REBOOT 2023 Program by ATYP Theatre

O O B E

“We aren’t robots. You can’t just reset us.” —Darius

Reboot, 2023. Photos by Clare Hawley.

Reboot

ATYP is a company that is based on the traditional lands of the Gadigal people, delivering programs in the lands of our First Nations people across this country, rich with history of storytelling. We pay our respects to Elders past and present.

Reboot Written by Michael Costi A Young Industry Studio production Season 9—12 November 2023

Writer Michael Costi Director Madeleine Diggins Dramaturg Jane FitzGerald

The Rebel Theatre Eora Country Pier 2/3 Suite 2/13A Hickson Road Dawes Point NSW

Set, Props and Costume Designer Hannah Tayler

Duration 75 minutes (no interval) Age recommendation 8+ Production content Dim lighting, theatrical haze, loud sounds and music.

Composer and Sound Designer Ashley Walker

Cover design by Jason Dixon.

Lighting Designer Tom Doyle

Producer Alana Dunn Production Manager Taryn Zentrich

With Felix Fox Sofia Harling Chloe Harnisch-Rojas Billy Nicolaou Laila Pasqualini Mila-Kate Smith Scarlet Stewart Alexandra Szewcow And Isabel de Sousa Sophie May Olive Milner Heath Rosen Willow Seager Sienna Spence Olive Talib Alyssa Wallwork

Stage Manager Natalie Baghoumian Assistant Director Julie Bettens Assistant Director (Rehearsals) Jake Fryer-Hornsby

Young Industry Studio ATYP’s Young Industry Studio programs are designed for experienced young creatives who want to take their skills to the next level. Learning from industry professionals, the ATYP Young Industry Studio brings the arts industry and young people together to grow and develop the creative leaders of the future. Participants in the ATYP Young Industry Studio programs learn valuable skills and techniques that enhance not only their performance and theatre-making ability but also provide valuable connections with the arts industry and their peers. Across a range of disciplines, these programs provide practical training in a challenging, creative and collaborative ensemble environment.

Foundation Commissions The ATYP Foundation was established in 2003 to create and maintain a capital fund to ensure the future of the national youth theatre company and to enable it to reach many more young Australians. In the unpredictable world of Arts funding, the ATYP Foundation offers stability and permanence to Australia’s oldest theatre company dedicated to young people. In 2010 the ATYP Foundation made a commitment to supporting the commissioning of new Australian plays for young people to perform. In 2012 this support was formalised in the establishment of the ATYP Foundation Commission Award. To date, the ATYP Foundation has supported the creation and development of 19 plays. 1

Director’s note As a group, we agreed on camp Reboot rules for rehearsal. These range from no tax fraud to no arson, but the most important is “If in doubt, dance”. At the centre of these rehearsals has always been the commitment to collective joy and fun. Online communities allow us to connect with like-minded people with shared views, but in reality and in settings like theatre, we have the opportunity to find discourse and meet people who can evolve our opinions of ourselves and the world around us. What’s more different than a hacker, influencer, gamer, and mummy’s boy coming together and finding a shared community? Thank you to ATYP and the entire creative team on Reboot, it has been an immense privilege to collaborate with you all on this production. And for the audience, thank you for supporting young people. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the show, and don’t forget to turn your phone off.

Madeleine Diggins

Writer’s note We are in a war. A war between generations. A constant battle being fought in schools and homes all across Australia. This war is about technology. Young people look at adults and see prehistoric technophobes who barely know how to open an iPhone. Adults look at young people and see zombified addicts who have lost all their social skills. The animosity around this generational disconnect is fascinating to me as both sides think that the other is ‘out of touch’. It is clear that technology (especially AI) is growing so rapidly that it is impossible to keep up. It is scary to think what our devices will be capable of in six months, let alone six years. However, it would seem that whether we like it or not, change is inevitable. I wanted to create a setting that reflected the desperation and absurdity of adults who push their misguided nostalgic daydream of a ‘tech-free life’ onto their children. But also create a world in which kids don’t necessarily have all the answers either. Enter Camp Reboot. Reboot is a comedic satire on living a device-free life. The over-the-top camp revels in its fervent attempts to re-educate and ‘reboot’ the campers. The campers themselves are also archetypical users of technology; a social media influencer, a hacker, and a gamer. And though at times they may seem like stereotypes, we see they are all just kids who love their devices (maybe a bit too much) and who ultimately learn that moderation is the key to living in a technological world. Reboot can also be seen as the adventure story of a bunch of hilarious misfits who learn the value of working as a team. They, along with our mysterious but strangely endearing camp counsellors, are thrown together in a strange place far from home. And as much as they miss their phones, we watch as they form bonds that they will carry long after the camp has ended. So yes, we may be in a war. A war that is long and complicated and full of misunderstanding, as we try and argue how much ‘screen time’ young people should have. However, Reboot ultimately celebrates what brings us together and champions the idea that young people do have the power to march forward in a technologically driven world.

