c e d aug
Proudly supported by the City of Perth
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Hedda – 4 The Little Mermaid – 6 The Boat Goes Over The Mountain – 8 Broken Colour – 10 Trampoline – 12 The Tribe – 14 Standing Bird Two / Verge – 16 Bruce – 18 The Complete Works – 20 Membership – 21 Area Guide – 22 Sustainability – 24 Booking – 26
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aug–dec 2013
What’s Next>>
It’s the idea behind everything we do – new shows, new faces, new ideas and new experiences. We’re about giving you the chance to see the next big thing, and we’re about giving artists new opportunities to get their work seen. This season is no exception. We have emerging artists presenting their first work. We have established companies bringing their latest ideas to the stage. We have classic stories told in ways that tear up the rule book. The season is about now. The season is about you. It’s about stories that hit you in the guts or make you laugh or have you thinking long after you’ve left your seats. This is your chance to get involved and see what’s next in WA performance.
Our shows fill up fast – book in advance to secure your seats. blueroom.org.au 08 9227 7005 Box Office open Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm + one hour before show time
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Photo: Ashley de Prazer
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HEDDA This One Show
Heroine? Victim? A woman oppressed?
Forget what you know. This is Hedda reloaded. Irresistibly fierce Norwegian actors Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik (Fritt Vilt II) and Tone Skaardal (Luftballoong – Official Selection European Independent Film Festival) join director Renato Fabretti (Motortown – The Blue Room Theatre ‘Best Production’ 2009) to expose Hedda Gabler in a ruthless and innovative reconstruction of Ibsen’s original text. Hedda has succumbed to married life: her academic husband bores her; her youthful beauty is slipping away. But Hedda’s world is shaken by the arrival of her old friend Thea, and her former lover Løvborg. Riddled with jealousy and longing, she conceives a plan to turn her life around. The events that follow will shock even the most wellversed audiences. Don’t miss this high-impact opening to the season.
Aug 13–31 8.30pm 90mins M
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Featuring: Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik + Tone Skaardal + Richie Flanagan + Phil Miolin Producer: Marthe Snorresdotter Rovik Director + Designer + Also Featuring: Renato Fabretti Marketing: Kate Hancock Photo: Renato Fabretti
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Houston Sinclair
The Little Mermaid AUG
Aug 20–SEPT 7 8.30pm 60MINS M
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SEPT
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Auslan Interpreted
Co-Devisers + Featuring: Georgia King + Jacinta Larcombe + Ben Gill Director: Ian Sinclair Producer: Sophie Fosdick-McGrath Scenographer: Shaye Preston Costume: Shinead Gecas Sound: Laura Jane Lowther (from Kucka) Photo: Jackson Eaton
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Far out in the ocean, it is very, very deep. After a great storm, a black-eyed prince discovers a white haired girl washed up on the shore. She has no voice. She has shallow breath. She can barely walk. She cries silver tears. Descaling Hans Christian Andersen’s original fairy tale, The Little Mermaid is bleak seas, Britney Spears and unrequited love.
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Happy Dagger Theatre
The Boat Goes Over The Mountain “It is a great metaphor – for what, I don’t know to this day, but I know it’s a great metaphor.” Werner Herzog
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“Ceremony 1. Oh my god. OH MY GOD. This is horrific.” If you could take a medicine that would cure you, but ripped your insides out and made you look at all the dark spaces…would you drink it? From the same jungles of Peru where Werner Herzog battled to haul a 320-ton boat up a 40 degree slope for his film Fitzcarraldo, a man recounts a series of nine gruelling ayahuasca ceremonies; two men in different times, each struggling with his own ‘heart of darkness’. The shaman is here, it’s time for ceremony. Keep your intention clean and clear. Always know where your bucket is, and please keep your hands inside the carriage...the boat goes over the mountain.
SEPT 10–28 8.30pm 60mins M
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Writer + Performer: Andrew Hale Producer: RenÈe Hale Designer: India Mehta Music: Dave Richardson Image: India Mehta
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Broken Colour Same Cat Productions
Creativity. Madness. Everything in between.
Gareth is a psychiatrist who wants nothing more than to have a baby. His wife Olivia is a frustrated artist who’s not sure about anything anymore, especially bringing a child into a world like this. Enter Eliza, Gareth’s new patient; a beautiful disturbed young woman bursting with light, love and divine creativity. Gareth must now navigate between these two women, and when the needs of the sane begin to mirror those of the insane, his idea of reality begins to slip.
