EMERGE FESTIVAL 2017

An exciting season of six daringly different new short theatre works written, designed, produced and performed by the 2017 Bachelor of Performance Graduating Company,

Artistic Director: David Fenton

Executive Producer: Peta Downes

Associate Producer (Student): Kelly Anderson

As Artistic Director for Emerge 2017 it is always a privilege to curate new theatre works. This year the graduating students of the Bachelor of Performance have responded directly to the feelings of insecurity and tension in our current political climate. Their work holds great relevance as they question the future, interrogate the past, tease apart dystopian systems and personal trauma, through farce, black comedy, drama and physical theatre. However, underpinning this global critique remains the centre of all good theatre, compassion, empathy, the role of loving families, motherhood and a desire to be well.

I hope you enjoy these challenging and engaging new theatre works as much as I enjoyed the process of nurturing these promising emerging artists.

David Fenton PhD

COMPANY 1: BLACKLIGHT THEATRE COMPANY

Blacklight Theatre Company is a collaborative company of honest storytellers committed to providing innovative, insightful and inventive theatre, with endless amounts of fun. We are daring, generous and create for the greater good of art.

Company Members: Javiera Cancino, Lexie Dent, Thomas Maguire, Caroline McAllister, Alexandra Smith, Cecelia Strachan, Benjamin Tarlinton

THE MISTAKABLE, AND COMPLETELY ACCIDENTAL MISUNDERSTANDING OF FINDING NATALIE BOOMER by Caroline McAllister

On a remote hiking trail, an epic adventure unfolds as a woman in search of herself…ends up searching for herself. Natalie Boomer, a twenty-something in an early mid-life crisis, decides to join an ‘Eat Pray Love’ enthusiast hike. On the trail, a girl goes missing and the group finds themselves pointing one way and looking another, whilst pondering the outcome of the Bachelor Finale. Set amongst the Tasmanian wilderness, Caroline McAllister’s hilarious new Australian work explores the twine that leads humans through different societal trends, revealing the power of rumour and the inherent disconnect of our modern culture.

Director Lexie Dent

Set/Props Designer Javiera Cancino

Costume Designer Alexandra Smith

Lighting Designer Thomas Maguire

Sound Designer Benjamin Tarlinton

CARRIER by Alexandra Smith

In a not so distant dystopic future, a young woman tries to fill the emptiness left by a system that took part of her away. When the human race faced extinction, one woman remained to repopulate the world. Generations later, all women live to serve The Woman and carry on her legacy. Can a mother’s love conquer the system and more importantly, the fear within it? Alexandra Smith’s thought-provoking new work evokes questions of love, sacrifice, morality and the horror innate to both sexes. In this matriarchal world, who is the oppressed?

Director Benjamin Tarlinton

Set/Props Designer Javiera Cancino

Costume Designer Lexie Dent

Lighting Designer Caroline McAllister

Sound Designer Cecelia Strachan

GRADUATING COMPANY 2 - REVERBERATE THEATRE COMPANY

Reverberate Theatre Company brings together eight different and unique performers to create contemporary and forward-thinking work.We aim to challenge perceptions through our provocative and compassionate approach, whilst always staying honest and provoking the audience to think.

Company members: Bridget-Rose Dutoit, Elizabeth Hoctor, Samuel Newing-Stern, Maxwell Oliver, Matthew Paliaga, John Guy Palmeri, Tyler Thoroughgood and Isabella Wagschall.

KIDNAPPED by John Guy Palmeri

In a post-apocalyptic bunker, a mother’s love is all you need for protection but beneath the surface lies curiosity and fear. Kidnapped tells the story of a mother protecting her four children from the horrors that are left behind from the end of civilisation. For as long as the children can remember the door to the outside world has always been locked, but what happens when someone knocks?

Director Matthew Paliaga

Set/Props Designer Samuel Newing-Stern

Costume Designer Elizabeth Hoctor

Lighting Designer Tyler Thoroughgood

Sound Designer Bridget-Rose Dutoit

ATROPOS by Samuel Newing-Stern and Isabella Wagschall

What is our fate in this world of conflict and do we have control over it? Atropos is the Greek goddess who decides the fate of every human. Now it seems that this power has fallen into the hands of a select few, leaving us powerless to bring about change. War, terror, alienation, power, fear, loss and life are explored through a physical theatre performance, using movement and dance.

Directors Samuel Newing-Stern & Isabella Wagschall

Set/Props Designer Matthew Paliaga

Costume Designer Bridget-Rose Dutoit

Lighting/AV Designer Tyler Thoroughgood

Sound Designer Elizabeth Hoctor

GRADUATING COMPANY 3 – DOVETAIL THEATRE COMPANY

Dovetail Theatre Company provides innovative theatre that pushes the form and creates a sense of community; whilst challenging audience beliefs and values to invoke change. We are collaborative group of passionate and hardworking artists, that place important social issues at the heart of our exploration of theatrical form.

Company Members: Bridget Garcia, Darby Minner, Kianah Marléna, Jamie Montgomery and Emily Parker.

HOUDINI by Emily Parker

What happens when the system that should be taking care of you, forgets you exist? Michael is in hospital. He’s been there for a long time. He suspects the nurses are slowly trying to kill him, but he’s not going to wait around to find out. Houdini uses verbatim experiences interwoven with fictional accounts based on real events, to tell a story about fear, trauma and what happens to your mind when you can’t escape.