Proudly supported by the City of Perth
Welcome to The Blue Room Theatre Season TWO, 2012
DEC JUL–
Welcome to Season Two of 2012 – with nine productions to sink your teeth into there is plenty going on at The Blue Room Theatre right through to December. We have had tremendous success already in 2012 with Summer Nights scooping up four Fringe World Awards including Best Independent Venue. Hope is the saddest won Best Theatre and has been accepted into the curated Fringe NYC as part of our ongoing partnership with The Present Company – we wish them well. The artist is at the core of all our endeavours and with that in mind I would like to share part of a message about The Blue Room Theatre that Season artist Joe Lui posted on Facebook: …You guys enable everything that is beautiful in my increasingly beautiful adopted home. If I said I would be nothing without your tireless endeavour, I would not be exaggerating. And I know many of us feel the same. So Thank you. If you aren’t yet a member. Or haven’t seen something here yet, you owe it to yourself. Remember that when you see a piece of theatre, or any work of art, you aren’t “supporting your friends” or doing anybody a favour. You’re doing YOU a favour. I think that says it all. Come and see for yourself…
Kerry O’Sullivan, Executive Director
Image: Brian Woltjen
The Polite Gentleman 4 – 22 Sept
theMOXYcollective present
The Polite Gentleman
Mouse sat on the bench across from his house. It had just gone dark. He’d woken up that morning to find an address tattooed on his chest. The reach of this man, this thing, was real. How long had he been there? Maybe all day. He just knew he wanted it… He wanted more. Infused with the blues, The Polite Gentleman is a magical tale about a man at the crossroads. Absurd, surreal, enthralling. Careful what you wish for, when the Devil comes a callin’ he may be in the oddest disguise…
Preview Tue 4 Sept
2 4~2 SEPT
Members’ Night Wed 5 Sept
Season Thu 6 – Sat 8 Sept Tue 11 – Sat 15 Sept Tue 18 – Sat 22 Sept Meet the Artists Wed 12 Sept Auslan interpreted Thurs 13 Sept Time All shows 8:30pm Tickets Preview $15 Full $25 / Conc. $20 Blue Room Theatre Members: $20 / $15 Groups 6+ $20
Written & performed by Mark Storen | Directed by Adam Mitchell | Design by Fiona Bruce Lighting design by Chris Donnelly | Production by Lisa McCready | Publicity by Marie Bout
2 – 20 Oct
The Warrior and the Princess
Image: Shirley Van Sanden; Graphic design: Alex Manfrin
Blue Moose present
The Warrior and the Princess
“Even a hunter cannot kill a bird which flies to him for refuge.” Europe 1939, World War II begins. Jewish refugees flee when Poland falls to Germany. As the war progresses and the Allied forces strike back, the Soviet Union and Germany threaten to invade the refugees’ fragile safe haven in Lithuania. With borders closing, the refugees are desperate; their future looks dire whichever force may invade. But in times of injustice, help sometimes comes from unexpected sources… The Warrior and the Princess is a story of courage and the sacrifice of one for the lives of many. This unique reimagining of true events blends performance with shadow play, puppetry, and live piano accompaniment to recreate this little-known story of hope amidst the devastation of World War II. “…each person must be judged on their character and nothing else.”
Preview Tue 2 Oct
2~20 OCT
Members’ Night Wed 3 Oct
Season Thu 4 – Sat 6 Oct Tue 9 – Sat 13 Oct Tue 16 – Sat 20 Oct Meet the Artists Wed 10 Oct Auslan interpreted Tues 9 Oct Time All shows 8:30pm Tickets Preview $15 Full $25 / Conc. $20 Blue Room Theatre Members: $20 / $15 Groups 6+ $20
Featuring Brian Liau, Rhoda Lopez, Monica Main & Ian Toyne | Written, produced & designed by Shirley Van Sanden Directed & designed by Monica Main | Live piano by Marty Laing | Production by Lisa McCready | Lighting design by Mike Nanning Puppet consultanT Sandy McKendrick
Photo: Bev Jensen
Eve 23 Oct – 10 Nov
The nest ensemble present
Eve
“If I were alive today, would you consider me mad?” From the team behind the multi award-winning The Knowing of Mary Poppins, the nest ensemble bring the critically-acclaimed Eve to Perth, fresh from their hit Brisbane season. Margi Brown Ash crawls beneath the skin of Australia’s Virginia Woolf: the enigmatic Eve Langley. This is the story of a writer caught somewhere between the domestic and the artistic; a story of a reluctant mother and passionate artist; a story for anyone who’s ever felt as if they never belonged. “…one of the finest examples of independent theatre you’d be likely to see anywhere in Australia this year” - Australian Stage “…a tour de force …a show not to be missed” - XS Entertainment “…this production is an absolute gem” - actorsgreenroom.net
