We have finished our Melbourne season with a bang. Thank you all who attended and provided us with their energy to keep delivering. The reviews have been nothing short of fantastic so far
and fingers crossed this trend will continue.
We had to part with three members of the cast, the WONDERFUL TRIO: Jane Bayly, Maude Davey and Reece Vella. I am forever indebted for their brilliant contributions to the first incarnation of the play.
Now is time for the Japanese version of the production. We arrived in Tokyo on Monday and from Tuesday we are working on it. Firstly the cast and crew met with the translator, prof. Keiji Sawada to discuss the nuances and differences of the English and the Japanese texts. It was a very fruitful session/read through, which helped us all with solving some of the cultural misunderstandings. Now we are rehearsing full steam on the floor.
Paraphrasing one famous author: "So many things will have to change in order to stay the same" - but it's all worth it I believe.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Everyman & The Pole Dancers rehearsal video
We are already in the theatre - working hard, but it's all worth it as Everyman & The Pole Dancers will enjoy the first audiences today. The month we spent rehearsing at BiG Fish seems so far away now. In order to say thank you and goodbye to our fantastic hosts - Reanta and Alfons - Lara Week put together a short clip from the last day of rehearsals at Big Fish. Check it out:
For those who cannot make it Currency Press has already made EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS (the play) available online:
Currency Press: Everyman & The Pole Dancers
The book will be also available at the Mechanics Institute during our season.
Surely we hope you can make it to the Mechanics Institute in Melbourne's Brunswick to see the show
between the 1st the 11th of October. The whole cast: Maude Davey (as Everyman), Jane Bayly, Matt Crosby, Kathleen Doyle, Kazuto Shimamoto, Keina Denda, Reece Vella and our composer Noriko Tadano - all are at their wonderful best.
or through the link below:
For those who cannot make it Currency Press has already made EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS (the play) available online:
Currency Press: Everyman & The Pole Dancers
The book will be also available at the Mechanics Institute during our season.
Monday, September 29, 2014
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS opening this week.
We have moved to the theatre and the show feels very much at home there.
Naomi Otta, the designer, took some pics yesterday during the tech run.
Naomi Otta, the designer, took some pics yesterday during the tech run.
The first preview tomorrow night. The Opening Night on Thursday the 2nd of October.
For those who cannot make it Currency Press has already made EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS (the play) available online:
Currency Press: Everyman & The Pole Dancers
The book will be also available at the Mechanics Institute during our season.
Currency Press: Everyman & The Pole Dancers
The book will be also available at the Mechanics Institute during our season.
or through the link below:
Sunday, September 21, 2014
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS available online
Currency Press has already made EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS available online:
Currency Press: Everyman & The Pole Dancers
The book will be also available at the Mechanics Institute during our season.
Currency Press: Everyman & The Pole Dancers
The book will be also available at the Mechanics Institute during our season.
or through the link below:
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Starting week 3 of our rehearsals for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS
Week 2 into Week 3.
Time flies by.
Here is Artur Lyczba's EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS impression:
or through the link below:
http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/everyman-and-the-pole-dancers/
Time flies by.
Here is Artur Lyczba's EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS impression:
http://www.melbournefringe.com.au/fringe-festival/show/everyman-and-the-pole-dancers/
Sunday, September 7, 2014
Week 1 of rehearsals of Everyman & The Pole Dancers
BigFish keeps an eye on us.
Because BigFish cares.
Here is the evidence - a sneak peek into our rehearsal room:
In rehearsal with Auto Da Fe
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Because BigFish cares.
Here is the evidence - a sneak peek into our rehearsal room:
In rehearsal with Auto Da Fe
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
A few photos from WITKACY READINGS @ La Mama
Bogumila Zongollowicz sent us a few pictures taken last Saturday at the WITKACY READINGS at La Mama
Thank you Bogumila.
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
The rehearsals for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS commence
WITKACY READINGS proved to be a very "methaphysical" experience for all involved; spectators and performers alike, but we have no time to dwell on it.
On Monday the 1st of September we have started the rehearsals for our next production EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS.
Here are all the details:
On Monday the 1st of September we have started the rehearsals for our next production EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS.
Here are all the details:
Welcome to our world!
