The Fiery Maze (2016) Program

18 AUG – 4 SEP

18 AUG – 4 SEP BECKETT THEATRE

Dorothy Porter and Tim Finn in a dream collaboration.

By / Tim Finn & Dorothy Porter Music by / Tim Finn Words by / Dorothy Porter Direction / Anne-Louise Sarks Creative Consultant / Andrea Goldsmith Design / Nick Schlieper Performed by / Brett Adams, Tim Finn, Abi Tucker Stage Manager / Harriet Gregory

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Season 2016

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A NOTE FROM ANDREA GOLDSMITH, DOROTHY PORTER’S PARTNER

It was a dream partnership: a poet who thrived on rock music and a rock musician with a poetic soul.

In 1994, Tim Finn read Dorothy Porter’s genre bending verse novel The Monkey’s Mask. He loved the book with its irreverent, edgy narrative, but, as well, he perceived a natural lyricist in the short, punchy lines of poetry.

He reached for pen and paper and wrote to Dorothy suggesting they collaborate on some songs.

Dorothy Porter was in thrall to music. It was the rock music of the 1960s, she always said, that made her a poet. She had listened to and admired Tim’s work for years.

The prospect of a collaboration with him was irresistible.

And the time was right: two artists with limitless imagination and eager for creative risk-taking.

alternative music that was its domain. The more experimental musical space in which Tim found himself was also reflected in the fact he was the group’s drummer.

At the same time, he was observing changes in the way young people were approaching popular music. The Gen Xs were open to music from times other than their own. They were listening to Janis, to Jimi, to Jim Morrison, and they were as excited by this music as had their parents been thirty years earlier. The idea of having these past gods infusing new work started to emerge.

Musically, it was a time when anything seemed possible.

In the suburb of Elwood, just a few kilometres from Tim’s studio, Dorothy Porter was between books. The Monkey’s Mask had become a best seller – a rare anomaly in the world of poetry. Not tempted to write The Monkey’s Mask 2 despite considerable pressure to do so, Dorothy was in no hurry to embark on her next book.

With time on her hands and her ravenous imagination on sabbatical from any specific project, Dorothy, like Tim, was ripe for anything.

In December 1994, the two of them met for the first time.

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For the first time in his life Tim had his own studio. Located in the Melbourne suburb of Caulfield, he was in an exploratory phase, extending his musical boundaries into strange and new territory.

While his focus during 1994 had shifted from performance to composing, he nonetheless had formed a new band with two Irish friends. The band was called ALT, deliberately evoking the

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The beginning of the story

A NOTE FROM ANDREA GOLDSMITH, DOROTHY PORTER’S PARTNER Season 2016

Tim shared with Dorothy his musings about Janis, Jimi and Jim and other greats of the 1960s and 70s. These were the gods of Dorothy’s own music pantheon, and they would figure in the songs she would write.

But for the central theme she chose love – not warm, fuzzy, walkoff-into-the-sunset love, but blind, explosive, knock-you-off-your-feet love. The exquisite ecstasy of an unspoiled, idealised love had been a recurring theme in Dorothy’s work – as had its aftermath of pain and misery when the beloved turns out to be all too human.

Dorothy Porter wrote most of the lyrics in a six-week period of white heat during December 1994 to January 1995. An explosive new love begins in the Victorian town of Ballarat of all places (‘Will Ballarat ever be the same’). Some of the lyrics are laugh-aloud funny: ‘I’m always sick or sober, I’m just a boring little dag’. Others reflect the pain and poignancy when love grabs you by the throat: ‘Today I want to swim in black water … black water tastes sweeter than stale happiness.’ With each song she added a note regarding musical style; ‘dark, slow and dreamy’ (Off the Planet), ‘bittersweet, brooding & slow–smoky’ (Talking in my Sleep), ‘punchy, staccato beat’ (New Friends).

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For Tim, Dorothy’s words and imagery were ‘intoxicating and

liberating’. He went into his studio and, like Dorothy, he wrote in white heat. The result is an astonishing variety of music that is as breathtakingly original as the words.

From the joyful rock of ‘Like Janis’ to the eerie, evocative murkiness of ‘Black Water’ each song has a distinctive quality and power.

There was no specific discussion about what they would do with the songs, although Dorothy, long confined to the tiny poetry world, had visions of going gold, then platinum and ultimately taking on the world. In the autumn of 1995, Tim invited twenty-twoyear-old Abi Tucker to the studio.

He had heard her sing at a concert in Sydney, an explosive rendition of the 1960s hit ‘Hold On, I’m Comin’. Both the voice and the presence of this young singer were a perfect match for the songs.

