ANATOMY OF A SUICIDE By Alice Birch | Directed by Catarina Hebbard 18 - 29 May 2021 New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts
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Presented by Metro Arts and BC Productions Qld in association with e.g and Big Scary Animal ANATOMY OF A SUICIDE By Alice Birch | Directed by Catarina Hebbard 18 - 29 May 2021 New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts
DIRECTOR’S NOTES I first read this script in 2018 as I was travelling across to Adelaide Fringe Festival, and I could not put it down. I was completely drawn in by Alice’s storytelling, building from one story to three stories told simultaneously, written like a score, across a page. I read a story at a time at first and went back to read across the page, such was the complexity of the dialogue. As I said, I could not put it down. Birch has created a beautiful tapestry of intergenerational trauma, that showcases the power of women in all their forms and highlights the monumental effect that our mental health has on our day to day lives. I started thinking about how it could be done, how had it been presented in the past? And here began my relationship with this incredible work. From a directorial point of view the challenge of telling the story of three generations simultaneously means that you are, in fact, directing three shows in one. NO. MEAN. FEAT. Alice’s writing has in-built mechanisms that guide the process – helping us navigate with natural ebbs and flows written into each scene. I spoke to Rebecca Alexander (my co-artistic director) and once she had read the script, we both agreed we needed to bring this to Brisbane audiences. In 2019 I gathered a group of actors together to read the work, and it was at this point I knew we absolutely had to do it. It all seemed possible and very exciting. Fast forward to 2021, Metro Arts and the New Benner Theatre. We all know what last year was like, so, to begin this year by coming together with a cast of 10 performers and a backstage team of 10 hardworking creatives has been an absolute pleasure. Bringing this beauty of a beast of a show together certainly hasn’t been easy and at times felt like an insurmountable challenge. But somehow despite rainstorms, C**** Lockdowns and negotiating 20 people’s lives and timetables, We. Are. Here. None of this would have been possible without the tireless work of my co-artistic director Rebecca Alexander and our co-producers Zoe Houghton (Big Scary Animal) and Elise Greig e.g., three amazing kick-ass women, all of whom have put their blood, sweat and tears (both literal and metaphorical) into this production. Thank you for supporting this work and indie artists in Brisbane, we hope to see you again. With love, Catarina THANK YOUS Shane Anthony, Helen O’Leary, Kerith Atkinson, Paige Poulier, Morgan Francis, Richard Lund, Shideh Faramand, Lisa O’Neill, Anatoly Frusin, Matt Seery, QT, Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Kristina Olson, Jess Hansen, Krissy Kneen, Ben Hughes, John Felmingham, the team at Metro Arts & all our families & friends for their support. The team would like to say a heart-felt thanks to Jessica Veurman for being in the room over the last few weeks, your support has been so gratefully appreciated.
BIOGRAPHIES Alice Birch: Playwright Alice is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter whose recent plays include [BLANK] (Donmar Warehouse / Clean Break); Orlando (Schaubühne, Berlin) and Anatomy of a Suicide (Royal Court Theatre). Alice wrote on the TV adaptation of Normal People, alongside Sally Rooney and Mark O’Rowe, for which she and Sally were nominated for an Emmy. She also worked as Story Editor on Season Two of Succession for HBO and is currently developing a series for Annapurna and Amazon with Rachel Weisz. Her first feature was Lady Macbeth which won five British Independent Film Awards in 2017 including Best Screenplay. Her second feature will be an adaptation of the Graham Swift novel Mothering Sunday for Number 9 Films and Film 4. Other Awards include: Winner Susan Smith Blackburn Prize 2018, George Devine Award (for Revolt. She said. Revolt again); Arts Foundation Award for Playwriting. Catarina Hebbard: Director Catarina holds both Arts (Acting) and Education degrees from QUT and Griffith respectively and has worked in Brisbane as a freelance director, actor, voice-over artist, mentor and teacher for over 20 years. As a Director, her most recent credits include: Children