Moonspark Productions and PIP Theatre acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which we stand.
We pay respect to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present and extend that Acknowledgement to all First Nations people here today Queensland is home to more than 100 Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander language groups Their great diversity of cultures and traditions continue to enrich our understanding of where we live. In the spirit of cultural acknowledgment, Moonspark Productions recognises Indigenous Australians as the first creatives to inhabit this land, and acknowledge the important role First Nations people continue to play in our shared creative community
- Jordyn Salter - Barapa Barapa Country
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR NOTE
Beginning tumbled into my life two years ago and from the very first reading I connected with this gorgeous text and these beautiful characters I was in the midst of facing the same fears with all the societal pressures about being a woman, with dating and within my personal life.
Throughout the play, Laura and Danny rumble with their vulnerabilities, their hopes and dreams, taking us on a rollercoaster ride of their first date This play shouted from the page that it had to be performed now. This was the play I had been waiting for.
I couldn't stop thinking about Laura, who was a similar age to me, and I decided to take on her monologues for auditions The more I rehearsed the more I realised how much I wanted to play this part but how I may never get the opportunity to do so. I have observed in the Australian arts scene, there exists a preoccupation with the ideal body, often characterized by a preference for individuals who conform to the "thin" casting criteria, that I did not fit in to I rarely had the pleasure to see other curvy artists in leading lady roles and it wasn't until I lived in the UK that I had the joy to witness curvy goddesses gracing the stage. It was a relief as an artist to live in a place that employed you for your craft and skill and not for what you looked like
While I was away so much changed for the better with more Indigenous storytelling and more diversity throughout casting. It was an exciting time to come home but I still wondered, where are all the curvy women?
The decision to start Moonspark Productions was born out of this. I wanted to create a female led company that didn't isolate people based on their body shape. A company that fully embraced every body. The reality is that no one believes their body is perfect and there is always something that each individual would want to change or make "look better" We have all been conditioned through the media to look a certain way, we are constantly bombarded with imagery of lithe models and we are left longing to look like them.
It is time to make a change, to start seeing the diversity of all humans reflected in the media and on our stages
We hope you enjoy Moonsparks first production of Beginning and please spread the word so that there may be many more to come.
~ Crystal Arons ~ ArtisticDirector MoonsparkProductions
DIRECTORS NOTE
Set entirely within the confines of Laura's living room during the early hours of the morning, the play unfolds as a poignant and vulnerable exploration of their lives and past experiences.
As the audience, I encourage you to observe the subtle nuances of their interaction
Notice how small moments can carry great weight, and how a single word or gesture can reveal depths of vulnerability and longing. Reflect on your own experiences of starting anew, the hesitations and hopes that arise, and the courage required to open ourselves up to the possibility of love and connection
"Like a crow picking up debris from the lives of later dating rituals, Eldridge presents the obstacles, baggage and magical moments of the dating dance."
In this intimate play, Eldridge invites us to witness the delicate dance between two individuals, Laura and Danny, as they navigate the uncertainty and complexities of initiating a potential romantic connection
The actors have invested themselves fully in embodying the complex characters of Laura and Danny. Their performances invite you to share in their journey,
Ultimately, Beginning serves as a reminder that every encounter, every connection we make, has the potential to transform us It urges us to embrace the uncertainty, to find solace in vulnerability, and to recognize the beauty in the fragility of human relationships
~ Heidi Gledhill ~
HEIDI'SCREDENTIALS
Heidi Gledhill, Queensland based awardwinning theatre director and producer, is the founder and Artistic Director of Room to Play She has worked both nationally and internationally in theatre over the last 25 years.
Heidi’s directing credits include Ionesco’s The Bald Prima Donna, Brian Friel’s Afterplay, Tom Holloway’s Red Sky Morning and Dario Fo’s Mistero Buffo, supported by Queensland Theatre and presented at Billie Brown and The Hanging by Angela Betzien at Playlab Hotlines. She directed Lally Katz’ The Eisteddfod and The Bull the Moon and The Coronet of Stars by Van Badham at Metro Arts I AM KING I AM QUEEN was devised and directed by Heidi and toured to New Zealand and Sydney As a lecturer at Australian Performing Arts Conservatory (APAC) she has translated and adapted, The Virtuous Burglar by Dario Fo and directed David Ives, Its all in the Timing at the Brisbane Arts Multicultural Centre She has been invited by Queensland Theatre to be on the assessment panel for Queensland Premier’s Drama Award. She is currently on the Board of Anywhere Theatre Festival.