Abi had just finished work on Heartbreak High, and was soon to leave for London where she would land a music development deal with EMI. She was thrilled by Tim’s invitation.

Dorothy, Tim and Abi went into the studio one autumnal evening.

What emerged were the earliest versions of the songs that now comprise The Fiery Maze. Abi, hoarse from a cold, let herself rip, Tim let her have her head, and Dorothy at last saw poetry displayed in neon as she always thought it should. (She was often

A NOTE FROM ANDREA GOLDSMITH, DOROTHY PORTER’S PARTNER

They taped the songs, but with no plans for a commercial recording, Tim, Dorothy and Abi went their own way. As the years passed.

Dorothy continued to listen to the songs, and at some point, responding to an inexplicable but insistent urging to preserve the songs, Tim transferred the original recordings to a digitised form.

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heard to say that poets should play huge venues just like rock stars.)

Early in 2008, Tim proposed that he and Dorothy shape the songs into a rock musical. She loved the idea and plunged in. But just as the project was gathering momentum, Dorothy Porter died.

Six years later, in 2014, Abi Tucker contacted Tim, to inquire about ‘those songs’. It was ‘Black Water’ in particular that wouldn’t leave her alone, a song she describes as ‘a cracker’. She wanted to hear it again, she wanted to sing it again. Tim contacted me and The Fiery Maze, a show that charts a wild, risky destructive love affair came into being.

Twenty years have passed since the songs were written. Inspired by the great gods of rock music, these songs tell a universal human story of love. They are seductive, lyrical, brilliant. They are The Fiery Maze.

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Season 2016

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CAST & CREATIVE BIOS Season 2016

Anne-Louise Sarks Direction

Dorothy Porter Creator

Tim Finn Creator/Performer

Anne-Louise works professionally as an actor, writer, director and dramaturg. From 2011 Anne-Louise was the Director in Residence at the Malthouse Theatre in Melbourne. For Malthouse Theatre she has directed Stories I Want to Tell You in Person and was dramaturg for Thyestes. In 2008 she made her acting debut for Malthouse Theatre in The Spook.

Anne-Louise was Resident Director at Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney from 2013-2015. For Belvoir, Anne-Louise has directed Jasper Jones, Seventeen and she directed and co-wrote Elektra/Orestes, A Christmas Carol, Nora and Medea.

Sarks was also assistant director on The Wild Duck. In 2015 Anne-Louise directed a new production of hers and co-writer Kate Mulvaney’s modern day imagining of Medea at The Gate Theatre in London to critical acclaim. Medea won five Sydney Theatre Awards in 2013 including Best Direction, Best Mainstage Production and Best New Australian Work. It was also awarded an AWGIE for Best Stage Play and nominated for four prestigious Helpmann Awards including Best Direction, Best New Australian Work and Best Play in 2013.

Dorothy Porter remains one of Australia’s best-loved and most successful poets. She pioneered the modern verse novel with her award winning modern classic, The Monkey’s Mask. She published four other verse novels and several volumes of poetry. She wrote two opera libretti for the composer Jonathan Mills, and collaborated with Paul Grabowsky on Before Time Could Change Us. This album, with Katie Noonan on vocals, won the Jazz Aria in 2005. Dorothy’s published poetry has been set by several composers, including Brett Dean and Andrew Ford. Tim Finn was the first musician with whom she worked. And the songs they wrote together, the songs that comprise The Fiery Maze, were always very special to her. Dorothy Porter would be overjoyed about The Fiery Maze premiering at Malthouse Theatre.

Tim Finn is a New Zealand singer/ songwriter and ARIA Hall Of Fame inductee, often regarded as one of the finest of his generation. As co-founder of the trail-blazing band Split Enz, Finn has been responsible for some of our most treasured songs (Six Months In A Leaky Boat, I See Red, Fraction Too Much Friction, Poor Boy, Persuasion).

In the early 1990’s Finn joined brother Neil in Crowded House to record the acclaimed Woodface album (Weather With You, It’s Only Natural, Chocolate Cake) before returning to his successful solo career. The Fiery Maze is Finn’s first production for Malthouse Theatre and was a project that he was determined to see through, following Dorothy Porter’s passing in 2008. Finn is currently experiencing great success with production Ladies In Black, which features his music and lyrics. It has enjoyed sold-out seasons in Brisbane and Melbourne and recently won a Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work. Ladies In Black opens in Sydney in January 2017.

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CAST & CREATIVE BIOS #thefierymaze

Andrea Goldsmith Creative Consultant

Abi Tucker Performer

Nick has designed for all the Australian major performing arts companies. International credits include The Royal Shakespeare Company, State Theatres of Berlin, Hamburg and Munich, as well as in Oslo, Capetown and New York for Hedda Gabler, Uncle Vanya, The Maids and Streetcar Named Desire, all with Cate Blanchett.

