The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol 2024

t h e G OV E R N M E N T

INSPECTOR

by Nikolai Gogol Adapted & Directed by Terri Brabon

5 - 17 March The ClubHouse 22 Cottell St, Hyde Park

t h e G OV E R N M E N T

INSPECTOR

All hell breaks loose when the local council of a small regional community (manipulated by a powerful and wealthy developer) learn that the State Government are sending in a Crime and Corruption Inspector to have a sniff around. And he’ll be arriving, “incognito”.

But when a mysterious nobody is mistaken for the Inspector, the town will never be same.

CAST Alex Bragg Josie

Michael Gleeson Keely Pronk

Barry Barrymore ‘The Gov’ Brendan O’Connor Anna Barrymore

Terri Brabon

Marya Barrymore

Paris Walsh

Amos Fiodorovich

Michael Sams

Lucinda Binder

Emma Lamberton

Artie Phelan

Michael Doris

Warren Dobbs

John Goodson

Lauren Dobbs

Sally McCutcheon

Mishka ?

Ally Armitage-Cosgrove

Stagehands

Emma Smith

Lily Bartlett

Kaden Ramm

George Abednego

Alyssandra Higgins

Hunter Sams

production Director Stage Manager

Terri Brabon Fionn Baker-Goodson

Crew

Sasha Lea-Rowell

Set Design

Brendan O’Connor

Set Construction

Brendan O’Connor

Lily Bartlett

Michael Gleeson

Fionn Baker-Goodson

Joe Watkins

Sound Design

Terri Brabon

Lighting Design

Daniel Lobley

Technical Operator

Daniel Lobley

Followspot Operator

Ava Saldana Lopez

Costumes

Kathy Brabon

FOH/Production Assistants

The Bridge Project

Event Manager

Anne-Marie Smith

Photography

Chrissy Maguire

TheatreiNQ acknowledges the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun, Bindal, Gugu Badhun and Nywaigi as the Traditional Owners of this land. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders, past and present - and all future generations.

MICHAEL GLEESON Alex Bragg

KEELY PRONK Josie

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2012 THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through The Looking Glass, The Vagina Monologues, The Comedy of Errors, First Born, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors, Twelfth Night, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Romeo and Juliet, Last Post, King Lear OTHER THEATRE: ASC Grad Players: Much Ado About Benedick & Beatrice; La Luna: Amelia Ellicott’s Garden; NQOMT: Sweeney Todd, Hair; TCS: Avenue Q, Spamalot, West Side Story, Chess ADVERTISING & TV: Pickering; Spotlight - A Current Affair; The Black Hand ABC OTHER: LiNQ - T.I.E. - Macbeth (False Face); Mentor - TheatreiNQ’s The Performance Project (2022); The Culture Club (2016-18); Mulkadee Drama Coach (2018-19/22-23) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (2014-2017) AWARDS: Jean-Pierre Award (2018); TCC Performance of the Year (Chess, TCOS 2010)

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2017 THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Tempest, The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red, Much Ado About Nothing, The Blood of Kings, Alice Through the Looking Glass, Othello, DNA, The Vagina Monologues, First Born, Alice in Wonderland, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, X-Stacy OTHER THEATRE: Mulkadee Drama Coach (2021-22) ADVERTISING: Pickerings OTHER: LiNQ - T.I.E. - Macbeth (False Face) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’S The Bridge Project; Victoria Stanborough Vocal Studio (2003-08); Susan Grinsell Singing Studio(2009-12); Props Youth Theatre AWARDS: Martin Gibson Medal (2020)

BRENDAN O’CONNOR Barry Barrymore aka ‘The Gov’

MICHAEL SAMS Amos Fiodorovich

FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER THEATREiNQ: Brendan is a co-founder and leading actor of TheatreiNQ, featuring in over 40 roles. In addition to his on-stage roles, behind the scenes he is also the Company Production Manager, Set Designer and Builder and Fight Choreographer.

OTHER THEATRE: 18 Years as leading actor with the Australian Shakespeare Company; founding Member of Tropic Line Theatre Company and original cast of Shakespeare Under the Stars; AFCM Noye’s Fludde (God); JUTE-Summaris and Grace FILM & TV: Australia on Trial, City Homicide, Crash/Burn, Marshall Law, Ned Kelly, Neighbours, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Welcher & Welcher, Man from Snowy River ADVERTISING: Mitre 10, RACQ, Campbells Soup, The Age, Beaurepaires, National Australia Bank, Mitsubishi, Cabots (USA), Origin Energy, Captain Snooze AWARDS: Townsville City Council Services to the Arts Award (2019), Townsville City Council Performance of the Year (2015), Townsville City Council Jean-Pierre Voos Theatre Award (2012), Jean-Pierre Award (2011) OTHER: Mentor TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Actor & Technical Strand); MULKADEE Drama Coach (2012-14/2018) TRAINING : Associate Diploma of Acting

