Spring & EXPLORATIONS Programme 2011
SPRING 2011 Newsletter 119 Hello and welcome to our Spring Season, And with Spring comes our exciting EXPLORATIONS SEASON, 20 new innovative and exciting ideas all taking place over three nights. What a feast! The season will also bring you the chance to see two fully realised productions that you may have glimpsed as previous EXPLORATIONS, Peta Brady’s Strands (previoulsy titled Entanglement, 2009) as well as Suzi and Rebecca Mezei’s Snake Skin Fence (2010). November will see the verbatim theatre production Coranderrk: We Will Show The Country, previously seen as a work-in-progress (2010), in full flight. This is an Ilbijerri & La Mama co-production and will tour to communities in 2012. The year will conclude with an Eagle’s Nest & La Mama collaboration; Michael Healy’s Flight at La Mama Courthouse. So come and make 2011 another record breaking year for audience attendance. Applause, applause we love it!
Liz Jones C.E.O. & Artistic Director And on behalf of Pippa Bainbridge (Company Manager), Maureen Hartley (Publicist/Education Coordinator), Lisa Höbartner & Bec Etchell (House Managers), Louise Jones (Marketing Coordinator), Mary Helen Sassman & Caitlin Dullard (Community Producers), Fiona Wiseman & Nedd Jones (Administration) and the Committee of Management: Catherine Hill, Dur-É Dara, Mark Rubbo, Caroline Lee, Tim Stitz, Rhonda Day, Emily Harms and Liz Jones
5 7 9 11 34 35 35 36 37 38 38 39 40
Coranderrk Flight Strands Snake Skine Fence La Mama for Kids Tango Tangets A Puppet in the Drawers Melborn Playreadings La Mama Poetica Shrimp Shells in My Cleavage La Mama Musica Ticket Information
EXPLORATIONS Leering@Lear Walking Mark Rothko How to Birds The Waiting Cyclo De Stroyed Morbid Porn Hello my name is What is the Question? Project ‘X’ Button The Other Dingo’s Baby ?! Sankofa A Reading List for the Outback Housewife The Unconditioned Heart String Thing Letters To Evie Cover Image: Carole Patullo Round the Corner Image Design: Robin Griffiths dazzlecreative.com.au Kid Stuff Courtesy: Button
12 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33
CORANDERRK
WE WILL SHOW THE COUNTRY Produced by ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY and the Minutes of Evidence Project November 16 - November 27 Concept by Giordano Nanni Directed by Isaac Drandich Dramaturgy by Rachael Maza Long Adapted by Andrea James & Giordano Nanni Performed by Syd Brisbane, Jack Charles, Jim Daly, Peter Finlay, Greg Fryer, Liz Jones, Tom Long, Melodie Reynolds, & Glenn Shea
VICTORIA, 1881: the men and women of the ‘Coranderrk Aboriginal Reserve’ take on the Board for the Protection of Aborigines in a fight for justice, dignity and self-determination. For the first time, we bring back to life Coranderrk’s voices - both black and white - through a re-enactment of their official testimonies before the 1881 Government Inquiry into Coranderrk.
L +) In association with La Mama Theatre, The University of Melbourne, The Koorie Heritage Trust, VicHealth, The Department of Education, Arts Victoria, Regional Arts Victoria, The State Library of Victoria, VAEAI - supported by the Australian Research Council
F
M P M
?
L
*/ *0 *1 *2 +, +- +. +/
+0 Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 8pm Matinee Sat 4pm | La Mama Courthouse 5
F L I G H T November 30 - December 18 Written by Michael Healy Directed by Skye Staude Produced by Nicole Peters & Eagle’s Nest Theatre Company Tilman Hessel is living the life he always wanted. An environmental activist, his enthusiasm and drive were the roots of what has grown to be an impressive organisation. Fight the good fight, never give up and cripple the insurmountable… but what happens if you’re lost when you’ve achieved all you desire?