Other credits include Malthouse Theatre: Pompeii, LA (and set); STC: All My Sons, King Lear, The Present, Endgame (and set) Switzerland, Macbeth, Waiting for Godot, Big and Little, Sydney, London, Paris and Vienna; MTC: Death and the Maiden (and set); Belvoir Street: Royal David’s City (and set). He lit Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Australia, New York and London, and Love Never Dies, Australia, Hamburg and Tokyo.

Recent operas include: Tosca, Turk in Italy (Opera Australia); and Wagner’s Ring Cycle, Adelaide (also Associate Set Designer). He has received six Green Room Awards, five Sydney Critics Awards and four Helpmann Awards.

Dorothy Porter’s partner, the novelist Andrea Goldsmith, joined The Fiery Maze project following Dorothy’s death in December, 2008. With no previous theatre credits and a background in classical rather than popular music, she drew on her long relationship with Dorothy and her experience as a novelist to shape a dramatic narrative around the songs that now comprise The Fiery Maze.

Throughout the project she has worked with Tim to ensure that his music and Dorothy’s lyrics acquired the cosmic force for the theatrical trip that is The Fiery Maze. Dorothy Porter would be thrilled.

Performer and musician Abi Tucker has appeared in various theatre productions in Australia and the UK. Her credits include Poor Boy, Breakfast with Jonny Wilkinson, Suitcase: The Music and Lyrics of Sean Peter and As You Like It for The Bell Shakespeare Company. TV credits include Heartbreak High, Wildside, McLeod’s Daughters, The Secret Life of Us and Playschool. Abi has contributed to soundtracks for Heartbreak High, McLeod’s Daughters, The Secret Life of Us, Angst and Surviving Georgia.

She has released three albums, Dreamworld, One December Moon plus a recent collaboration with Julian Curwin, titled The Falling Seeds.

Brett Adams Performer

Stage Manager Harriet Gregory

Brett Adams is a New Zealand guitarist, previously of successful 80s pop group The Mockers. Living in London, Adams formed The Julie Dolphin with fellow ex-pat Dianne Swann. They were invited to tour as support act for Radiohead. Returning to New Zealand they formed The Bads, releasing three albums with another upcoming. Adams has spent the last ten years as Tim Finn’s main man on guitar, performing on The Conversation and The View is Worth The Climb. He has toured with artists such as Rodriguez, Gin Wigmore and Don Walker, and with theatre productions White Cloud, Poor Boy, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Chicago.

Harriet Gregory is a stage manager based in Melbourne. Her previous Malthouse Theatre credits include The Book of Loco, Antigone, Suitcase Series, Meow Meow’s Little Mermaid and Come Away with Me to the End of the World. She also works regularly with Circus Oz, Melbourne International Comedy Festival and Chunky Move.

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Nick Schlieper Design

Season 2016

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SONG TITLES #thefierymaze

Songs of The Fiery Maze Light Years Away Like Janis Ballarat This World Gutsy Girl New Friends My Magic Friend Talking in my Sleep Feeding The Gods This Moment Bride Doll Off The Planet Making You Happy Black Water Like An Etruscan January

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ABOUT MALTHOUSE THEATRE Season 2016

CONTEMPORARY, BOUNDARYPUSHING THEATRE IN THE HEART OF MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA. At Malthouse Theatre we collaborate with local and international artists to create work that puts provocative, and entertaining human experiences on stage. We champion artistic and cultural diversity; we advocate for alternative points of view. We believe theatre can be – and should be – an agent of change.

The theatre we produce explores the world personally, socially and politically.

We cultivate and curate irreverent, courageous theatrical experiences from Australia and around the globe to captivate audiences.

Welcome to Malthouse Theatre.

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OUR PARTNERS

VENUE PARTNER

EDUCATION PARTNER

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GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

