Z-PAC THEATRE SEASON LAUNCH 2023
Our Season launch was held on Friday 4th November at the theatre, with an opening address from Katie O’Neill to introduce our outgoing Artistic Director Theresa Saunders and incoming Artistic Director Elliot Ashton. Elliot introduced the line up of shows for 2023.
Opening presentation was made by Jeff Sweeney to introduce “Nevermore” a musical production. Roger Jennings followed with his presentation on “Dry Rot”, Theresa Saunders presented on “Sense and Sensibility. Tiffany Youngs our newest Director introduced her first production “The Lovely Bones”. Finally standing in for Judith La Forest, Elliot Ashton presented on Chook Chook / Snagged.
In total five productions are in the line-up for 2023!
OUR LINE UP OF SHOWS FOR 2023!
NEVERMORE (10th MAR - 26th MAR 2023) Director- Jeff Sweeney
NEVERMORE: The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe is a full musical production telling a fantastical history of the life of Edgar Allan Poe, written by Jonathan Christenson, but incorporating many of Poe’s own works, and performed with a mixture of sung and spoken lyrics, but no true dialogue. With the driving beat of the music leading the players - stepping, from moment to moment, from the macabre to the mundane; from the natural to the supernatural with equal footing; this performance presents a look at Poe’s life, blending his dreams, his nightmares and his past into a seamless tale - where it is impossible to say for certain what is and isn’t reality.
There are thoughts that will not part, that will not leave us in peace
And there are visions, dark and sinister, that never will cease.
A darkened tide of endless pride. A mystery and a dream.
A dream so fraught, a wild thought, the same somnambulant theme:-
All that we see, all that we seem, is but a dream within a dream.
Nevermore will be directed by Jeff Sweeney, who has been Z-PAC’s Technical Director since 2016, providing lighting and sound support to many productions, but has occasionally expanded into directing the productions themselves – beginning with the two one-act shows “A View from the Obelisk” and “Roman Fever” (under the combined title of “Pizzazz”) in 2016; and most recently with the pantomime production of “Red Riding Hood” in 2021. Needless to say, he has again taken a foray into the quirky and unusual with Nevermore and is looking forward to stretching the boundaries of the theatre’s equipment and performers in hopes of presenting a delight for the senses.
DRY ROT (12th MAY – 27th MAY 2023) Director - Roger Jennings
DRY ROT is a farce written by John Chapman and produced at the Whitehall Theatre in 1954. Since then, it has been played all over the world and almost continuously as there is a production on somewhere being enjoyed by an appreciative audience.
This classic British farce deals with a crazy, but likeable crooked bookie and his pair of dysfunctional supporters.
Who, in order to be near their latest scam and the racecourse, take rooms in an old and tatty country hotel run by a retired Colonel, his wife and daughter.
Together with other crazy characters, secret rooms, sliding panels, and a bit of a romance, we have a traditional farce that requires split second timing and high-speed action from all! Every part is a gem!
Why do such and older farce? It is as fresh and as funny as the day it was written, it contains pure comedy and no swearing and is suitable for all ages. I hope you can come and appreciate what fun it is. It will run for eight performances from May 12th to May 27th 2022.
Roger Jennings is the director, set builder, stage manager, tea maker and all round fat controller.
SENSE AND SENSIBILITY (4th AUG – 20th
AUG 2023) Director – Theresa Saunders
Pace, comedy and uncompromising wit – expect it all in Kate Hamill’s dazzling, on-steroids version of this Jane Austen classic you just won’t want to miss!
Newly widowed and under much reduced circumstances, Mrs Dashwood is forced to move herself and her daughters (the prudent practical Elinor, the exuberant romantic Marianne and the young sprightly Margaret) from their grand family home to a humble country cottage. But diminished social circumstances do not translate to reduced torments of the heart. Suitors surround and gossip whirls as all of the Dashwood’s fight for purpose, place and love.
Directed by Theresa Saunders, this version of Jane Austen’s literary masterpiece explodes with invention and fun. Watch as the Dashwood’s navigate society with shrewdness, warmth, and comical folly.
“...an unconditional delight...invigorating...a bouncy, jaunty take on Austen...” - The New York Times
“Perhaps the greatest stage adaptation of this novel in history.” - The Huffington Post
THE LOVELY BONES (29th
SEP – 15th OCT, 2023) Director – Tiffany Youngs
Susie Salmon is just like any other
young girl. She wants to be beautiful, adores her charm bracelet and has a
crush on a boy from school. There’s only one big difference -
Susie is dead. Now she can only observe while her family manage their grief in
their different ways. Her father, Jack is obsessed with identifying the killer.
Her mother, Abigail is desperate to create a different life for herself. And
her sister, Lindsey is discovering the opposite sex with experiences that Susie
will never know. Susie is desperate to help them and there might be a way of
reaching them...
Alice
Sebold’s novel The Lovely Bones is
a unique coming-of-age tale that captured the hearts of readers throughout the
world. Award-winning playwright Bryony Lavery has adapted it for this
unforgettable play about life after loss.
Contains
strong adult themes which may be confronting.
CHOOK CHOOK & SNAGGED (24th NOV – 10th DEC, 2023) Director – Judith La Forest
Chook Chook is a very funny, satirical look at the various ways we can respond to the knowledge of confinement- political, emotional, traditional.
This is the story about some chickens in a shed but with a human moral issue. It has something to do with said confinement and the cages. Life energy can be trapped or exploited to the advantages of an indifferent 'system'. It also forces us to consider the ethics of battery farming.
The 'hens' respond to the knowledge of confinement through deliberate indifference; depression; sublimation in distracting activity; frustration; rage; collusion and rebellion. What matters most is to retain the naïve but crucial vision of an ideal existence.
In a battery farm Valmai, Crissy, Georgia and Bron refer to their cages as 'compartments' and eat the same food day after day, under the same continuous 'sun' (fluorescent light). Valmai, an older chook, tries to educate young 'hormonal' Crissy, explaining that "you just get on with things and don't think of roosters or the outside world".
There is a surprising finale which is not to be missed!
Snagged is about young people in regional Australia. However, the theme is universal. Set in the fictitious town of Oxbrook, which is like so many country towns where everyone knows everyone else and most young people want to get out.
Sam, the butcher's daughter and closet vegetarian, is no different. She and her best mate Beth, plan to head to Brisbane as soon as the last year of High School ends; to start their new careers and cut a swathe through Brisbane's eligible bachelors. That is until Sam meets Josh. Josh has done the unthinkable and moved back home from Brisbane. He wants to start his own IT career and mend relationship fences with his family.
Snagged is a poignant, yet seriously funny story about coming of age, discovering who you are and, of course, vegetarian sausages!
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