Michael Costi

Reboot

“Reboot reminds us that when we lose ourselves to technology we lose our precious connection with others.” —Madeleine

Reboot, 2023. Photo by Clare Hawley.

Creative Team

Michael Costi

Madeleine Diggins Director

Dramaturg

Michael is a playwright based in Sydney.

While living in New York, Madeleine attended the Stella Adler Studio of Acting and UCB, she also holds a Bachelor of Arts (UNSW) and a Masters of Fine Arts in Directing (NIDA). As Artistic Director of Swag Theatre Company (NYC), Madeleine directed contemporary Australian works. In Australia, she has held a range of teaching positions at The Drama Studio Wollongong, ATYP, NIDA Open, APGS and Excelsia College. Directing credits include: The Caucasian Chalk Circle (Excelsia College) Forgotten (Riverside Parramatta/ Playhouse Hobart) Hit Me Baby (Flightpath Theatre) Walnuts, Almonds, Pistachios (Kings Cross Theatre), BETH (NIDA) Kabarett (NIDA) Cyrano De Bergerac (NIDA/ACA), Hate Goodbyes (Triple J Unearthed), Much Ado About Nothing (Streamed Shakespeare), Ladies Day (Stella Adler), Death and Botany (Stella Adler), Lockout (Off-Off Broadway.)

Jane is Resident Dramaturg at ATYP, where she oversees the company’s writing programs and commissions, and mentors emerging writers and dramaturgs through the Fresh Ink, National Studio and Cultivate programs. Recent productions for ATYP include CUSP, The Resistance, Shack, M.Rock, Lights in the Park and Bathory Begins. Other work includes Summer of Harold (Ensemble Theatre), Soul Trading (Steps & Holes Theatre, Canberra Youth Theatre), Black Cockatoo (Sydney Festival/Ensemble Theatre), Lost Boys (Merrigong Theatre Company) and The Big Dry (Ensemble Theatre/ATYP). Previously Jane has been a Literary Manager at Ensemble Theatre (shared role). For Sydney Theatre Company she has been Literary Manager, Artistic Associate and administrator of the Patrick White Playwrights' Award as well as a dramaturg on new writing and mainstage productions. She has worked as a script reader for the Royal Court London, Playwriting Australia, ANPC and Playworks, and has worked extensively as a Mentor with Year 12 students on HSC creative writing projects.

Writer

In 2021 Michael wrote the narration for Universal Woman produced by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. The narration chronicled the creative achievements of Hildegard von Bingen and was performed by Kate Box. In 2020, Michael was granted a place in Belvoir St Theatre’s Philip Parsons Writers’ Lab. In 2019 his play Two Twenty Somethings Decide Never To Be Stressed About Anything Ever Again. Ever. was produced by Theatre Works as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. In 2018, Michael’s musical, The Overcoat, an adaptation of Gogol’s short story, premiered as part of Belvoir St Theatre’s inaugural 25A season. In the same year, he wrote the narration for Karakoram: A Medieval Musical Journey produced by the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra. The narration was adapted from a journal of William of Rubruck 1253 AD and performed by David Wenham. Michael graduated with a Masters Degree in Writing for Performance 2017 (NIDA). © ATYP 2023

Jane FitzGerald

Hannah Tayler Set, Props and Costume Designer

Hannah Tayler is a Sydneybased multidisciplinary artist and designer with a focus on production and costume design for both stage and screen. Her design process is driven by the aspiration to bring a thoughtful, engaging and unique visual language to life and engage in meaningful storytelling adventures. With a background in traditional and contemporary visual arts, experience in textiles and stop-motion animation, Hannah thoroughly enjoyed engaging with the physical and performative elements of design during her time at NIDA.

