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Showing posts with label University of Western Australia. Show all posts
Showing posts with label University of Western Australia. Show all posts

Othello at the New Fortune Theatre - December 2023 - book now


Book now!

https://www.ticketswa.com/event/othello-shakespeares-classic-tragedy

6-9 & 14-16 December 2023

New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia

Othello is a Moorish military commander, serving as a Venetian general who has just married his love, Desdemona, in secret and against the wishes of her mother. They have been posted to Cyprus, with the recently promoted Cassio. However, Iago, ensign to Othello, is furious about being overlooked for promotion, jealous of Othello’s position and is determined to change his fortunes, no matter who gets caught up in the process. A play about passion and jealousy, this will be the first time GRADS has produced this tragedy.

Due to its enduring themes of passion, jealousy, and race, Othello is still topical and popular and is widely performed, with numerous adaptations.

GRADS is proud to be performing this classic tragedy in the open-air of the New Fortune Theatre




Richard III - March 8-18, 2023 - Reviews & Photos

REVIEWS


"The Graduate Dramatic Society presents Western Australia’s first performance of Shakespeare’s Richard III in many years. This tragedy is well presented and performed in the atmospheric venue of the New Fortune Theatre, an outdoor venue with similar dimensions to Shakespeare’s own theatre..." See full review


"NEW Fortune Theatre’s production of William Shakespeare’s Richard III is a dark yet entertaining tour de force that yokes the great bard into a contemporary context. The production assembles a talented cast from The Graduate Dramatic Society of WA to deliver a contemporary take on Shakespeare’s most reviled villain, Richard III of Gloucester..." See full review


PHOTOS
















Comedy of Errors - Opening Soon!

Book now! We open on Wednesday 10 March. We're busy rehearsing in the beautiful New Fortune Theatre, and even the peacocks are getting excited...

https://www.ticketswa.com/event/comedy-errors

The Comedy of Errors is a magical, mystical romantic comedy of mistaken identity! 

Enjoy a  warm March night under the stars with the peacocks and owls at Perth’s renowned New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia, as this riotous rollercoaster of a comedy keeps you guessing and laughing until its joyous conclusion...

Rehearsal Photos: Arnold Wong






















Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors, March 10-20, 2021 at the New Fortune Theatre - Book Now!


The Comedy of Errors is a magical, mystical romantic comedy of mistaken identity! 

Enjoy a  warm March night under the stars with the peacocks and owls at Perth’s renowned New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia, as this riotous rollercoaster of a comedy keeps you guessing and laughing until its joyous conclusion...


David Cotgreave brings the crazy world of The Comedy of Errors to life in his hilarious, furiously fast-paced production of one of Shakespeare's greatest farces...



Early Bird Offer! Cheap Tickets for Shakespeare's Comedy of Errors at the New Fortune Theatre



GRADS presents David Cotgreave’s production of Shakespeare’s The Comedy of Errors, at the New Fortune Theatre, March 10-20 at 8pm.


Book before midnight on Wednesday the 10th of February 2021, using the code CEEB and all tickets are$20! That's a $10 saving per ticket! Don't miss out...


A magical, mystical romantic comedy of mistaken identity! Two sets of twins, each with the same name are bewildered by bizarre encounters, cross-purpose conversations and baffling misunderstandings. Servants misplace their masters, wives overlook their husbands, and sons forget their fathers. Blunders double, triple and quadruple! The turmoil escalates. Everyone seems completely insane! Riotous chaos reigns! David Cotgreave brings the crazy world of The Comedy of Errors to life in his hilarious, furiously fast-paced production of one of Shakespeare's greatest farces! Enjoy a summer’s night under the stars with the peacocks at Perth’s renowned New Fortune Theatre as this riotous rollercoaster of a comedy keeps you guessing and laughing until its joyous conclusion.

NOW SHOWING! The Boys in the Band

Tickets are selling fast for our Dolphin Theatre season, 4-14 November.


Bookings are now open for a short season at the State Theatre Centre of WA, 18-21 November..


Be sure not to miss it!









Auditions - The Comedy of Errors, March 2021




Audition Notice - The Comedy of Errors by William Shakespeare.

NEW AUDITION SLOTS ADDED: Saturday 7th November, from 1pm to 5pm, at the Bradley Studio, behind the Octagon Theatre, University of Western Australia.

AUDITIONS: Sunday 8th November 2020 and Monday 9th November 2020, at the New Fortune Theatre, University of Western Australia.