ABOUTTHEAUTHOUR
Summer Begins (NT Studio and Donmar Warehouse, 1997); Falling (Hampstead Theatre, 1999); Under the Blue Sky (Royal Court Theatre, 2000, awarded Best New Play in the West End in 2001); Festen (Almeida and Lyric Theatre, 2004); M.A.D. (Bush Theatre, 2004); David Eldridge
Described as a “a poet of the east end overspill” by The Observer, David Eldridge is widely regarded as one of the most important playwriting voices of his generation David Eldridge was born in Romford, Greater London. His full-length plays include Serving it Up (Bush Theatre, 1996); A Week with Tony (Finborough Theatre, 1996);
CR
Crystal is an International Artist and has been performing for over 20 years She trained with Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble, Queensland Actor’s Playhouse, Grin and Tonic and completed a Bachelor of Theatre Arts (Acting) at the University of Southern Queensland.
Australian credits: Macbeth (QSE), A Wedding and a Murder (Angela Witcher - hARTSpace), Whatever Gets You Through The Night (Nicky Peelgrane - Chrysalis Productions), As You Like It (Thunderbear Productions), The Virtuous Burglar (Dario Fo – Room to Play), The Bald Prima Donna (Eugene Ionesco – Room to Play), The Void and the Light (Outcast Arts), Metamorphosis (Steven Berkhoff), The Threepenny Opera (Bertolt Brecht - Kris Weir), The Tempest (Andrea Moor), Gremlins and Pigford (Woodford Folk Festival).
International productions: Lord Ghoulsley’s Manor, the Cork North Pole Christmas Experience, Clap for Alzheimers, The Faraway Tree and the world premiere of The Life of Oscar Wilde (Camden Fringe Festival) Crystal performed her one-woman show, Dating Dingleberries (Ireland) and played Miranda in The Tempest for Company C, London.
JESSE BLACHUT
Jesse Andrew Blachut is a 27-year-old performer born in Wagga Wagga. After obtaining his Advanced Diploma of Stage and Screen in 2017, he debuted as Enjolras in Les Misérables on the Gold Coast and has a wide set of skills as a singer, fencer and all-round performer.
Since his graduation from APAC, he has appeared in several short productions with the Jane Austen Society of Australia, original musical Destiny Doomed and multiple other stage productions across Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
Jesse initially became interested in performing in his early teens and has had a distinct passion for theatre ever since. While often cast as a “villain” or “morally grey ” character, Jesse’s ability to embody the dark and brooding type has earned him recognition from stage and casting directors.
CREW
DIRECTOR
Heidi Gledhill
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR & DRAMATURG
Desley Martin
STAGE MANAGER
Nikita Walter
TECHNICAL DIRECTOR & LIGHTING DESIGN
Tim James
SOUND DESIGN
Tommi Civili
INTIMACY DIRECTOR
Asabi E. Goodman
MOVEMENT DIRECTOR
Victoria Doherty
MARKETING
Kristian Fletcher
GRAPHIC DESIGN
Jarrod Nielsen
PHOTOGRAPHER
Kris Anderson
VIDEOGRAPHER
Tom Coyle
We want to thank the entire Creative Team, Heidi, Desley, Nikita, Tim, Jarrod, Jesse and Crystal for all their gorgeous talent, valuable time and for believing in this beautiful story Thank you so much for being a part of something so special for our first Moonspark Production
Thank you so much to David Eldrige for the gift of these two complex and gorgeous characters Thank you for your beautiful eloquence and for allowing us to premiere this play in Australia We are forever grateful for your generosity
Thank you to Kris Anderson for our beautiful production images and thank you to Tom Coyle for your stunning videography. Thank you to Kristine Browning, Rosetta Divine and Nikita Walter for all your costuming assistance
Thank you so much to our PIP Theatre family for providing us with a theatre home and for all the extra love and support when we needed it Deirdre, Amelia, Jenna, Ava and Harrison we are so grateful for all your hard work behind the scenes
A special thank you to Jordyn Salter for the beautiful Acknowledgement of Country
Thank you so much to Angela and Mark Witcher for all your much-needed help and assistance. Thank you to Veronica Fortune and Susan Freeth-Russia for their assistance with props and for the British Bunting and Tea Pots to give us a small taste of England
A big thank you to Andy Smalley from Union Jacks Pastry Shack for his delicious scotch eggs and pork pies for our opening night!
Thank you to our Intimacy Director, Asabu E Goodman for carefully navigating this beautiful world for us Thank you to Victoria Doherty and Laura Perrett for guiding us through their fun choreography and for the challenge of finding the awkwardness with us
A huge thank you to all of our friends and families for all your love, support and patience We appreciate you all so much
A final, glorious thank you to our audiences for taking the time to come out, have fun with us and enjoy a magical night at the theatre
Thank you so much for supporting independent theatre
