2012 la mama theatre summer program
DESCRIPTION
2012 La Mama Theatre Summer ProgramTRANSCRIPT
Summer 2012
SEASONS GREETINGS AND MIDSUMMA WISHES
With her usual panache, La Mama now enters her 45th year; her garden blooming and her program flourishing.
In December we farewelled Edwin Batt, our chairperson of some 16 years. We thank him for his leadership and wish he and Martine all the best in their new life farming in Tasmania. We also say farewell to Louise Jones who has worked with us for the last 4 years, including as fundraising coordinator during our triumphant 2008 campaign to buy La Mama.
And in January we welcome Ellen Rijs as our new Administration Coordinator. Ellen’s previous experience with La Mama has been as a butoh artist with her ensemble Red Moon Rising.
Looking forward to seeing you at La Mama and the Courthouse in the coming months.
Liz JonesC.E.O. & Artistic Director
And on behalf of Pippa Bainbridge (Company Manager & Creative Producer), Ellen Rijs (Administration Coordinator),Nedd Jones (Communications Coordinator), Lisa Höbartner & Bec Etchell (House Managers), Maureen Hartley (La Mama Learning Producer), Mary Helen Sassman (La Mama Community Producer), Caitlin Dullard (La Mama Mobile Producer), Fiona Wiseman (Preservation Coordinator) and the Committee of Management: Catherine Hill, Dur-é Dara, Mark Rubbo, Caroline Lee, Tim Stitz, Rhonda Day, Emily Harms and Liz Jones.
SUMMER 2012Newsletter 120
La Mama for KidsLa Befana
La Mama MusicaMan-DatePendulum
Music in the Age of Mechanical ReproductionCoranderrk: We Will Show the Country
While the Mountain WaitsLa Mama Æsoterica
Figments & FragmentsLa Mama Poetica
Ticket Information
333435363738394041424344
cover image credit: Felix & Jake Prevalcourtesy: The Pineapple Sorrows
The Pineapple SorrowsLandscape DreamingMetamorphosis“The Tragic Suicide Of Professor Walter Benjamin, The Well-Known Academic Psychologist”SchismCogitoThe Fallen TreeInside OutHotStrippedPerfidiaAwakeAd NauseumRat
579
11
13151719212325272931
The Pineapple SorrowsJanuary 17 - January 29
A feast of grief, fags and finger food…
In the wake of a wake one platter remains, three hors d’eouvres remember - The Pineapple Sorrows. An absurd new tragi-comic work exploring the lives of those left behind.
A visual spectacle of song and dance, garnished with fresh live music.
Written by crossditchDirected by Felix Preval
Performed by Sherilee Kahui, Penny Harpham and Jake PrevalProduced by Remi D’Agostin
Costume by Chloe GreavesSet Design by Laura Twomey
Music composed and performed by Dylan LardelliPresented by crossditch
No flowers by request; donations in lieu to crossditch.
Tue - Sun 7.30pmRunning time: 60 minutes
La Mama Theatre
5.
Landscape DreamingJanuary 18 - February 5
Marco needs a date for a wedding. He can’t think of anyone who’s up to scratch, so he hires John, a straight male model, to pretend to be his boyfriend.
A comedy about friendship, love and marriage, Landscape Dreaming is filled with witty dialogue, physical theatre and evocative music.
Written by Charles MercovichDirected by Damian Alexander Bernardo
Performed by Gavin Williams, Scott Middleton, Janine Watson, and Dallas Paul Bentley
Produced by Charles MercovichSet Design by David Samuel
Lighting Design by Brendan JellieComposer: Natasha Moszenin
A Company White Wolf production
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pmRunning time: 75 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
7.
MetamorphosisFebruary 1 - February 5
An exploration of the precocial body through the three stages of ABANDONMENTDEVELOPMENT
RETALIATIONA zoological study of the inevitable journey from life to death and the mess created in between.
Interact.Create.
Destroy.
Created, destroyed & performed by Oscar-Jackson Blain-Allen
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pmRunning time: 60 minutes
La Mama Theatre
9.
