HARD RUBBISH
12 SEPTEMBER – 6 OCTOBER
Photography: Sarah Walker
Malthouse Theatre, Strut & Fret and Men of Steel present
Hard Rubbish Original Concept by Men of Steel Created by Hamish Fletcher, Jared Lewis, Phillip McInnes, Ian Pidd, Tamara Rewse, Sam Routledge and Malia Walsh Director Ian Pidd Cast Hamish Fletcher, Phillip McInnes, Tamara Rewse and Malia Walsh Lighting and Sound Design Jared Lewis Stage Manager Tia Clark Technical Stage Manager Travis Cook BECKETT THEATRE 12 SEPTEMBER – 6 OCTOBER The 2013 Company in Residence, Men of Steel, is proudly supported by The Danielle and Daniel Besen Foundation.
SHOW NOTE As object puppeteers, we are committed to animating everyday objects as they are. We choose not put eyes or other facial features on our objects, preferring to leave space for the audience to project characters onto them. The performance style of Men of Steel is irreverent and commits the puppeteer entirely to the act of play, the same way a child plays with a car or a doll or, indeed, a piece of wood. In the intense moments of play these crude objects are very much alive, in part because the children themselves are making them so. In a Men of Steel performance we attempt to capture the energy of this child-like play and harness it to our own technique as puppeteers and theatre makers. Hard Rubbish refers, of course, to the broken, old and unwanted furniture and household items piled by the road for council collection. These once-loved objects are often replaced with new and shiny, factory-built modular items, mass-produced from poor quality materials. Objects that themselves will become redundant in an alarmingly short time. It seemed like a metaphor for the way we are increasingly asked to live. We also wondered what would happen if a pile of hard rubbish, a bit busted, having let itself go, yet loaded with stories, decided to get as mad as hell and not take it anymore‌. Hard Rubbish has been made with the desire to create a work that is playful and exploratory and which has a set of characters and a narrative that audiences of children and adults are able to fully identify with. Hopefully you will feel that we have managed to do that. But like most kids, we play hard. So adults, strap in and hold your children close. We hope you enjoy the ride. Sam Routledge
Photography: Sarah Walker
TIA CLARK STAGE MANAGER Tia is a graduate of WAAPA. Her credits for Malthouse Theatre include The Bloody Chamber, Dance of Death, Hate, Opera XS, A Golem Story and Baal (with Sydney Theatre Company). Other credits include A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Gordon Frost Organisation); Every Breath (Belvoir); The Rake’s Progress (Victorian Opera); Scooby Doo Live 2011 Tour (Entertainment Store Group); The King and I, The Boy From Oz and Sugar (Some Like It Hot); Singing in the Rain, Anything Goes, Kismet, and Grey Gardens (The Production Company); The Marriage of Figaro and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Arts Centre Melbourne); At the Beach and Behind the Veneer (Buzz Dance Theatre); The Hidden Forest (Spontaneous Insanity); A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Shakespeare WA); and The Nutcracker (WA Ballet).
HAMISH FLETCHER PERFORMER & CO-CREATOR Since 1998 Hamish has worked with such companies and institutions as Kneehigh Puppeteers, Slack Taxi, Melbourne Aquarium, Arena Theatre, Company Miji, Adelaide Fringe, Strut & Fret, Victorian Opera and Windmill Theatre. He has worked with and studied under Peter Wilson, Philippe Genty, Mary Underwood and Duda Paiva. Recently, he has been at ABC Children’s Television playing Hoot the Owl on preschool children’s hosted block Giggle and Hoot, winning Best Hosting Team (with James Reece) at the Kidscreen 2012 Awards. He has also been working his way around the USA and Canada with Windmill Theatre’s production of Grug.