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
WITKACY READINGS at La Mama 30-31 of August 2pm
Kelvin Stevens - Sydney based member of Auto Da Fe and a veteran of many of our productions put his time and effort into transcribing the archival MADNESS recording for the WITKACY READINGS at La Mama. It wasn't easy - the tape was partly damaged - it was of low quality anyway, but Kelvin managed to deliver the script, so then we could edit it, re-create the missing bits and have it "reading ready" for the La Mama event. It was done not just in time, but well before the time due. THANK YOU KELVIN!
This is the original flyer from the 1990 production.
The scenario of this "theatrical exhibition in three parts" is based on Witkacy's life and his writings. It was originally thought as an introduction to the man and his art in a rather light form and since such is the stated purpose of our presentation it seems the best pick for the day. MADNESS will be accompanied by 3 of Witkacy's mini plays: COCKROACHES, THE BRAVE PRINCESS & THE POOR LITTLE BOY all freshly translated by Izabella Mackiewicz. Witkacy wrote them in 1893 - he wasn't even 8 years old!
John Gillies prepares a short introductory lecture on Witkacy - and he promises that if he won't be able to make it to Melbourne on the day - he will send us a recording of it, so we can play it back to the audience.
Thank you John , thank you Izabella and once more our big "thank you" to Kelvin, whose contribution and time commitment exceeded our wildest expectations. It's worth noting that he was a member of the original cast, too.
P.S. It is very possible - almost certain - that none of the above will make it to Melbourne for the event as they are Sydney based, but all of them are planning to travel down south to see Auto Da Fe's next assigment: Everyman & The Pole Dancers at Metanoia Theatre in October.
P.S. p.s. John Gillies has recently started filming his WITKACY film project (End Of The Line) on locations in Snowy Mountains and in Adelaide. Good luck, John!
30&31.08.2014
Sat, Sun 2pm
$15 Full | $10 Concession | Approx 120 Minutes
- for tickets call La Mama Theatre Box Office: 03 9347 6142
or book online: http://lamama.com.au/tickets/
This is the original flyer from the 1990 production.
The scenario of this "theatrical exhibition in three parts" is based on Witkacy's life and his writings. It was originally thought as an introduction to the man and his art in a rather light form and since such is the stated purpose of our presentation it seems the best pick for the day. MADNESS will be accompanied by 3 of Witkacy's mini plays: COCKROACHES, THE BRAVE PRINCESS & THE POOR LITTLE BOY all freshly translated by Izabella Mackiewicz. Witkacy wrote them in 1893 - he wasn't even 8 years old!
John Gillies prepares a short introductory lecture on Witkacy - and he promises that if he won't be able to make it to Melbourne on the day - he will send us a recording of it, so we can play it back to the audience.
Thank you John , thank you Izabella and once more our big "thank you" to Kelvin, whose contribution and time commitment exceeded our wildest expectations. It's worth noting that he was a member of the original cast, too.
P.S. It is very possible - almost certain - that none of the above will make it to Melbourne for the event as they are Sydney based, but all of them are planning to travel down south to see Auto Da Fe's next assigment: Everyman & The Pole Dancers at Metanoia Theatre in October.
P.S. p.s. John Gillies has recently started filming his WITKACY film project (End Of The Line) on locations in Snowy Mountains and in Adelaide. Good luck, John!
30&31.08.2014
Sat, Sun 2pm
$15 Full | $10 Concession | Approx 120 Minutes
- for tickets call La Mama Theatre Box Office: 03 9347 6142
or book online: http://lamama.com.au/tickets/
Wednesday, August 13, 2014
Introducing LOUISE MILLER - stage manager
Louise joins our team being introduced to Auto Da Fe by Lara Week. While still studying at VCA she is very active professionally and already working in the industry. Her latest assigment being Maude Davey's hit production of My Life In Nude.
Note from Linkedin: "Originally from North Queensland, Louise is a multi-skilled theatre enabler who has applied herself in many different aspects of theatre production. Since completing a technical traineeship in lighting in 2008, she has been employed as a theatre technician and supervisor for various regional venues including The Burdekin Theatre and the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. She has also worked as the Production Assistant for contemporary dance company Dancenorth and Assistant Stage Manager for Back to Back Theatre’s Ganesh VS The Third Reich.