of the Sun (QUT), Poison (EG & Metro Arts), Spike Heels (QUT), the award winning Wilbur the Optical Whale and Look Mum…No Hands!!! and Love Me; (co-director indelabilityarts), Bumpy Angels and DNA (The Arts Centre Gold Coast), Dolores (Anywhere Theatre Festival), Head Full of Love (Re-mount & National Tour 2015 QT/C), The Pitch & Eight (QT/C), Medea Redux: Awkward Conversations (Daniel Evans & Metro Arts), Machina (La Boite Indie), Company and The Boy From Oz (Ignatians Musical Society), The Laramie Project (QUT), Last Drinks (Short and Sweet 2013), Un-PC, Nobody Does it Like Me and Hardly the Portraitof a Lady (NDILM Productions), Catholic School Girls (co-production with Three Sisters) and Minefields and Miniskirts (MadCat Creative connections). As an Actor she has worked with companies including, La Boite, QT, 23rd Productions, KITE, Harvest Rain, Emerge, Crossbow, Mixed Company, Starlight Theatre Co-op, Theatre Anyplace & the Forward Movement. Her film and TV Credits include Girl Clock, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Reef’n’Beef, The Down under Mystery Tour & K9. Catarina is an alumni of the Women Directors’ Program, Melbourne Theatre Company (2015), was Creative Associate at QT(C) (2011) and is the Co-Artistic Director & Co-Founder of indelabilityarts & BC Productions Qld. CAST Rebecca Alexander: Anna Rebecca holds both Acting (USQ) and Education degrees (Griffith University) and works as an Actor, Workshop Facilitator, Producer and Theatre Maker. After living in the UK, Rebecca returned to Brisbane and toured for Shake & Stir Theatre Company and founded award winning theatre company, indelabilityarts. Rebecca has worked with Queensland Theatre and La Boite Theatre Company as a workshop facilitator and teaches for NIDA. Other theatre credits include, That’s What She Said (The Good Room) Wilbur the Optical Whale (indelabilityarts), Bronte, Catholic School Girls, (ThreeSisters productions), Snagged (Debase Productions) Summer Wonderland (La Boite Theatre Company), Much Ado About Nothing, (4MBS Classic FM), Sensational Harry & Idotluvdotu (Qld Arts Council )and A Man With Five Children (Cement Box Theatre). Rebecca is also involved with numerous creative developments and play readings throughout Queensland and can be seen in a number of commercials and presenting roles across Australian television. Rebecca is the co-Artistic Director of indelabilityarts and BC Productions Qld.
Elise Greig: Carol Elise is an actor/playwright who has been recognized by the Matilda Awards on four occasions for her outstanding contribution to Queensland Theatre. Elise has also received a CentreScreen Award for her performance in Good Girls (Short Film Corner Cannes & New Filmmakers New York) and three Goldie Awards for her voiceover work. Elise’s most recent play Night Sky Over Our Town was developed through Qld Conservatorium Griffith University and her work Magpie was longlisted for the QPDA 2018 and had a critically successful season at Brisbane Powerhouse in 2019. Theatre credits include: That’s What She Said (Metro Arts), The Bull, The Moon and the Coronet of Stars (QT Quality Time), Reagan Kelly (Rocket Boy), Poison and Swallow (Metro and EG), Spring Awakening (Metro and Underground), A Little Night Music (Brisbane Philharmonic), The Story of Brisbane (Playabout and Powerhouse), Spectate (Metro), Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls (La Boite/QBFM), The Spirit of The Land (La Boite), Hopelessly Devoted (Glen Street, Sydney), Secret Bridesmaids’ Business (La Boite/QPAC), Explosions (QTC), Summer Rain (QTC), Modd Madame Butterfly (QTC). Elise has worked extensively in film and TV and is currently the voice of Mrs. Kangaroo in Peppa Pig. Zoe Houghton: Bonnie Zoë graduated from NIDA in 2002 and has since been working regularly as an actor in theatre, film and television. During her time in Sydney she was an active member of the LGBTQI community and regularly participated in the Mardi Gras parade and festival with the Oz Showbiz Cares organisation. Zoë is a long standing teacher for NIDA, an arts facilitator, theatre maker, writer and director. Zoë is passionate about the projects she has facilitated in remote Indigenous communities for the past decade. She is a Matilda nominated actor and now runs an independent theatre company called Big Scary Animal. Zoë lives in Brisbane with her wife and two children. Jodie Le Vesconte: Jo / Laura / Lola Jodie has worked consistently as a professional actor for nearly two