Possibility Program - 17-19 October 2019

Cover

Canberra Youth Theatre Presents

POSSIBILITY 17-19 October 2019 Ralph Wilson Theatre, Gorman Arts Centre

Canberra Youth Theatre presents the world premiere of

POSSIBILITY

WRITTEN BY

Ben Dillon, Jamie Johnston, and Lucy Roberts

CAST

Shoshana Anderson Jessica Dickie Finn Dunne Sasha Finlay Ameilia Gilling Quinn Goodwin

Katelyn Hubner Gemma Hudson Freya Kenna Mina Maccora Amy McAlister McKinley Richards

CREATIVE TEAM Co-Director Anna Johnstone Co-Director Luke Rogers Writing Mentor Cathy Petocz Lighting Designer/Stage Manager Ethan Hamill Sound Designer Kimmo Vennonen Set Construction Stephen Crossley

Lighting Operator Casey Magnussen Production Manager Anais Maro Production Assistant McKenzie Battye-Smith Production Assistant Nadia Jutha Production Assistant Josh Meischke Costume Assistant Noemie Dinet

SPECIAL THANKS TO

Brenton Cleaves for photography, Canberra Contemporary Arts Space, and our sponsors:

Canberra Youth Theatre acknowledges the Ngunnawal people, the traditional custodians of the land on which Possibility was created.

FROM THE DIRECTORS Possibility is in itself an open provocation, and this word was the starting point for a new work that has been developed over the past few months. Three young writers teamed up with an ensemble of twelve actors to interrogate perceptions of themselves, explore questions about their place in the world, and dreams for the possibilities that lie ahead.

Under the mentorship of Cathy Petőcz, these writers have created a myriad of encounters for actors their same age, from the poetic to absurdly comical, which we have delved into over a two-week intensive rehearsal process.

This project has been a wonderful opportunity for these young artists to experience working on the creative development of a new work for the stage, to find their creative voices, flex their dramaturgical muscles, develop their acting techniques, and collaborate with professional artists to bring their ideas to the stage.

Luke Rogers & Anna Johnstone Co-Directors

ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHTS BEN DILLON Ben has been with Canberra Youth Theatre since he was in Year 6 (and is now in Year 8). Ben is also in one of the year 7-9 acting classes. Possibility is Ben’s first experience as a playwright as well as his first major performance that he has been involved in. He has loved drama from a young age and has thoroughly enjoyed the opportunities that writing Possibility has offered.

LUCY ROBERTS Lucy has been doing classes with Canberra Youth Theatre since she was eleven years old, and this is her first time as a writer of a piece.

She has always loved writing and creating theatre. Her ambition

in life is to have an impact on the world and create possibilities for the future.

JAMIE JOHNSTON Jamie Johnston has been with CYT for the past two years as an actor for The Company Ensemble in their productions Poem Every Day and Fading.

As an emerging writer from Canberra trying to decide what to do after graduating college, Jamie decided to collaborate with CYT for Possibility to help refine their skills and give a distinct voice to their writing. Jamie has previously won the Overall Senior Pens Against Poverty competition in 2016 and been working on their own creative writing projects since. As an avid lover of poetry and existentialism, they hope to further develop their style, finally finish their projects, and continue to drink copious amounts of Twinings Russian Caravan tea.

CAST SHOSHANA ANDERSON Possibility is Shoshana’s first production with Canberra Youth Theatre, and it has been a wonderful opportunity.

Her past productions include Grease, The Jungle Book, The Sound of Music, and Little Shop of Horrors. She loves all aspects of performing, particularly musical theatre, and she would love to go on to do it professionally. Shoshana is thrilled to be performing with Canberra Youth Theatre for the first time, and believes that Possibility will make people wonder about what the world is, and what it could potentially be.

JESSICA DICKIE Even though this is Jessica’s first show with Canberra Youth Theatre she has been on stage her whole life. She loves doing all aspects of theatre from tech and set building to acting and singing. In her spare time, you can find her listening to musicals and hugging her dog. Jessica is so excited for people to see Possibility and hopes you enjoy watching it as much as she loved working on it.

FINN DUNNE Finn loves to perform and has loads of fun at Canberra Youth Theatre.

He has performed with the company before, and is an enthusiastic member of the weekly workshop program. Finn knows that anyone who comes to watch Possibility will leave thinking about many different things and that they will 100% enjoy

the production.

SASHA FINLEY Sasha Finlay has been acting she was small, with her first “big roles” being Dorothy #5 (out of 6) in her primary school’s production of The Wizard of Oz, and Junior Crow in a production of The Snow Queen, again in primary school. Sasha has also been in other smaller productions including Little Red’s Class Against Self Defense (as Little Red) and an excerpt from The Importance of Being Earnest (as Cecily). Later this year, she will be performing her first main role as Juliet in a production of Drop Dead Juliet. Sasha is very excited to be performing in Possibility.

