Barking Gecko Theatre Company with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and Q Theatre Company In association with Healthway, Smarter than Smoking PRESENT
BY FINEGA N KRUCK EMEYER DIR ECTED BY NOEL JOR DA N
THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING
Three girls. Three pathways. One destination. Three sisters are abandoned in the middle of a forest by their father. Facing an uncertain future, one decides to walk one way around the world, one decides to walk the other way and one decides to stay right where she is. After 20 years having crossed oceans, toppled lighthouses and conquered armies – the two wanderers find themselves back at the same place in the woods, where the third sister waits… One of Australia’s most exciting playwrights, Finegan Kruckemeyer, has created a modern day fairytale that will thrill, delight and surprise audiences of all ages. Winner of the 2010 Rodney Seaborn Award, This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing, is an epic tale about the search for happiness, self and a place to call home. Explore behind the scenes at www.barkinggecko.com.au 2
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY
SUBIACO ARTS CENTRE TUE 10 JULY - sat 21 JULY 2012 10.30AM & 1PM AUSLAN PERFORMANCE WED 11 JULY, 1PM Q+A Wed 11th 1pm, Wed 18th 1pm
Suitable for 6+
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THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING
BARKING GECKO THEATRE COMPANY
director's notes There is a reason why tales and fables of long ago are still told today. Fairytales are great and compelling stories that, in a safe and considered way, are designed to assist children to learn about the world around them. Their themes explore the issues of real life and do not shy away from the darker aspects of the human condition as well as celebrating its joys. In This Girl Laughs playwright, Finegan Kruckemeyer, takes the conventions of classic tales and gives them a modern twist. In this story he begins with a well-known Hansel and Gretel device; children are abandoned in the woods by a reluctant father at the instructions of a step-mother. From here Kruckemeyer explores how three very different children face a potentially devastating situation and make the most of it. The abandonment on many levels sets them free and directs them on a path to find their own place in the world. Their journey is a search for identity, family and a place to call home told over 33 years. I think people of all ages will relate to these universal themes and although there are moments of whimsy and magical realism the characters also face the fears that many of us face – loneliness, longing and even war. This play has been a joy to work on at every stage with an amazing creative and production team. Barking Gecko has transformed under John Sheedy’s artistic leadership and I am thrilled to be a part of this change. But all good theatre starts with a good story and in this aspect we have been incredibly blessed. I believe Finegan Kruckemeyer is one of the most exciting voices writing in theatre today and that the plays he is writing now will be performed for years to come. With 50 or so scripts to his credit already one can only wonder what the next decade of writing will bring from his incredibly talented mind. And finally a huge thank you to our two NSW partners for making this Australian premiere a reality – my previous employers and work colleagues at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre and to the staff and board at the Q Theatre in Penrith.
Noel Jordan
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THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING
Ella Hetherington Albienne Ella Hetherington is an actor and physical performer. She has worked with Barking Gecko Theatre Company (The Red Tree, The Lost Girl, Fatty Wombat, Cascal Rascals) Black Swan Theatre Company (Red Dog), Steamworks (Woodside, The Lost Boys), LA Fura Del Baus (PIAF Opening), Legs On The Wall/ NIDA (Extend), WASO (Echo, Beethoven’s World), Kaleidoscope Ensemble (Little Bobo, Edward), Strut and Fret, Nicole in Red (Velvet Sushi, Tipsy), Road (Nights Norns, Light Cloud). As physical dramaturge she has worked with Night Train Production’s (Wish) and The MoxyCollecitve (Virgie). Film credits include, An Evening with Bobby Valentine and 209 Nights. She is a company associate of Bizircus and is the cofounder of Pinstripe Circus and creator of Dreamhouse the award winning Ayers Rock Surf Lifesaving Club. Ella has worked extensively as an arts worker and taken up several Artist in Residency positions including Christmas Island, Broome and Kununurra. Study and training includes Total Theatre, UWA/WAAPA, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, Legs on the Wall, Frantic Assembly and master-classes whenever she can.
