2015 SEASON
OUR CHAIR
2015 is going to be an exciting year for Perth Theatre Company. It is an extensive, diverse and ambitious program backed by a committed number of really valued sponsors, and supported by an energised and engaged board of directors. PTC is known for its innovative, contemporary style. This year we celebrate these ingredients in a number of different venues with a dynamic mix of artists and work. We are fortunate to have the continued support of the State Government through the
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Department of Culture and the Arts. We are very grateful for their support and we look forward to expanding our growing base of stakeholders. The small and highly talented management team have really outdone themselves with the 2015 program and the board is very proud of their efforts. I am sure that 2015 will be a pivotal and significant year of development and discovery for this 31-year-young company. Dr Saliba Sassine CHAIRMAN
OUR PATRON
As patron of Perth Theatre Company, it is with great delight that I welcome you to the 2015 Annual Season.
Wonderful, evocative and experimental collaborations promise to deliver compelling theatre that emphasises resilience and hope.
This year Perth Theatre Company continues to bring compelling and reflective theatre to the people of Perth.
Perth Theatre Company’s 2015 Season awaits you and I encourage you to join us in engaging in a season of unique and unexpected theatre.
We celebrate PTC’s innovative work and approach to stories with such sensitivity that recurring themes of love, loss and hope are skillfully met with contemporary performances that connect audiences to diverse and thoughtprovoking cultural experiences.
THE RT HON. THE LORD MAYOR
Lisa-M. Scaffidi CITY OF PERTH
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OUR ARTISTIC DIRECTOR In 2015 we take you deep into the worlds of a diverse collection of characters and stories in a season that celebrates relationships — friendship, families and lovers. Exploring the role of the individual, community and culture in shaping the larger world we share, it is an immersive series of encounters encompassing the sonic, visual, technological and personal. The works all play with scale and environment, taking place across a number of exciting venues and offering a bold set of pathways that map an array of creative experiences. Each of the artists we are working with across 2015 brings a unique voice to their practice and to their view of humanity. They will share this vision with you in ways that promise to be unexpected, refreshing and deeply moving.
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Spanning the epic and the intimate, these pieces resonate across time and place to remind us of our commonality and difference, offering up new perspectives on our own worlds — the private, public and political. I hope you will find that the ideas, big and small, offer a touchstone for the reason we choose to engage with this most compelling of art-forms. In their playfulness and honesty, these voices invite a new way of looking at the world around you, whether it be momentary or everlasting. Melissa Cantwell ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CEO
IMAGE BY MATT SAV
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FROM THE RUBBLE A COMPELLING AND MEMORABLE LOOK BEYOND SOUND-BYTES AND HEADLINES Exploding the boundaries of theatre, From the Rubble is a unique multi-artform piece inspired by the work of one of Australia’s most cherished writers and journalists, Walkley Award winner Sophie McNeill. Melissa Cantwell uses the evocative images embedded in Sophie’s work to give you a glimpse into the lives of civilians in conflict zones. Exploring themes of displacement, transformation and hope, From the Rubble tells compelling personal stories that find joy in the resilience and ingenuity of women the world over. PICA’s Performance Space is transformed into an immersive world, created by visual artist Fleur Elise Noble and a team of Perth innovators. From the Rubble investigates our contemporary relationship to conflict in a work that promises to be unforgettable. DIRECTOR – Melissa Cantwell VISUAL DESIGN – Fleur Elise Noble INSPIRED BY STORIES FROM – Sophie McNeill CREATED WITH – Joe Lui, Mei Saraswati,
Tina Torabi, Mikala Westall DURATION Approx 1 hour
