BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS A BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY AND WESTERN AUSTRALIAN ACADEMY OF PERFORMING ARTS PRODUCTION
HAMLET BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE DIRECTED BY JOHN SHEEDY
WITH WAAPA 3RD YEAR ACTING, PRODUCTION AND DESIGN STUDENTS
SUBIACO ARTS CENTRE 16 – 22 MARCH 2013 Suitable for 13+
A CO-PRODUCTION WITH
HAMLET By William Shakespeare Directed by John Sheedy Murder. Betrayal. Love. Politics. Revenge. Hamlet is Shakespeare’s most performed play. It is estimated that every minute of the day, it is being staged somewhere around the world. This year, we introduce the first production in our Shakespeare Series as part of our collaboration with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Director John Sheedy, working with the next breed of emerging talent from WAAPA, will offer a fresh, contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare’s most famous protagonist. “The Play’s the thing. Wherein I will catch the conscience of the King.” Hamlet, Act 2, Scene 2 CAST
ARTISTIC AND PRODUCTION TEAM
Hamlet Ophelia Gertrude Claudius Polonius Rosencrantz Guildenstern Laertes Horatio Ghost of Hamlet/Clown Gentlewoman/Osric/Messenger Grave Digger/Reynaldo Barnardo/Clown Marcellus/Player/Priest The Players
James Sweeny Rose Riley Madeleine Vizard Michael Abercromby Grace Smibert Felix Johnson Ayeesha Ash Samuel Delich Nicholas Starte Andreas Lohmeyer Emilie Cocquerel Bill Thompson Oscar Harris Cecelia Peters Justina Ward Shaynee Brayshaw Charlotte Devenport
John Sheedy DIRECTOR
John Sheedy is currently the Artistic Director at Barking Gecko Theatre Company. In 1998, John completed his Bachelor of Dramatic Art at the National Drama School in Melbourne before completing his Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Directing) at NIDA in 2002. Since graduating in 2002, John has worked consistently as a freelance theatre director, working with Belvoir Theatre Company, Darlinghurst Theatre Company, Black Swan State Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Griffin Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company and Opera Australia. Since becoming the Artistic Director of Barking Gecko Theatre Company, John has directed a stage adaptation of Shaun Tan’s The Red Tree, which premiered in 2011 and was re-produced for the 2012 Perth International Arts Festival. John also wrote for the stage and directed Craig Silvey’s The Amber Amulet. He directed Suzie Miller’s Driving Into Walls for the 2012 Perth International Arts Festival. Under his direction, Barking Gecko Theatre Company has been nominated for five 2012 Helpmann Awards for The Red Tree and Driving Into Walls, including Best Children’s Presentation for The Red Tree, and more recently for nine nominations at the WA Equity Guild Awards including Best Director and Best Production for Driving Into Walls.
James Luscombe SOUND DESIGNER
James trained at WAAPA and graduated in 2010. He has since worked as Head of Sound and Technician for AEG Ogden venues, a freelance sound engineer and session lecturer at WAAPA. James has worked as Head of Sound for Barking Gecko Theatre Company: Duck, Death and The Tulip, and as Sound Designer for TurnAround Productions: Here Lies Henry, STEPS Youth Dance: Try Hard, Black Swan State Theatre Company: The Damned & Motherf**ker With The Hat, Perth Theatre Company: The Ugly One, and for Midnight Youth Theatre Company: Mnemonic. James has also worked as Sound Operator for Yirra Yaakin: Waltzing The Willara (APAM Tour 2012), and Barking Gecko: The Red Tree (Perth and Albany Tour 2011-2012). James won the 2010 Hawaiian Award for Sound and 2010 DʼArcy Traveling Scholarship.
Director Set/Costume Designer Lighting Designer Sound Designer Fight Director Production Manager (Barking Gecko) Production Manager (WAAPA) Stage Manager Deputy Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Lighting Mentor Head Electrician Board Operator Lighting Crew Sound Operator Sound Technician Sound Crew Workshop Supervisor Workshop Assistant Head Mechanist Mechanist Mechanist Props Makes Supervisor Head Props Maker Wardrobe Supervisor Dressing Supervisor Costume Crew Costume Crew Costume Crew Costume Crew Costume Crew Costume Crew Design Assistant - Costume Design Assistant - Set
John Sheedy Patrick James Howe Tegan Evans James Luscombe Andy Fraser Genevieve Jones Eva Tilley Michelle Karas Emma Barbaro Erin Martin Charlotte Newton Sean Hartley Marc Sinclair Trent Suidgeest Kale Tatam Devon Lovelady Adam Trewenack Meg Cousins Thomas Moore James Langlands Jenna Rahim Peter Carr Francis Raven Ben Gates Michelle Betts Maria Carbone Evangeline Labrador Jordan Lorite Julia Davis Tricia David Alana Gibbings Louise Inman Robyn Constable Jessica Hodgkinson Bryanna Price Molly Werner Madeleine Watt Ashliegh Hodges
DIRECTOR’S NOTES Shakespeare’s legacy to successive generations is his firm faith in human potential. His writing challenges us to reach beyond our grasp and gives us the ability to imagine our future. Hamlet — Shakespeare’s longest play, with 4,042 lines, totalling 29,551 words — takes over four hours to deliver – Don’t panic, we’ve cut it down to two! Hamlet offers a deep and sometimes frightening look at human nature. Its characters seem to be both good and evil. Our feelings about them change from scene to scene, because Shakespeare does not provide easy answers for sorting out who is innocent and who is guilty. In the middle is Hamlet himself, struggling to take action in a world full of plots, doubts, dirty secrets and a paranoid environment.