“The Tragic Suicide Of Professor Walter Benjamin, The Well-Known Academic Psychologist”
February 8 - February 12
David - actor, singer, and struggling human being - is blown down the path of autobiography whilst looking back into the future of history. The literary critic and cultural philosopher Walter Benjamin jostles with journalist, poet
and communist Bartlett Adamson as David delves into a cluttered life.
A highly crafted montage in drama, monologue, poetry and song.
Who do I think I am?
Written, devised & performed by David Adamson
Wed - Sun 7.30pmRunning time: 90 minutes
La Mama Theatre
Followed by Music in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction (see page 38)
11.
SchismFebruary 9 - February 19
When science and technology wage war against ethics, in a world where the future is gambled against greed, the lines between sanity and morality seem ever more
obscure. What then for the ethical scientist when the contract is deemed too costly? What happens when soul and psyche seek compromise in chaos?
Written by Melanie Bainbridge Directed by Suzie Hardgrave
Performed by Pippa BainbridgeSet Design by Casey-Scott Corless
Sound Design by Skye Klein LED Lighting Design by Rebecca Etchell in association with John McKissock from Clearlight Shows
Wed, Fri, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Sat 8.30pmRunning time: 60 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
Image credit: Tahlia Isabel PalmerThe development of this project was generously supported by Cairns Festival
13.
CogitoFebruary 9 - February 19
Katherine Lee is a wealthy socialite, married to Tony Szeto, a highlyprized Singaporean biomedical scientist. When Katherine reads in a local
newspaper that her husband has been assassinated, she discovers she is not the only one married to him. This is a story of life after life.
Written by Huzir SulaimanDirected by Suzie Hardgrave
Performed by Glenda Linscott, Kristin Keam, Suzy Cato-Gashler and introducing Frank HandrumSet and Costume Design by Casey Scott-Corless
Lighting Design by Rebecca EtchellStage Manager, LX and SFX Op: Sarah GreyProduction Manager: Jessica Gittel Cornish
Voice Composition: Suzie HardgraveImage Photographer: Steve Wampler
Wed, Fri, Sun 8.30pm | Thu, Sat 6.30pmRunning time: 65 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
15.
The Fallen TreeFebruary 15 - March 4
Long after the fire, she’d sit with her heart hammering under the old river red gum... just waiting for it to fall.
Written by Christine CroydenDirected by Wayne Pearn
Performed by Libby Gott, Bridgette Burton and Jonathon Dyer Design by Alice Bishop
Lighting Design by Lindon BlakelyStage Manager: Julie-Anne Donnellan
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pmRunning time: 70 minutes
La Mama Theatre
17.
Inside OutFebruary 22 - March 11
Some people glide through life as though they have a guardian angel watching over them. Someone is watching over Naomi.
And she’s no angel.
Written by Donna BradshawDirected by Sara Tabitha Catchpole
Performed by Petra Elliott, Madeleine Ryan, Debra Low, Luke Lennox, Angus CameronProduced by Four-Letter-Word Theatre
Lighting Design by Tim SmithSound Design by Nick Liley
Set Team: Sara Tabitha Catchpole & Robert Alexander Smith
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pmRunning time: 90 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
19.
HotFebruary 22 - March 4
This is HOT
English comedy-cabaret sensation Damsel Sophie is back with a fiery new tale of self-love gone mad!
Winner: Best Cabaret - Adelaide Fringe 2011
‘A new shining star’ (The Scotsman)
‘Triumphant’ (Time Out, London)
Written by Sophie Walsh-HarringtonDirected by Alex Wright
Performed by Sophie Walsh-Harrington
Wed, Sun 8.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 9.30pmRunning time: 60 minutes
La Mama Theatre
21.
StrippedMarch 7 - March 18
Sophie works in a strip club.Lillian is a lawyer.
This summer will be the hottest on record.And Lillian is dying.
A story about sex and death set in inner city Melbourne.