"Noble not only deconstructs her art, she shreds, incinerates and rebuilds it, milking the full potential of today’s multimedia technology like an Andy Warhol for a new era." THE ADVERTISER, ADELAIDE
16 – 28 MARCH 2015 Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts (PICA) See calendar on page 19 for details
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IMAGE BY FLEUR ELISE NOBLE
WORLD PREMIERE
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Perth Theatre Company presents Side Pony Productions’
THE CONFIDENCE MAN A LIFE AND DEATH SITUATION HAS NEVER BEEN SO FUN Created by Perth’s award-winning Side Pony Productions (The Pride, The Wives of Hemingway, The Manic Pony) and featuring vocal performances by some of Perth’s finest actors, this interactive audio experience places you at the centre of the action. When a bag full of cash is brought into Peter’s very ordinary home, his family finds themselves caught up in a sinister and disturbing chain of events. You are invited to step onto the floor and into this gripping thriller, experiencing first-hand the sordid betrayal and moral philandering that’s about to smother this suburban dream. Six audience members, equipped with masks and headsets, are guided through the story, experiencing events first hand. Those who prefer to watch can survey the action from the perimeter in the Studio Underground, eavesdropping on the characters’ most private thoughts and conversations. DIRECTOR – Zoe Pepper WRITERS – Zoe Pepper and Adriane Daff COMPOSER – Ash Gibson Greig MASK DESIGN – Rebecca Baumann AUDIO ARRANGEMENT & SOUND DESIGN – Sam Price LIGHTING DESIGN – Lucy Birkinshaw AUDIO PERFORMERS – Kym Bidstrup, Adriane Daff, Brendan Ewing,
"Actors and audience are all in this together… an intriguing experience " WEEKEND NOTES
Andrew Hale, Brent Hill, Talei Howell-Price, Kate Neylon, Will O’Mahony, Igor Sas, Sean Walsh, Mikala Westall DURATION 45 mins (plus up to 15 mins to brief participants and audience members)
30 APRIL – 10 MAY 2015 Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA See calendar on page 19 for details
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IMAGE BY MATT SAV
YOU COULD BE THE STAR! FIND OUT HOW AT
perththeatre.com.au
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THE SONG WAS WRONG By Melissa Cantwell
A PIANO PLAYER FELL IN LOVE. IMAGINE THE MUSIC… An epic love story spanning three generations, The Song Was Wrong will transform the Studio Underground. Featuring a core ensemble and creative team of West Australia’s best artists alongside some of the country’s most respected designers, this highly visual and physical work tells the story of a pianist who loves and loses the woman who will change his life forever. An exploration of love, art and the relationship between a musician and his muse, The Song Was Wrong utilises an evocative score to tell a story of redemption and hope. DIRECTOR & WRITER – Melissa Cantwell DESIGNER – Claude Marcos WITH COSTUMES BY Aurelio Costarella LIGHTING DESIGNER – Matthew Marshall MOVEMENT – Lisa Scott-Murphy FEATURING – Felix Jozeps, Jacinta Larcombe,
“An exciting, imaginative and distinctive West Australian voice.” X-PRESS MAGAZINE
Sarah Nelson, Thomas Papathanassiou, George Shevtsov
DURATION Approx 2 hours 30 mins (including inter val)
4 – 20 JUNE 2015 Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA See calendar on page 19 for details
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IMAGE BY MATT SAV
WORLD PREMIERE
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Perth Theatre Company in association with Performing Lines WA presents
YOURSEVEN By James Berlyn
SEVEN AGES, FIVE PERFORMERS AND YOU — UNDER THE NIGHT SKY Shakespeare says there are seven ages in your lifetime — this is your chance to check in and see how you’re travelling. yourseven is an invitational and immersive show all about you. We invite you to take a solo journey and reflect on where you’ve been and what may be in store. Moving through a large outdoor installation in the Courtyard at the State Theatre Centre of WA, you will participate in a series of encounters from your past, present and possible future. James Berlyn, a co-founder of Proximity Festival, is known for Tawdry Heartburn's Manic Cures and Crash Course. His latest work, yourseven, is sure to leave you with a smile on your face and dreaming about your future.