decades, performing on independent and main stages across the country and internationally. She is a core actor with theatre company RealTV comprising playwright Angela Betzien, Leticia Caceres and Pete Goodwin. Jodie performed in RealTV’s critically acclaimed, award winning plays Princess of Suburbia, War Crimes, Hoods and Children of the Black Skirt. With RealTV she has performed at major venues and festivals across the country including Come Out International Children’s Festival, Sydney Opera House, Melbourne Arts Centre and Brisbane Powerhouse. In 2009 Jodie toured nationally with the powerful one woman show Shape of a Girl presented by The Opera House. In 2011 Jodie was enrolled as cast/devisor in My Darling Patricia’s, Africa. In the same year Jodie was one of four professional actors performing in Happiness as part of The Malthouse’s acclaimed Suitcase Series. Jodie performed in her second Suitcase Series at The Malthouse in 2017 and played the title role of Harry in the award winning The Trouble With Harry at the Seymore Centre for which she was nominated Best Actor at the Sydney Theatre Awards. In 2018 Jodie performed in a successful sell out season of Lost Boys by Lachlan Philpott at IPAC in Wollongong. In 2019 Jodie toured with Queensland Theatre in The Shot by Angela Betzien. This year Jodie played Noelene in David Williamson’s Family Values for Queensland Theatre’s Play Club.
Stephen Geronimos: Jamie Stephen made his professional stage debut in Kooemba Jdarra’s The Mack and has since gone on to work in film, stage, national commercial campaigns and the corporate coaching arena in Brisbane and Sydney. His film credits include voicing the character George in The Queen and I, an animated film shown at major galleries across Australia and The Beehive, show at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York. In 2012 he graduated from QUT with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting). His stage credits include What It Feels Like, As You Like It, The Crucible, Edward II, Three Sisters, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot (QUT) and Angel Gear (La Boite). His corporate work has seen him assisting banks, educational institutions and businesses to foster workplace communication and networking skills. Stephen is delighted to tread the boards in Brisbane again at the new Metro Arts. Daniel Murphy: John Daniel Murphy has worked in Brisbane theatre for almost forty years, performing with Queensland Theatre (including Nearer the Gods, Brisbane, Hamlet, Away, Hitchcock Blonde), La Boîte (Dance of Jeremiah, There Goes the Neighbourhood), Belloo (Motherland), 4MBS, Elbow Room, Oscar, Kooemba Jdarra, Matrix, green and Toadshow. He received a Matilda award for playing Alfred Hitchcock and has twice been paid to impersonate David Attenborough. Other film and TV work includes Closing Night, Wanted, Mabo, Time Traveller and The Real Macaw. He was a member of the Lawless Murphys a cappella group and co-wrote the cult comic Platinum Grit. Astrid Wells Cooper: Emma / Karen / Esther / May / Diane Astrid Wells Cooper is best known for her roles as Dawn in the hit ABC Comedy series Rosehaven, Skyla in the animation series Space Chickens in Space (9Go!/ STAN) and Jean in The Kettering Incident (Foxtel). Astrid’s native habitat is comedy and she has regularly put herself in time out in the rehearsal room for disruptive behaviour. She loves creating characters for sketch comedy and has developed popular characters for film and social media. Astrid feels privileged to be making her Brisbane theatre debut with such a fabulous, kind and supportive team in Anatomy of a Suicide. Triona Giles: Daisy/Child/Anna Triona is thrilled to join the cast in this production of Anatomy of a Suicide, as her theatre debut since graduating from her Bachelor of Acting at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University. Since a young age, Triona’s desire and passion towards story-telling came to fruition upon viewing productions in London’s West End. During her studies at QCGU, Triona has portrayed Coral in Away (and Voice Captain), Quince in A Midsummer Nights Dream (Voice Captain), Luciana in The Comedy of Errors, Mary in Claire Christian’s An Exact Point in Time, and Masha in Three Sisters. Triona delights in new challenges, and her passionate desire drives her towards further discovering, developing and honing her craft, and adding her voice to the performing arts to promote work that reflects the diversity of our world.