JARED LEWIS SOUND & LIGHTING DESIGNER & CO-CREATOR Jared graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts School of Production in 2005. He designs sound, lighting and AV, and is interested in the scope that new technology offers these disciplines. As part of his research into the potential for synchronicity and complexity within these mediums Jared is also involved in the ongoing process of developing software to control and manipulate these formats. Jared has been involved in various touring seasons including the position of technical director for Men of Steel since 2006. This position has seen him tour to Edinburgh, London, Dublin, Hong Kong, Beijing, Seoul, Kanazawa, Singapore and Auckland as well as numerous Australian locations and festivals. Recent sound design credits include The Kitchen (University of Ballarat); The Pains of Youth (The Artisan Collective); Provocateur and The City (Red Stitch); A Little Room (sound and AV, Living Room Theatre); Jane Montgomery Griffiths’ Hypatia 2; Skintight (The Groundswell Division); She's Not Performing (La Mama); and composition for the short film Immaculate Virtue. Recent lighting design credits include The Play’s the Thing and The Visit (NIDA); Kid's Stuff and Electra & Orestes (Young Actors Studio); Hypatia 2; Lagoon (Kita Dance); and Man 40 Seeks Woman With Good Legs/Billie (Living Room Theatre).
PHILLIP MCINNES PERFORMER & CO-CREATOR Growing up in Mukinbudin WA, Phillip’s father told him from a very early age, “there’s no money in farming”, so he decided to become an actor. Deckchair Theatre Company gave him his first role as Lenny in King For This Place in 1999, and later that same year he was accepted into WAAPA and graduated in 2002. Since then he’s developed and performed in productions such as OT - Chronicles of the Old Testament (Malthouse Theatre); Home (Perth International Arts Festival); and Duets for Lovers & Dreamers (fortyfivedownstairs). Recent theatre credits include Starchaser, The House of Dreaming (Arena Theatre Company); Mr. Freezy (Men of Steel/Arena Theatre Company; Men of Steel (Strut & Fret); Grug (Windmill Theatre Company); Three Dog Night (Two Blue Cherries); and various productions with Complete Works Theatre including A Man for All Seasons. Film and television credits include Blue Heelers, Stingers, Neighbours, Wakkaville, The Dying Breed, The Outing and The Long Weekend. Phillip has been a proud member of MEAA since 1999.
IAN PIDD DIRECTOR & CO-CREATOR Ian Pidd is a freelance director of theatre and events. He is currently the Artistic Director of Junction Festival in Launceston. He was Co-Artistic Director of SAC 35, celebrating the anniversary of the Salamanca Arts Centre in Hobart. He was for four years Artistic Director of the acclaimed Back to Back Theatre with whom his productions included Boom Town, the Green Room Award-nominated Minds Eye and a number of award-winning short films. Ian was Creative Director of the Moomba Festival in 1999. From then as Performance Director of Snuff Puppets Ian created large-scale performances in Japan, Singapore, Brazil, Europe and in many parts of Australia. His collaborative Snuff Puppet productions Forest and The Cow
Show toured throughout Europe and Asia. In January 2005 Ian directed the Snuff Puppet opening performance for the World Social Forum in Brazil. Nyet Net’s Picnic, a large performance with a group of senior Indigenous artists, opened the ASSITEJ festival in Adelaide. Ian is Programming Artistic Director of The Village, an annual festival of short works in Melbourne with seasons in regional Victoria and Tasmania. Ian was Chair of the Melbourne Fringe Festival from 1997 to 2002. In 1998 Ian was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to undertake work with theatre companies and festivals in New York and Europe. Ian has directed a number of large-scale CCD projects including Material World, The Bonegilla Experience, and co-directed with Jessica Wilson, The Western Ring Cycle. Ian was until recently a member of the Performing Arts Committee of Asialink, and has undertaken a number of creative projects in the region. He has directed a series of projects based in Yogyakarta, including events for the Yogya festival and a major project with Indonesian Architect Eko Prawoto. He recently completed a post-graduate research project at the Centre For Creative Arts at Melbourne University based on this work in Yogyakarta.
