SEASON
2014
WELCOME The 2014 season embraces all the aspects of love in a modern world, questions the ways we communicate, and celebrates the power of the word — written, spoken and shared. Peter Goldsworthy’s remarkable novel Wish is brought to vivid, compelling life in this new adaptation by Humphrey Bower. On the eve of Wish being republished as an Australian classic, An Evening with Peter Goldsworthy is your opportunity to hear from the author of this seminal work about the process of adaptation, his views on writing and the world at large. Declan Greene is a playwright in complete control of his craft, and the world premiere co-production of Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography is one show you’re going to want to download live. At turns funny, moving, and ferocious, it is one of the most exciting new scripts to emerge in recent memory. From speaking the unspoken in Wish, and Declan Greene’s witty world of acronyms and online dating, we will celebrate the lost art of letter writing in Women of Letters. Some of Perth’s best-loved ladies, women who have paved the way and inspired us with their work and ideas, will pen a letter and share it with you in two intimate and moving nights at PICA. Nassim Soleimanpour’s White Rabbit, Red Rabbit is a theatrical experiment unlike any other, performed by a different actor each night who has never seen or read the play. Where this remarkable writer and the performers will lead you, I can’t say, Ours is a company dedicated to bringing you unforgettable theatrical experiences. I urge you to put on your adventure-pants, grab a season pass and indulge in all our events across what promises to be a stunning series of works.
Melissa Cantwell ARTISTIC DIRECTOR / CEO PERTH THEATRE COMPANY
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A WORD FROM OUR PATRON I am honoured to accept the role as patron of Perth Theatre Company. Perth Theatre Company has a reputation for challenging traditional norms of theatre and not being afraid to break new ground across the spectrum of contemporary theatre making. Western Australia is fortunate to be home to many outstanding artists and creative minds that contribute to our city’s cultural identity. I urge Perth audiences to support our leading contemporary theatre company, and experience for themselves what makes each live performance a unique personal experience. Congratulations to Melissa Cantwell and the team at Perth Theatre Company for another exciting year to come.
THE RT HON. THE LORD MAYOR Lisa-M. Scaffidi CITY OF PERTH
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WISH
BASED ON THE NOVEL BY PETER GOLDSWORTHY / ADAPTED & DIRECTED BY HUMPHREY BOWER “Bower is a born storyteller” THE WEST AUSTRALIAN
An extraordinary love story and an ethical conundrum, Wish is based on the astonishing novel by leading Australian writer Peter Goldsworthy, and adapted by Helpmann Award winner Humphrey Bower. JJ, the hearing son of deaf parents, agrees to teach Sign to the mysterious ‘Eliza’. She demonstrated a gift for Sign and bonds passionately with her new teacher. Humphrey Bower plays JJ, joined by dancer-choreographer Danielle Micich as Eliza, with live music by Leon Ewing in this intimate Australian work that will take you to the outer limits of language, nature, ethics and love. A co-production with Night Train Productions. Originally supported by The Blue Room Theatre. REVIEWS:
TEAM
“...powerful theatre...” ABC 720 Perth
Writer: Peter Goldsworthy, adapted and directed by Humphrey Bower
“...essential viewing.” ArtsHub
Cast: Danielle Micich & Humphrey Bower
AWARDS: Nominated: Best Director (Humphrey Bower) Equity Guild Awards
Lighting Design: Andrew Lake Music: Leon Ewing
Winner: Members’ Choice Award, Blue Room Theatre Awards Winner: Blue Stone Award, Best Performance (Humphrey Bower & Danielle Micich) Winner: WA Dance Award, Outstanding Female Performance (Danielle Micich)
14 — 24 MAY 2014 See calendar on back page for details
STUDIO UNDERGROUND, STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA 1 hour, 45 minutes (plus interval)
SPECIAL EVENT AN EVENING WITH PETER GOLDSWORTHY DATE: THURSDAY, 15 MAY 2014 See page 10 for details
TICKETEK.COM.AU OR PHONE 1300 795 012
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EIGHT GIGABYTES OF HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY BY DECLAN GREENE
Last week a man slept in my house. I am sure he has a wife. The skin around his ring finger is indented. And there was a number in his phone under ‘Wife’. They met online. She’s a nurse in her forties, brats for kids, trapped in a loop of catastrophic debt. He’s in IT, miserably married and trapped in his own loop of nightly porn-trawling. Both of them crave something else — but not necessarily each other. Take the plunge into the Too-Much-Information Age. Funny Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography is a deceptively compassionate cringe-comedy of mid-life loneliness, hidden zip folders and barely concealed desperation.