JO MORRIS Beatrix Jo has a Bachelor of Arts, Majoring in Theatre at Curtin University, and graduated from the Acting course at NIDA in 2003. Since then, she has performed with Black Swan Theatre Company in The White Divers of Broome for this years Perth International Arts Festival, and The Crucible, and was also part of the 2007 and 2008 Hotbed Ensemble, performing in Portraits of Modern Evil, The Caucasian Chalk Circle and The Laramie Project. Other Theatre credits include In the Garden, (Deckchair Theatre -Umbrella Project), The Myth of Julian Rose, The Rusalka Thread and The Yellow Wallpaper, (Blue Room Theatre) The Greatest Woman in the World (Agelink Theatre) and Eenie Meenie Miny Mo (Darlinghurst Theatre). Writing/Directing credits include Lipstick and Hessian, and Cowgirl Beat, both at The Blue Room Theatre. She has also been a devisor and collaborator for Eenie Meenie Miny Mo, and most recently, Conversolutions, which received a Department of Culture and the Arts development grant.
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CAST
SARAH NELSON Carmen Sarah is a multidisciplinary artist working as an actor, puppeteer, physical theatre/circus performer, community arts worker and independent performance maker. Graduating with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2002, Sarah continued training at Annie Stainer’s School of Physical Theatre until 2005. Recent performance credits include Blueback (Spare Parts Puppet Theatre), La Fura Dels Baus (Perth International Arts Festival) Aesop & His Fables (Barking Gecko Theatre Company), MarshArt/WALK (DADAA Inc.), Mondo Di Corpo’s Myth of Julian Rose, Together (Spare Parts Puppet Theatre/State Theatre Gala Opening), Prank Patrol (ABC3/Active TV), Murder (ERTH Visual & Physical Inc./Fringe World), Mobile Moments (Proximity Festival/ Fringe World) and will soon commence puppeteering for the Australian premier of Warhorse.
DRAYTON MORLEY Narrator/Father/Peter One of Australia’s most versatile and accomplished actors, Drayton Morley has a string of credits in film, theatre and television to his name. A NIDA graduate and recipient of a Mike Walsh Fellowship (NIDA), Drayton also studied at the acclaimed physical theatre school Ecole Internationale de Theatre Jacques Lecoq in Paris. Renowned for his theatre performances, Drayton has worked with many major theatre companies, including for the Ensemble Theatre; Animals Out Of Paper, Little Nell, Market Forces for B Sharp; Edmond, Chicks Will Dig You for Darlinghurst Theatre; Love Song, The Memory of Water for Railway Street/Q Theatre; Sunday In The Park With George, Twelfth Night, Spring Awakening, Two Weeks With The Queen for Bell Shakespeare; Twelfth Night and for the Merrigong Theatre Company; The Dapto Chaser. Drayton has appeared in many of Australia’s iconic television series including Seven Network’s Home and Away, All Saints and Always Greener, Nine Networks Cops:LAC, The Alice, Water Rats and the international children’s comedy Me and My Monsters screening on Network Ten and BBC TV in the UK. Drayton’s films include Wincap Film’s Picture This, Emerald Film’s Bits and Pieces and the Fred Schepisi directed Evil Angels. A passionate supporter of Australian playwriting, Drayton is the founder and current Literary Manager of the Sydney based script development organization Parnassus’ Den. Drayton has a been a proud member of Actors Equity (MEAA) since 1987.