TAMARA REWSE PERFORMER & CO-CREATOR Tamara Rewse has worked as a director, devisor, performer and maker in puppet and visual theatre since 1997. Tamara graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Drama and Dance) from Deakin in 2000, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Puppetry from VCA in 2004. Tamara has worked in a number of capacities on shows including Mr. Freezy, House of Dreaming and Cautionary Tales for Children (Arena Theatre Company); City of Riddles, We Built this City and Tangled Web (Polyglot Theatre); Grug, Peligro Is., School Dance and Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre); and Coop (Black Hole Theatre). In 2009 Tamara undertook a residency at GlogauAIR in Berlin, developing a new work called Tuckerbag which was exhibited at the Kunstraum Bethanian. Bannered under Skite Vikingr, her own work includes Human Layer (2005 Melbourne Fringe Festival Most Visionary
Award); Tamagotchi Tam; and a solo work which won the 2008 Short and Sweet FULL TILT Development Award, and Runner-up Best Female Performer. A development of this work appeared in 2011 at La Mama before Tamara went on a hiatus to have a baby. Tamara has made props and puppets for film and television on The Chronicles of Narnia – Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Mad Max 4, Eye of the Storm, Elephant Princess and Underground: The Julian Assange Story.
SAM ROUTLEDGE CO-CREATOR Sam Routledge is currently the Artistic Director of Terrapin Puppet Theatre in Hobart. He has a BA in Communication (Theatre and Media) from Charles Sturt University, and a Postgraduate Diploma in Puppetry from the Victorian College of the Arts. Companies he has performed for include Arena Theatre Company, Kim Carpenter’s Theatre of Image, LATT Children’s Theatre in Seoul and Gruppe 38 in Denmark. Sam is a member of My Darling Patricia and initiated the Malthouse Theatre-commissioned production Africa, which was nominated for a Helpmann Award and toured nationally in 2011 through the Mobile States program. He is a founding member of Men of Steel and co-created the original self-titled production which toured to the UK, Hong Kong, China, Korea, Japan, New Zealand and Singapore. He was also a participant in the Art of Play workshop run by Chiara Guidi from Socìetas Raffaello Sanzio at Campbelltown Arts Centre in 2012. For Terrapin, he is currently developing I Think I Can, a collaboration with the Australian Model Railway Association, to premiere at The Art and About Festival in Sydney's Central Station in September.
MALIA WALSH PERFORMER & CO-CREATOR Melbourne-based artist Malia Walsh has been directing, producing and performing nationally and internationally for ten years. Trained in classical ballet under Marin Rubinstein, she then turned to circus and physical theatre, performing across Asia with Pyroptix from 2005 to 2007. In 2008, she founded and co-directed Circus Trick Tease which won multiple awards and went on to three international tours. Her company of the same name also performed at the Spiegeltent (UK and Australia), Adelaide Cabaret Festival, went on a six-week Regional Arts Victoria tour, and had two sell-out seasons at the Adelaide Fringe as well as garnering rave reviews at Edinburgh Fringe. Malia has since performed with Ăœber Lingua for the opening of the Sydney and Darwin International Festivals, multiple Strut & Fret productions, cabarets across New York, and touring shows with Circus Quirkus. She first worked with Men of Steel on their South Korea tour in 2010 and she is extremely pleased be involved in this project.
MEN OF STEEL Men of Steel was established in 2005 by performers Hamish Fletcher, Tamara Rewse and Sam Routledge, and sound designer and technical director Jared Lewis. It is the only ‘object theatre’ company in Australia and its self-titled premiere work is one of the most exported works of contemporary puppet theatre in recent times, having toured to Dublin, China, London, Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand and Singapore. Men of Steel, the show, was originally created for the 2006 Melbourne International Comedy Festival, where it was awarded the Festival Director’s Award, was Highly Commended in The Age Critics’ Awards, and received a fivestar review. The company has enjoyed a total of 22 successful seasons and tours across Australia and internationally, including the acclaimed Mr. Freezy, produced in 2008 in collaboration with Arena Theatre Company.
STRUT & FRET Strut & Fret is a vibrant company that creates and delivers theatrical performances, events, venues and festival precincts throughout Australia and internationally. The company has worked with Men of Steel since their debut in 2005 and has toured their original work extensively at home and internationally.