Reboot

Tom Doyle

Lighting Designer Tom Doyle is a lighting designer from Wollongong living and working on Gadigal Land. Tom holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Theatre) and First-Class Honours (Theatre) from the University of Wollongong. Recently, Tom has designed lighting for Optimal Stopping (MerrigongX, FIDCDMX), The Lobster (MerrigongX), Dumb Kids (Kings Cross Theatre), ArtsLab: Body Of Work (Shopfront Arts Coop), and The Infinity Mirror (The Flying Nun).

Ashley Walker

Composer and Sound Designer Ash, aka Relevant Elephants, is an electronic music producer. His 3 albums and 4 eps can be found on all major music streaming services. Ash has previously done music for ATYP on The Dwarf Revue in 2013 as well as working with The New Theatre and and Subtlenuance Theatre Company. Ash used to dabble in playwriting with his comedy The Chicken or The Egg produced by ATYP in 2006 as part of Three Little Fears. These days he considers himself more of an ex-playwright which is similar to an ex-parrot although not quite as dead!

Alana Dunn

Taryn Zentrich

Alana has recently joined ATYP as the Workshops Manager. In 2018 she completed a Bachelor of Creative Industries (Entertainment Industries and Management) at QUT. That same year, Alana travelled to France to work at MIPCOM, an international film and television conference. Having had a production background, Alana has worked as a Stage Manager and Assistant Stage Manager on various productions across Backyard Theatre Collective, QUT and Queensland Theatre’s Young Artists’ Ensemble productions. Prior to ATYP Alana was the Youth Program Coordinator for Education, Youth and Regional Engagement at Queensland Theatre. Alana’s work with Queensland Theatre led her to produce the company’s youth programs and shows including the ensemble productions, Theatre Residency Weeks and Young Playwrights Awards. Alana has also directed as part of La Boite Theatre’s Assembly program. She is incredibly excited to be working down in Sydney and has thoroughly enjoyed producing Reboot as part of ATYP’s Young Industry Studio workshops program.

Taryn has been working in Technical Production for over a decade, with freelance experience as a Technician, Production Manager and Lighting Designer, while also branching out into Arts Administration more recently.

Producer

Production Manager

As Production Manager for ATYP: M.Rock, Past the Shallows, The Resistance. As Head of Lighting for Merrigong Theatre Company. As Lighting Designer for MERRIGONGX: Route Dash Niner Part 2, Party Girl, The Surfer and the Mermaid. As Program Coordinator for Merrigong Theatre Company.

Creative Team cont.

Natalie Baghoumian

Stage Manager

Natalie Baghoumian is a graduate of Excelsia College with a Bachelor of Dramatic Arts, Natalie also holds an Advanced Diploma from the Academy of Film, Theatre and Television. Natalie’s theatre acting credits include Lily in Punk Rock (2017), Duke of Cornwall in King Lear (2017), Mama in Street of Crocodiles (2018), a vocalist in Yerma (2020), Ashley in Naturalistically Short (2021), A1 in James and the Giant Peach (2021) and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth (2021). She was also the Writer, Director & Production Designer of House of Cards, staged in Excelsia’s season of Acting Out (2022). Natalie was also in a Telstra commercial as a customer in 2019. Natalie’s stage management credits include TattleTales (2021), Much Ado About Nothing (2022), Chain Play (2022), Hydrarchos (2022), a returning season of TattleTales for Sydney and Melbourne fringe, In this Light (2022), The Woman and the Car (2022). The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) (2023) and LadyBird LadyBird (2023).