L )** *1
F
M P M
?
L
,) )* )+ ), )0 )1 )2 *) *- *. */ *0
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 8pm La Mama Courthouse 7
STRANDS December 1 - December 18 Written & performed by Peta Brady Directed by Sue Jones Dramaturg: Catherine Hill Designer: Belinda Wiltshire Stage Manager: Bec Etchell Two sisters struggle with their inheritance. Hope wants to remember Destiny wants to forget. Strands was originally conceived during La Mama’s EXPLORATIONS Season in 2009 and received an R.E. Ross Trust Development Award in 2011. Strands is the second offering from this team of collaborators after a successful season of Status Update at La Mama, having been nominated for two Green Room Awards.
L )** *1 Image courtesy of artist Roz Avent (acrylic painting)
F
M P M
?
L
)* )+ ), )0 )1 )2 *) *- *. */ *0
Wed & Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 8pm | La Mama Theatre 9
SNAKE SKIN FENCE December 7 - December 18
Written by Suzi Mezei Directed by Laurence Strangio Performed by Rebecca Mezei Music by Scott Dunbabin Lighting Design by Bec Etchell Set against a backdrop of social violence, two women buckle under the weight of suburban fracture. A poetic exploration of contemporary Australia in transition.
L ** *1
F
M P M
?
L
)0 )1 )2 *) *- *. */ *0
Wed, Sun 8.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 6pm La Mama Theatre 11
EXPLORATIONS 2011 October 3 - December 6
This annual event is a unique opportunity for artists to explore, create and present new work in a supportive environment. Be part of the journey when theatre-makers are let loose for three nights in the space to explore ideas, challenge boundaries and experiment with process. Stay after the show, buy a drink, meet the artists and discuss their work in an environment where your feedback will be most welcome. Tickets to all performances are at the concession price of $15 or head to the website and book for any 4 of the 20 new works in the Explorations Season for just $40. “Short, surprising experiments by accomplished theatre-makers and complete newcomers…” John Bailey, The Sunday Age
LEERING @LEAR October 3, 4 & 5 Devised & performed by Elnaz Sheshgelani with Brian Lowe Directed by Lloyd Jones A newly interpreted and very true account of the life of King Lear especially as it pertains to the folly of attempting to decide which daughter loves him best.
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
October 6, 7 & 8
Written & performed by Adam J. A. Cass Designed by Jennifer Tran He has the stupid name Orange, his mum says his dad’s Jay Leno but he feels like he’s a walking Mark Rothko painting, all block colours, nothing but surface, but beautiful, and he makes you do and say and be things that you never thought possible. 7.30pm | La Mama Theatre 15
how to Birds. October 9, 10 & 11 Written & directed by Kevin CK Lo Performed by Kevin Lo, Meri Hietala and Finn Mulhall Design by Meri Hietala and Hayley Amos Live sound mostly by Troy Naumoff RC car by TOYABI The first of a multi-part play, involving a remote controlled courier car, an extended ode to the orange juice, and a comatose demonelle from Finland who may just wake up.
7.30pm | Tickets $15 Book & prepay online: www.lamama.com.au Booking line: 03 9347 6142 La Mama Theatre, 205 Faraday Street Carlton
October 12, 13 & 14 Just under my skin is the feeling of yours.... i try to find the edges, but it is just one great expanse; never ending, never beginning. Time passes in fancy dress. We let it pass.... as if we had a choice. Edwina Wren and Brigid Jackson share the first development of a new work about what it is to wait....
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre 17
October 15, 16 & 17 Devised & performed by Amanda Arnott and Alicia Benn-Lawler Sound Design by Zach Benn-Lawler Produced by Barefooted Productions
Winding itself through the magic of Carnival, the anticipation of promotion, the magic and glamour of show and the muddy bog and torn faded yers left behind. An exploration through dance of the cyclic experience of life and being; through struggles, joys, distractions, delusions, dreams, connections and separations. See it, learn it, live it, break it, mourn it or ignore it, repeat, until self realised.