Theatre Company’s Lee Lewis. WARNING: contains adult themes, sexual references and nudity. REVIEWS:
TEAM
“Very funny, quite appalling, minutely observed and an extremely modern telling of a very old story: that we are human, all too human.” Chris Mead, former Artistic Director of Playwriting Australia and judge of the Max Afford Playwrights’ Award 2012
Director: Lee Lewis Cast: Andrea Gibbs & Steve Rodgers Lighting Designer: Matthew Marshall
02 — 12 JULY 2014 See calendar on back page for details
STUDIO UNDERGROUND, STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA Approx 90 mins (no interval)
TICKETEK.COM.AU OR PHONE 1300 795 012
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WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT BY NASSIM SOLEIMANPOUR
Imagine being 29 and unable to leave your country. By refusing to do national service, the passport of Iranian writer and playwright Nassim Soleimanpour was cancelled. With White Rabbit, Red Rabbit he has created a play that can navigate the globe in a way that he himself cannot. This audacious theatrical experiment will come as a shock — not least to the performer handed the script the moment they walk on stage. A different performer will take the stage each night, joining the audience on a journey into the unknown; stumbling upon the humorous, terrifying and utterly personal. This internationally acclaimed new work forges connections across time and continents. We just can’t promise everyone will make it out alive. By arrangement with Malthouse Theatre. Originally produced by Volcano Theatre in Association with Aurora Nova Productions and Necessary Angel. Dramaturgy by Ross Manson and Daniel Brooks. REVIEWS:
THE TEAM
“...hilarious, thoughtful and… magic” Crikey
Writer: Nassim Soleimanpour
“... there’s a magnetic mind behind the prose. Rabbit is a lightly comic, deceptively discursive, metatheatrical monologue” San Francisco Chronicle
01 — 13 SEPTEMBER 2014 See calendar on back page for details
STUDIO UNDERGROUND, STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA Approx 60 mins
TICKETEK.COM.AU OR PHONE 1300 795 012
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AN EVENING WITH PETER GOLDSWORTHY
Join us for a conversation with much loved and awarded Australian novelist Peter Goldsworthy. His novels have sold over 400,000 copies in Australia alone, and have been translated into many languages. Five of his novels — Honk If You Are Jesus, Three Dog Night, The Kiss, Wish and Maestro Maestro was voted by members of the Australian Society of Authors one of the Top 40 Australian books of all time. This is a rare chance to be in the company of a major Australian talent as we showcase one of his best-loved works for a whole new audience. Not to be missed by fans of Wish, wordsmiths and the written word.
15 MAY 2014
See calendar on back page for details
STUDIO UNDERGROUND, STATE THEATRE CENTRE OF WA 60 minutes
TICKETEK.COM.AU OR PHONE 1300 795 012
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WOMEN OF LETTERS CO-CURATED BY MARIEKE HARDY & MICHAELA MCGUIRE
In a world of the short and swift, of texts and Twitter, there’s something of special value about a carefully composed letter. In homage to this most civilised of activities, Marieke Hardy and Michaela McGuire host the literary evening, Women of Letters. A celebration of a diverse range of strong female talent, bringing together Perth’s best and brightest writers, entertainers and leaders.
30 — 31 JULY 2014 See calendar on back page for details
PERTH INSTITUTE OF CONTEMPORARY ARTS (PICA) 90 minutes (plus interval)
TICKETEK.COM.AU OR PHONE 1300 795 012
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ON TOUR: IT’S DARK OUTSIDE BY ARIELLE GRAY, CHRIS ISAACS & TIM WATTS
“Beautiful, moving and captivating” THE EDINBURGH REPORTER
Critically acclaimed and utterly beguiling, It’s Dark Outside continues to tour in 2014 around Australia and the world. An old man wanders into the wild. As the sun sets, he is swept up in a surreal western, on the run from a mysterious tracker hellbent on hunting him down. It’s Dark Outside is “a rare triumph of theatrical ingenuity and human compassion” The West Australian. WINNER *** ArtsHub Critic’s Choice Award *** Helpmann Award Nominee 2013 A PERTH THEATRE COMPANY COMMISSION
Music composed by Rachael Dease / Image by Richard Jefferson.
10 MARCH —13 APRIL 2014 01 MAY —25 JULY 2014 UNITED KINGDOM TOUR
AUSTRALIAN NATIONAL TOUR
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BOX OFFICE PRE-SALE SEASON PASS GET IN EARLY FOR THE BEST SEATS IN THE HOUSE. FOR A LIMITED TIME, RECEIVE A 25% DISCOUNT WHEN PURCHASING A 3-SHOW PACKAGE FOR 2014. 3-SHOW PACKAGE — ONLY $126 (SAVE $42!) When you buy tickets to WISH, 8GB of Hardcore Pornography and White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, not only will you get tickets favourite seat in the Studio Underground. Packages are available until 24 May.
