenario with a view to working back from that in terms of what is feasible. What could be very ‘dry’ and ‘dense’ archival material becomes a compelling story that is incredibly emotive and moving because of the creative execution.

We’re also aware that there may be a need for more analogue interactives/ props and objects to be included in the overall exhibition. In discussions with MoAD Curatorial and Exhibitions teams it was determined that these ideas will be further developed in the next phase of the project and the respective teams will provide specific analysis on what may or may not work with the ‘dream’ concept in this workbook.

There will need to be an ‘introduction’ section to the exhibition near the press boxes. This is to create an obvious entry point and a moment at the top of the stairs (UH ST2) to ‘place’ visitors. There could be many who have no idea where they are - some perhaps might not know what is meant by ‘the press gallery’ and will need an explanation here in a ‘welcome’ text of sorts. This may seem ‘basic’ to us as a creative team or to Museum staff, but as a visitor to the museum in a historic place the actual location needs to manifest first and the questions - where am I, who worked here and what do they do must be pulled into focus from the outset. If they are not addressed here at the very beginning then all the subsequent storytelling may be lost on the visitor.  Similarly at the ‘exit’ of the exhibition, it would be beneficial to include a ‘conclusion’ or information on what perhaps came after the final era to give visitors a sense of ‘closure’ on the journey through the era’s they’ve just undertaken. Some initial ideas for the conclusion wall or a small section that wraps up the exhibition suggest that we could also have audience participation - for example leaving comments on ‘reporter style’ notebooks.

Considerations should also be made for areas to sit throughout the exhibition.