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.
Charlie Falkner is a playwright and emerging screenwriter from Sydney, Australia. His works have been produced both domestically and internationally. His most recent play, Darwin's Reptilia was staged for a developmental reading at the IRT theatre in New York in 2022, and was programmed for Belvoir's coveted 25A season in November 2023. It was published by Currency Press in 2024.
Charlie’s portfolio includes his first full-length play Dirty People, penned in 2015. It saw its premiere production in May 2016 and has undertaken various productions across Australia since. Charlie’s second work, Sex Object, produced in April 2017, received widespread acclaim and was selected for an off-Broadway production at The PIT in New York City in 2018. Charlie has twice been shortlisted for the Martin-Lysicrates Prize, and is a three-time published playwright.
Charlie created and wrote "An Alien In Sydney," in 2022, a found-footage mockumentary series, currently making its rounds in the festival circuit. It has been screened internationally and has won Best Series at the Melbourne Cinefest Festival and Best Ensemble Piece at Sydney Webfest.
Charlie has worked as a freelance script consultant, script editor and producer. Since 2016, he has been the co-artistic director of JackRabbit Productions, a driving force of new Australian work in Sydney’s independent theatre scene. He has produced plays such as 'A Little Piece of Ash' (Megan Wilding), 'Wrath' (Liam Maguire), and 'Maureen the Harbinger of Death' (Jonny Hawkins), working across venues from The Eternity Playhouse in Sydney to the Blue Room in Perth.
Charlie is a member of the Australian Writers Guild and The Dramatists Guild of America.
(Charlie Falkner, https://charliefalkner.com/about)
Founded in 2015 by Laura Colella, starheART theatre is an award winning Adelaide based company designed to create opportunities for artists. Its aim is to show Adelaide some of the talent that is in its own backyard. It runs on the notion that to be successful, you sometimes have to make opportunities happen for yourself.
Beginning with just 8 members, starheART theatre has grown to give opportunities to over 80 local and international artists. The release of their feature film, 'The Essence', allowed creatives in all different fields to get involved. They have performed in both the Adelaide and Melbourne Fringe festival and were awarded the Holden Street Theatre Award for their 2020 Adelaide Fringe production of 'Dirty People' written by Charlie Falkner. Their sitcom 'jupiter' is out now on YouTube.
Five rude, honest, selfish and absolutely hilarious characters sit in a dingy bar complaining about their lives. As the night progresses, chaos erupts and the characters find their lives intertwined. This is a hilarious comedy about the people we love to hate.
Lucy arrives at a bar to meet James, however she isn't really there for a date. Not too far away sits Tina Tininsky, the famous actress and her boyfriend Rex. Lucy knows a secret about Tina, and the Waiter knows something's up with them all. Who can keep a secret? And who would risk their reputation to take down the Prime Minister?
Steven Thai Hoa as James
Whether he’s flamboyantly strutting around the stage as Joe in Together, or he’s vindictive and calculating as an abusive husband in Autobahn, Steven knows he’ll always be challenged, learn new things and better himself as a performer when working with starheART theatre. With the company celebrating its ten year anniversary in 2025, Steven is proud of say he has been along for the ride for half of that journey, working alongside starheART for five of those 10 years.
With starheART he has been able to challenge himself with a range of different roles, both on stage and off, across different mediums. From theatre to film, from acting to scriptwriting, starheART theatre has given him the opportunity to go outside of his comfort zone and experiment with things he’d otherwise never have to chance to do otherwise.
Steven is incredibly thankful for all the opportunities he has been given with starheART theatre so when Laura Colella asked whether or not he’d like to return as James for the company ’ s upcoming ten year anniversary performance, there was no other logical answer, but “yes!”
Laura Colella as Lucy
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. Laura holds multiple postgraduate degrees including a Master of Teaching.
Laura has performed in numerous starheART theatre productions including the 2016 and 2021 productions of 'THE BOYS' by Gordon Graham, the 2017 production of Andrew Bovell’s ‘After Dinner’ and the 2018 original play, ‘Love Is Easy’. Laura also starred in the 2019 performance of John Patrick Shanley’s ‘Doubt: A Parable’, the 2021 original play, 'Together', 'Sex Object' written by Charlie Falkner, Joanna Murray-Smith’s play, ‘Bombshells’ and 'Autobahn: A Short-Play Cycle' written by Neil LaBute. Laura is excited to reprise her role as 'Lucy' in DIRTY PEOPLE by Charlie Falkner which she performed in the 2020 Adelaide Fringe.