Tom Yaxley: Dan / Dave / Felix / Luke / Nick Tom graduated from QUT’s BFA Acting Program in 2016 and has completed further training with 16th Street Studios which has included working with Patsy Rodenburg and L.A. improvisation group The Groundlings. Tom has worked in creative development with a range of companies including Queensland Theatre, Dead Puppets Society and Big Sky Entertainment. For QT he played Gavin in Mr Baileys Minder by Debra Oswald for their online Play Club (dir. Lee Lewis) and was a member of their 2020 Teaching Artist program and continues to teach through the Scene Project and young artist ensemble. In 2019, Tom played Sal in Flood by Chris Isaacs (dir. Tyler Harlum), independently produced as part of Anywhere Theatre Festival by Brie Jurss and Emma Lamberton. In 2017 he was an actor for the Grin and Tonic school touring ensemble and that same year he produced and acted in the independent premiere of The Sublime by Brendan Cowell (dir. David Bell). Tom plays Sgt. Neil Rankin in the 2019 film Danger Close – The Battle of Long Tan (dir. Kriv Stenders). Tom is a proud Equity member and has participated in MEAA’s workshops with Kevin Jackson, Matt Skrobalak, Kerry Barden and Alison Telford. Nikhil Singh: Tim / Toby / Steve / Mark Nikhil Singh is a recent graduate of QUT’s BFA (Acting) program. He has worked professionally with theatre companies in Brisbane and Sydney including Queensland Theatre, STC, Griffin and Bell Shakespeare. He hopes to one day own a cat. Or many. ADDITIONAL CREATIVES Laura Bamford: Production Manager Laura Bamford is a Brisbane based musician come Production Manager. After volunteering for Brisbane theatre company indelabilityArts since their inception in 2015 she has continued to develop her skills Assistant Stage Managing and Production Managing shows such as Dolores, Look Mum No Hands and Wilbur the Optical Whale. She has been a dance captain as part of the Australian National Tour of Hairspray: The Arena Spectacular and the ensemble of the Grease: The Arena Experience, Australian National Tour. When she is not production managing, coaching group fitness classes or writing music you can find her performing under the name Laura Frank. Angela Ponting: Stage Manager Angela Ponting is a jack of all trades, master of some. Having completed her Bachelor of Theatre Arts in Stage Management and Technical Production at the University of Southern Queensland in 2007, she has worked professionally through Brisbane as a designer and stage manager, as well as a writer, performer and assistant director. Her most recent credits include working as a QPAC Stage Manager; Women in Voice 2019 (Director Mentee); Becoming Bill, Old Fashioned Production Company (Stage Manager); Charlotte’s Web, RAVA Productions (Stage Manager); inaugural Curious Arts Festival Toowoomba (Stage Manager); Kinky Boots, Empire Theatre (Assistant Director). Her passion for performing has also seen her take on a number of roles in local Toowoomba productions, as well as debuting her own cabaret, Smiling at Strangers, as part of the 2017 Homegrown Series. She is currently working on another cabaret with her collaborative partner, Harrison Paroz, called Please Swipe Right.