7.30pm La Mama Theatre
DE STROYED
October 18, 19 & 20
A theatrical monologue about being a certain age and being inessential Created by Suzanne Chaundy and Jillian Murray from the work of Simone de Beauvoir Directed by Suzanne Chaundy Performed by Jillian Murray Lighting by Katie Sfetkidis A Perilous Production
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre 19
MORBID PORN October 21, 22 & 23 Written by Tamara Rewse Performed by Kelly Ryall & Tamara Rewse Outside eye: Nancy Black One lonely woman One dog One big fantasy Morbid Porn is a story of intimacy. Teetering between reality and fantasy, Morbid Porn examines how we see ourselves in our dreams, when we are alone and when there is no one but a dog to reect the image of ourselves. A hard working shift nurse lives alone with her spoilt dog. Together they feed a ight of fancy where thoughts transform reality, and fantasies are enduring. Part concert, part voyeurism with a puppet and live music by Kelly Ryall.
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
Hello my name is
October 24, 25 & 26 conceived and directed by Nicola Gunn created and performed by Carlee Mellow and Nicola Gunn | designed by Sans Hotel The development of this project was previously supported by Australia Council, Besen Foundation, Chunky Move, Dancehouse, Theatre Works and Belvoir. Hello my name is is under development and supported by the City of Port Phillip.
Hello my name is is a theatre event that combines a live performance with a companion online documentation project. It is a collaboration between a performance artist/theatremaker, dancer/choreographer, sound designer, visual artist, videographer and lighting designer. Set in a space we build and call a Community Centre, the work is inherently a conversation between strangers. Please visit www.hellomynameisshow.wordpress.com 7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
21
Nov 4, 5 & 6 Deviser/performers - Carole Patullo and Jane Bayly Consultant dramaturg/director - Melanie Beddie What holds us together? I imagined being here. Funny where you end up. Big things, little things... an ingrown hair, the famine, favourite pen, no evidence of a cohesive plan, mangoes, x-rays, dinner on the table, a noise through the wall. To push or not to push.
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
La Mama MUSICA presents
The Other
Nov 7, 8 & 9 Spontaneously Performed Interactive Composition by David Tolley’s ReUNION Retreat and Performance Project Special guest Phil Treloar will be travelling from Japan to share in this event 9 astonishing cross-generational improvisers, interacting in real-time as both composer and performer “...we floated in and out of expressive phrases; arcs of sonic unfolding, strange rhythmic diversities; surprising points of coincidence; picking up on to develop, to explore or ignore, each others utterances; slipping, sliding, skating, falling, laughing...” - Phil Treloar on Reunion with Tolley With Carolyn Connors (voice), Dur-é Dara (percussion), Tom Fryer (guitars), Tony Hicks (wind instruments), Anita Hustas (bass violin), Adrian Sherriff (trombone, shakuhachi, percussion) David Tolley (laptop electronics), Phil Treloar (marimba, drums) & Ren Walters (guitars)
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre 25