Louise is in her second year of study of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), majoring in Stage Management at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her VCA credits to date include Stage Manager for Plus Sign Attached - Directed by Maude Davey and Assistant Stage Manager for Tom Healey’s The Breath of Empty Space.
Her recent production credits include Stage Manager for Dance & Death – curated by Holly Durant and Assistant Stage Manager for My Life in the Nude (Maude Davey). She is currently working as the Stage Manager for Everyman and the Pole Dancers by Auto Da Fe Theatre, due to open at the Metanoia Theatre in October as part of the Melbourne Fringe."
Note from Linkedin: "Originally from North Queensland, Louise is a multi-skilled theatre enabler who has applied herself in many different aspects of theatre production. Since completing a technical traineeship in lighting in 2008, she has been employed as a theatre technician and supervisor for various regional venues including The Burdekin Theatre and the Mackay Entertainment and Convention Centre. She has also worked as the Production Assistant for contemporary dance company Dancenorth and Assistant Stage Manager for Back to Back Theatre’s Ganesh VS The Third Reich.
Louise is in her second year of study of a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Production), majoring in Stage Management at the Victorian College of the Arts. Her VCA credits to date include Stage Manager for Plus Sign Attached - Directed by Maude Davey and Assistant Stage Manager for Tom Healey’s The Breath of Empty Space.
Her recent production credits include Stage Manager for Dance & Death – curated by Holly Durant and Assistant Stage Manager for My Life in the Nude (Maude Davey). She is currently working as the Stage Manager for Everyman and the Pole Dancers by Auto Da Fe Theatre, due to open at the Metanoia Theatre in October as part of the Melbourne Fringe."
Sunday, August 10, 2014
SHANE GRANT - lighting designer
Shane Grant – Lighting Designer
Shane has been Audio Visual Technician for
St Kevins College for the past 8 years. Prior to that he was Production Manager
with Strange Fruit for 6 years and Technical Manager at Gasworks Theatre for 4
years. Shane is an accomplished lighting designer having worked extensively
with companies like Ranters Theatre, The Torch Project, NYID and many others.
Shane has a BA Dramatic Arts (Production) VCA from 1994. Shane is currently a company director of
Metanoia Theatre and the technical manager of the mechanics institute theatre
in Brunswick.
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS will be Shane's first assignment for the Auto Da Fe Theatre Company.
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS will be Shane's first assignment for the Auto Da Fe Theatre Company.
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Shane Grant
Friday, August 1, 2014
Anna Messariti invites to Radio National
Anna Messariti has been always a friend and a strong supporter of the Auto Da Fe Theatre Company. We crossed paths and worked together on many occasions. Mostly in the recording studios of Radio National (ABC) in Sydney, where Anna produced and directed numerous Australian radio dramas/plays .
She also produced a series of documentaries on Cyprus, the home land of her Mother.
Here is Anna's invitation to her programs:
"Dear Friends,
Between 2003-2007, I traveled to Cyprus often, as my mother was in the last years of her life. At the time I was working for the ABC and over those years I made 5 Audio Arts documentaries about Cyprus, covering its ancient and contemporary history. In a nutshell, over 36 centuries, Cyprus has enjoyed only 14 years of independence. The rest of the time, the small island was under occupation, because of its riches and strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This weekend and next, two of my programs are being replayed on ABC Radio National and will remain available online for sometime afterwards. The first is an abridged version of longer documentary called Aphrodite’s Tears – Crying for Kyrenia. It is about the 1974 invasion and the impact of displacement and is set at a time when the borders reopened in 2003 and people were able to return to their villages, towns and homes. The program in full will be available on the RN website.
Here is a link to the first program, which will be broadcast on Sunday 3 August at 10.05am and repeated on Friday 8 August at 2.00pm:
http://www.abc.net.au/ radionational/programs/360/ aphrodite27s-tears/5623620
It will sit within a program called 360 Documentaries.