Photography: Sarah Walker
MUSE DONOR PROGRAM Thank you, Malthouse Muses, for supporting our artistic vision and helping us to create a unique and dynamic environment for artists and audiences. URANIA—Muse of The Stars—$25,000+ Annamila Pty Ltd, The Dara Foundation, The Danielle and Daniel Besen Foundation, Maureen & Tony Wheeler CLIO—Muse of History—$10,000+ Betty Amsden OAM, John & Lorraine Bates, Michele Levine, Craig Reeves, The Pratt Foundation, Anonymous (1) THALIA—Muse of Comedy—$5,000+ Frankie Airey & Stephen Solly, Eva Besen AO & Marc Besen AO, Debbie Dadon, Roger Donazzan & Margaret Jackson AC, Neilma Gantner, Colin Golvan SC, Richard Leonard & Gerlinde Scholz, Mary Ruth & Peter McLennan, Judith Maitland-Parr, Elisabeth & John Schiller, Carol & Alan Schwartz AM, Anonymous (2) MELPOMENE—Muse of Tragedy—$2,500+ Chryssa Anagnostou & Jim Tsaltas, Rosemary Forbes & Ian Hocking, Val Johnstone, Janine Tai, Jon Webster, Tom Wright EUTERPE—Muse of Music—$1,000+ Ingrid Ashford, John & Sally Bourne, Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM, Sally Browne, Diana Burleigh, Ingrid & Per Carlsen, Marilyn and Andrew Cookes, Sieglind D’Arcy, Georgina Damm, Dominic & Natalie Dirupo, Rev Fr Michael Elligate, William J. Forrest AM, John & Helen Gibbins, D.L & G.S Gjergja, Marco Gjergja, Michael Kingston, Sue Kirkham, Pamela McLure, Naomi Milgrom AO, Jenny Schwarz, Neil & Barbara Smart, Gina & Paul Stuart, Leonard Vary & Matt Collins, Jason Waple, Jenny Werbeloff, Anonymous (3) TERPSICHORE—Muse of Dance—$500+ Min Li Chong, Mark & Jo Davey, Taleen Gaidzkar, Charles Gillies & Penelope Allen, Carolyn Floyd, Brian Goddard, Scott Herron, Leonie Hollingworth, Brad Hooper, Susan Humphries, Irine Irvine, Irene Kearsey, Ann Kemeny & Graham Johnson, K & J Lindsay, Sir Gustav AC CBE & Lady Nossal, Tony Oliver, Robert Peters, Right Lane Consulting, Tim & Lynne Sherwood, Maria Sola & Malcolm Douglas, Fiona Sweet & Paul Newcombe, Katherine Sampson, John Thomas, Richard P. Watson, Phil & Heather Wilson, Henry Winters, Angelika & Pete Zangmeister, Anonymous (2) ERATO—Muse of Love—$250+ Simon Abrahams, Stephen & Diane Alley, Graham & Anita Anderson, Sandra Beanham, John & Alexandra Busselmaier, John Carruthers, Ros Casey, Tim & Rachel Cecil, Diane Clark, Chris Clough, Patricia Coutts, Mary Crean AM, Tania de Jong AM, Orla & Rachel, Paula Hansky OAM & Jack Hansky AM, Peggy Hayton, Roberta Holmes, Vas Katos, Patricia Keith, Ruth Krawat, Liquorice Studio, William Lye, Brad Martin, Gael & Ian McRae, John Millard, Dr Kersti Nogeste, Linda Notley, Wendy Poulton, John & Margot Rogers, Rae Rothfield, Ernie Schwartz, Morry & Anna Schwartz, Jill Sewell, Lisl Singer, Thea & Hayden Snow, Janice Taylor, Rosemary Walls, Jan Watson, Joanne Whyte, Dr Roger Woock & Fiona Clyne, Barbara Yuncken, Anonymous (7) CATALYST SYNDICATE Warwick & Lida Bray, John Carruthers & Rosie Purcell, Charles Gillies & Penelope Allen, Nick Glenning & Jenny Proimos, Sarah Morgan, Corrie Perkin & Peter Loder, Maria Prendergast OAM, Bob Sessions & Christina Fitzgerald, Simon Westcott & Dr Ben Keith You too can make a difference on our stages and behind the scenes. Please call 9685 5162 or visit our website and inspire us with your donation.