Winner of the Jill Blewett Playwright’s Award in 2010 ‘Nina’s writing is exciting, courageous and passionate and touches on an issue all too often thought of as taboo.’ Geordie Brookman, State Theatre Company of South Australia
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SEPT 17–Oct 5 7pm 60mins M
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OCT
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Government of Western Australia Department of Culture and the Arts
This project is supported by the Department of Culture and the Arts
Writer + Producer + Featuring: Nina Pearce Producer + Featuring: Caris Eves Also featuring: James Helm + Hannah Day Director: Michael McCall Lighting Designer: Andrew Portwine Sound Design: The Men from Another Place - Steve McCall & Dave Richardson Set Design: Iona McAuley Stage Manager: Liam Murray Photo: Skye Sobejko
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Weeping Spoon Productions
TRAMPOLINE What happens when a dreamer meets the girl of his dreams? Matt is in another world, where fiction and reality are all mixed up. He finds it hard to fit in, and everyone tells him so. As part of his treatment, his therapist suggests he keep a dream journal, which works well… until he meets Kelly. She is beautiful, talented, funny and even has a trampoline. Matt is instantly smitten. Follow their awkwardly impossible courtship as Matt discovers what is most important to him and what reality he really belongs in.
‘This dark comedy is equal parts touching, funny, awkward and sad, and the characters will tug at your heartstrings and refuse to let go.’ Bloodyunderrated.net (Canada) A new play by Shane Adamczak, three-time Just For Laughs Award nominee and creator of Zack Adams: Love Songs for Future Girl and A Complete History of Zack Adams.
OcT 8–26 8:30pm 60mins M
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Auslan Interpreted
Writer + Producer + Design + Featuring: Shane Adamczak Featuring: Amanda Woodhams + Ben Russell Director: Damon Lockwood Stage Manager: Genevieve Jones Score: Michael de Grussa Photo: Shane Adamczak
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Renegade Productions
The TRIBE We are Us. They are Them. Love us. Kill Them. So the history of our species has been writ. Renegade Productions invites you to look deep into this most destructive of human instincts in their newest work. The fall of Lucifer // An Amazon Queen’s quest to find her home // A suburban woman’s televised fantasies. Taking over the venue and told in three parts, The Tribe holds a mirror up to the great sin, encoded into our genes, that makes sinners of us all. What will it take for us to overcome the tyranny of The Tribe?
OCT
Oct 15–Nov 2 7:00pm 100mins inc interval M
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NOV
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Devised + Featuring: Mikala Westall + Paul Grabovac + Ella Hetherington Writer + Director + Composer: Joe Lui Producer + Publicist: Katy Dynes Designer: India Mehta Videographer: Mia Holton Image: Shaun Tan
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Dance theatre you can smell, taste, touch …and watch Sally Richardson
STANDING BIRD 2 From the team that brought you Standing Bird comes this collaboration of some of WA’s most experienced independent artists. In a bravura solo performance by Jacqui Claus (2012 Dance Australia Critics Choice – Most Outstanding Female Dancer), Standing Bird 2 is a personal odyssey that spirals the audience into an experience of fear, submersion, and transformation. Using spaces in and around The Blue Room Theatre, this production creates an ever shifting point of view to this immersive sensual experience.
‘Claus is a commanding artist, and each part of her body speaks to the audience, right down to her articulate toes.’ – The West Australian
NOV 12–29 7pm 60mins M
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Featuring: Jacqui Claus Director + Concept: Sally Richardson Movement Director: Danielle Micich Assistant Director: Katya Shevtsov Vision Design + Film Production + Editor: Ashley de Prazer [BOTH SHOWS] Set + Costume Designer: Fiona Bruce Sound design + production: Joe Lui + Kingsley Reeve Lighting Design: Joe Lui Dramaturg: Humphrey Bower + Sally Richardson
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Photo: Ashley de Prazer
A POWERFUL MICROSEASON OF DANCE THEATRE. Patrice Smith
VERGE The calm before the storm, the deep breath before the plunge or more simply – before the shit hits the fan. Verge is an exploration into the tension, unease and the quiet discomfort before someone loses control. First presented in Summer Nights at Fringe World 2013, Verge is choreographed by Patrice Smith and features an outstanding cast of WA dancers – Jacqui Claus (2010 Emerging Artist WA Dance Award), Laura Boynes, and Bernadette Lewis.
Winner: Second Runner Up – Best Dance – Fringe World Awards 2013
NOV 13–30 7pm 60mins M
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Featuring: Jacqui Claus + Laura Boynes + Bernadette Lewis Choreographer: Patrice Smith Photo: Sarah Rowbottam
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bruce Weeping Spoon Productions
Get ready to grip the edge of your seat as Bruce sweeps you away on an epic adventure of love and revenge. He may be just a yellow block of foam with a pair of disembodied hands, but Bruce is out to prove he’s got a heart of pure gold. From the twisted minds of Tim Watts (creator of Alvin Sputnik and Pollyanna), and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd (Cleo Bachelor of the Year – short-listed), Bruce is a two-man, one-puppet show that fuses mime and puppetry in a non-stop rollercoaster of action, adventure and low-fi nostalgia.
