As offices empty and sunscreen sales soar – the festive summer season has arrived with a seemingly endless carousel of parties and social engagements. Now the theatre’s have closed – there are a few of the industry who have a list of 2011 projects lined up… and the rest of us face family Christmas lunch/dinner gently quizzed by family “so how is your drama stuff going?” and “have you thought about an apprenticeship?” and other such brutal questions asked by well-meaning members of your gene pool.
Normal folk – the ones with contented lives filled with relaxing weekends, 9-5 work hours, paid holidays, a structured career path and regular pay cheques – look forward to the end of the year as a time of snooze and booze and lavish materialistic rewards for their year of hard work. For theatre folk it’s a little different. more…
Remounting a show is a huge gamble- the hope that people who missed it last time are in town and can see it, the hope that those who saw the original show feel such a fondness for the show they want to see a replay (like that much loved VHS tape from my childhood) or are curious to see how it has changed. It’s a gamble that the writers, the directors and actors want to see it again, want to work on it again- want to plunge their foot in the same river twice… and the risk feels huge.
Luckily for Stories from the 428, a collection of the writers, directors and actors were available, keen and generous enough to lend their time and talent- and with the help of Leslie, Naomi, Guy and Kendall at ACTT the rehearsals were sorted out- and before long everyone was back ready to jump on board and into the Fringe Festival. more…
Earlier this year, a group of playwrights, directors, crew and actors came together to create a project inspired by Sydney’s transport system. A suite of plays were presented at Sidetrack theatre- a different suite each week for two weeks celebrating the bizarre, fantastical, romantic, infuriating Sydney Commuter experience. With a total of nearly 100 artists on board- nearly 1500 people over 10 performances enjoyed the fruits of their labours. Six months later, most of the directors and an ensemble cast have come together with a selection of the scenes from both weeks, culminating in a new show- full of surprises! If you missed it- this is your chance! more…
Stories from the 428 launched last night- with the help from our friends at the Coopers Hotel in Newtown, Marrickville Council, ACTT and Queen Street Studio- writers, directors, designers, crew came together to have a few drinks, to meet the people who they will be working with in the next 3-4 weeks. This launch was for the participants… United by a love of theatre, new Australian Playwriting and buses- nearly 100 local artists are starting rehearsals this week.
more…