AMELIA GILLING Amelia has been at Canberra Youth Theatre for three years and been in two of the past 13-18yr productions, Versions of Us and Faster. Outside of CYT she has performed as Nessa Rose in Wicked, Sophie in Mamma Mia, and been in the cast of Seussical the Musical and Annie. She has taken Voice lessons for 5 years and is looking to pursuing drama further.

QUINN GOODWIN Quinn has been doing drama in and out of school for eight years, including a production of an original musical titled Them. She has also been a finalist in the Don’t Dis My Ability Film Festival.

Quinn is excited to be performing with Canberra Youth Theatre for the first time,

especially with a show like Possibility which tackles such isolating issues.

KATELYN HUBNER Katie has been involved with Canberra Youth Theatre for four years now. She has been in one previous show with the comapny - The Verbatim Project. Which was lucky enough to tour up to Sydney. Katie thinks Possibility will make people think about all the chances you could reach for, and the complexity of life.

GEMMA HUDSON Gemma has been a part of Canberra Youth Theatre for just over a year, and has been doing drama in school for the past five years. She loves the way that theatre can tell stories and communicate shared experiences. This is Gemma’s first production with CYT and she hopes that Possibility encourages people to reflect upon their own lives, and to consider all the aspects, both positive and negative, of having infinite choices right in front of you.

FREYA KENNA Freya Kenna is a 15yr old theatre enthusiast.

For the past 7 years, Freya has partaken in a multitude of productions, from musicals to plays, as well as a Canberra Youth Theatre course.

Possibility is Freya’s first CYT production and she is really looking forward to everyone seeing how incredible it is.

MINA MACCORA Possibility is Mina’s first production with Canberra Youth Theatre, but hopefully not the last. She has done many small scale plays with Arlecchino (Switzerland) and is thrilled to be entering the professional theatre world. She’s excited to share this eclectic piece with an open-minded audience.

AMY MCALISTER Amy has been a member of Canberra Youth Theatre for the past three years, developing not only her performance but her love for theatre.

She’ has been in previous CYT shows including Versions of Us and Faster. She thinks Possibility will make the audience reflect on their own choices and believes the stories will connect with everyone one way or another.

MCKINLEY RICHARDS McKinley has been a part of Canberra Youth Theatre for a year and a half now. She loves the creative environment that it provides. She was also involved in this years Act Up! Festival with the Canberra Theatre Centre. McKinley loves to explore life in a creative manner. She believes that theatre, like all art, isn’t just there to be pretty. It has a purpose. To make you think, feel, reflect, ponder, express and explore.

This is what Possibility is all about.

CREATIVES

LUKE ROGERS Director Luke Rogers is the Artistic Director and CEO of Canberra Youth Theatre. He is a theatre director, actor and producer, a graduate of NIDA (Directing) and Theatre Nepean (Acting).

Directing credits include: Collapse (Canberra Youth Theatre), In Real Life (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), Blink, MinusOneSister, Fireface, The Last Five Years, The Carnivores (Stories Like These), Play House (NIDA), The Pillowman, Waiting For Godot, Don Juan in Soho, Art is a Weapon, After The End, Blasted (New Theatre), 100 Reasons For War, Love and Information, Spring Awakening, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Shakespeare’s Women, Shoot Get Treasure Repeat (AFTT), Lysistrata, The Burial At Thebes, Pool (No Water), 4.48 Psychosis, Eyes To The Floor (Sydney Theatre School), A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mr Marmalade (CQUniversity), Macbeth, Cyberbile, Embers (AIM Dramatic Arts) and Two Weeks With The Queen (Mountains Youth Theatre).

Luke regularly directs and lectures at various drama schools. He was a member of Directors Lab: Melbourne (Theatre Works / Melbourne Festival) and Playwriting Australia’s Dramaturgy Program and Directors Studio. Luke is also the Artistic Director of Stories Like These. Previous positions include Theatre Manager of New Theatre, Artistic Director of The Spare Room, and a Resident Studio Artist with Griffin Theatre Company.

ANNA JOHNSTONE Director Anna spent nearly nine years in the United Kingdom where she worked for the Theatre Royal Bath and the egg, children’s theatre, in a variety of roles from Youth Theatre Tutor to Director.

In 2009 she was appointed the position of Trainee Theatre and Education Practitioner - a full time Arts Council funded position that saw her work alongside and in collaboration with the UK’s award-winning theatre companies, such as The Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Emma Earle (Pins and Needles Productions) and Bristol Old Vic Theatre School. 2015 saw her gaining the position of Associate Artist at the

egg theatre. In 2017, she directed a site-specific piece for Canberra Youth Theatre’s I’m Me Festival. In 2018 she Co-directed Filtered for CYT’s young company and in 2019 presented another original work for I’m Me Festival at Gorman Arts Centre.