CONCEPT BY – James Berlyn FEATURING – James Berlyn, Ella Hetherington,
Sarah Nelson, Katya Shevtsov
"GENUINELY TRANSFORMING… MYSTERIOUSLY JOYOUS"
DURATION Approx 45 mins (no interval)
ABC ARTS
30 OCTOBER – 15 NOVEMBER 2015 Courtyard, State Theatre Centre of WA See calendar on page 19 for details
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IMAGE BY MATT SAV
WORLD PREMIERE
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OF MICE AND MEN By John Steinbeck
ONE OF THE GREATEST AMERICAN WRITERS OF THE 20th CENTURY John Steinbeck’s classic tale of drifters Lennie and George explores male friendships, transient workforces and class divides in this compelling and enduring tale that has an astonishing resonance in a contemporary world. Featuring live music from award winning Perth band Stoney Joe, Of Mice and Men offers a high impact showcase of talent including Jai Courtney (star of films Divergence, Felony and Terminator: Genisys) alongside some of Perth’s favourite actors on stage at the Heath Ledger Theatre. Described as ‘the conscience of his country’, recognised and loved across generations and cultures, Steinbeck, winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature, has secured a place in hearts and minds the world over with this iconic piece of literature. DIRECTOR – Melissa Cantwell WRITER – John Steinbeck SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER – Zoe Atkinson LIGHTING DESIGNER – Matthew Marshall LIVE MUSIC – Stoney Joe SOUND DESIGN – Will Slade STARRING – Jai Courtney
WINNER Nobel Prize for Literature JOHN STEINBECK
"…Steinbeck is one of the best authors the United States has ever produced." HUFFINGTON POST
DURATION 2 hours 20 mins (including inter val)
4 – 20 DECEMBER 2015
Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA See calendar on page 19 for details Copyright 1937 by John Steinbeck, Copyright renewed 1965 by John Steinbeck
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"A MASTERPIECE" THE NEW YORK TIMES
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VENUES PERTH THEATRE COMPANY 178 William St Perth WA 6000 P: 08 6212 9399 E: frontdesk@perththeatre.com.au W: perththeatre.com.au
STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA Cnr William and Roe St Northbridge WA 6000 P: 08 6212 9200 E: info@stcwa.aegogdenperth.com.au W: statetheatrecentrewa.com.au Studio Underground | Courtyard | Heath Ledger Theatre
PERTH INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS (PICA) Perth Cultural Centre 51 James Street Northbridge WA 6000 P: 08 9228 6300 E: info@pica.org.au W: pica.org.au PERTH THEATRE COMPANY
DIARY
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FROM THE RUBBLE |
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts
MON
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
16 Mar 6.30pm
17 Mar 7.30pm
18 Mar 7.30pm
19 Mar 7.30pm
20 Mar 7.30pm
21 Mar 2 & 7.30pm
24 Mar 7.30pm
25 Mar 11am & 7.30pm
26 Mar 7.30pm
27 Mar 7.30pm
28 Mar 2 & 7.30pm
THE CONFIDENCE MAN |
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA
TUE
WED
5 May 6.30 & 8pm
TUE
YOURSEVEN |
FRI
SAT
SUN
1 May 6.30 & 8pm
2 May 4, 6.30 & 8pm
3 May 2.30, 4, 6pm
7 May 6.30 & 8pm
8 May 6.30 & 8pm
9 May 4, 6.30 & 8pm
10 May 2.30, 4pm
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA WED
THU
FRI
SAT
4 Jun 7.30pm
5 Jun 7.30pm
6 Jun 2 & 7.30pm
DIARY
THE SONG WAS WRONG |
6 May 6.30 & 8pm
THU
30 Apr 6.30 & 8pm
9 Jun 7.30pm
10 Jun 11am & 7.30pm
11 Jun 7.30pm
12 Jun 7.30pm
13 Jun 2 & 7.30pm
16 Jun 7.30pm
17 Jun 11am & 7.30pm
18 Jun 7.30pm
19 Jun 7.30pm
20 Jun 2 & 7.30pm
FRI
SAT
SUN
30 Oct 6pm
31 Oct 6pm
1 Nov 6pm
The Courtyard, State Theatre Centre of WA TUE
WED
THU
3 Nov 6pm
4 Nov 6pm
5 Nov 6pm
6 Nov 6pm
7 Nov 6pm
8 Nov 6pm
10 Nov 6pm
11 Nov 6pm
12 Nov 6pm
13 Nov 6pm
14 Nov 6pm
15 Nov 6pm
OF MICE AND MEN |
Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA
TUE
WED
THU
FRI
SAT
SUN
4 Dec 7.30pm
5 Dec 7.30pm
6 Dec 5.30pm
8 Dec 7.30pm
9 Dec 7.30pm
10 De 7.30pm
11 Dec 7.30pm
12 Dec 2 & 7.30pm
13 Dec 5.30pm
15 Dec 7.30pm
16 Dec 7.30pm
17 Dec 7.30pm
18 Dec 7.30pm
19 Dec 2 & 7.30pm
20 Dec 5.30pm
PREVIEW OPENING
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SUBSCRIPTIONS SUBSCRIBE to Perth Theatre Company in 2015
WHY SUBSCRIBE?