On Sunday 10 August at 1.00pm and Thursday 14 August at 1.00pm, another of my programs will be broadcast:
FAMAGUSTA Ammochostos – Hidden in the Sand It’s about a contemporary ghost city in Cyprus. You’ll find it on RN’s social history program, Hindsight and it will also remain online afterwards for some time, in case you can’t catch it on the radio. Here’s a link:
http://www.abc.net.au/ radionational/programs/ hindsight/
Both programs are very dear to me and I’d love you to listen and would welcome feedback. The latter has been remastered in the past week, so it is sounding pretty good.
I’m sending some images as well, to give you a sense of where you are going. If you use social media, by all means spread the word.
Thank you and all the best,
Anna"
She also produced a series of documentaries on Cyprus, the home land of her Mother.
Here is Anna's invitation to her programs:
"Dear Friends,
Between 2003-2007, I traveled to Cyprus often, as my mother was in the last years of her life. At the time I was working for the ABC and over those years I made 5 Audio Arts documentaries about Cyprus, covering its ancient and contemporary history. In a nutshell, over 36 centuries, Cyprus has enjoyed only 14 years of independence. The rest of the time, the small island was under occupation, because of its riches and strategic location in the Eastern Mediterranean.
This weekend and next, two of my programs are being replayed on ABC Radio National and will remain available online for sometime afterwards. The first is an abridged version of longer documentary called Aphrodite’s Tears – Crying for Kyrenia. It is about the 1974 invasion and the impact of displacement and is set at a time when the borders reopened in 2003 and people were able to return to their villages, towns and homes. The program in full will be available on the RN website.
Here is a link to the first program, which will be broadcast on Sunday 3 August at 10.05am and repeated on Friday 8 August at 2.00pm:
http://www.abc.net.au/
It will sit within a program called 360 Documentaries.
On Sunday 10 August at 1.00pm and Thursday 14 August at 1.00pm, another of my programs will be broadcast:
FAMAGUSTA Ammochostos – Hidden in the Sand It’s about a contemporary ghost city in Cyprus. You’ll find it on RN’s social history program, Hindsight and it will also remain online afterwards for some time, in case you can’t catch it on the radio. Here’s a link:
http://www.abc.net.au/
Both programs are very dear to me and I’d love you to listen and would welcome feedback. The latter has been remastered in the past week, so it is sounding pretty good.
I’m sending some images as well, to give you a sense of where you are going. If you use social media, by all means spread the word.
Thank you and all the best,
Anna"
Wednesday, July 30, 2014
INTRODUCING: LARA WEEK - designer, producer, writer
I was introduced to Lara by our friend, Genevieve, who thought that we would "click" and found a common ground when it comes to making theatre and Genevieve was right. But before we had a chance to meet in person, I saw Lara's drawings based on Witkacy's photographs and that was enough to make me want to meet and talk to her. After all: How often do you meet soemone young, on the other end of the world, who is fascinated with your home land hero? So we met, we talked and we decided to start co-operation with the WITKACY READINGS. Lara's Witkacy drawings will be on display at La Mama during our presentation on the last wekend of August.
Also: Lara joins Auto Da Fe for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS as our Production Manager and further down the track she will design ABBA I AM NOT.
Here is Lara's website: http://www.laraweek.com/
Currently Lara is working on bringing to Australia The Tribal Soul's production of THE MAN WHO COMMITTED THOUGHT. Here is the info and the invitation:
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Also: Lara joins Auto Da Fe for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS as our Production Manager and further down the track she will design ABBA I AM NOT.
Here is Lara's website: http://www.laraweek.com/
Currently Lara is working on bringing to Australia The Tribal Soul's production of THE MAN WHO COMMITTED THOUGHT. Here is the info and the invitation:
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Tuesday, July 15, 2014
Introducing NORIKO TADANO - shamisen master
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS' music will be composed and played live by NORIKO TADANO.
Noriko became very popular after her success with Australia's Got Talent, where she performed together with George Kamikawa - the duo making it all the way to the finals ( Noriko & George @ Australia's Got Talent ). Her main interest lies in mixing more traditional forms of Japanese folk music with contemporary western influences. And this is exactly what attracted our attention. I believe that the way she "sees" music and theatre will fit perfectly with our style of production. The combination of traditional, exotic and deliacately beautiful on one hand with brutally modern, everydayish and simply ugly will bring us the desired impact. Noriko's music will be a vital part of it.