This is our first co-production in a new partnership with the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) presenting an exploration of Shakespeare’s work over the next 3 years as part of our education program for young people. This collaboration is designed to provide the support, training and mentorship from industry professionals to our next breed of emerging talent in the performing arts. In this instance the rehearsal room is a safe learning space for 3rd year acting, design and production students to explore and work with a professional director and creative team. What better play to kick it off with than the play with the lot! A Hamlet for our time. John Sheedy Artistic Director
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY AND WAAPA SUPPORTED BY
The Barking Gecko Theatre Company is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body.
HOW YOU CAN SUPPORT THEATRE FOR YOUNG PEOPLE IN WA Established in 1991, Barking Gecko Theatre Company is a not-for-profit organisation and one of the leading Australian theatre companies for young people and their families, dedicated to the production and development of contemporary theatre. A key focus for the Company is building artistic and corporate partnerships with nationally recognised companies and agencies to present challenging new works of the highest standard illuminating, entertaining and challenging artistic convention. Barking Gecko Theatre Company is principally supported by an investment from the State of Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts WA in association with Lotterywest and from the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Our 2013 Program includes artistic partnerships with the Perth International Arts Festival, the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and the Sydney Theatre Company. We welcome and acknowledge our new corporate partners for 2013 Woodside Energy LTD, Hawaiian and Macquarie Private Wealth (WA), who join our stable of generous supporters including – Healthway, Smarter than Smoking, Country Arts WA, The City of Subiaco, Lotterywest and Karrinyup Shopping Centre. We would also like to pay respect to the significant contribution of our Board Members and Patron of Barking Gecko Theatre Company along with our inkind partners including The West Australian, Lush TV, Guerilla Construction, Abbott and Co Printers, AbaF, Jon Green Photography, All Of The Above Creative, Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth Theatre Trust, AEG Ogden, Gerard Daniels and Student Edge. Through Barking Gecko Theatre Company’s Private Giving Program, individuals assist with our annual program. Many of our donors contribute toward our mentoring programs, which aim to foster the next generation of creative and industry talent in Western Australia. It is through these incredible contributions that we are able to deliver outstanding theatre performances throughout Western Australia and infuse the community with social and cultural vibrancy.
FOR THIS PRODUCTION WE WOULD LIKE TO GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE THE SUPPORT OF
Donations – no matter how large or small – are fully tax deductible. All donors receive regular updates with donations over $500 are acknowledged in the Company’s Annual Report and receive invitations to special events.
Margaria Cleaning, Getaway Outdoors Kelmscott, Jim Palmisano Helen Forgie, Soil World Malaga, Bunnings Subiaco, Bunnings Inglewood, Balshaw’s Florist, Michele Howson, Christian Funerals
We would like to thank all our partners, donors and supporters for their consistent contributions and generosity. It is through your kindness and vision that we are able to deliver our aim of presenting world class Theatre for Young People. We couldn’t do it without you!
Photography by Luke Thompson, Cameron Etchells and Jon Green, Styling by Hannah McGrath, All Of The Above Creative. Design by Guerilla Construction.
If you would like to know more about our Corporate and Private Giving Program, please contact Nathan Giles, General Manager – nathan@barkinggecko.com. au or by telephone - (08) 9380 3080.
COMING NEXT
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS A BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY AND SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION
STORM BOY BY COLIN THIELE ADAPTED FOR THE STAGE BY TOM HOLLOWAY DIRECTED BY JOHN SHEEDY
HEATH LEDGER THEATRE, STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA 21 SEPTEMBER – 5 OCTOBER 2013 BOOK AT TICKETEK 1300 795 012 WWW.TICKETEK.COM.AU
SUITABLE FOR 6+
A CO-PRODUCTION WITH
SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY 9TH AUGUST – 8TH SEPTEMBER 2013
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