PERFORMANCES: March 10-20, 2021

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The Comedy of Errors is one of Shakespeare’s early plays, it is also his shortest. It is one of his most farcical comedies containing slapstick humour, mistaken identity, puns and word play.
The Comedy of Errors is set in the Greek city of Ephesus and tells the story of two sets of identical twins who were accidentally separated at birth.
Antipholus of Syracuse and his servant, Dromio of Syracuse, arrive in Ephesus, which is also the home of their twin brothers, Antipholus of Ephesus and his servant, Dromio of Ephesus. When the Syracusans encounter the friends and families of their twins, a series of wild mishaps based on mistaken identities lead to wrongful beatings, a near seduction, the arrest of Antipholus of Ephesus, and false accusations of infidelity, theft, madness, and demonic possession.

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Cast of Characters

Solina – Duchess of Ephesus
Egeon – A merchant of Syracuse – father of the Antipholus twins
Emilia – Antipholus' lost mother – wife to Egeon
Antipholus of Ephesus and Antipholus of Syracuse – twin brothers, sons of Egeon and Emilia
Dromio of Ephesus and Dromio of Syracuse – twin brothers, bondmen, each serving his respective Antipholus
Adriana – wife of Antipholus of Ephesus
Luciana – Adriana's sister
Nell/Luce – kitchen wench/maid to Adriana
Balthazar – a merchant
Angelo – a Goldsmith
Courtesan
First merchant – friend to Antipholus of Syracuse
Second merchant – to whom Angelo is in debt
Doctor Pinch – a conjuring schoolmaster
Gaoler, Headsman, Officers, and other Attendants

I see the Dromios as genderless so anyone may audition for these roles (they do have the lion’s share of the laughs in the play).

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AUDITIONS: Saturday 7th, Sunday 8th and Monday 9th November 2020

Audition venue: The Bradley Studio, behind the Octagon Theatre, on Saturday, and The New Fortune Theatre, Arts Building University of Western Australia, on Sunday and Monday. The New Fortune is an outdoor venue, so wear a hat and/or sunscreen if you book a daytime slot.

For an audition on Saturday 7th at the Bradley Studio, behind the Octagon Theatre, book an audition at:

For an audition on Sunday 8 November at the New Fortune Theatre, book an audition at:

For an audition on Monday 9 November at the New Fortune Theatre, book an audition at:

===

Please prepare the following:

A Shakespeare monologue from your repertoire. It can be anything but you’ll need to deliver it fast AND make it funny at the same time.

OR

A prepared reading of one of the following:

Antipholus’ speech
Adriana’s speech
Dromio’s scene

These are available at the following link:


If you choose to do a reading I need to see that you can handle the language so please DON’T try to sight read it on the day.
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Depending on availability rehearsals will be on Monday and Wednesday evenings, and Saturday afternoons, commencing on Monday 30 November. Sundays may be added in the February 2020 due to a shorter rehearsal period than normal.

This is unpaid community theatre

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About the author:
A guy named William Shakespeare, you may have heard of him.

About the director:
David Cotgreave is a versatile professional of the highest calibre boasting a career spanning thirty years across every artform.
David is a very experienced performer having created over sixty-two roles. Highlights have been Alfieri (A View from the Bridge), Malcolm (Macbeth) and Bassario (Merchant of Venice) for GRADS, Jake (Jake’s Women) for the Old Mill Theatre, Uncle Louis (Lost in Yonkers) for Playlovers, Presley Stray (The Pitchfork Disney) for The Gordian Theatre Company, Tom Hackford (The Accrington Pals) @ WAAPA and Derek (Derek) for the Hayman Theatre Company. David has also received two performance awards, best actor in a play (Lost in Yonkers) and best actor in a short film (The Pacifist).
David’s passion extends to all aspects of his arts and events career having been the Production Manager at the highest level in the Arts industry. His credits include: the Sydney Theatre Company; WA Academy of Performing Arts; the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games; Festival of Perth, the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and more recently the West Australian Ballet.


The Comedy of Errors will be David’s Shakespearian debut as a director.

THE BOYS IN THE BAND. BOOK NOW. SPECIAL EARLY BIRD TICKET OFFER!

Grads is delighted to announce its production of ‘The Boys in the Band’ by Mart Crowley, by arrangement with ORiGiN THEATRICAL on behalf of Samuel French Inc., at the Dolphin Theatre, University of Western Australia, November 4th to 7th and November 11th to 14th  at 7:30pm, with matinees on November 7th and 14th at 2:00pm. 