Links:
Noriko on ABC TV
https://myspace.com/norikotadano
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noriko-Tadano-Official-Facebook/117639724992803
http://www.japaninmelbourne.com.au/artice439/
"Noriko Tadano plays both traditional Japanese folk songs (Minyo) as well as original pieces on the Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese Banjo). She has been playing Shamisen since she was 6 years old and has performed in Japan, Europe, Canada, Tonga and at festivals and events all over Australia. While traditional Minyo depicts the life and feelings of 'older' Japan, centering around the themes of love, family and the close connection with nature, Noriko's original pieces explore feelings and experiences through melodic notes and often heart pounding beats.
Noriko’s recent achievements include the ‘2009 Head Judge’s Special Award’ at the National Japanese Shamisen Competition held in Hirosaki - Japan, a solo performance at the Sydney Opera House and a number of dynamic shows at the International WOMADelaide world music festival with George Kamikawa 2010. She also performed on the popular ABC music quiz TV show ‘Spicks and Specks’ in February 2010.
Noriko is the founder of Australia’s first Shamisen group the ‘Shamys’. They formed in 2005 and have performed at cultural festivals and concerts throughout Victoria. With a mix of traditional and contemporary songs, the Shamisen ensemble creates powerful and synchronised sounds that engage the audience." (after Japan Art Directory in Australia: http://jad.jpf-sydney.org/artists/noriko-tadano/index.html )
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS:
BOOK NOW
Noriko became very popular after her success with Australia's Got Talent, where she performed together with George Kamikawa - the duo making it all the way to the finals ( Noriko & George @ Australia's Got Talent ). Her main interest lies in mixing more traditional forms of Japanese folk music with contemporary western influences. And this is exactly what attracted our attention. I believe that the way she "sees" music and theatre will fit perfectly with our style of production. The combination of traditional, exotic and deliacately beautiful on one hand with brutally modern, everydayish and simply ugly will bring us the desired impact. Noriko's music will be a vital part of it.
Links:
Noriko on ABC TV
https://myspace.com/norikotadano
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Noriko-Tadano-Official-Facebook/117639724992803
http://www.japaninmelbourne.com.au/artice439/
"Noriko Tadano plays both traditional Japanese folk songs (Minyo) as well as original pieces on the Tsugaru Shamisen (Japanese Banjo). She has been playing Shamisen since she was 6 years old and has performed in Japan, Europe, Canada, Tonga and at festivals and events all over Australia. While traditional Minyo depicts the life and feelings of 'older' Japan, centering around the themes of love, family and the close connection with nature, Noriko's original pieces explore feelings and experiences through melodic notes and often heart pounding beats.
Noriko’s recent achievements include the ‘2009 Head Judge’s Special Award’ at the National Japanese Shamisen Competition held in Hirosaki - Japan, a solo performance at the Sydney Opera House and a number of dynamic shows at the International WOMADelaide world music festival with George Kamikawa 2010. She also performed on the popular ABC music quiz TV show ‘Spicks and Specks’ in February 2010.
Noriko is the founder of Australia’s first Shamisen group the ‘Shamys’. They formed in 2005 and have performed at cultural festivals and concerts throughout Victoria. With a mix of traditional and contemporary songs, the Shamisen ensemble creates powerful and synchronised sounds that engage the audience." (after Japan Art Directory in Australia: http://jad.jpf-sydney.org/artists/noriko-tadano/index.html )
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS:
BOOK NOW
Friday, July 11, 2014
Introducing NAOMI OTA - visual instalation artist/ designer
Our designer for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS is NAOMI OTA. I was introduced to Naomi and her work by Matt Crosby, who is a big fan of hers. We met, we talked, we agreed to collaborate. Everyman & The Pole Dancers seemed like an ideal platform to start our collaboration.