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’. Laura loves continuously learning and working with passionate people!
Vincent Donato as The Waiter/Ted
Vincent Donato is an Australian Actor, Director, Writer, Voice Over Artist and Model. He has appeared in many quality Australian movies and series, such as Storm Boy, Wanted and Heavens Burning. Vincent is also starring in the up-andcoming thriller Locker, inspired by the Titan Submersible disaster, which is currently in postproduction.
When not rehearsing or filming, Vincent is a builder, father of two awesome children, Ethan and Maya and husband to Jo Donato, Author of Crossfire and Secrets.
Vincent has worked with starheART theatre many times over the years on screen in Jupiter as Jupiter’s dad and in The Essence. Vincent loves collaborating with Laura Colella. “I was literally on a roof when I was asked to join the cast of Dirty People, how I could I pass up an opportunity to work with Laura again?”
Jacob Scutella as Rex
Jacob Scutella graduated from Rostrevor College in 2018. He is working full time as a diesel mechanic after finishing his 4 year apprenticeship while still pursuing acting whether it be in film or theatre.
His journey started when he decided to take the plunge into a 6 month intensive course through Type Talent. Here, he learned to get out of his comfort zone and seek truth within his character.
When he’s not working, Jacob enjoys playing football and socialising with his mates. Jacob has also been in a few short films such as ‘Astray’ which is in the process of being edited and ‘Headshot’ which will also be screening at the Fringe.
This is Jacob’s first time working with starheART theatre and Laura Colella with whom he is excited to be on board with in ‘Dirty People’ and is looking forward to future collaborations with the rest of the cast.
Sarah Baber as Tina
Sarah Baber has been performing since the age of four and absolutely loves being onstage. She has been a Children’s Entertainer for over 10 years and has achieved many milestones within this line of work: including being featured on ‘South Aussie With Cosi’, danced in the Glenelg Christmas Pageant many times, and performed at a private event for Teresa Palmer’s family and friends.
Most recently, Sarah is known for her work and contribution in the professional Burlesque and Cabaret scene as ‘Ember Rose’. In 2024, she performed in a total of 38 productions, worked with 16 different producers, was nominated for 3 community awards, and travelled to Canberra and Melbourne for her work. She is regularly found on the stage at Nineteen Ten Burlesque & Jazz Bar, teaching students at Hot Sauce Burlesque, and is known for her unique Tap Dancing/Burlesque fusion with her one-of-a-kind Tap shoes that light on fire.
Sarah has been acting in the local Adelaide scene for a while, starring in short films such as ‘The Shadows Behind Seduction’ created by AIE film students, ‘The Cabinet’ directed by Shuying Liu, and ‘Centre of The Universe’ by Paul Hennessy. She has joined the cast of ‘Lost in Translation‘ throughout 2024 and has loved taking part in this Improvisational Comedy show.
Although Sarah loves to be onstage performing burlesque or being a fairy at children’s events, she has recently graduated from Flinders University with an Undergraduate Certificate in Acting and is so excited to see where her acting journey will take her from here. She is absolutely thrilled to be back with starheART theatre for their 2025 Adelaide Fringe Festival play ‘Dirty People’.
CREW AND SPECIAL THANKS CREW AND SPECIAL THANKS CREW AND SPECIAL THANKS
TECHNICAL DIRECTORTECHNICAL DIRECTORTECHNICAL DIRECTOR
FRONT OF HOUSE FRONT OF HOUSE FRONT OF HOUSE
INTRO VOICE OVER INTRO VOICE OVER INTRO VOICE OVER
Danila Colella
Special thanks to Danila Colella, Stephanie Dent, Lisa Lanzi, Axel Thurlow and Anna Donato for attending rehearsals and providing feedback. Thanks to Sean O’Connell and Josephine Colella for lending technical equipment. Thank you to Paul Donato for testing and tagging our lights. Thank you to Sarah Baber for the months of Monday night rehearsal space. Thank you to Carolyn and Tom from Nineteen Ten for allowing us to take promotional pictures in their venue and to Montgomery Wolf for taking these. Thank you to Mylena and the Stamford for their assistance this Adelaide Fringe.
ple. Thank you Charlie Falkner his play. I will always love this omedy as this play allowed , local actors to become an inning theatre company!
o our families and friends for ggest supporters. starheART ld not be able to run without your support.
ncent, Jacob and Sarah: thank passion, your talent, flexibility tion. I am so grateful for the ity to learn from and work ngside each of you. all of you for buying a ticket ing a local theatre company, o do what we love. I hope you People as much as we do.
Laura
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