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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Simon Westcott (Chair), John Daley (Deputy Chair), Frankie Airey, Michele Levine, Ian McRae, Sarah Morgan, Thea Snow, Sigrid Thornton, Kerri Turner, Leonard Vary Artistic Director Marion Potts Executive Producer Jo Porter Associate Artist (Design) Paul Jackson Associate Artist (Direction) Matthew Lutton Associate Artist (Writing) Van Badham Artist in Residence Lara Thoms Company Manager Lucy Birkinshaw Associate Producer Josh Wright Administrator Narda Shanley Finance Manager Mario Agostinoni Finance Administrator Liz White Finance Assistant Connie Stella Marketing & Communications Manager Lisa Scicluna Media Manager Maria O’Dwyer Digital Strategy & Marketing Coordinator Chloe Gordon Communications Coordinator Emily Fiori Graphic Designer Rick Milovanovic Development Manager Jaclyn Birtchnell Philanthropy Manager Nicole Punte Development Assistant Hiroki Kobayashi Ticketing Manager Emma Howard Ticketing Assistant Lauren White Youth & Education Program Clare Watson Executive Assistant Sarah Wong Audience Development Consultant Jason Tamiru Building Manager Peter Mandersloot Bar Manager Cherry Rivers Front of House Managers Tristan Watson & Sean Ladhams
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Production Manager David Miller Technical Manager Baird McKenna Operations Manager Dexter Varley Head Electrician Stewart Birkinshaw Campbell Head Mechanist Andy Moore Theatre Technician Nathaneal Bristow Head of Wardrobe Amanda Carr Wardrobe Assistant Chloe Greaves Workshop Supervisor David Craig Steel Fabricator Goffredo Mameli Workshop Staff Mitch O'Sullivan Scenic Artist Patrick Jones Props Master Ross Murray (lifetime recognition) Front of House/Bar Staff Leeor Adar, Matt Adair, Jacqui Brown, Ben Carollo, Mimi Catterns, Kathryn Delaney, Tom Dent, Alice Dixon, Graham Downey, Tanja George, Christian Grant, Kate Gregory, Kathryn Joy, Bridie McCarthy, Ian Michael, Daniel Newell, Ruby Nolan, Syrie Payne, Kliment Poposki, Claire Richardson, Sanne Rodenstein, Phoebe Taylor, Jade Thomson, Lee Threadgold Box Office Staff Abbey Barnes, Paul Buckley, Mark Byrne, Kathryn Delaney, Kate Gregory, Suzie Hardgrave, Michelle Hines, Ian Michael, Fiona Wiseman, Liz White Malthouse Theatre would like to acknowledge the people of the Kulin nation on whose land this work is being presented. Malthouse Theatre would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of its volunteers.
OUR PARTNERS GOVERNMENT PARTNERS Malthouse Theatre is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body
EDUCATION PARTNER
MEDIA PARTNER
PRODUCTION PARTNER
CORPORATE PARTNERS
CORPORATE ASSOCIATES
COMPANY SUPPORTERS
TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS Australian Communities Foundation Slome-Topol Family Charitable Trust
The Robert Salzer Foundation Vera Moore Foundation
PROGRAM PARTNERS THE Suitcase Series
REGIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
ARTIST PROGRAM
Female Director in Residence PROGRAM
REGIONAL PERFORMANCE PROJECTS
NEW AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION & PRODUCTION
The Danielle and Daniel Besen Foundation DIRECTORS EXCHANGE PROJECT COMPANY IN RESIDENCE (Men of Steel) Maureen and Tony Wheeler International Program Jeanne Pratt AC, Rae Rothfield, Sue Nattrass AO, Judith Maitland-Parr THE KENN BRODZIAK ASSOCIATE PRODUCER
Tom Kantor Fund INDIGENOUS THEATRE PROGRAM (The Shadow King)
Victoria University is proud to be Malthouse Theatre’s official Education Partner. We share a vision and commitment to excellence, opportunity, community and individual empowerment. Together we help future teachers make the arts accessible and engaging for students, provide theatre work placements for our students, and offer individuals from diverse backgrounds opportunities to experience live theatre. our collaboration in research and contemporary creative arts practice means that Victoria University graduates are empowered to reach their goals by acquiring exceptional skills, knowledge and experiences. Find out how you can be part of this creative partnership through further study or engagement with us. Visit our website or call 1300 VIC UNI.
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A SHARED CREATIVE VISION
Photography: Sarah Walker