Created by Caroline Lee and Laurence StrangioText by Caroline Lee
Directed by Laurence StrangioDesigned by Laurence Strangio and Paul Jackson
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pmRunning time: 70 minutes
La Mama Theatre
23.
Perfidiadeceived by trust
March 14 - March 18
Using engaging head puppets, King Lear’s misplaced attitude toward his three daughters becomes the catalyst for a zany yet profound inquiry.
Perfidia delves into love’s complexities and ramifications.
A further development of the successful 2011 EXPLORATION Leering@Lear
Devised and performed by Elnaz Sheshgelani with Brian LoweDirected by Lloyd Jones
Lighting Design by Rebecca Etchell
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu - Sat 7.30pm | Matinee Sun 4pmRunning time: 50 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
25.
AwakeMarch 21 - April 1
A man lost without memory and a woman dying for sleep.
Two minds crumble away and their families crumble with them. From the makers of Skinhouse and Insomnia Cat Came To Stay, a play
of devastating beauty, warmth and sorrow with exquisite live music.
Written and directed by Fleur KilpatrickPerformed by Justin Batchelor, Alex Duncan,
Penelope Harpham, John Shearman, Joanne TrentiniMusic by Kristina Benton
Designed by Sarah Walker
A Quiet Little Fox production
Wed, Fri 8.30pm | Thu, Sat 6.30pm | Sun 4.30pmRunning time: 50 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
27.
AD NAUSEAMA NIGHT OF INFIDELITY
March 21 - April 1
‘Cause tonight there’ll be a fire, or there’ll be a flood, or a riot or something, and I know that it’s going to bury me and it won’t just be up to my knees.’
A fully scored journey through a fractured celebration of excess, egoism and regret.
Text and Music by Tom PittsPerformed by Nicholas Bendall
Designed by Sarah WalkerAn Attic Erratic production
Wed, Fri, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Sat 8.30pmRunning time: 60 minutes
La Mama Courthouse
29.
RATMarch 22 - April 8
A fierce, bleak, comic exploration of power, privilege and a festering swarm of rats.
Rat asks us to consider the tension between becoming who we are, and what we, and other people, want us to be.
Rat was the winner of the St Martins Youth Playwright Award in 2008 and underwent development at St Martins in 2010.
Written by Chris SummersDirected by Petra Kalive
A production by Two Blue Cherries
Wed, Sun 6.30pm | Thu, Fri, Sat 7.30pmRunning time: 50 minutes
La Mama Theatre
31.
The Comedy Magic Showwith Luke Hocking
These school holidays get along to ‘La Mama for Kids’ for a show that’s bound to excite and delight! The Comedy Magic Show is packed with amazing magic and illusions for the whole family to enjoy. Blending great comedy and magic this show has it all!
High-energy, fast-paced fun, with lots of audience interaction and side-splitting comedy. Magic with a real goldfish! Amazing illusions! Magic with a mind-reading raccoon puppet!
Luke is one of Melbourne’s leading professional entertainers. He performs regularly for kids and adults alike. With only four performances, Luke’s Comedy Magic Show is not to be missed!
“An amazing show the whole family will love”Watch Out For
January 7 & 8 | 11am & 2pm (50 mins) | La Mama Courthouse All tickets $12 | Recommended for ages 4 – 10
Music for Little Monkeys with The Mudcakes
Come along to ‘La Mama for Kids’ for some quirky, fun music for the whole family with The Mudcakes! Join them as they sing about the ups and downs of family life – the wonders of new teeth, hugging, potty training and all those things that parents and kids go through! With kazoos, electric ukuleles, bongos and harmonicas, you’ll be singing and dancing to music styles from Hawaiian to garage rock.
February 4 | 11am (50 mins) | La Mama Courthouse All tickets $12 | Recommended for ages 5 - 12
SuperKidby Two Up Circus
SuperKid used to be the most awesome kid in the history of ever but the evil Baron Von Badstuff has zapped him of all his powers. SuperKid must now find the magic formula for bringing back awesomeness before Badstuff takes over the entire world!