Winner – 13th Hour Award, Montreal Fringe Winner – Best Comedy Act, Southbound Festival
NOV
Nov 19–Dec 7 8:30pm 60mins M
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Creators + Featuring: Tim Watts + Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd Producer: Kathryn Osborne Tech Designer + Construction: Anthony Watts Marketing: Brainlock Creative Image: Jamie Breen
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The Complete Works The whole lot // The kitchen sink // The kit + caboodle. This is your chance to lock in your seats to the season, with the flexibility to change nights or give your ticket to a friend if you can’t make a show. Your Complete Works ticket gets you priority access to our Members’ Nights, where you can enjoy some great snacks and bar specials before and after the show. Best yet, you save up to 40% on full price as a member, and 20% for non-members.
Members: $120 // General: $160 Buy online or call us on (08) 9227 7005 to get The Complete Works.
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membership GIVING Blue Room Theatre members get more. Discounts + Workshops + Applications + Rehearsal Space + Support + Advocacy Don’t need these services? Join our Giving Program and support what’s next.
“Independent theatres in WA need our support. They are where people experiment and learn. Without The Blue Room Theatre, there is no Matilda” – Tim Minchin We give independent artists the opportunities and skills to succeed. Donate online today to make their big ideas happen.
Donor list Ursula Andinach, Nola Burns, Karen Connolly, Fiona de Garis, Phillip Dundas, Carl Ellinghaus, Terri Ellis, Robyn Fergusson, Felicity Frost, Vivienne Glance, Jessica Harlond, Alice Hatton, Jason Hilton, Jackie Hooper, Andrew Horabin, Rosalind Jennings, Olga Klimczak, Diane Klysz, Libby Klysz, Lisa McCready, Jenny McNae, Frances Miller, Bryce Moore, James Mumme, Helen Munt, Mike Nanning, Jordan Nix, Margaret Paolino, Tanya Payne, Zoe Pepper, Gemma Sidney, Thom Smyth, Mark Storen + Renee Newman- Storen, Linda Watson, Shea Wilson + six anonymous contributors.
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PICA SALON 2013 21 JULY – 18 AUGUST
PROXIMITY FESTIVAL 23 OCTOBER – 2 NOVEMBER
IN CONFIDENCE
– Curated by John Mateer
31 AUGUST – 13 OCTOBER
CRASH COURSE
– James Berlyn 14 – 30 NOVEMBER
| P I CA .O R G . AU
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Share locally sourced food with a greater Mediterranean bent and drinks with a story. Enjoy Bivouac’s own coffee blends while taking in the revolving showcase of emerging artists.
198 William St. Northbridge www.bivouac.com.au Tues to Sat 12pm – Late bivouaccanteen
Sustainability We take being green seriously. What’s next? We’ve replaced our foyer lights with low-wattage LEDs to reduce our power usage in public areas. We’re phasing out bottled water – there’s free filtered water available for all. We’re also doing a lot behind the scenes, implementing changes from our recent energy audit to cut our environmental impact. Why? Because we want to take the lead and become WA’s first Carbon Neutral independent performance venue. Follow our journey online at blueroom.org.au/sustainability
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Summer Nights 24 – 23
Jan Feb
2014
Program Launches December 2013
Photo: Jackson Eaton
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The Team Who we are:
Executive Director – Kerry O’Sullivan Venue and Operations Manager – Roger Miller Producer – Susannah Day Marketing Manager – Thom Smyth Office and Front-of-House Manager – Sally Martin Finance Officer – Karen Connolly
Board:
Libby Klysz – Chair Tanya Payne – Treasurer Mark Storen – Secretary Damon Lockwood Philippa Maughan Lisa McCready Helen Munt Louanne Munz The Blue Room Theatre employs artists as front-of-house, bar and ushering staff on a casual basis – we couldn’t do it without them.
Volunteers
Thanks to the Arts Angels for kindly volunteering their time. You can too – see behind the scenes and get a free show. Email sally@blueroom.org.au for more info.
Book Our shows fill up fast – book in advance to secure your seats. blueroom.org.au 08 9227 7005 Box Office open Mon – Fri, 9am – 5pm + one hour before show time
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thanks We would like to acknowledge the generous support of our brochure and launch partners: The State Theatre Centre of WA Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts Libby Edwards Photography Aesop Pigeonhole The Big Picture Factory
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blueroom.org.au Perth Cultural Centre, 53 James Street Northbridge WA
Photography: Libby Edwards