Jeremy Gordon: AV Design Jeremy Gordon is a stage manager, technician and performance maker who holds a Bachelor of Arts in Contemporary and Applied Theatre and a Certificate II in Information Technology. Since 2014, Jeremy has haphazardly engaged in video design alongside being a regular stage manager. In 2019 he was nominated for Best Video Design alongside Nathan Sibthorpe for their combined work on STATUM. Video Design credits include: We Should Do This Again Sometime… (2high 2014), The Customer is Always Right! (Short+Sweet 2015), Save, Sustain, Slay! (Brisbane Powerhouse, 2016), The Final Frontier (SunPAC, 2017), In-Tents (Villanova College, 2017), So, What Are Your Demands? (Metro Arts, 2018), Greetings From Yeppoon (Short+Sweet 2018), Puff Post (Villanova College, 2018), Rovers (Brisbane Festival, 2018), Statum (Brisbane Powerhouse, 2019), That’s What She Said (Metro Arts, 2020), Outside (QPAC, 2020), Bunker (Brisbane Powerhouse, 2020). Raymond Milner: Production Designer Designer Raymond Milner is an award nominated Scenic Designer working across theatre, dance, opera, festivals and exhibitions. Raymond graduated from the University of Southern Queensland with a Bachelor of Theatre Arts in 2009 and in 2014 achieved a Diploma of Interior design from CATC Design School. In his career he has worked with Queensland Theatre, Brisbane Festival, Brisbane Powerhouse, Events Tourism Queensland and the State Library of Queensland along with many independent artists including; Understudy Productions, THAT Production Company, Old Fashioned Production Company, EG Productions, Diane Gough Productions and Pentimento Productions. In 2015 he was nominated for a Matilda Award; Best Design (set and costume) for his work on Pentimento Production’s Heavenly Bodies. Recent credits include: Becoming Bill – Old Fashioned Production Company 2019; Kill Climate Deniers - THAT Production Company and Metro Arts 2019; Season Of Contemporary American Plays 2019 (The Ladies and Sons of the Prophet) – Queensland University of Technology; Six Hundred Ways to Filter a Sunset – Queensland Theatre 2018; Bare - Understudy Productions 2018 and Poison – EG Productions 2018. Selected Credits: Breaking the Code - QUT; The New Black – Follies Productions; Boys of Sondheim, A Very Naughty Christmas The Second Coming - Understudy Productions; Cosi - Beenleigh Theatre Group; Two Weeks With The Queen – THAT Production Company; Les Miserables - Savoyards Musical Theatre; Christine Felmingham: Lighting Designer Lighting Designs: Dirty Laundry (The Good Room); MOTH (Queensland Theatre); The Type (Pink Matter); Boyle & Waters in LEOTARD (Metro Arts); STATUM (Counterpilot & Flipside Circus); The Secret Garden (Queensland Theatre); TRUTHMACHINE (Counterpilot); The Trial (Queensland Theatre); Echo (Expressions Dance Company); Sweet Charity (Understudy Productions); Rovers (Belloo Creative); The Sound of a Finished Kiss (Now Look Here); Crunch Time (Counterpilot); The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek (Playlab & La Boite); Spectate (Counterpilot); Short+Sweet 2017 (Short+Sweet QLD); Splendour (Now Look Here); Short+Sweet 2016 (Short+Sweet QLD); Allen (Awkward Productions); Architects Reborn: Arena Spectacular (Architects of Sound); A Slight Ache and The Lover (Now Look Here); Children of the Sun (QUT Acting); Of Little Matter (Vena Cava Productions) and Iphigenia 2.0 (Vena Cava Productions). Associate/ Assistant designs: Ben Hughes: From Darkness (La Boite). David Walters: Everyday Requiem (Expressions Dance Company); Lest we Forget (Queensland Ballet); Prize Fighter (La Boite Theatre Company). Internships: David Walters: Ladies in Black (Queensland Theatre); Prize Fighter (La Boite Theatre Company). Ben Hughes: Medea (La Boite Theatre Company); Samson (La Boite/ Belvoir Theatre Companies); Jason Glenwright: Sunnytown (La Boite/ Shot in the Dark); Matt Scott: Red Shoes (Expressions Dance Company).