Nov 10, 11 & 12 Directed & produced by Ella Filar Arrangements by Tanya Heine and Ella Filar Lyrics by Neil Ryan, Sarah Berry and Ella Filar Monologue Text by Neil Ryan Performed by Justin Grant, Neil Ryan, Tanya Heine, Mary Gentile, Jody Beeton, Robbie Thorpe, Linda Cookson, Sarah Berry, and Carlos Andres Keyboard: Ella Filar Dingoʼs Baby asks: what if we all were stolen? When we sing “We Are Australian” who are we and what does Australian mean? Through song and story you will meet Aussie – a Bogan Indigenous man who doesn’t remember he was stolen – and a bus load of second and third generation Dinky Di Aussies anxiously scrambling to find out where they really came from. 7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
7.30pm | La Mama Courthouse
27
A Reading List for the Outback Housewife Nov 13, 14 & 15 August 4 - Augus
Written by Christopher Bryant | Directed by Christopher Bryant and Emma Palackic Performed by Lili Andrews, Kristina Benton, Kaitlyn Clare and Christian Hoegh Produced by Theatre on a Horse “If I have to stay in this prison for a moment longer I will snap, and it wonʼt be a clean break.” The Marquis de Sade. The Bible. D. H. Lawrence & Victor Hugo. During the height of WW2, three women waste away in a club ruled by austerity. As tensions mount, the play skates between comedy and confrontation as it comes to a shocking end. 7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
November 16, 17 & 18 Devised & directed by Suze Smith Devised & performed by Melanie Hamilton and NIkki-Fay Baxter Video Design by Michael Carmondy Produced by backyard theatre A devised physical theatre piece about intimacy Intimacy is closeness, an exquisite touch, a special moment. Intimacy is separate togetherness. Intimacy is snuggling into a body that you know well, that knows you. Intimacy is We. Us. Here. Now. Intimacy isn始t always easy. 7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
29
November 19, 20 & 21 Devised by Christy Flaws and Luke O’Connor | Performed by Christy Flaws Directed by Anni Davey | Produced by Asking for Trouble Spinning wheels, hooks and needles, spider webs, and old ladies. Ropes for skipping, for climbing, tying knotting wrapping, ropes that have been at sea, knots and tangles. A physical exploration of string by a circus artist
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
Image by Devika Bilimoria
Letters to Evie November 22, 23 & 24 By Penny Gutteridge “This is called ANZAC after the first initials of “Australian and New Zealand Army Corps, quite cute isnʼt it?” World War One as seen through the letters written to my grandmother Evie, during the period 1914 to 1918. “I hear my name appeared in a ʼseriously illʼ list, it ought to appear now in a ʼdamned annoyedʼ list” Eric Gutteridge and Evie Percy at Broadmeadows camp 1914
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
31
Round the Corner November 25, 26 & 27 Written by Ruth Baird Directed by Kate Kantor Additional script development with Bronwen Kamasz Performed by Ruth Baird and Bronwen Kamasz
Riding always riding, letter boxes with attitude, troublesome dogs and a bicycle with plans of its own - such are the challenges and mysteries of Robert the Bicycle Postie’s every day life. Then one day something unexpected happens, colleague Edwina is confounded, and Robert’s life may never be the same again...
7.30pm | La Mama Theatre
December 5 & 6 Written and performed by the kids at Yarraville West Primary School Remember that feeling of sand in your bathers? Remember when you didn’t care? Remember chasey? Or did you prefer to build amazing cubbies that you wished you could live in? Reminisce…. celebrate…. cherish… childhood.