A circus extravaganza made specifically for primary school audiences tackling issues of bullying, self-esteem, resilience and confidence.
Created and performed by Kyle Raftery and April Dawson
March 24 & 25 | 11am & 2pm (50 mins) | La Mama CourthouseAll tickets $12 | Recommended for ages 5 - 12 33.
La BefanaThe Italian Christmas Witch Pantomine
The story of La Befana, the Italian Christmas Witch, began a long time ago in Italia and arrived here with Australia’s Italians. On the eve of the epiphany, children would hang out their simple home-made socks and then wake on January 6 to find them with filled with simple home-made gifts. In the pagan world she was a goddess, part of the magical, fairy world, patron of plants and animals, an ancestral spirit whose sacred totem is the Woven Stocking - every year reaffirming the bond between family and ancestors.
Produced by Connie PaglianitiWritten & Directed by Carmelina Di GuglielmoPerformed by Carmelina Di Guglielmo, Adam Mattaliano and a talented cast of Fairies, Elves and Bush Spirits.Photo by Gabriella Gomersol Hubbard
January 6 at 2pm (60 mins) | La Mama Courthouse All tickets $12 | Fun for the whole family!
January 23 | La Mama Theatre Adrian Sherriff (shakuhachi, trombone) – with just two of his many instrumental loves.
PYRIPHLEGETHON: Graeme Croft (contra-alto clarinet), Adrian Sherriff (laptop, theremin), Sarah Whitteron (voice) – a new electro-acoustic improvisation ensemble, using extended vocal and instrumental techniques and
audio-signal processing with max/MSP, including theremin and audio cubes controllers.
February 13 | La Mama CourthouseGeorge Butrumlis with Anthony Schulz (accordions)
George presents short new works for he and Anthony to premiere, as Anthony extracts the accordion from commonly-held preconceptions of tone and style.
Nick Tsiavos (contrabass) – Solo CD Launch ‘100 months, third of east’ A journey into a landscape of frayed subjectivities, anarchic energies and lucid stillness.
March 12 | La Mama TheatreDave ‘candlesnuffer’ Brown (solo prepared guitars)
plays prepared guitar loops and textures to evoke notions of landscape and city twisted together.Erik Griswold with Adam Simmons (toys, keyboards, found objects, wind instruments)
Eclectic Australian-American pianist Erik Griswold (SYD) fuses experimental, jazz and world music traditions with striking originality. He and Adam create their own musical
universe with due consideration and/or audacious spontaneity.
Box Office & Bar 7pm | Concert 7:30pm $15 Full | $10 Concession (includes free hot drinks and nibbly treats)
35.
Man-DateTwo men meet to eat.
A Man-Date (Just like any date, but with a massive lack of ladies).
The Entrée - Wang.
The Main – Yang.
Join comedian David Quirk (David) and Musician Benn Bennett (Benn) for this special La Mama preview performance of Man-Date before the boys present a full season at the 2012 Melbourne International Comedy Festival.
Bottoms up!
January 24 at 7.30pm
La Mama Courthouse
All tickets $10
PendulumHaunted by the cuckoo bird that resides in her Grandad’s grandfather clock, Wednesday Parker
must try to forgive herself the unforgivable, while her Granddad is slowly destroyed by it.
A playreading by Meg CourtneyDramaturgy & Direction by Petra Kalive
Read by Tim Stitz, Kate Gregory, and Ian Rooney
January 28 at 2pm La Mama Theatre
All tickets $5
37.
Music in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction
Revel in the old world delights of mechanical modernism! David Adamson shares treasures from his storehouse of 78rpm records from 1900 onwards, played on authentic instruments (wind-up), and everyone gets to chat or sing. Classical Vocal (Wed), Jazz (Thurs), French (Fri), Irish (Sat), and The Whole World in a Spin (Sun).