Phil Hagstrom: Sound Designer Phil Hagstrom has worked as a composer, sound designer and sound recordist for fifteen years, since graduating with a Bachelor of Music from James Cook University. Credits include. Theatre: Wilbur the Optical Whale (Indelability Arts) Love me (Indelability Arts) Boston Marriage (Queensland Theatre Company) Machina (La Boîte Indie) Water falling Down (Queensland Theatre Company) Tender (… and moor theatre) My Night With Harold (23rd Productions) Film: Crawl, Bad Behaviour, Crooked Business. Television: Sally and Possum, Mysteries of the Shark Coast, Worlds Worst Venom, Barney’s Barrier Reef. Oliver Hetherington-Page: Assistant Director Oliver Hetherington-Page is an emerging artist who graduated from QUT with a BFA Drama (With Distinction) at the end of 2019. Since graduating, Oliver has volunteered for Imaginary Theatre and is a member of Indelabilityarts ensemble. Oliver began studying performance with Fame Theatre Company at age five and has also performed with Little Red Theatre Company, Brisbane Arts Theatre, Brisbane Youth Drama Ensemble, Harvest Rain and Studio Theatre. In 2020 Oliver received an Access Arts Grant to fund his Cabaret The No Bang Theory which was Showcased at the Under Cover Artist Festival Online. His first directorial effort Cramping My Style debuted as part of Short and Sweet in 2019. Tenielle Plunkett: Directors observer & ASM Graduating in 2018, Tenielle Plunkett is armed with a Bachelor of Acting and Performance, awarded with Excellence after she trained to hone her dramatic presence, emotional resources, and character development toolkit. Since 2015, Plunkett has performed in numerous theatrical productions, including Hello! Gaz Rhumbo, Regis Anima, Have I None, and 13. She has also been fortunate enough to expand her filmography by taking part in a myriad of student films. She debuted her first full-length solo performance in 2019, and loves to embrace any and all opportunities to challenge herself as an artist. This is her Assistant Stage Manager debut.” Sarah Robertson: ASM Sarah Robertson originally worked in the theatre industry as a Marketing Manager, but has since found a love for more hands-on back-stage involvement. She has worked as an Assistant Stage Manager on some of Brisbane’s most exciting new works. She has worked on projects spearheaded by The Good Room, Myths Made Here, Australian Womens Music, Bleach* Festival, School2Stage and more. She has navigated her way through most of Brisbane’s theatre venues, HOTA at the Gold Coast and Chapel Off Chapel in Melbourne. Her passion and excitement for the theatre grows with each project she completes. Merrin Benson: Company Counsellor When asking to be a support for such a play, it made me reflect on my role of who I am, why is it important, what resonates for me in taking this project on. It’s a simple one, I am a mother, a sister, daughter, partner, friend, support worker and student. In my life I have been directly affected by the perils of mental health personally and with my brothers life being taken too soon by Suicide. It has been a pleasure working as support counsellor for BC Productions qld and the team.
METRO ARTS’ PROGRAMMING TEAM JO THOMAS DANIELLE CARNEY AMELIA (MILLY) WALKER CEO + Creative Director Producer Associate Producer SHANI GOULD LAMISSE HAMOUDA Programming and Ticketing Associate Producer Administrator Metro Arts and the artists acknowledge the Jagera and Turrbal peoples, as the custodians of this land, recognising their connection to land, waters and community. We honour the story-telling and art- making at the heart of First Nation’s cultures, and the enrichment it gives to the lives of all Australians. METRO ARTS PARTNERS Metro Arts is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Metro Arts is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Communities, Housing and Digital Economy. Metro Arts acknowledges West Village and Hutchinson Metro Arts is proudly supported by TAFE Queensland Builders as Founding Venue Partners. as Education Partner. The Emerging Producer Xchange is supported by The Ian Potter Foundation. Metro Arts acknowledge the generosity of our Patron, Wesley Enoch AM. EVENT PARTNERS Proudly supported by Arts Queensland through the Queensland Arts Showcase Program and stART funding, Creative Partnerships Australia through the Australian Cultural Fund - MatchLab funding, Philip Bacon Galleries, PlayLab, Micah & Brisbane Powerhouse.
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