Welcome to 2014 In 2013, Barking Gecko Theatre Company was acknowledged as ‘Perth’s most exciting and ambitious theatre company,’ recognition we are determined to maintain! Barking Gecko Theatre Company has firmly placed itself as a main stage force in the Western Australian landscape. It is recognised as one of Australia’s leading theatre companies for young people. This is our coming of age and sets our theme for 2014’s programming. This season’s program continues BGTC’s dedication to an ongoing conversation with children, teenagers and families. As always, we intend to provoke and challenge, to entertain and take risks with the richest of theatrical style. In 2014, we invite our audience to join the quest to define who we are and what we value. There is a great heart and humanity in BGTC’s 2014 season. We are incredibly thrilled to be joined by lauded playwright, Suzie Miller and a company of talented teens as they assert their opinions and bedroom content in a totally audacious ride in ONEFIVEZEROSEVEN. We join forces with the brilliant team at Windmill Theatre and esteemed UK director, Gill Robertson to co-present The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk. Celebrated WA author and BGTC’s very own ambassador, Craig Silvey hands over his multi-award winning novel Jasper Jones to another WA super talent Kate Mulvany. Together with a remarkable ensemble of actors and creative team, we reflect on identity, belonging, yearning and coming of age across productions for young people and their families. BGTC’s 2014 season seeks to present exhilarating theatre that is alive, that will explore possibilities and ideas, invigorate our hearts and minds and inspire you, our audience to keep the conversation going between generations of young and old. We want you to converse with the world in language of the contemporary imagination. John Sheedy Artistic Director
As Patron of Barking Gecko, I have witnessed their productions soar to a new level of brilliance over the past couple of years – this company has become an indispensable asset to the state of Western Australia. I am inspired by how, in 2014, BGTC have devised such unique and thrilling ways for the voice of our young people to be heard, nurtured and supported through the vehicle of theatre. Indeed, one of the most admirable things about BGTC as a company is that they recognise that theatre is not just there to entertain us (although this is something BGTC do excel at!), but that it can be a powerful platform to voice the needs and concerns of young people living in WA, and Australia, today, and can be such an effective tool for their transformation. I look forward to watching these transformations unravel in 2014, and hope that you will join me in devoting your support to this amazing company.
Professor Fiona Stanley AC, Patron In 2014, John Sheedy exceeds his reputation for innovation, further encouraging his audience to participate as well as spectate. And it’s this emphasis on exchanging ideas, in listening to a cluster of disparate voices and forming a choir, that makes this theatre company so remarkable and vital – and such a joy to evangelize. On a personal note, I’m particularly thrilled to have BGTC bring my novel Jasper Jones to life on stage. I can begin to elucidate just how rewarding it is to have such a talented fleet of people applying their passion and expertise to a tall tale I divined. It is one of the true highlights in my short and fraught career. I do hope you come out to see it, in fact I hope you see every show, in what is an eclectic, inspired and impressive list.
Craig Silvey, Ambassador
Barking Gecko Theatre Company Season 2014
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
ONE FIVEZERO SEVEN BY SUZIE MILLER
PRESENTED IN ASSOCIATION WITH PERTH INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL
1507 is the medium number of ‘things’ owned by a teenager. In 2012 BGTC interviewed over 500 young people and reflected their thoughts, feelings, hopes and anxieties in Driving Into Walls, a highly physical and ultimately moving theatrical production that has since toured Australia to critical acclaim. Shift to 2014 and the same creative team travel across our nation to deepen their investigation of teenage life. ONEFIVEZEROSEVEN is the average number of breaths they take each hour, the average number of things they own and it is the number of emotional moments a young person has in a singular day. ONEFIVEZEROSEVEN explores how young people’s identity and sense of belonging intermingles with their possessions, opening wide the door to their inner sanctum. In this visually striking work, Australian teenagers allow the audience a thought provoking view of everything they have and everything they hope for.
DIRECTOR & DESIGNER JOHN SHEEDY CHOREOGRAPHER DANIELLE MICICH COSTUME DESIGNER & SET REALISER ALICIA CLEMENTS LIGHTING DESIGNER MATTHEW MARSHALL SOUND DESIGNER KINGSLEY REEVE
Dates 22 February – 1 March Times 1pm & 7pm Venue Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA Adults $45 / Concession $30 / Student Edge $25 SCHOOL GROUPS Students $19.45 One teacher free with every 10 students Additional Teachers $35.00
The development of ONEFIVEZEROSEVEN was supported by Perth International Arts Festival’s Vital Stages program, through funding from Lotterywest.