MAJOR PARTNER

ACCOMMODATION PARTNER

CORPORATE PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNER

INDUSTRY PARTNER

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS

OUR SUPPORTERS URANIA—MUSE OF THE STARS—$25,000+ Michele Levine, Mary-Ruth & Peter McLennan, Craig Reeves, Maureen Wheeler AO & Tony Wheeler AO CLIO—MUSE OF HISTORY—$10,000+ Roseanne Amarant, Annamila Fund, John & Lorraine Bates, Debbie Dadon AM, Colin Golvan QC, Janine Tai, The Vera Moore Foundation, Anonymous (1) THALIA—MUSE OF COMEDY—$5,000+ Richard Leonard & Gerlinde Scholz, Mary Vallentine AO, Anonymous (1) MELPOMENE—MUSE OF TRAGEDY—$2,500+ David Bardas, Dr Sian Fairbank, D.L. & G.S. Gjergja, Rosemary Forbes & Ian Hocking, Sue Kirkham, James Penlidis & Fiona McGauchie, Elisabeth & John Schiller, Dr Jenny Schwarz, Leonard Vary & Dr Matt Collins QC, Jason Waple, Jon Webster, Jan Williams, Tom Wright, Anonymous (1) EUTERPE—MUSE OF MUSIC—$1,000+ Frankie Airey & Stephen Solly, Chryssa Anagnostou & Dr Jim Tsaltas, Daniel & Danielle Besen, Marc Besen AC & Eva

TERPSICHORE—MUSE OF DANCE—$500+ Graham & Anita Anderson, Michael Arnold, Rowland Ball OAM, Sandra Beanham, David & Rhonda Black, Ros Casey, Tim & Rachel Cecil, Marisa Cesario, Chris Clough, Alan Connolly, Mark & Jo Davey, Carolyn Floyd, Brian Goddard, Leonie Hollingworth, Brad Hooper, Dr Irene Irvine, Joan & Graeme Johnson OAM, Irene Kearsey, Dr Angela Kirsner & Dr Richard Kirsner, John McCallum, Ian McRae AO, Dr Kersti Nogeste, Linda Notley, Jan Owen AM, Robert Peters, Katherine Sampson, Barbara REHEARSAL PHOTOS / TIM GREY COVER PHOTO / STEPHEN WARD PHOTO OF DOROTHY PORTER / MARK TEDESCHI

& Neil Smart, Toby Sullivan, John Thomas, Neil Waters, Pinky Watson, Phil & Heather Wilson, Anonymous (4) ERATO—MUSE OF LOVE—$250+ Simon Abrahams, Jennifer Bourke, Fiona Brook, John & Alexandra Busselmaier, Siu Chan, Diane Clark, Georgie Coleman, Patricia Coutts, Jason Craig, Kerryn Dickinson-Rowe, Orla & Rachel, Taleen Gaidzkar, Joanne Griffiths, Peggy Hayton, Sarah Hunt, Ann Kemeny & Graham Johnson, Mira & Dr David Kolieb, Robyn Lansdowne, Sally Lindsay, Kim Lowndes, Judith Maitland-Parr, Ian Manning & Alice De Jonge, John Millard, Susan Nathan, Paul Natoli, Tony Oliver, Kaylene O’Neill, Lynette & Clare Payne, Wendy Poulton, Gerard Powell, Gavin Roach, Rae Rothfield, Michael & Jenny Rozen, Robert Sessions & Christina Fitzgerald, Dr Jill Sewell, Chris Teh, Lee-Ann Walsh, Jan Watson, Joanne Whyte, Barbara Yuncken VOLUNTEERS Malthouse Theatre would like to acknowledge the generous and ongoing support of our dedicated volunteers.

DESIGN / HOURS AFTER HOURSAFTER.COM.AU

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Besen AO, John & Sally Bourne, Sally Browne, Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM, Ingrid & Per Carlsen, Min Li Chong, Robin Collier & Dr Neil Collier, Prof John Daley & Dr Rebecca Coates, Dominic & Natalie Dirupo, Roger Donazzan & Margaret Jackson AC, Rev Fr Michael Elligate AM, Val Johnstone, Michael Kingston, James Ostroburski, Rosemary & Roger Redston, Carol & Alan Schwartz AM, Thea & Hayden Snow, Maria Solà, Gina & Paul Stuart, Fiona Sweet & Paul Newcombe, Kerri Turner & Andrew White, Rosemary Walls, Henry Winters, Anonymous (1)

2016 Season 2017

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Tune in at 8pm, 1 September to watch it on Facebook Live. facebook.com/malthousetheatre

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JOIN US. SEASON 2017 COMING SOON.

Season 2016

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Exclusive to The Fiery Maze comes a limited edition of excerpts from Dorothy Porter as featured in the show. Authored, authorised and approved by Dorothy Porter’s Estate, these rare pieces are exclusive to Malthouse Theatre and available for purchase at the bar. Also available is The 100 Best Poems of Dorothy Porter hardback edition and other selected merchandise.

SCENE & HEARD

Malthouse Theatre’s Development Manager used to work at a cafe in Clifton Hill and serve Dorothy Porter her morning coffee.

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© Malthouse Theatre, the artists, designers, photographers, collaborators and contributors. All rights reserved, 2016.

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