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THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING
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CREATIVE TEAM
Finegan Kruckemeyer Playwright Finegan (30) has had 53 commissioned plays performed on five continents, and was an inaugural recipient of the $160,000 Sidney Myer Creative Fellowship. This year 20 works (including nine premieres) play worldwide, with seasons in Argentina, Australia (ten works in six states, with two at the Sydney Opera House and three at the Melbourne Arts Centre), China, England (three national tours), Germany, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and the United States – at invited programmes New Visions New Voices (JFK Center for the Arts, Washington), New Plays for Young Audiences (New York University), and the IPAY American Showcase (his fourth consecutive IPAY work). As well as the Fellowship, Finegan and his work have received the 2010 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award, 2010 Best New Work Ruby Award, 2009 Australian Writers Guild Award (AWGIE) for Best Children’s Play in Australia, 2009 Mystate Young Tasmanian Artist Award, 2009 Ruby Award For Innovation, 2008 Best Children’s Theatre Playwright Oscart, 2007 Best Playwright Oscart, 2006 Jill Blewett Playwrights Award, and 2002 Colin Thiele Scholarship. Finegan has spoken at conferences/festivals in Argentina, Australia, Austria, Denmark, England, Scotland, Sweden and the US, with his paper The Taboo of Sadness published. He was one of 21 selected worldwide for the ASSITEJ Next Generation (international group of young leaders in children’s theatre), and sits on Arts Tasmania’s Assistance to Individuals Panel, Tasmanian Literary Awards panel, and Write Local, Play Global’s Playwrights Advisory Committee. Finegan was born in Ireland, and came to Adelaide at eight. In 2004, he moved with his wife Essie to Hobart, Tasmania, from which he now writes for national/international companies. He is committed to making strong and respectful work for children, which acknowledges them as astute audience members outside the plays, and worthy subjects within.
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THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING
NOEL JORDAN Director Noel Jordan has extensive experience as an educator, artist in residence, actor-devisor, writer, director and producer. He has previously been employed as an actor and the Artistic Director of the Woolly Jumpers Theatre Company. As an actor and director Noel has worked with Playbox Theatre, Salamanca Theatre, Back to Back Theatre, Arena Theatre and Sydney Opera House. Noel worked as a Drama Lecturer in Arts Education at the University of Melbourne where he completed his Masters in Education. Noel worked as Producer - Young Audiences at Sydney Opera House where he curated the House:ed and Kids at the House annual youth programs (2004-2010 and in 2011 as a guest curator). Noel is currently the international representative, and Deputy Chair, on the board of Young People and the Arts Australia (YPAA) and an Executive Committee Member of ASSITEJ International (Association Internationale du Théâtre pour l’Enfance et la Jeunesse). Noel’s role as Curator/ Producer of Theatre at Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre led to this three way co-production with Barking Gecko Theatre Company and the Q Theatre Company.
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CREATIVE TEAM
ALICIA CLEMENTS Set and Costume Designer Alicia has a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Design for Performance) from WAAPA where she received the inaugural David Hough Award for Outstanding Achievement. Since graduating in 2008 she has contributed set and costume designs for Black Swan State Theatre Company, STEPS Youth Dance Company, Deckchair Theatre Company and Onward Productions. She was also assistant designer to Gypsy Taylor on Barking Gecko’s recent production of The Red Tree. She is currently a Resident Designer with Black Swan State Theatre Company and was a member of their Hotbed Ensemble in 2009.
QUINCY GRANT Composer and Sound Designer Quincy Grant composes music for theatre, concert stage and film. Â His work includes music for plays such as The Tragical Life of Cheeseboy, and When the Rain Stops Falling; many works for orchestra that have been played in Germany, Canada, and by the leading Australian orchestras; and soundtracks for films and documentaries broadcast on the ABC and SBS. His first opera, Ode to Nonsense, is having its premiere in April 2013. He plays in many groups: from rock to new music and, most recently wild gypsy music with Golonka. This is the 7th Kruckemeyer play he has had the pleasure of writing music for, and the first time he has worked with Barking Gecko. Quincy lives blissfully with his partner and three children in Adelaide.