SEASON Single Ticket Prices for WISH, 8GB of Hardcore Pornography and White Rabbit, Red Rabbit Standard Preview
$56 $42
Concession* Student
Rush*
$42 $30
SPECIAL EVENTS An Evening with Peter Goldsworthy Standard
$20
Book at same time as you purchase your Wish ticket $15 ONLY! Women of Letters Standard
$35
HOW TO BOOK ONLINE: ticketek.com.au
PHONE: Ticketek on 1300 795 012
IN PERSON: Visit a Ticketek agency. Or purchase via the box (Mon – Fri, 10am-5:30pm, or 1.5 hrs prior to each show) *Ticketek transaction fees may apply
CONDITIONS: *Ticketek transaction fees may apply. *Concessions: Concession prices are available for all shows. If you are a booking your ticket. Must have valid concession. *Student Rush: Only available to purchase one-hour prior to the show start note that all prices are inclusive of GST where applicable. Ticket Exchanges: PTC has a No Exchange, No Refund policy on tickets once they are sold. Special Assistance & Accessibility: For information, please call (08) 9484 1133. Code of Practice: Perth Theatre Company and Ticketek observe the Code of Practice for the Ticketing of Live Entertainment in Australia, as compiled by Live Performance Australia (LPA).
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SUPPORT BE PART OF IT — together we can continue to create inspiring theatre that excites both audiences and artists. Your donation will: > take WA artists to the world > bring the best of Australian and international contemporary theatre to Perth audiences > give WA theatre makers a voice
DONATE AT WWW.PERTHTHEATRE.COM.AU
ARTIST LABS Established in 2003 by former Artistic Director, Alan Becher, The Lab offered a creative and supportive environment in which playwrights were able to try out new works, access scripts and engage in lively debate about the practice of playwriting.
The Lab has since expanded to bring together theatre practitioners from a variety of backgrounds to deconstruct, to deliberate, to muse over the possibilities of form, function, frustration and all things theatre.
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NAVIGATION P/ (08) 6212 9399 E/ frontdesk@perththeatre.com.au W/ perththeatre.com.au
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BOARD Dr Saliba Sassine Chair Brad Martin Deputy Chair Michael Atkins Alec Blacklaw Melissa Callanan John Carlson Miles Hull Gareth Lane Rene Le Miere Danielle Newport
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Georgia Malone Producer & Business Manager Kirby Brierty Production & Touring Manager Jasmyn Woodford Communications Manager Karen Connolly
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* State Theatre Centre of WA Cnr of William and Roe Streets, Perth, WA 6000 P/ (08) 6212 9200
STCWA*
AT A GLANCE WISH / 14—24 MAY 2014 / Studio Underground, STCWA MON 12 TUE 13 WED 14 THU 15 FRI 16 SAT 17 SUN 18 — 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 2.00pm — Preview Opening 7.30pm MON 19 TUE 20 WED 21 THU 22 FRI 23 SAT 24 SUN 25 — 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 2.00pm — Q&A 7.30pm
AN EVENING WITH PETER GOLDSWORTHY 15 MAY 2014 / Studio Underground, STCWA MON 12 TUE 13 WED 14 THU 15 FRI 16 — — — 6.00pm —
SAT 17 —
SUN 18 —
EIGHT GIGABYTES OF HARDCORE PORNOGRAPHY 02—12 JULY 2014 / Studio Underground, STCWA MON 12 TUE 01 WED 02 THU 03 FRI 04 SAT 05 SUN 06 — 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 2.00pm — Preview Opening 7.30pm MON 07 TUE 08 WED 09 THU 10 FRI 11 SAT 12 SUN 13 — 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm 2.00pm — Q&A 7.30pm
WOMEN OF LETTERS / 30—31 JULY 2014 / MON 28 TUE 29 WED 30 THU 31 FRI 01 — — 7.30pm 7.30pm —
PICA
SAT 02 —
SUN 03 —
WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT 02—13 SEPTEMBER 2014 / Studio Underground, STCWA MON 01 TUE 02 WED 03 THU 04 FRI 05 SAT 06 SUN 07 — 7.30pm 11.30am 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm — Preview 7.30pm MON 08 TUE 09 WED 10 THU 11 FRI 12 SAT 13 SUN 14 — 7.30pm 11.30am 7.30pm 7.30pm 7.30pm — 7.30pm
HOW TO BOOK ONLINE: ticketek.com.au / PHONE: Ticketek on 1300 795 012 / IN PERSON: Visit a Ticketek (Mon – Fri, 10am-5:30pm, or 1.5 hrs prior to each show) *Ticketek transaction fees may apply
perththeatre.com.au