~ 23 OCT 10 NOV
Preview Tue 23 Oct
Members’ Night Wed 24 Oct
Season Thu 25 – Sat 27 Oct Tue 30 Oct – Sat 3 Nov Tue 6 – Sat 10 Nov Meet the Artists Wed 31 Oct Auslan interpreted Thurs 1 Nov Time All shows 7pm Tickets Preview $15 Full $25 / Conc. $20 Blue Room Theatre Members: $20 / $15 Groups 6+ $20
“a sublime, evocative, rich, disturbing and tightly woven piece that will leave you intellectually reeling and profoundly inspired…” - Australian Stage Performed, written & co-devised by Margi Brown Ash | Directed & co-devised by Leah Mercer | Co-devised by Daniel Evans Designed by Tessa Darcey | Original design by Backwoods | Original Sound design by Travis Ash Produced by Alice Hatton | Musician: Roland Adeney
Photo: Lawrie Cullen-Tait
Picasso’s Goldfinch 30 Oct – 17 Nov
Tom Jeffcote presents
Picasso’s Goldfinch
“They ought to put out the eyes of painters as they do goldfinches in order that they can sing better” Pablo Picasso. Wilson Stryker is a once-famous Australian painter who has lost the desire to paint. Reclusive and frustrated, he searches for the spark that defined his work. Therese Wilson is an ambitious young journalist who arrives seeking a scoop interview. Their explosive encounter leads to an extraordinary meeting of minds, and takes them on a journey that questions notions of creativity and intimacy. This chance meeting sets Wilson and Therese on a path that will change them forever. Finalist in the inaugural Richard Burton Playwriting Award. Picasso’s Goldfinch will also feature as part of the Art Gallery of Western Australia’s Picasso to Warhol: Fourteen Modern Masters exhibition from New York’s Museum of Modern Art.
Preview Tue 30 Oct
~ 30 OCT 17 NOV
Members’ Night Wed 31 Oct
Season Thu 1 – Sat 3 Nov Tue 6 – Sat 10 Nov Tue 13 – Sat 17 Nov Meet the Artists Wed 7 Nov Auslan interpreted Tues 6 Nov Time All shows 8:30pm Tickets Preview $15 Full $25 / Conc. $20 Blue Room Theatre Members: $20 / $15 Groups 6+ $20
Exclusive pre-season performance: October 25. Tickets for this one-off performance available through Ticketek. Written & produced by Tom Jeffcote | Directed & designed by Lawrie Cullen-Tait
Blue How-To tickets Standard $25 Member $20 Concession $20 Backpacker $15 Groups 6+ $20 School groups $15 Student Rushtix $10 (available 10 mins before show with valid student card – seats permitting) BOOK www.blueroom.org.au Phone 08 9227 7005 or in person at our Box Office Memberships, The Complete Works subscriptions, donations and gift vouchers are also available online, by phone and in person.
School bookings We offer reduced price tickets to school groups, with one free teacher ticket per 10 students booked. Contact our Box Office for more info. Show Time The Box Office opens an hour before show time. Please arrive at least 10 minutes prior to show time to collect your tickets. All seating is unreserved. If you’re running late, give us a call. Many shows have a ‘no latecomers’ policy, and we cannot offer refunds or exchanges. Access The Blue Room Theatre is a fully accessible venue, with street level access to our Box Office and lift access to our theatres and bar. We provide AUSLAN interpreted performances, honour
Companion Cards, and Guide Dogs are welcome. Please contact our Box Office to discuss your access needs. Warnings If you have any concerns about content such as smoke, strobe or other lighting effects and adult material, please ask when booking. Warnings are displayed on our website and in the venue.
Blue Who’s Who STAFF (ABOVE L-R) 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 Chair:Natalie Jenkins Deputy Chair: Louanne Munz Treasurer: Tanya Payne Secretary: Libby Klysz Damon Lockwood Philippa Maughan Lisa McCready Helen Munt Mark Storen Thank you to our outgoing Board members David Hall and Chris Isaacs
Sponsors The Blue Room Theatre board and staff acknowledge the generous support of the Australia Council for the Arts; the Department of Culture and the Arts; our civic partner City of Perth; Jane Brook Estate Wines; Coopers; our design partner Non-Drowsy Design and print partner Scott Print.
Season TWO 2012 Selection Panel Renae Coles, Sean Walsh and Michelle Trainer Casual Staff The Blue Room Theatre employs a host of talented artists as our front of house, bar and ushering staff – we couldn’t do it without them. Volunteers Thanks to our members, interns and the public who donate their time and energy graciously throughout the year, as well as the Arts Angels who help get these brochures out to you. Graphics and layout by Non-Drowsy Design. Printed by Scott Print.
The Blue Room is a trading name of the Performing Arts Centre Society Inc.
Info / tickets / subscriptions / gifts:
www.blueroom.org.au 53 James Street Northbridge WA
Image Copyright: Sophia Muoio