Here are some links to Naomi's work:
http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/themes/3514/naomi-ota-japanese-migrant-artist-circa-1990
www.naomiota.com
http://jad.jpf-sydney.org/artists/naomi-ota/index.html
http://www.multiculturalarts.com.au/artists/visual/naomiota.shtml
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qb5gPi9AMNQ
Naomi Ota - Visual installation artistNaomi Ota is an installation artist whose work uses fibrous materials. Her works ranges in scale from small detailed pieces to large spatially interactive designs. Naomi often draws on images and memories from the natural world and from the earth; places connected to emotional memory, places faraway in the imagination and calling on her memories of growing-up in Japan. Naomi’s works have been exhibited in various exhibitions in Australia, Singapore, Belgium, France, UK and Japan. Her works are in public collections, which include National Gallery of Victoria, Museum of Victoria, Art Bank and Kyoto Nishijin Textile Industrial Association. Naomi has extended her practice to include work on a range of national and international projects spanning butoh, contemporary dance, intercultural theatre, and experiential arts projects where she contributes interactive design and spatial elements. Her process is intuitive and collaborative. The result is often to lead the viewer to a more interactive sense of the performance space and an understanding of how expressive qualities of performance are multidimensional. Naomi has PhD in textile art from RMIT University and MAs in fine arts from RMIT University and the Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Monday, July 7, 2014
Friends of Auto Da Fe
Dear friends:
We need you! Quite desperately - as each theatre company needs
audiences, each production needs spectators, each event needs participants...
There is a plan in place. The plan starts with the WITKACY
READINGS @ La Mama in August, followed by EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS @
Metanoia Theatre in Melbourne first , then opening again in Tokyo. Then the next year
our very own Auto Da Fe Theatre Laboratory will present MUTE
(written and directed by Matt Crosby) followed by BETWEEN HEAVEN AND HER by
Dodo Gombar a very exciting playwright and the Artistic Director of the
Svandovo Divadlo Na Smichove Theatre Co. from Prague. And we will finish 2015 with
ABBA- I AM NOT a sequel to EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS.
In 2016 we are already planning a return co-production with
Shinjuku Ryozanpaku and a Witkacy Project (most likely based on the Tropical
Craze). As you can see, we are looking well into the future and we are trying
to build a supporter base, which will make our endeavours worthwhile. We need
to reach out to you and we need to let you know what our plans are. And,
as I said before: We need You! The friend, the spectator... We need a theatre addict, who
can help us to be. Without whom our plans, our work do not make sense at all.
Matt Crosby invented a brilliant platform for our communication
and mutual support: The Auto Da Fe Friends structure. You can read it, you can
share your opinions with us, but most importantly: You can help us by
introducing your circle of friends to the Friends of Auto Da Fe.
So, help us, please - the theatre needs You, we need You, we
cannot exist without You.
Get behind us like a sports' fan gets behind his team - and we
promise to do everything possible to deliver and to put on a production after
production which You will be proud to be a part of.
Thank You, my friends. In advance.
Thank You, regardless of your decision - thank You for
listening,
Tuesday, July 1, 2014
A quick up-date on the Witkacy Project:
The first part of this long term undertaking will take place at the Melbourne's legendary La Mama Theatre - as previously announced - on the 30th & 31st of August 2014. We will perform readings of THE BRAVE PRINCESS, THE POOR LITTLE BOY, COCKROACHES - three of Witkacy's juvenile micro- plays, the Witkacy PORTRAIT PAINTING FIRM REGULATIONS - the most bizzare and absurd set of rules one could imagine and yet, so amazingly honest and amusing and... fun to oblige and to perform, the excerpts from THE TROPICAL CRAZE (MR. PRICE) and fragments of Introduction to The Pure Form In Theatre. The translations are in progress with the first four works done and the latter two still to be completed.
Additionaly the Witkacologia.eu website offered us helping hand in promoting the event and possibly providing a Skype presence of one of their Witkacy specialists with a short lecture/introduction in case we need it. As our own Australian Witkacy addict, Professor John Gillies, agreed to do the intro lecture on The Pure Form and its Author, we may not need the help of the overseas men of knowledge, but it is nice to know that WITKACOLOGIA.EU people have noticed our event. They are the best experts in Witkacy work, art, philosophy and life in the world after all.
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS is now open for bookings , too.
The season starts on the 1st of October 2014 as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. You can book through the Fringe Festival website or through the Metanoia Theatre.
I will start introducing the cast and crew of the show soon.