Tickets are $35 full and $25 concession, but if you book before midnight October 4th using the promotional code BBEARL you can get all tickets at the $25 concession price. 

A group of men gather in an Upper East Side apartment for a friend’s birthday party. An unexpected guest and a street hustler arrive. The drinks are poured and the music is turned up. The evening slowly exposes the fault lines beneath their friendships and the self-inflicted heartache that threatens their solidarity. Secrets are revealed, arguments are unearthed, and blows are thrown, culminating in a shocking game. 

Don’t miss the chance to see this ground-breaking play, first performed in 1968, recently revived on Broadway, and soon to be a Netflix film. It is as funny, witty, truthful and poignant as ever - AND IT'S LIVE!

Our New Committee & President's Report

We have finally been able to hold our AGM, originally scheduled for March but delayed for obvious reasons. We have a new committee - made up of some returning members and some exciting new members:

PRESIDENT Neale Paterson
VICE-PRESIDENT Seanne Sparrow
SECRETARY Barry Park
TREASURER Kristine Lockwood


CONMITTEE MEMBERS
Dean McAskil
Eddie Stowers
Thomas Dimmick
Rosalind Moore
Nigel Goodwin
Adam Poole
Arnold Wong


CO-OPTED COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Stephen Lee
Fiona Johnson
Grant Malcolm
Jonno Beckett


Thanks to all who attended, and special thanks to our retiring committee members, for all their support over the last year: Pete Nettleton, Jeremy Heenan and Martin Forsey.


---


FROM THE PRESIDENT


This report is an edited and updated version of a report which was posted on Facebook in April, after the cancellation of the AGM due to COVID situation.


Our 2019 Annual General Meeting was held in the Shakespeare Garden of the Arts Building, just after the completion of Lucy Eyre’s production of Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice - which re-established Grads in the New Fortune after a lapse of several years. It was a successful production, playing to good houses. It was nominated for both Best Actor (Judd Milner as Shylock) and Best Actress (Grace Edwards as Portia) at the Finley Awards, and Judd Millner’s Shylock won in its category. There is no doubt that the New Fortune Theatre is Grads' 'brand'. We are the only group keeping it alive as a theatrical venue, and University Theatre are very happy to support our continued use of it.


In July we experimented by mounting a staged reading, with music, of the locally written historical play Voices From the Tomb, directed by Pete Nettleton, at the Old York Courthouse. Special thanks to Seanne Sparrow for her help with organising this, and to Pete for all his work. It went very well and we actually made a bit of money! I believe that this kind of show offers many opportunities for Grads in the future.


In October we presented Tennessee Williams' Glass Menagerie in the Dolphin Theatre, directed by Jane Hille. It was a powerful and imaginative production that adopted a challenging non-naturalistic performance style and had an innovative and beautiful set. The small cast was strong and incredibly committed. James Ford, who played young Tom, was awarded a special commendation for Best Youth at the Finley Awards and the cast were all nominated for Best Ensemble.


In November we started planning for our next show in the New Fortune, Shakespeare's Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by Thomas Dimmick. It was performed in March, and I am sure that all who saw it would agree with me that it was a life-affirmingly inventive, funny and colourful production, with a glorious cast, that used the New Fortune stage beautifully. Ticket sales were not at the level of the previous year's Merchant of Venice, given the uncertain situation at the time and the relatively unknown play, but it was a wonderful production by any account.


The Merry Wives finished its season - and within days we were in lockdown. We were planning to hold our AGM and then to present Alide Chaney's production of 'My Mother Said I Never Should…' in July at the Townshend Theatre in Subiaco. Events forced us to cancel both, of course. However we are very keen to mount Alide's show next year.


The current outlook - at least in Western Australia - at least at the moment - has allowed us to proceed - a little nervously - with our plans for 'The Boys in the Band', to be directed by Barry Park in November. University Theatres has made it possible for us to use the Dolphin Theatre for a two week season. I am very optimistic that the timeliness of the play and our positive association with PrideFEST WA, who are very happy to promote the play as part of their November celebrations, gives us every opportunity for a successful season and a fresh start.


Our next planned show is a summer Shakespeare season in the New Fortune, followed by Alide’s show mid-year, probably in the Townshend Theatre. We are also hoping to work with Grant Malcolm, who has an exciting concept for a series of staged readings of Shakespeare in the New Fortune.


Please join us on this journey...