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2014 THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Bloody Mary, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, The Blood of Kings, Othello, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible OTHER THEATRE: Over 60 productions, including with QTC, Matrix Theatre, 4MBS, Trocadero Productions, Soup Theatre Company, Metro Arts, Grey Rose, Full Throttle Theatre Company FILM &TV: Beastmaster, Brizbin Boy/Canberra Girl, Cybergirl, Flipper, Departure Lounge, Insomniac, Kiss Me Stupid!, Scooby Doo ADVERTISING: Coles-Myer, Footlocker, K-Mart, Mount Margaret, Qld Govt, Remax, Ruralquip, Toyota, YourHub, Museum of Tropical NQ, TCC, Polar Industries OTHER: Published short story and play writer, Regional Literary Manager (Short & Sweet International Festival) AWARDS: Best Director/Best Actor (S&S 2018), Best Actor (FOOAP 2017), Adjudicator’s Award (FOOAP 2016) TRAINING: Bachelor of Arts (Drama) QUT (1996); Masters Creative Writing Macquarie University (2022); Playlab Incubator Program (2022)

EMMA LAMBERTON Lucinda Binder

MICHAEL DORIS Artie Phelan

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2012 THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through The Looking Glass, The Vagina Monologues, Hamlet (inc.Japan Tour 2016), What is the Matter with Mary Jane?, Twelfth Night, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Two Weeks With The Queen, Macbeth, The Importance of Being Earnest, X-Stacy, King Lear; Co-Director: Puffs; Director’s Assistant: Bloody Mary; Stage Manager: One Man, Two Guvnors, Last Post (Monto Tour), Private Ginger Mick at Gallipoli, The Cripple of Inishmaan OTHER THEATRE: Anywhere Festival Brisbane: Flood (Producer/ Actor); Share House: Immaculate Confection OTHER: LiNQ - TIE - Macbeth (False Face); Mentor - TheatreiNQ’s The Performance Project (2022); Club Leader The Culture Club/Crew (2015-17); Mulkadee Drama Coach (2019 & 2022) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Bachelor of New Media Arts (JCU) AWARDS: Jean-Pierre Award (2021), Anywhere Festival (2019), Martin Gibson Medal (2015)

FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER THEATREiNQ: Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Blood of Kings, The Comedy of Errors, Frankenstein, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Romeo and Juliet, Two Weeks With The Queen, Macbeth, X-Stacy, Richard III OTHER THEATRE: Stacks On Theatre: The Wind In the Willows; Townsville Grammar School: Sweeney Todd, The Wind in the Willows ADVERTISING: Stegbar OTHER: LiNQ - TIE - Director: Macbeth (False Face); Assistant Director AFCM’s 2014 Families Concert – Cinderella (2014) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (2014); Associate Performance Diploma with the Trinity College; Fiona Perry’s Actors Gallery AWARDS: TTC Best Supporting Actor 2015 (Cripple of Inishmaan); 2009 Regional Medal for Musical Theatre Trinity College of London; Jean-Pierre Award (2023)

JOHN GOODSON Warren Dobbs

SALLY McCUTCHEON Lauren Dobbs

FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Bloody Mary, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red, Much Ado About Nothing, The Blood of Kings, Othello, The Weir, The Vagina Monologues, First Born, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Frankenstein, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Macbeth, X-Stacy, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III OTHER THEATRE: Shakespeare Under The Stars, Tropic Sun Theatre, Uncle Cuthbert’s Cantankerous Old Goat’s Theatre, JUTE (Sound Design) FILM: Departure Lounge for Lucky Country Productions OTHER: Teacher, Puppeteer, Author, Musician; Music Coach The Culture Club; Musician - Astronaut Launch Party AWARDS: Jean Pierre Award (2011) TRAINING: Bachelor of Theatre

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2011 THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, Much Ado About Nothing, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, What is the Matter with Mary Jane?, The Importance of Being Earnest, Cosi OTHER THEATRE: QUT: The Kid, Musical Chairs, The Silver Circle Project, Consumed, Cinder-Child; DEBASE: Lovejunk ADVERTISING: Mount Margaret TRAINING: Bachelor of Arts (Drama) QUT

TERRI BRABON Director / Anna Barrymore FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER THEATREiNQ: Terri is the co-founder and Artistic Director of THEATREiNQ. She is the resident director and continues to perform as an actor. This is her 44th production with the company.