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
The first part of this long term undertaking will take place at the Melbourne's legendary La Mama Theatre - as previously announced - on the 30th & 31st of August 2014. We will perform readings of THE BRAVE PRINCESS, THE POOR LITTLE BOY, COCKROACHES - three of Witkacy's juvenile micro- plays, the Witkacy PORTRAIT PAINTING FIRM REGULATIONS - the most bizzare and absurd set of rules one could imagine and yet, so amazingly honest and amusing and... fun to oblige and to perform, the excerpts from THE TROPICAL CRAZE (MR. PRICE) and fragments of Introduction to The Pure Form In Theatre. The translations are in progress with the first four works done and the latter two still to be completed.
Additionaly the Witkacologia.eu website offered us helping hand in promoting the event and possibly providing a Skype presence of one of their Witkacy specialists with a short lecture/introduction in case we need it. As our own Australian Witkacy addict, Professor John Gillies, agreed to do the intro lecture on The Pure Form and its Author, we may not need the help of the overseas men of knowledge, but it is nice to know that WITKACOLOGIA.EU people have noticed our event. They are the best experts in Witkacy work, art, philosophy and life in the world after all.
EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS is now open for bookings , too.
The season starts on the 1st of October 2014 as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival. You can book through the Fringe Festival website or through the Metanoia Theatre.
I will start introducing the cast and crew of the show soon.
Bookings for EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS: BOOK NOW
Saturday, June 7, 2014
INVITATION to La Mama
WITKACY READINGS
AUGUST 30 & 31
Every so often one of those events comes along. Lech Mackiewicz, Auto Da Fe Theatre and associate artists will celebrate the 100th year anniversary of Pure Form originator Witkacy’s stay in Australia during WWI.
A bohemian mob of Melbourne’s finest will gather inside and round the outside fire. Irini Vella will play, Witkacy’s wild absurdism will sing and his ideas on the Pure Form will find air.
Directed by Lech Mackiewicz
Music improvised by Irini Vella
Performers: Jane Bayly, Matt Crosby, Maude Davey, Tom Davies, Kathleen Doyle, Lech Mackiewicz, Majid Shokor, Brendon Snow, Emily Tomlins and Reece Vella.
Sat, Sun 2pm
$15 Full | $10 Concession | Approx 120 Minutes
La Mama Theatre
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
Witkacy in Australia - 100th anniversary
WITKACY
Witkacy ! Committed suicide on 18 September 1939 ( a drug overdose combined with wrists slitting). He was 54 when he died. An eccentric artist and free thinker, not widely recognized during his lifetime nowdays he is listed as a leading theatrical innovator and one of the outstanding artists of the European avant-garde: The Forefather of the Theatre of Absurd. The creator of The Pure Form In Theatre. Playwright and artist Sanisław Ignacy Witkiewicz commonly known as "Witkacy", was a Polish playwright, novelist, painter, photographer and philosopher. He wrote about 40 plays, which were directly challenging (and mocking, too) the most popular theatre conventions of his times, mostly operetta, melodrama and farce. Only 21 of his works for theatre survived the World War Two.
Why mention him now?
This year – 2014 – marks the 100th anniversary of Witkacy’s trip to Australia. In 1914 Witkacy was invited to take part in a British scientific expedition to Oceania as a photographer-illustrator with a task of documenting the research. In July 1914 the expedition arrived in Australia, where Witkacy learned about the outbreak of the First World War. He decided to return to Europe.
That short stay in Australia made a big impact on the artist himself and on his later writings. It consequently resulted in Witkacy's "tropical" plays inspired by the playwright's trip to the land Down Under:
“Mr. Price, or Tropical Madness is a drama of heightened passion and greed among British colonists in Rangoon who seem to have stepped out of Joseph Conrad's tales of the South Seas.
Metaphysics of a Two headed Calf, set in New Guinea and Australia, pits savage European imperialists against a native tribal Australia and pits savage European imperialists against a native tribal chieftain whose fetish of a great golden frog offers greater insight into the mystery of existence than the Westerners' shallow rationalism.
Both plays puncture the white rulers' poses of superiority and parody their images of the tropical” * (From the foreword to the American Edition of Witkacy’s plays translated by Daniel Gerould)
Here is our long term plan: Auto Da Fe will be revisiting Witkacy’s works in context of their relation to Australia ( Australia being a socio-geo-metaphysical phenomenon in Witkacy’s life) as part of our research/experimental wing. The Witkacy Project will not be limited to the two above mentioned plays, but they lend themselves as a natural starting point for this kind of journey. No rush, no hurry. We will take it step by step.
