Bombshells Program

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY OF COUNTRY

We would like to acknowledge that the land we meet on today is the traditional lands for the Kaurna people and that we respect their spiritual relationship with their Country.

We also acknowledge the Kaurna people as the traditional custodians of the Adelaide region and that their cultural and heritage beliefs are still as important to the living Kaurna people today.

ABOUT THE ABOUT THE PLAYWRIGHT PLAYWRIGHT

"Joanna Murray-Smith is a playwright, screenwriter and novelist. Her plays have been produced around the world, including on Broadway and the West End, the National Theatre, London and in many languages".

"I’ve been writing plays professionally for three decades with over two dozen plays frequently produced around the world and in many languages. I’ve been lucky to hear my words spoken by many of the great actors: Meryl Streep, Laura Linney, Julia Blake, Allison Janney, Dame Eileen Atkins, Sarah Pearse, Annette Bening, Corin Redgrave, Julia Blake, Sam Waterston, Dame Diana Rigg and many more. I have learnt how to be a better writer by working with extraordinary artists in all disciplines." - Joanna Murray-Smith

(https://www.joannamurray-smith.com)

ABOUT ABOUT STARHEART STARHEART THEATRE THEATRE

Foundedin2015byLauraColella,starheARTtheatreisanAdelaide basedcompanydesignedtocreateopportunitiesforartists.Itsaimisto showAdelaidesomeofthetalentthatisinitsownbackyard.Itrunson thenotionthattobesuccessful,yousometimeshavetomake opportunitieshappenforyourself.

Beginningwithjust8members,starheARTtheatrehasgrowntogive opportunitiestoover70localandinternationalartists.Thereleaseof theirfeaturefilm,'THEESSENCE',allowedcreativesinalldifferentfields togetinvolved.

ThegrouphaveperformedinboththeAdelaideandMelbourneFringe festivalandwereawardedtheHoldenStreetTheatreAwardfortheir 2020AdelaideFringeproductionof'DirtyPeople'writtenbyCharlie Falkner.In 2022,theyreleasedaYouTubesitcomcalled'jupiter'which followsthelivesoffourfriends,Jupiter,Robbie,StellaandSethandhow theynavigatework,datingandlifeingeneral.Checkitoutviathelinks below!

Episode1:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qYne5 AxwW4

Episode2:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRof5sbgifs

Episode3:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yi4_TbKo7Tc

DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT

It is Adelaide, 2004.

Six different female characters bare their inner and outer selves, their secrets, and their aspirations in six diverse scenarios. Importantly, as you will hear one Bombshell utter: “pleasure is found in the unexpected". There is poetry, humour and reverie in Murray-Smith’s text and just a little ridiculousness.

LISA LLISA LANZI ANZI

Commissioned to flesh out a concept by Simon Phillips when he held the artistic director’s position with Melbourne Theatre Company, Joanna Murray-Smith pondered the multiple roles women usually fulfil, sometimes to their own detriment: “women on the edge was the uniting theme” and she wanted to focus on “the chasm between the wilderness of their inner worlds and the demands of their outer worlds”.

I was delighted to accept starheART theatre’s invitation to direct Bombshells. One of my artistic goals is to work with and create performance opportunities for females as often as possible.

Be a woman of confidence, not cockiness. Know your boundaries, set no limits. Speak your kindness and turn your back to conformed groups. The only way to be a woman of change in this world, is to walk what you talk and set your own soul free first.

Nikki Rowe - author of Once a Girl, Now a Woman

CAST CAST

IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Ashlea Sander has experience in film, television and stage. After being awarded Immanuel College's 'Full School Colours' for Dramatic Arts she went on to further training with the Elite Ensemble at Actors Ink in South Australia.

From there she moved to Melbourne to study with the NIDA open program. Ashlea was awarded a Scholarship with the Stella Adler Academy of Acting Los Angeles, and moved to LA to study full time at the beginning of 2017. Upon arriving back home she went straight into further full time study with the Acting Performance Studio in Melbourne where she graduated from a two year Classical Acting course. Ashlea shared her love of performing with students while in Melbourne where she was a teacher with 'Drama Time', she ran acting classes for Preps up to Grade 6.

Ashlea believes ongoing training is an absolute must and is continuously learning and growing. The 2021 Adelaide Fringe Festival saw Ashlea performing in starheART’s original show

and the following year Ashlea performed in starheART’s production of THE BOYS by Gordon Graham. Ashlea is thrilled to be back once again collaborating with starheART theatre for the 2023 Fringe season showcasing Joanna Murray-Smith’s “Bombshells”.

ASHLEA ASHLEA SANDER SANDER

“Together”,

CAST CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Laura Colella graduated Flinders University in 2016 with a Bachelor of Arts in Drama and Creative Writing. That same year, she studied a Summer Conservatory course at the Stella Adler Art of Acting Studio in Los Angeles and was accepted into their full time program. She has almost completed her Master of Teaching and teaches acting to children after school at Mostly Kids.