PLAYWRIGHT/ADAPTATIONS: Bloody Mary, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Wars of the Roses Trilogy: The Blood of Kings/The White Rose and the Red/ Blood will have Blood, Alice Through the Looking Glass, First Born, Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein OTHER THEATRE: 10 years with the Australian Shakespeare Company; La Mama; JUTE; Complete Works; Essential Theatre; Harvest Rain Theatre FILM & TV: Neighbours, Underbelly, John Doe ADVERTISING: Carlton Draught, Kraft, McDonalds OTHER: Mentor TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Theatre Coach The Culture Club; MULKADEE Drama Coach (2012-14/2018) AWARDS: Order of Australia Medal (2024); TCC Jean-Pierre Voos Theatre Award (2012) TRAINING: Bachelor of Theatre

ALLY ARMITAGE-COSGROVE Mishka ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2022 THE BRIDGE PROJECT - THIRD YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs, Bloody Mary, The Tempest, The Resistable Rise of Arturo Ui TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Theatre Residency Week NQ (2021)

PARIS WALSH Marya Barrymore ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2015 THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The White Rose and the Red, Alice Through the Looking Glass, The Comedy of Errors, First Born, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in Wonderland, Frankenstein, Hamlet, One Man, Two Guvnors, What is the Matter with Mary Jane?, Twelfth Night, Les Liasons Dangereuses OTHER THEATRE: ASC Grad Players: Much Ado About Benedick & Beatrice TV: Spotlight - A Current Affair OTHER: LiNQ - TIE - Macbeth (False Face); Qld Theatre Residency Week NQ (2022-24); Mentor - TheatreiNQ’s The Performance Project (2022); Mulkadee Drama Coach (2018/21-23) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Bachelor of Education (JCU); Teaching Artist - Qld Theatre AWARDS: Jean Pierre Award 2022; TTC Best Supporting Actress (2017) A Midsummer Night’s Dream/Frankenstein

EMMA SMITH Stagehand FOUNDING ENSEMBLE MEMBER THE BRIDGE PROJECT - THIRD YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Blood Will Have Blood, The Comedy of Errors, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Alice in Wonderland, Hamlet, What is the Matter with Mary Jane?, Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, The Crucible, Macbeth, King Lear, The Merry Wives of Windsor, Richard III, Henry V OTHER THEATRE: Noye’s Fludde (AFCM) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; TheatreiNQ’s The Culture Club (2015-17), The Culture Crew; Cajam Circus AWARDS: John de Feu Award (2021)

LILY BARTLETT Stagehand

GEORGE ABEDNEGO Stagehand

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2022 THE BRIDGE PROJECT - THIRD YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs, Bloody Mary, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui OTHER THEATRE: The Cathedral School Production: All Shook Up (2022) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Acting with Arminelle; North Queensland Theatre Residency Week (2021); ThiNQ Ed Workshops

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2023 THE BRIDGE PROJECT - SECOND YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs OTHER THEATRE: Acting with Arminelle: 19 (2023); Combined School Musical - Gaston in Beauty and the Beast TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Acting with Arminelle

ALYSSANDRA HIGGINS Stagehand

KADEN RAMM Stagehand ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2022 THE BRIDGE PROJECT - THIRD YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs, Bloody Mary, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui OTHER THEATRE: Towers Players: Much Ado About Nothing (2019), The Little Mermaid Jr (2018), Oliver (2017) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Queensland Theatre Residency Week (2020)

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2022 THE BRIDGE PROJECT - SECOND YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs, The Tempest OTHER THEATRE: Acting with Arminelle: 19 (2023),NQOMT: School of Rock (2022), Oliver (2015); Townsville Choral Society: Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2021), Annie (2016); Ulysses: Skin (2022), Gasp (2020-21) TRAINING: TheatreINQ’s The Bridge Project, The Culture Club (2022); Acting with Arminelle; Mulkadee (2018-2022); Theatre Residency Week NQ (2020-21); Ann Roberts School of Dance (20082022); New York Film Academy Teen Camp (2022)

HUNTER SAMS Stagehand ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2019 THE BRIDGE PROJECT - SECOND YEAR THEATREiNQ: Measure for Measure, Puffs, Blood Will Have Blood, The Blood of Kings, TCC Carols by Candlelight (2019) OTHER THEATRE: Acting with Arminelle:19 (2023), Grey Rose: The English Inquisition, Proper English ya’know what I’m sayin’, ACT101 ADVERTISING: Georgio Clothing, Townsville City Council, Mount Margaret, Ruralquip, YourHub, Museum of Tropical NQ TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project, The Culture Club/ Crew; Acting with Arminelle; Theatre Residency Week NQ (2020-22), Queensland Theatre Young Writers Ensemble 2022