Duration 50 minutes Suitable for 13 +
WARNING: THIS PRODUCTION EXAMINES EXCLUSION, RACISM, CONSUMERISM, BULLYING, ABSENT PARENTS AND CONTAINS DRUG REFERENCES, SEXUALITY, COARSE LANGUAGE AND MOST SHOCKINGLY – KISSING.
Barking Gecko Theatre Company Season 2014
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS
JASPER JONES
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY CRAIG SILVEY ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY KATE MULVANY
‘Corrigan is a town populated by barnacles: hard shells that ... clench themselves shut and choose not to know.’ Charlie Bucktin is a geeky thirteen-year-old living in a WA country town in 1965. He’s probably the only teenager who reads books in a town that’s sports-mad. His best mate Jeffrey Lu is Vietnamese, and isn’t having such a good time of things either. Jasper Jones is an Indigenous fourteen-year-old that lives on the outside of town and the wrong side of the tracks. One summer night, Jasper takes Charlie to his secret glade in the bush. Charlie witnesses a terrible discovery and is suddenly embroiled in a plot with more twists and turns than any of the novels he so dearly loves. Barking Gecko is thrilled that talented playwright and actor Kate Mulvany will adapt Craig Silvey’s multiple award-winning, best-selling novel, Jasper Jones for WA audiences.
DIRECTOR JOHN SHEEDY SET & COSTUME DESIGNER MICHAEL SCOTT MITCHELL LIGHTING DESIGNER TRENT SUIDGEEST SOUND DESIGNER BEN COLLINS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR WILL O’MAHONY
Dates 17 July – 9 August Times 10am, 2pm & 7pm various days Venue Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA Adults $45 / Concession $30 / Student Edge $25 SCHOOL GROUPS Students $19.45 One teacher free with every 10 students Additional Teachers $35.00
Duration 2 hours 20 minutes (including 20 minute interval) Suitable for 13 +
WARNING: CONTAINS SOME COURSE LANGUAGE, ADULT AND SEXUAL THEMES
Barking Gecko Theatre Company Season 2014
A BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY AND WINDMILL THEATRE CO-PRODUCTION BY ARRANGEMENT WITH CATHERINE WHEELS THEATRE COMPANY
THE BALLAD OF
PONDLIFE MCGURK
‘Pondlife McGurk was a troublesome child, some called him stupid, some called him wild but all called him Pondlife for that was his name.’ Martin’s the new kid at school among a sea of unfamiliar faces. Sharon’s the class bully and she doesn’t like Martin one bit. Then Simon McGurk comes along. He’s wildly different to Martin, but they become the best of buddies. Then, one day, Martin does something that will poison their friendship forever. A coming-of-age tale about friendship, betrayal and overcoming adversity originally created by the remarkable Catherine Wheels Theatre Company, UK. BGTC is delighted to be touring a new production of The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk into schools across WA.
“The very model of audience-capturing storytelling” - Gerald Berkowitz, Theatre Guide London DEVISER ANDY MANLEY DIRECTOR GILL ROBERTSON WRITER ROB EVANS SOUND DESIGNER DANNY KRASS
IN SCHOOL TOURING Dates 4 August – 26 September Venue requirement - flat clear space approx. 10m x 8m Students $9 Performance minimum 120 students or $1,080
VENUE SEASON Dates 1 – 4 October Times 10am, 12pm and 2:30pm Venue Studio, Subiaco Arts Centre All venue season tickets $20 Duration 50 minutes Suitable for 8+
Barking Gecko Theatre Company Season 2014
SMARTER THAN SMOKING
BGTC WORKSHO “Barking Gecko drama workshops have boosted our child’s confidence and love of the Arts. The workshops have provided him with a fantastic, fun, creative outlet.” - PARENT, 2013
The Smarter Than Smoking BGTC Workshops program offers participants a chance to expand imaginations, learn new skills and meet others who share a similar interest in theatre. As well as skills development, workshops also focus on supporting a young person’s social development in a joyful, playful and safe environment. Smarter Than Smoking BGTC Workshops run year round with term classes, a school holiday series and Studio Series. There are four workshop streams for children and teenagers aged 7 – 17. Each stream offers activities to introduce and develop a range of theatre processes and theatre performance techniques.
Smarter Than Smoking BGTC Workshops Series ACTING UP | 7 – 10 years This is where it starts! Participants develop confidence and general skills in characterisation, movement, voice and improvisation. Acting Up is a perfect introduction to theatre making.
SKILLING UP | 11 – 13 years The Skilling Up workshop covers all facets of theatre making. This workshop allows participants to deepen their understanding of devising theatre and introduces them to script based performance.
