WELCOME
TO THE REGINALD THEATRE Welcome to the second production within Reginald Season 2012, Damian Callinan’s The Merger. The Reg Season is all about diversity: a place for works that tackle the challenge of making innovative performance from a variety of angles, embracing a range of genres and, at times, letting them collide to produce fascinating results. This diversity includes presenting completely new work and, in the case of Damian’s very funny and timely ode to regional Australia, works that have enjoyed success in other states and are new to Sydney. I am extremely glad that we can now present The Merger to Sydney audiences after it has been so well received in Melbourne (nominated for the Barry Award for most outstanding show of the Melbourne Comedy Festival) and has toured throughout Australia. In The Merger a struggling regional footy team must take desperate measures to survive, recruiting asylum seekers to make up the numbers. Damian’s simple premise is, of course, a clever canvas to explore a new Australia, one where our cherished, time-honoured traditions must adapt in the face of global challenges. In this case, when those seeking asylum find a new home on our shores and, like all of us, are keen to fit in – particularly on a Saturday afternoon. The 2012 Reginald programs offers comedy, mythic songs, inventive cabaret, and gritty drama. Grab a program and please consider becoming a regular at the Reg for the rest of the year – I promise you it will be worth it.
tim
JONES
Artistic Director and General Manager Seymour Centre
DIRECTOR’S NOTE I think Damian Callinan is a natural storyteller, a gifted clown and terrific character actor, so I take every opportunity to work with him. What’s very special about The Merger is that it’s a story that really needs to be heard right now. People seem to have forgotten that Australia is a brave, open-hearted country where strangers are made welcome and people who have had a tough life get a helping hand. That’s the place Damian and I grew up in and we hope it’s not gone yet. With wit, warmth and an abiding affection for grass-roots sport, Damian brings a cracking bunch of characters alive in a show that I think is touching, funny, and a one-man tour-de-force. I am proud to present this work and its ideas. I hope you enjoy the ride.
MATT parkinson ABOUT DAMIAN CALLINAN
Director
Damian Callinan [comedian, actor, writer] has been inserting inaccuracies in his biographies since unsuccessfully serving as the Czar’s personal bodyguard in 1917. A former drama teacher, he has forged a reputation for his versatility, proving himself equally adept at traditional stand up, character comedy and correctly guessing the weight of random objects. A prolific writer and blacksmith he has forged 10 solo shows and has been nominated three times for the prestigious Barry Award for best show at the Melbourne Comedy Festival. His media credits include – Skithouse, Spicks & Specks, MICF Gala, Before The Game, JJJ, 774ABC Melbourne and was courtside commentator at the Beach Volleyball at the 1896 Athens Olympics.
VISIT WWW.DAMIANCALLINAN.COM.AU
CREDITS
Writer/Performer - Damian Callinan Director – Matt Parkinson Puppets – Sarah Kriegler Props – David Jackson @ Crackajack Voice Overs – Damian Callinan, Kate McLennan & Matt Parkinson Sound Recording – Richard Burleigh Dervish Costume – Karen Falting Poster Image Photo – James Penlidis
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Special Thanks to: Roderick Poole, Kane Forbes [RAV] Toby Sullivan, Vanessa Rouse [Dirty Work Comedy]
The Merger Myths & Hymns he Merger
My Private Parts The Share facebook.com/whoisreginald
18 - 29 Sept 10 - 27 Oct 31 Oct - 17 Nov 21 Nov - 8 Dec @ReginaldSeymour
The Reginald Season is an initiative of the Seymour Centre, the University of Sydney’s Performing Arts Centre. The Reginald Season is supported by the NSW Government through Arts NSW.