Times to be announced La Mama Courthouse
33
for kids Quest For The Ultimate Rhythm with The Bongo Brothers
What do you get when you cross a musician, an actor and a cartoonist? The Bongo Brothers! Join Bongo, Mongo and Drongo on their hilarious journey around the world in their quest to find ‘the ultimate rhythm’. November 6 | 11am and 2pm (60 mins) | Tickets $12 Suitable for ages 4+ | La Mama Courthouse
Arlecchino and La Principessa by Make A Scene
Arlecchino has been fired by his padrone (master), Pantalone. La Principessa Fiorella has escaped from the evil clutches of her uncle, Tartaglia. With Arlecchino in tow, La Principessa is on the run and on a mission! Will they find romance… or just some really good pasta? December 10 | 11am & 2pm (60 mins) | Tickets $12 Suitable for ages 5+ | La Mama Courthouse
Tango Tangents By The Sunset Sisters with special guests Tango Mundo. Tango songs and stories from a woman’s point of view. A lively mix of original songs by Faye Bendrups, Alison Richards and Ella Filar, some classic ‘Euro Tango’, the work of Argentinian writer Luisa Valenzuela and the voice play Last Tango in Brunswick by Alison Richards and Jackie Kerin. Artists: Alison Richards, Faye Bendrups, Jackie Kerin, Guillermo Anad, Dave Evans. Image: Ponch Hawkes. December 14 & 18 @ 2pm | La Mama Courthouse
A Puppet in the Drawers (Le Polichineur de Tiroirs) Company Chemins de Terre (Belgium) Performed by Stephane Georis Professor Olaf Stevenson opens a chest of drawers to reveal ordinary objects….or are they? With a skilful mix of puppetry and clowning he brings them to life, delighting us with their games and hilarious tales. Recommended for ages 7 – 12. Duration: 55 minutes Presented by Black Hole Theatre in association with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre and ImaginArta. Supported by UNIMA, Australia. 2pm on November 13 in the Courtyard at La Mama $15 Full $10 Children 35
SEASON ONE: October 5 - October16 One act plays by Bruce Shearer, Christine Croyden, David Astle, Frank Otis, Carmen Saarelaht, James May and Therese Cloonan. Wed - Sat 8pm | Sun 6.30pm. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/12311 SEASON TWO: October 20 - October 30 The Woman in his Mind by Christine Lambrianidis. Directed by Mark Pritchard. Bookings: www.trybooking.com/WRS SEASON THREE: November 1 - November 12 Times Arrow by Mark Andrew Directed by Shannon Woollard Bookings: 0450 327 309 La Mama Courthouse www.melbwriters.org.au
PLAYREADINGS
The Line
Written by Kieran Carroll Read by Kathy Lepan-Walker, Mark E Lawrence, Dom Phelan, Lee McClenaghan, Graham Murray, Stephanie Lee, Carly Jacobs, Lex Ross and Glenda May A contemporary social portrait of a line with the second highest crime rate on the network by a playwright who has witnessed it at all hours 2pm on October 8 @ La Mama Courthouse
Patient Twelve (out the back)
Written & Directed by Kevin Summers Featuring Chris Bunworth, Jenny Seedsman, Ian Rooney, Tim Potter, Peter Stratford Early 1919. An unknown Victorian soldier lies in a bed in a vegetative state. 2pm on December 3 @ La Mama Theatre An afternoon recounting
Miss Hewett’s Shenanigans
bOOZe cITy
by Malcolm Hill When a new Mega Tavern is put on hold in Booze City due to public concern about street violence, a clueless alcoholic Premier is placed in the top job. A comic tragic political thriller about alcohol and violence 2pm on December 17 @ La Mama Theatre
(in the style of a rehearsed reading) Written by Dorothy Hewett Directed by Suzanne Chaundy Performed by Perilous Productions Miss Hewett’s Shenanigans is Dorothy Hewett’s virtually unknown and once only previously performed cabaret of her life and work. A must see for all Hewett fans. 2pm on December 10 @ La Mama Theatre
37
Tickets Full Concession Explorations
La Mama Theatre 205 Faraday Street Carlton Melway Map 2B Ref G7
$25 $15 $15
La Mama Courthouse 349 Drummond Street Carlton Melway Map 2B Ref G7
Online Bookings www.lamama.com.au
Please note that Carlton parking can be scarce (Try parking stations on Drummond Street or on Elgin Street near Lygon Street)
Phone Reservations (03) 9347 6142 Phone Reservations 12pm - 4pm (weekdays) 12pm - 2pm (weekends) Please pick up your tickets 15 minutes prior to the performance Information (03) 9347 6948 Office Hours: Monday - Friday 10.30am - 5.30pm
Both venues are just a short walk from Melbourne University tram stop at Faraday & Swanston Street La Mama is on Wurundjeri land, part of the Kulin nation, and the Commitee of Management, staff, and wider theatrical community acknowledge its traditional custodians La Mama Theatre is registered by the Heritage Council Victoria and has received National Trust status
www.lamama.com.au