Julie Bettens Assistant Director

Julie was raised in country WA, She is a 2021 BFA Acting graduate. Before studying at NIDA, Julie took a show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival with her fellow ensemble members at Sydney Theatre School in 2017, where she also completed an Advanced Diploma of Acting. Julie has taught drama to all ages of kids upon graduating with multiple companies including NIDA Open. She has mostly been an actor with credits including Love and Information (Dir. Anthea Williams), Grete Samsua in Metamorphosis (Dir. Dr. Benjamin Schostakowski) at NIDA, Rimskia and Natasha in Master and the Margarita (Dir. Clara Voda) at NIDA, Beatrice in A View from the Bridge (Dir. Ed Wightman) NIDA, June in Trainspotting Live (Dir. Simon Thompson) at Lime Light Theatre, Beth in Beth (Dir Maddie Diggins) at NIDA’s Festival of Emerging Artists, Jane in Forgotten (Dir Maddie Diggins) at Riverside Theatre. Julie feels privileged to be debuting as an Assistant Director with ATYP and the very talented cast and creatives of Reboot. She is also a proud member of MEAA.

Jake Fryer-Hornsby Assistant Director (Rehearsals)

Jake is an actor, writer, and director originally from Noongar Country, regional Western Australia. Jake graduated from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts as part of the Acting class of 2017. Since then Jake has gone on to work on and around stages all over Australia and the US. Jake has worked with companies such as Bell Shakespeare, The Australian Shakespeare Company, Black Swan State Theatre Company, as well as a number of independent companies. Jake was the recipient of the 2017 Channel Nine Award for Best Actor (Male), for his portrayal of Mike in the 2017 WASA film, Halim.

Reboot

“If you fail, not only will each of you be fired, but I will leave you here in the wilderness. Do I make myself clear?” —UV

Reboot, 2023. Photo by Clare Hawley.

Cast

NO KIA Felix Fox Darius

Laila Pasqualini Misha

Alexandra Szewcow Angelica

Billy Nicolaou Angus

Chloe Harnisch-Rojas X

Milla-Kate Smith Y

Sofia Harling Z

Scarlet Stewart UV

MOTO

Reboot

LA O R Willow Seager Daria

Alyssa Wallwork Misha

Sophie May Angelica

Heath Rosen Angus

Olive Milner X

Olive Talib Y

Sienna Spence Z

Isabel de Sousa UV

Reboot, 2023. Photos by Clare Hawley.

Reboot

Thanks & Acknowledgements The wonderful world of Reboot that we have stepped into is only possible thanks to Michael Costi. Congratulations again on winning the 2022 Junior Foundation Commission and writing such an impactful and funny work that we are so proud to share as a company. The play has only been amplified by our incredible creative team: Maddie, Jane, Jake, Julie, Hannah, Tom, Ash and Natalie. You have put your whole heart into this project and have made it so easy to pull the show together. Thank you all for your hard work, endless joy and incredible collaboration. Thank you to Taryn for being the glue that pulls all of the elements together. Thank you to the rest of the team at ATYP for supporting and championing this show, cast, creatives and crew. The biggest thank you of all goes to our Nokia and Motorola casts for sharing your artistry, joy and passion with us. This show is yours now; we hope you have learned as much as you have laughed. Everyone involved is so proud of how far you’ve come and what you have accomplished. Inspired by Angus, “Another fun fact about you is that you are amazing and we love you”, so go forth like UV and don’t be children, be geniuses. Because we know you are. – Alana Dunn, Workshop Manager I would like to thank the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP) and the ATYP Foundation Commission for this amazing opportunity and for continuing to champion work for young people across Australia. I would also like to thank Jane FitzGerald for her immense guidance, insight and support throughout every step of the scripting process. I would also like to thank my friends and family for the countless conversations that inspired this work. – Michael Costi, Writer Thank you to all the young performers who participated in the ‘Camp Reboot’ summer workshop for your contributions. Thank you to the young performers who contributed to the development reading: Becc Ayalon, Sach Dennis, Jeffrey Dimi, Sunny Macadam, Billy Nicolaou, Timofey Prakhiy, Willow Seager, and Tahlia Sturzaker.

Supporters

#ATYP_Reboot #ATYP_Workshops #ATYP_YoungIndustryStudio #OnlyAtTheRebel

Reboot

Reboot, 2023. Photos by Clare Hawley.