NEALE PATERSON
President



Annual General Meeting Sunday 9 August 2020, 5pm-6:30pm

Announcing the Graduate Dramatic Society's Annual General Meeting, Sunday 9 August 2020, 5pm-6:30pm.

It is finally possible for Grads to hold an Annual General Meeting, after the postponement of our intended meeting in March. Please join us on Sunday 9 August at a University of W. A. venue, to be announced shortly, to discuss the future of Grads and to elect a new committee - we would be delighted if you would be prepared to offer your assistance.. 

Entertainment and drinks and nibbles will be provided. 

Please send agenda items to bookings@grads.org.au

Merry Wives of Windsor - Audience Reactions!




"The opening night of The Merry Wives of Windsor was an absolute joy. Full disclosure: two-thirds of the cast are friends of mine, but I was interested regardless. I've seen The Scottish Play and "Everybody Dies" several times, but I'd never seen this Shakespearean comedy.

"It was hilarious. There were scenes where the audience was literally roaring with laughter. I am far from an authority but Will peppers his plays with diverse characters, and ordinary situations which, although written 500 years ago, are instantly recognisable today. We relate, and therefore we laugh. Today's soap operas, sitcoms, and farces had their origins half a millennium ago.

"ALL the cast were having enormous fun. Robert Jackson and Kaitlin Okely balanced each other wonderfully. Cameron Leese strutted befittingly, whilst Jason Dohle bumbled comically. Nigel Goodwin brought his Monty Python and the Holy Grail A-Game to the table, and for the Hogwarts fans Barry Potter was in fine form.

"Publicity and word of mouth have suggested that Grant Malcolm is channeling Brian Blessed. Grant does not disappoint. It's a fine and generous actor who can alternately propel a scene, and then relinquish control as the script requires.

"But if your production intends to live up to its title, then you'd better damn well cast a couple of strong female leads. And in Anna Head and Meredith Hunter, The Merry Wives of Windsor showcases two of Perth's most accomplished actresses. They owned that stage, ran rings around poor Grant's character, and had the audience in hysterics. And did so with an almost casual effortlessness, as though Shakespearean comedy was the most natural thing in the world. Their chemistry was undeniable and their stage presence indisputable.

"Congratulations to director Thomas Dimmick, and all involved, for a fantastic piece of theatre and a marvelous evening's entertainment."

JARROD BUTTERY, FACEBOOK


The Merry Wives of Windsor - OPENS THIS THURSDAY!

Only five days to go! 

Grads presents Shakespeare's colourful and charming comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor, exuberantly directed by Thomas Dimmick, at the historic and beautiful New Fortune Theatre, starting on Thursday March 5 at 7:30pm, for two weeks only. 

Enjoy all of the jealousy, lust and buffoonery on a balmy March night under the stars with added peacocks. Book now!


The Merry Wives of Windsor was written at the request of Queen Elizabeth, who wanted to see her favourite character, Sir John Falstaff, "in love". It is the only play Shakespeare wrote which is completely original, not based on an earlier plays, tales or historical chronicles. 

The fact that the only play that came entirely from Shakespeare's imagination is a comedy about middle-class characters in a small country town doesn't quite sit with the idea that the author could not possibly have come from a humble background. Or does it?

Discuss...

Shakespeare's The Merry Wives of Windsor - 5-14 March at the New Fortune. Book now!



Grads presents William Shakespeare’s most purely comic play, The Merry Wives of Windsor, at the historic and beautiful New Fortune Theatre at the University of Western Australia, Perth’s original Shakespeare venue. Peacocks will be provided.

Book now!

5 - 8 and 11 - 14 March, 7:30pm
Duration: 2h 15m including one interval of 15m
$30 standard, $20 concession, $15 standing

For wheelchair accessible seats please call 6488 2440 Monday to Friday, 12pm to 4pm.



Sir John Falstaff is in financial difficulties. He has no money and his men are accused of conning some of the locals out of their money. He decides to fix his financial woes by seducing the wives of two wealthy merchants...

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Shakespeare’s The Merry Wives of Windsor is a raucous comedy filled with some of The Bard’s most famous characters. Performed in the New Fortune Theatre, this show promises to be a fun time for everyone. The outdoor setting and large open stage means you will get to experience Shakespeare similar to how it was originally conceived, with the space around the stage being standing room only.

For two weeks only! Make sure you don’t miss out on seeing what the Mistresses Ford and Page are able to concoct in their revenge on the tricky John Falstaff.