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THIS GIRL LAUGHS, THIS GIRL CRIES, THIS GIRL DOES NOTHING
Trent Suidgeest Lighting Designer Trent is a recent graduate from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts breaking into the industry as one of Australia’s young gun Lighting Designers. In 2012 Trent began the year designing the centrepiece of the Sydney Festival I Am Eora, a World Premiere indigenous epic directed by Wesley Enoch. He is Resident Lighting Designer at Black Swan State Theatre Company, and will design five of the company’s six Mainstage seasons including co-productions with Melbourne Theatre Company and Queensland Theatre Company. Recent credits include National Interest (Black Swan/MTC); Arcadia, The White Divers of Broome, When The Rain Stops Falling, Ninety, A Midsummer Nights Dream (Black Swan); The Sapphires (Belvoir/Black Swan) – [National Tour and seasons in South Korea and London’s Barbican Theatre]; pool [no water] and The Dark Room (Black Swan’s HotBed Ensemble); Kismet and The King & I (The Production Company); An Oak Tree (Perth Theatre Company); This Girl Laughs…, The Amber Amulet, Fatty Wombat (Barking Gecko); Cinderella Dressed in Yella [Korean Tour], Genie(us) and Walk The Fence (Buzz Dance Theatre). In 2010 Trent was awarded an Australia Council Artstart Grant. To culminate his degree at WAAPA, Trent travelled to New York to work with internationally acclaimed, Tony Award-winning Lighting Designer, Rick Fisher as he lit Billy Elliot The Musical on Broadway. Trent was lighting designer for the much acclaimed Perth International Arts Festival/Yirri Yaakin production of Waltzing the Wilarra.
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CREATIVE TEAM
Genevieve Jones Production Manager Genevieve graduated from the Stage Management course at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) in 2008. Genevieve’s recent work includes Production and Stage Manager for The Red Tree (Barking Gecko Theatre Company), Stage Manager for Taking Liberty (Deckchair Theatre Company), CHOGM 2011 Opening Ceremony (Great Big Events), Waltzing the Wilarra (Yirra Yaakin), Modern International Dead (Deckchair Theatre Company), Reign (Chrissie Parrott Performance Company), Phoenix Regional Tour (Steps Youth Dance Company) and Assistant Stage Manager for Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (Black Swan State Theatre Company).
NATALIE MOIR Stage Manager Natalie has had the opportunity to work in stage management and production management on a variety of projects, both in Perth and Melbourne. Natalie has an Advanced Diploma in Stage Management from Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA). This Girl Laughs, This Girl Cries, This Girl Does Nothing is her debut production with Barking Gecko Theatre Company. Other Theatre productions include Yes, Prime Minister (Australian Tour), Waltzing the Wilarra (Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company), The Swimming Club (Melbourne Theatre Company / Black Swan State Theatre Company), The Clean House (Queensland Theatre Company / Black Swan State Theatre Company), Furious Mattress (Malthouse Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, The Glass Menagerie, The Dark Room, Portraits of Modern Evil (Black Swan State Theatre Company), Krakouer (Deckchair Theatre Company), Antigone, Red Shoes (ThinIce). Natalie has also worked on musicals such as Strange Bedfellows (Instinct Entertainment), Anything Goes, Kismet, Sugar, The Boy from Oz, The King & I, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Boy Friend, and Crazy For You (The Production Company). 13
CREATIVE TEAM
PRODUCTION TEAM Head of Wardrobe: Emma Loughridge Wardrobe Assistant: Kristy Armstrong Set Construction: Plumb Construction and Dunk & Wagnell Scenic Paint: Tim Leaning and Alicia Clements Show Photography: Jon Green Graphic Design: Guerilla Construction
THANK YOU Patron Prof. Fiona Stanley AC, Ambassador Craig Silvey, Claudia Chidiac, James Fischer, Healthway, Subiaco Arts Centre, Wagamama, Subiaco Primary School, Lynn Fergusson and the BSSTC Wardrobe Department, Abbott & Co Printers.
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WITH THE SUPPORT OF
barkinggecko.com.au
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