P.S. For those interested: This year a Sydney based Australian installation artist John Gillies is planning to launch his film-installation project focusing on Witkacy’s visit to Australia - “The End Of The Line”: http://vimeo.com/85526539
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
Everyman & The Pole Dancers: PLAYWRITING AUSTRALIA supported workshop in Melbourne - April 2014
The reading was folowed by the mentioned earlier Tokyo workshop, made possible by the grant from the PLAYKING FOUNDATION. Then PLAYWRITING AUSTRALIA supported our next workshop, which took place in Melbourne in the first week of April. Here is the first report :
"I have just returned from Melbourne, where we completed a five-day workshop on my new play (and our new Auto Da Fe Theatreproject), EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS. The work was divided into three stages with Noriko Tadano (our wonderful composer) recording the musical material at first, followed by my individual sessions with the actors, who then were to examine the influence of the speech-specific music on the text, in order to introduce possible changes to the major monologues.
"I have just returned from Melbourne, where we completed a five-day workshop on my new play (and our new Auto Da Fe Theatreproject), EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS. The work was divided into three stages with Noriko Tadano (our wonderful composer) recording the musical material at first, followed by my individual sessions with the actors, who then were to examine the influence of the speech-specific music on the text, in order to introduce possible changes to the major monologues.
Our primary goal was finding the characters’ individual voices, expressed through their language, and this is largely what we focused on during the workshops. The outcome was not all as expected, but nevertheless the work was, as ever, very exciting and interesting (maybe with the exception of one of the cast – Matt Crosby – temporarily losing his voice in the process- an event neither exciting nor interesting but a bit annoying and a bit funny in it's manifestation). As a result of the experiment I will be introducing some changes to the script. We also found that some fragments of the play proved stronger on their own than with the music, an unexpected discovery, but welcome as any realisation. In these instances previously scripted musical notes will have to make way for words.
Our actors, being such a wonderful and committed bunch of artists, ensured that I have plenty of material to work back through in the next few months, before we start the proper rehearsal period in September. Some of the cuts are already out. Some of the re-writes are already in. I can only say that it's been an incredibly successful week in the office.
This workshop enabled me to get together with some of the most accomplished Melbourne actors. Their input, which draws on their insights and knowledge of the stage craft, I rate as invaluable. However, the way I see it, the whole process doesn’t end here. When we meet again the editing and polishing of the text will continue, right until the day we open (at the Metanoia Theatre in Brunswick; Melbourne) - possibly even until the day we draw curtains on the last performance (at the Shinjuku Ryozanpaku Studio Theatre; Tokyo).
As we all know, theatre is an ever transforming form of art. No performance is the same each night. The production lives its own life and so does the play. It is a living being. It’s a process. We have initiated this process and Playwriting Australia has come aboard to support us and to make possible the further development of what we believe to be a fresh and exciting new play/project. We are grateful for the opportunity they provided us. Each day we spend working on the script makes the final outcome better. Thank you Playwriting Australia for recognising the potential in our project and supporting the always creative and often demanding process it requires to bring to fruition.
Lech Mackiewicz"
The first public reading of EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS took place at the Metanoia Theatre on the 12th of February 2014 with the following cast: Matt Crosby (Grandfather), Jane Bayly ( Grandmother), Maude Davey (Everyman), Emily Tomlins (Mother), Greg Ulfan (Father), Nikki Shiels (Daughter), Kathleen Doyle (Son), Glynis Angell (Narrator) Noriko Tadano ( Musician).
Photo: Naomi Otta.
Sunday, April 13, 2014
Everyman & The Pole Dancers: PLAYKING FOUNDATION supported Tokyo workshop - March 2014
Keina Denda will play Daughter and Kazuto Shimamoto will play Father in both: Melbourne and Tokyo productions of EVERYMAN & THE POLE DANCERS. During the Tokyo workshop we worked mostly on their Solo Pieces ( the English version)
Kazuto Shimamoto on stage in Tokyo.
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