Away by Michael Gow - program

AWAY

by Michael Gow

24 - 28 NOVEMBER 2020 BURKE STREET STUDIO THEATRE 8 Burke Street, Woolloongabba

WELCOME

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you to our production of Away by Australian playwright Michael Gow. Performed by the inaugural graduating cohort of Bachelor of Acting students, Away showcases their amazing talents. Leading up to this moment, the Acting students have worked tirelessly in class to gain techniques in acting, voice & speech, movement, Alexander Technique, stage combat, singing, jazz dance and sight reading. They have presented in-house productions of Arabian Nights, The Three Sisters, The Comedy of Errors, 90% (presented as part of the Safe Campuses week here at Griffith) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Public performances include the new Australian play An Exact Point in Time, written by Claire Christian, and the Class of 2020 Acting and Musical Theatre Showcase, which was presented both live and online.

I would like to thank all of the staff who have helped the students in their journey, especially to Jacqui Somerville, Senior Lecturer in Acting, for her leadership in this area.

Special thanks to Tim Hill for his support of the students and for directing this, their final performance at Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University.

Finally, I would like to thank you for joining us for what I’m sure will be a wonderful evening. As performers we need an audience, so please continue to support our students in future projects.

Professor Paul Sabey Head of Performing Arts Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University

FROM THE DIRECTOR

It has been an honour and a pleasure to work with the Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University third year acting students on one of Australia’s most revered theatrical texts Away.

Michael Gow’s play has seen countless productions over the last 40 years and I, along with the students, have thoroughly enjoyed creating this latest incarnation. I would like to thank Jacqui Somerville and Paul Sabey for giving me the opportunity to explore this important Australian work and to lead this group of talented and engaging artists.

These artists are the future of our industry and we are in excellent hands. Thank you also to the brilliant Melissa Agnew for her voice work and the whole team at the Conservatorium for their constant support. It has brought me so much joy to have been able to stage this production in this most difficult of years and that comes down to the dedication of the institution and students to keep the ‘lights on’, both metaphorically and physically.

Away is a snapshot of a time and place in Australian life. An Australia that was rapidly evolving and changing and an Australia where each generation seemed a mile away from the generation before. Away lives in a time that is a memory for our parents and grandparents, a time when life was experienced not googled. Yet Away is also a play full of universal themes. Family, love, loss, grief, and hope. These emotions that we all know and are felt by all, pulsate through every page and every word of its script. While the cast and I have not lived in the period this play was set, we have experienced human condition that rings so true in the inhabitants of Away and consequently over the process it feels like those characters have become our friends and family. The play has provided some unique challenges for the cast. They have been asked to either return to a school age or to jump forward and play someone of their parents age. Yet each has shown a determination and dedication to explore and understand every nuance of their character. Away lives in a memory and a moment in time that deserves to be captured, remembered, and reimagined.

We invite you to take the plunge with us back to 1967 - a journey of love, discovery, and loss along the east coast of Australia.

While AWAY, you might be surprised just how ‘at home’ you feel.

Timothy Hill

Declan Coyle

Triona Giles

Ally Hickey

Harrison Hughes

Peter Hakiza Irankunda

Nikita Khromykh

Kaloyan Koilichki

Sarah McNally

Sophie Messina

Matilda Simmons

Trent Taylor-Brain

Oscar Thelander

THE CAST Away Cast

Tues 24 Nov @ 7.30pm Thurs 26 Nov @ 7.30pm Sat 28 Nov @ 2.30pm

Tom

Home Cast Wed 25 Nov @ 7.30pm Fri 27 Nov @ 7.30pm Sat 28 Nov @ 7.30pm

Harrison Hughes Trent Taylor-Brain

Meg

Matilda Simmons Sophie Messina

Coral

Triona Giles

Roy

Oscar Thelander

Gwen

Sarah McNally

Jim

Kaloyan Koilichki Declan Coyle

Vic

Ally Hickey

Harry

Nikita Khromykh

Woman

Sophie Messina Matilda Simmons

Rick

Peter Hakiza Irankunda

MC/Camper 1

Declan Coyle Kaloyan Koilichki

Miss Latrobe

Ally Hickey

Ensemble

Trent Taylor-Brain Harrison Hughes

WITH THANKS Tatiana Khromykh

Tracy Hickey

Timothy Hill - Director B.A. Griffith University, ATCL Trinity College London, MFA Directing NIDA

Timothy Hill is a freelance director of musical theatre, plays, cabaret, dance and film. In 2015, he completed a Masters of Fine Arts Directing at NIDA. Recent directing credits include Away (QCGU), The Unreal/Real House Wives of The Gold Coast (HOTA/Matt Ward Entertainment), Wicked (Matt Ward Entertainment/ HOTA), Reagan Kelly (Metro Arts), Fame (HOTA/Matt Ward Entertainment), Spring Awakening (Underground Broadway 2018 - Matilda Nomination for Best Director), Bang Bang: Featuring Rhonda Burchmore (TAM Presents/Brisbane Festival 2018), a sold out production of Rent (QPAC/Matt Ward Entertainment 2018), Wheel of Fortune (Metro Arts/TAM Presents 2018), This Is Our Youth (Underground Broadway 2018), Rent (Matt Ward Entertainment/ Powerhouse 2017), the new Australian Musical Showtrain (Federation University 2016), Mary Poppins (Arts Centre Gold Coast 2016) and Into The Woods (The Performers Studio/Arts Centre Gold Coast 2016).

Other career highlights include: for Raw Metal: Metalworx (Writer/Assistant Director), Amped (Writer/Assistant Director), Funky Beats (Writer/Director - critically acclaimed national tour) and in Melbourne: From The Inside (Co-Director - Industry Dance), Evolution of Love (Collaboration - Writer/ Co-Director), Time: A Story Of Youth (Project Y Writer/Co- Director), Electric Avenue (Troy Armstrong), Twist and Turns and Off/On (Oscar Theatre Company - Director), Spring Awakening (NIDA - Director).

His directorial work in film includes: film clip Gold for Triple J unearthed artist Donatachi in 2015; as assistant director Stranger I Am (NIDA- Craig Ilott); as dramaturg Left Behind, Uninvited Guest, Disconnect & Beautiful World (Merge Dance Theatre); as Tutor/Teacher: Griffith University Drama Department (Seasonal tutor), QCD (Acting Coach, Theatrical Director), Brent Street (Acting Coach).

FOR THE PRODUCTION PRODUCER Professor Paul Sabey DIRECTOR Timothy Hill VOICE & DIALECT COACH Dr Melissa Agnew STAGE MANAGER Amy Hauser TECHNICAL DESIGN Show Hire Australia LIGHTING Tom Dodds PROGRAM Dominique Fegan

STUDENT PRODUCTION ROLES COSTUME Sarah McNally & Ally Hickey SOUND DESIGN Harrison Hughes AV DESIGN Declan Coyle PROPS & SET Trent Taylor-Brain, Nikita Khromykh, Kaloyan Koilichki MARKETING Sophie Messina, Peter Hakiza Irankunda VOICE CAPTAIN Triona Giles

FOR THE CONSERVATORIUM Acting Director Professor Gemma Carey Deputy Director Associate Professor Peter Morris (Engagement)

Head of Performing Arts Professor Paul Sabey Senior Lecturer in Acting Jacqui Somerville Business Manager Stuart Jones Performing Arts Administration Cathy Healy, Dominique Fegan Technical Officer Amy Hauser Front of House Operations Manager Michael Hibbard

Best wishes

for a safe & joyous festive season

See you in 2021 CRICOS Provider - 00233E