OPS
“It’s really fun, the activities we do are AWESOME!” - PARTICIPANT, 2013
ACTING INTENSIVE | 14 – 17 years For older participants the Acting Intensive workshop explores different performance styles and techniques including audition preparation, monologue work, scene-work and acting for screen.
STUDIO SERIES | 13 – 17 years Due to popular demand each month BGTC invites industry specialists to conduct intensive sessions covering the breadth of theatre making. Topics include movement, design, special effects makeup, Shakespeare in performance, solo performance, audition techniques, scriptwriting and screen studies.
Story Inc.
(2-5 Years)
Story Inc. is a joyous exploration of the world of children’s literature for 2 – 5 year olds. Lead by BGTC performers children are transported into magical worlds and imaginative destinations. After the reading children creatively respond to the story through a series of structured activities. Creative responses are encouraged through movement, craft and song. Story Inc takes place each week at Karrinyup Shopping Centre. No bookings necessary!
For further information and bookings please contact Christie Sistrunk at education@barkinggecko.com.au
HOW TO BOOK General Public Bookings General Public bookings are made by contacting Ticketek on 1300 795 012 or visit www.ticketek.com.au
School Groups Bookings For Schools Bookings, please complete a Booking Request form mailed with this brochure, or download one from www.barkinggecko.com.au. Send the completed Booking Request form to education@barkinggecko.com.au or fax to 08 9380 3099. BGTC will then forward your booking information to Ticketek Group Bookings for processing. Ticketek will then finalise payment with you. All school group bookings include a comprehensive teacher resource and one teacher ticket is complimentary per every 10 students.
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY 180 Hamersley Rd, Subiaco, WA 6008 08 9380 3080 gecko@barkinggecko.com.au www.barkinggecko.com.au Facebook.com/BarkingGeckoTheatreCompany Twitter.com/geckotweets or @geckotweets YouTube.com/BarkingGeckoPerth Instagram search for barkinggecko Sign up to GeckoNews on barkinggecko.com.au
ABOUT BGTC “Perth’s most exciting theatre company. It is also our most ambitious.” - THE WEST AUSTRALIAN, SEPTEMBER 2013
For over 20 years BGTC has told stories that are influenced by our home in Western Australia. BGTC is deeply committed to listening to children and young people and creating extraordinary theatre that allows their voices to be heard by a wider audience. BGTC explores what’s possible in the theatre by collaborating with outstanding artists from a wide range of performing arts disciplines including literature, multimedia, music, dance, opera, visual design, lighting and sound. Our ongoing partnerships with local and national flagship arts organisations further demonstrate BGTC is taking the lead nationally in creating outstanding arts experiences for children and teenagers. BGTC is certain that by coming to the theatre, audiences are coaxed into conversation. We want children and young people to comment on their world, share ideas, and take action on issues that are important to them. We are very proud that BGTC’s annual offering of theatre productions and workshop program is of the highest artistic standard and reaches over 25,000 young people annually.
PATRON PROF. FIONA STANLEY AC AMBASSADOR CRAIG SILVEY BOARD PATRIA JAFFERIES (CHAIR) MONIQUE BEAUDOIRE NICHOLAS CREED STEPHEN MOLONEY ROGER MARTIN
BARKING GECKO TEAM ARTISTIC DIRECTOR JOHN SHEEDY CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER HELEN HRISTOFSKI PRODUCTION MANAGER GENEVIEVE JONES MARKETING MANAGER DANIELLE MARSLAND EDUCATION & WORKSHOPS MANAGER CHRISTIE SISTRUNK FINANCIAL ADMINISTRATION JOY CROCKER ADMINISTRATION COORDINATOR NATALIE DI RISIO
DEVELOPMENT PARTNER
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
Barking Gecko Theatre Company is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
ARTISTIC PARTNERS
ONEFIVEZEROSEVEN
The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk
The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk
COMMUNITY ACCESS PARTNER
REGIONAL SCHOOLS TOURING
The Ballad of Pondlife McGurk
Story Inc.
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
www.barkinggecko.com.au LIKE US ON FACEBOOK | FOLLOW US ON TWITTER | SIGN UP TO GECKONEWS All information in this brochure is correct at the time of printing. Barking Gecko reserves the right to alter the program should the need arise.
STYLING BY HANNAH MCGRATH. MAKE-UP ARTIST CLAIRE LUU. PHOTOGRAPHY BY CAMERON ETCHELLS. DESIGN BY GUERILLA CONSTRUCTION.
THANK YOU
Barking Gecko gratefully acknowledges support from all our partners. Together we create extraordinary theatre!