BUY TICKETS TO THREE SHOWS AND SAVE UP TO 24%
Best seats in the house Discounted tickets Special offers and event invites Access to tickets to yourseven before public sale on 19 January
PERTH THEATRE COMPANY SUBSCRIPTION CHOOSE YOUR PACKAGE: - Of Mice & Men, The Song Was Wrong and The Confidence Man OR - Of Mice & Men, The Song Was Wrong and From the Rubble for only:
PREMIUM
STANDARD
CONCESSION* PREVIEW**
$137 $117 $92 $80
ADD ON Once you’ve got your subscription simply quote your booking confirmation number to get exclusive access to James Berlyn’s yourseven. All tickets $50.
+ SUBSCRIBER
For just a little top up (from $20), you can join Subscriber+ just click on the DONATION link when purchasing your subscription. Donate what you can to PTC and join an exclusive group of subscribers with access to special events in 2015! All donations over $2 are tax deductible.
BUY YOUR SUBSCRIPTION NOW ticketek.com.au 1300 795 012 PERSON visit a Ticketek outlet, including the State Theatre Centre of WA Box Office
ONLINE PHONE IN
SHARE THE LOVE! What’s better than gifting theatre to those you love? Gift vouchers are available for Perth Theatre Company performances. Visit ticketek.com.au or call 1300 795 012 to find out more!
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TICKETS
SINGLE TICKET PRICES: Single tickets on sale from Monday 19 January
FROM THE RUBBLE
YOURSEVEN
Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts STANDARD: $30
Courtyard, State Theatre Centre of WA ALL TICKETS: $50
CONCESSION */PREVIEW **: $25
THE CONFIDENCE MAN Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA STANDARD: $40 CONCESSION *: $35 PREVIEW **/UNDER 30s #: $30
THE SONG WAS WRONG
OF MICE AND MEN Heath Ledger Theatre, State Theatre Centre of WA PREMIUM: $80 A RESERVE: $65 CONCESSION */GROUPS: $50 PREVIEWS **: $45 UNDER 30S #: $30
Studio Underground, State Theatre Centre of WA STANDARD: $52 CONCESSION */GROUPS: $42 PREVIEW **: $35 UNDER 30S #: $30
CONDITIONS
HOW TO BOOK All subscriptions can be purchased through Ticketek. ONLINE ticketek.com.au PHONE 1300 795 012 IN PERSON visit a Ticketek agency, including the State Theatre Centre of WA Box Office.
* Must have valid concession. ** For preview performances only. Subject to availability. # Under 30s available for Tuesday — Thursday performances only. Ticketek transaction fees and credit card fees apply to all purchases. TICKET EXCHANGES: Perth Theatre Company has a
'No Exchange, No Refund' policy on tickets once they are sold. SPECIAL ASSISTANCE & ACCESSIBILITY:
For information, please call 1300 665 915 Perth Theatre Company reserves the right to withdraw or substitute any artist listed in the 2015 Season brochure as necessary.