CATHY PETŐCZ Mentoring Writer Cathy Petőcz is a Canberrabased theatre practitioner – a playwright, director, and producer. Cathy writes many different kinds of performance works: plays (Unbecoming, Canberra Theatre Centre, 2019; Where I End and You Begin, The Street Theatre, 2014), experimental performance (Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret, Melbourne’s Emerging Writers Festival, 2014), work with young artists (Possibility, Canberra Youth Theatre, 2019) and recently an interactive game-based performance for the Museum of Australian Democracy (We, the People, Old Parliament House, 2019). In 2018, Cathy was awarded First Class Honours for her new play Lysistrata, a feminist utopian rewriting of Aristophanes’ anti-war sex comedy, which she will be developing further at The Street Theatre late 2019. She is currently writing a screenplay about a possessed wedding dress (Say Yes to the Murderess), a play for young audiences (How Long is a Piece of String?), and will be working on her surreal motherdaughter drama Hired Mother during her two-week Ralph Indie residency at Gorman Arts Centre in November 2019.

KIMMO VENNONEN Sound Designer Kimmo serves a diverse base of clients in the arts from the Canberra region and beyond, specialising in sound design and mastering.

Since 1991 he has worked extensively for many of Canberra’s dance and theatre companies. Winning the MEAA Green Room Award for “creative and innovative sound design” in 2010.

His sound sculptures have been installed in indoor and outdoor public spaces.He has been in community radio since 1982, and in 1991 contributed to a piece called Collaborations with Jim Denley that won the

prestigious Prix Italia for the ABC. As a composer Kimmo works with feedback and found sounds creating unique and organic soundscapes.

He holds a Graduate Diploma in Music (Computer Music) at the ANU supervised by David Worrall, specialising in immersive sound in a geodesic dome and was an ANU Visiting Fellow 1995-1998. For over two decades he has been switched on to 3D sound recording and production.

ETHAN HAMILL Lighting Designer/Stage Manager Ethan has worked in between Theatre and Live Production events for the past 6 years.

He has been working with Sidestage Production Services for the past two years working on shows from small theatre to big concerts. His passion has been in the lighting industry but he also enjoys doing video for live events. Ethan has been with CYT since 2016 starting in the Tech Team and then in 2017 moved on to the Advanced Tech Team.Since 2018 he has been brought on to work on many CYT productions including Collapse for which he was Associate Lighting Designer and Stage Manager. CYT has allowed him to advance his skills in Lighting Design and Stage Management for theatre that has only helped expand his knowledge for the future.

CASEY MAGNUSSEN Lighting Operator Casey Magnussen is a theatrical technician with 3 years’ experience in the technical crews of Canberra College and Melrose High School. Casey has been involved in productions of Cymbeline and Away, as well as various school performances, including a rock concert by Indonesian Idol, Michael J. Casey has been part of Canberra Gang Show’s productions of Canberra Gang Show: The Musical, Flat Out, and Whatever Floats Your Boat. Casey was a participant in the ACT Education Directorate’s arts showcase, Stepping into the Limelight in 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Casey was also a member of the backstage crew of Canberra Theatre’s DanceFest 2018. Casey has been a stage hand, stage manager, lighting designer

and sound technician in various performances and shows. This is Casey’s first year with the Canberra Youth Theatre as a lighting technician. Casey is looking forward to working with Canberra Youth Theatre on this production of Possibility.

ANAIS MARO Production Manager Anais Maro is the General manager of Canberra Youth Theatre. Born into a family of Theatre makers in France, Anaïs grew up in the theatre: her parents were professional actors and directors. She co-ran her own theatre company, Le Rugissement de la Libellule, producing work in Paris region, touring in the country and internationally. Anaïs has developed a passion for cultural management, particularly in intercultural settings and completed a postgraduate program in Cultural Management and Policy. In 2009, she was appointed the director of the Alliance Française of Brunei where she tripled the annual budget and successfully scaled up both classes and cultural events footprint. She has curated numerous arts festivals, residencies, exhibitions and programs, and developed corporate partnerships.

Anaïs has collaborated with QUT Creative Industries on a Brunei Cultural mapping project and became CEO of iBudaya, a Brunei based Cultural Industries consulting company in 2011. In 2014 she moved to Ethiopia and became a consultant for UNESCO Culture, running a capacity building program on the 2005 Convention on the Diversity of Cultural Expressions until 2017. Anaïs is currently completing a PhD in Creative Industries at QUT.

Production Assistants: MACKENZIE BATTYE-SMITH JOSH MEISCHKE NADIA JUTHA Costume Assistant: NOEMIE DINET

CanberraYouthTheatre @CYT_Canberra @canberrayouththeatre

Artistic Director Luke Rogers General Manager Anais Maro Marketing and Administration Coordinator Marni Mount Program Coordinator Sammy Moynihan

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