Laura played ‘Jackie’ in starheART theatre’s 2016 and 2021 productions of 'THE BOYS' by Gordon Graham including in both the Adelaide and Melbourne Fringe Festival. She also played ‘Paula’ in the 2017 production of Andrew Bovell’s ‘After Dinner’ and starred in the 2018 original play, ‘Love Is Easy’.

Laura played ‘Sister James’ in the 2019 performance of John Patrick Shanley’s ‘Doubt: A Parable’ and ‘Lucy’ in starheART theatre’s award winning 2020 Fringe production, ‘Dirty People’ written by Charlie Falkner. Laura also played 'Isabel' in the original play, 'Together' and Ron in 'Sex Object' written by Charlie Falkner.

Laura has always been passionate about the arts and making opportunities happen for herself. In 2018, she played ‘Sam’ in the thriller feature film, ‘The Essence’ and has starred in a number of short films. Laura also stars as ‘Jupiter’ in starheART’s original YouTube sitcom ‘jupiter’ following the lives of four friends and how they navigate dating, work and life in general. She spent most of 2019 studying and working in Melbourne to further develop her skills in the arts. One thing she loves about being the Artistic Director of starheART theatre is that she can play a variety of roles and continually develop and show her skills across a range of genres without being type cast.

In her spare time, she enjoys going to the Botanic Gardens, trying every dessert kitchen there is and binge watching sitcoms in order from the beginning to the end. She is currently on season 3 of the classic 'M*A*S*H'

CAST CAST IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE IN ORDER OF APPEARANCE

Lucy has been performing in theatre since high school and has always known she wanted to pursue acting. Lucy attended Flinders University and completed their 3 year Drama Workshop course with High Distinctions. She has also worked for local acting schools on short films and pilots of TV shows, perfecting her abilities in film as well as stage productions.

This will be Lucy's eighth fringe season, her seventh performing with starheART theatre. Her most recent work playing Stella in the starheART original sitcom Jupiter; episodes 1-3 now available on the starheART theatre YouTube page. "I am so passionate about what I do. I couldn't be more grateful for starheART theatre and Laura Colella's support, trust and friendship".

When Lucy is not busy working or cleaning up after her husband and two fur babies she spends her time painting, watching movies and TV on every streaming service, catching up with friends and continuing to write her own stories. Lucy hopes to one day produce her own work for an Adelaide Fringe season (stay tuned!)

ABOUT OUR DIRECTOR ABOUT OUR DIRECTOR

As teaching artist, theatre/multidisciplinary and film performer, mentor, director, and choreographer Lisa has worked for the likes of The Australia Council, Country Arts SA, Carclew Youth Arts, State Theatre Company SA, Australian Dance Theatre, Adelaide and Darwin Festival and Fringe, Adelaide Cabaret Festival and Cabaret Fringe, Adelaide University, Adelaide College of the Arts, schools across South Australia, local Councils, private corporations, and Singapore International Fringe Festival.

She co-founded dance theatre company Splinter, was an acclaimed cabaret performer with The Tapperuccis and as co-director of BodySONG has run community singing and cross-artform theatre projects across South Australia.

Lisa creates community dance projects for older persons, disabled persons, intergenerational groups plus master classes for Parkinson’s SA and Active Ageing Australia.

Her career in both professional and community contexts has also imparted much to her creative praxis and a desire to make astonishing work.

Lisa won the Geoff Crowhurst Memorial Award at the 2022 RUBY Awards, established by The Department of the Premier and Cabinet to honour outstanding work within South Australia’s arts and culture sector.

ANZI

SPECIAL THANKS SPECIAL THANKS

Pre- and Post-Show music by Australian Composer

MNATASHA MOSZENIN OSZENIN

Follow her on Spotify or Bandcamp: https://natashamoszenin.bandcamp.com/album/sleeples

s-daughters

Piano music composed for Bombshells by Elena Kats-Chernin (2004) played and recorded by

ANGELA ANGELA SHARP SHARP

Technical Director

CLAIRE JCLAIRE JEFFRIES EFFRIES DANILA CDANILA COLELLA OLELLA

NATASHA

Front of House

SPECIAL THANKS SPECIAL THANKS

Stage Hand

MONTGOMERY MONTGOMERY WOLF WOLF

Set Constructor

ALEX DALEX DYSON YSON

To Monty, Mum, Dad, Josephine, Andrew & Sean: Thank you for always being my biggest supporters and helping me with any and every request for starheART theatre. I am so super lucky and appreciative for all of you.

To Lisa, Lucy and Ashlea: Thank you for being such great cast and crew members, stepping in to problem solve and for allowing me to learn and work alongside your talent. I am very lucky to call you guys not just my colleagues but my friends.

Lots of love, Laura