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CREATE
PTC creates and produces a core program of sophisticated, high quality works that provide unique opportunities for West Australian artists.
CURATE
PTC is committed to supporting talent in WA through the presentation of independent artists' work on the professional stage, and seeking opportunities for Perth artists to work on national and international platforms. In 2015 along with our seasons of yourseven and The Confidence Man, the PTC commissioned work It's Dark Outside will tour in Asia.
CULTIVATE
PTC nurtures emerging artists and gives voice to established artists through the provision of opportunities including: artists in residence; project auspicing; playreading series; mentoring artists and arts workers at all levels of the organisation and commissioning West Australian artists.
VISIT PERTHTHEATRE.COM.AU TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE WORK THAT THE COMPANY DOES BEHIND THE SCENES TO SUPPORT THE BEST OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA’S THEATRE MAKERS.
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CONTEMPORARY DEVELOPMENT FUND
Perth Theatre Company is committed to supporting West Australian artists through the development of new work from seed to stage. Through three distinctive stages, Perth Theatre Company brings a unique contemporary voice to the stage through the commissioning, development and presentation of new West Australian theatre. Contribute to the Contemporary Development Fund, and take an active part in bringing new works to the stage. In 2015, the Contemporary Development Fund will support the presentation of Melissa Cantwell’s new work, The Song Was Wrong. To contribute to the Contemporary Development Fund: ONLINE perththeatre.com.au EMAIL georgia@perththeatre.com.au With your support, this work can reach its full potential and be a significant part of the West Australian cultural landscape.
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING SUPPORTERS:
Dr Robert Larbalestier Walter Millsteed Delys & Alan Newman Phil Thick & Paula Rogers Jo & Mick Malone Gerie & Ole Hansen Lisa Stewart Anonymous (1)
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OUR PARTNERS 24
GOVERNMENT PARTNERS
MAJOR PARTNER
COMPANY PARTNERS
D I G I TA L P R I N T
MEDIA PARTNERS
SUPPORTING PARTNERS
BRIGHT YELLOW PRODUCTIONS brightyellowproductions.com.au
FROM THE RUBBLE
THE CONFIDENCE MAN Government of Western Australia Department of Culture and the Arts
The Confidence Man has been supported by the City of Melbourne, The Blue Room Theatre, the Government of Western Australia through the Department of Culture, and the Arts and the Western Australian Theatre Development Initiative, which is funded by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.
YOURSEVEN Government of Western Australia Department of Culture and the Arts WA
James Berlyn is supported by Managing and Producing Services for theatre and dance artists in WA (Maps for Artists), which is a joint initiative of the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government’s art funding and advisory body, and the State of Western Australia through the Department of Culture and the Arts.
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OUR TEAM PATRON THE RT HON. THE LORD MAYOR
Lisa-M. Scaffidi BOARD Dr Saliba Sassine DEPUTY CHAIR — Brad Martin Michael Atkins Alec Blacklaw Melissa Callanan John Carlson Allan Drake-Brockman Miles Hull Gareth Lane Justice Rene Le Miere Danielle Newport CHAIR —
STAFF Melissa Cantwell Georgia Malone PRODUCTION AND TOURING MANAGER — Kirby Brierty COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER — Jasmyn Woodford FINANCE OFFICER — Karen Connolly ADMINISTRATION ASSISTANT — Zoe Hollyoak ARTIST IN RESIDENCE — Ian Sinclair ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CEO — EXECUTIVE PRODUCER —
COVER
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PERTH THEATRE COMPANY 2015 SEASON BROCHURE DESIGN / ART DIRECTION – Matt Sav BROCHURE PRINTING – Picton Press WEBSITE – Clever Starfish IMAGE – Thinh Dong featuring George Shevtsov and Jacinta Larcombe
PERTHTHEATRE.COM.AU