Devised & presented by David Adamson | February 8 - February 12 Wed - Sun 9.30pm | Running time: 60 minutes | La Mama Theatre | $5 or free with “The Tragic Suicide Of Professor Walter Benjamin, The Well-Known Academic Psychologist” (see page 11)
CORANDERRKProduced by ILBIJERRI THEATRE COMPANY
and the Minutes of Evidence Project
Concept by Giordano NanniDirected by Isaac Drandic
Dramaturgy by Rachael Maza LongAdapted by Andrea James & Giordano Nanni
Performed by Syd Brisbane, 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.
February 11 & 12 at 4pm | Free event | Running time: 80 minutes | Venue: BMW Edge at Federation Square
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
39.
While the Mountain Waits
There is a time a young country fella would look toward the city lights with a sense of longing, there is also a time he looks back after the lights have poisoned him towards the country silence roaring for him to return.
A poignant and poetic monologue laced with song glorifying rural Australia.
Written and Performed by Joshua Cameron | Music by Pete Ewing | Sound by Ed ServiceSculptures and artworks by Trevor Flynn | Additional music collaboration with “The Miserable Little Bastards”
February 28 at 7:30pm | La Mama Theatre | $25 Full or $15 Concession Originally developed with Peta Hanrahan for the Dog theatre in conjunction with the Arts Victoria development program.
A live performance about the lost world of a country-come-city bloke dreaming of a return
ÆsotericaLa Mama Æsoterica is an original program of explorations
in hybrid, electronic and new media performance works.
æsoterica 001: SiiltDusty voltage-controlled atmospheres created by
Melbourne musician/producer Skye Klein, also of Terminal Sound System, HALO, Tether and A Beautiful Machine.
Saturday February 11 & Saturday February 18 | 10pm
La Mama Courthouse$10 Full or $5 Concession (or free with ticket to Schism)
Both operationally and ethically the arts have the ability to influence the way we interact with our environment. Curated by playwright/environmental policy writer
Melanie Bainbridge, this panel session will explore the synergy between the arts and the environment and take a look at who is doing what in our community and how.
February 19 at 2pm | Running time: 90 minutes | La Mama Courthouse Entry by donation - proceeds to the Australian Conservation Foundation
Theatre and the Environment Panel
41.
FIGMENTSFRAGMENTSWith their truly individual shows, two of Canberra’s brightest comedians, Cy Fahey & Frederich Jones tag on and off to create an hilarious collage of unique humour.
Cy, who presents quality stand-up with a fresh perspective, talks of modern life as a young Indigenous male in the 21st Century.
Frederich presents one-liner jokes that have the audience in raptures.
February 27 & 28 at 7.30pmLa Mama Courthouse$15 Full or $10 Concession
La Mama would like to thank the following for their generous support in 2012
Box office & Bar 7.30pm | Performance 8pm | $12 Full or $8 Concession
From page to stage, La Mama Poetica presents the cream of contemporary poetry in a theatrical setting.
Curated by Andy Jackson and Anna Fern, the evening features four guest poets with a diverse range of styles and voices.
Visit the La Mama Poetica group on Facebook for details on who will be performing or email poetica to join our mailing list.
February 27 | La Mama Theatre
43.
VenuesLa Mama Theatre
205 Faraday Street Carlton
La Mama Courthouse349 Drummond Street Carlton
Please note that parking can be difficult (try Safeway or Carlton Clocktower, both
off Drummond Street, or City of Melbourne parking in Elgin Street near Lygon)
Both venues are just a short walk from Melbourne University tram stop at Faraday
& Swanston Street
La Mama Theatre is registered by the Heritage Council Victoria and has recieved
National Trust status
InformationPhone: 03 9347 6948Monday - Friday 10.30am - 5.30pmWeekends 2pm - 4pm
TicketsFull $25Conc. $15
Bookings www.lamama.com.auPhone: 03 9347 6142
Bookings close @ 4pm on the day of the performance Please pick up your tickets 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the performance
La Mama is on Wurunjeri land, part of the Kulin nation, and the Commitee of Management, staff, and wider theatrical community acknowledge its traditional custodians
www.lamama.com.au