DANIEL LOBLEY Lighting Design / Technical Operator

FIONN BAKER-GOODSON Stage Manager

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2021 THEATREiNQ: Sound Operator: Chewing Gum Dreams, Blood Will Have Blood, The White Rose and the Red; Stage Manager: Chewing Gum Dreams, Measure for Measure, Puffs, Orphans; Lighting Designer/Operator: Chewing Gum Dreams, Puffs, Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, The Performance Project 2022; Lighting Operator: Measure for Measure; Crew: Alice Through the Looking Glass OTHER THEATRE: Stage Manager: Combined School Musical Beauty and the Beast; Kirwan State High School: Troy Bolton in High School Musical; Townsville Choral Society: Stage Manager: Singin’ in the Rain TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Technical) AWARDS: Martin Gibson Medal (2022)

ENSEMBLE MEMBER SINCE 2022 THE BRIDGE PROJECT TECHNICAL THEATREiNQ: Sound Design/Operator: Puffs; Sound/AV Operator: Measure for Measure, The Tempest, The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui; Stage Manager: Bloody Mary, Xmas Krackers Crew: Orphans OTHER THEATRE: Props Youth Theatre OTHER: Woodenbong Fire Tribe; Aberdeen International Youth Arts Festival TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Technical); Cajam Circus

SASHA LEA-ROWELL Crew

AVA SALDANA LOPEZ Followspot Operator

THE BRIDGE PROJECT TECHNICAL THEATREiNQ: This is Sasha’s first production with TheatreiNQ OTHER THEATRE: Props: NQOMT-The Addams Family (2024), Props, Set & Crew: Townsville Grammar School - Little Shop of Horrors (2023); Crew: Libretto Studios - Frozen Junior (2023); Acting: Townsville Grammar School - West Side Story (2021) OTHER: Dancer: Pace Live Entertainment Sydney: MICHAEL the Show (2019) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project (Technical)

THE BRIDGE PROJECT - FIRST YEAR THEATREiNQ: This is Ava’s first production with TheatreiNQ OTHER THEATRE: Acting with Arminelle: 19 (2023); Props Youth Theatre (2015-20); La Luna Youth Arts (2012-14) TRAINING: TheatreiNQ’s The Bridge Project; Acting with Arminelle; ASTARA Dance Company (2016-21); The Voice Singing School (2017-19)

g r e e d a c t u a ll y

When I started working on this adaptation of Gogol’s genius play, I was fascinated to discover how some things never change. The fact that this play was written hundreds of years ago about Tsarist Russia and yet so many parallels could be found in our modern society was astonishing. The recent formation of anti-corruption bodies across Australia shows how prevalent the issue remains. Greed actually is everywhere. Whilst Gogol’s characters were the springboard, real-life characters and events shaped this adaptation. Between the Ipswich City Council debacle and other City Council scandals across the country, I would estimate that rather shockingly, 95 percent of the acts of corruption spoken about in our version of the play are based on actual crimes committed in Australia in the past 10 years. Remarkably, in the case of the Woolongong City Council, there were even two conmen who solicited bribes by impersonating corruption investigators! The truth is often stranger than fiction - you simply can’t make this stuff up. But unfortunately, securing convictions for these sorts of crimes tends to drag out and cost the country even more money. Recently, even the corruption commissions themselves have been accused of corruption. What a rib-tickler!

Gogol doesn’t supply us with any answers but he does give us a moment to think, to be informed, to be challenged, to see the ludicrousness of the situation and then hopefully, encourage us all to do better and demand better of each other.

x Terri

TheatreiNQ Originals TheatreiNQ invests time and resources into the development of fresh unique theatrical writing. This includes original adaptations of classic works and brand new stories.

TheatreiNQ Originals are works that have been developed exclusively through the colloboration of TheatreiNQ’s Artistic Director, Terri Brabon, and her work with our 40 strong ensemble. This ensemble includes actors, writers, designers, production and technicians.

Previous TheatreiNQ Originals include Bloody Mary (2023) Xmas Krackers (2022) The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui (2022) Blood Will Have Blood (2021) The White Rose and the Red (2021) The Blood of Kings (2020) Alice Through The Looking Glass (2019) First Born (2018) Alice in Wonderland (2017) Frankenstein (2017)

Thank You Nita Vasilescu / John & Beth Honeycombe / Phillip Lambert / Kerry & Mark Santariga / The Speckled Hen JRNQ Production / Charlotte Davies / Anna Vella-Sams / Hollie Sams / Joshua Smith / Anna Wallace Bonnie Nicholas / Kellie Esling / Tina Porta

presents THE BRIDGE PROJECT production

PUNK ROCK

by Simon Stephens

12 - 29 June 2024 ON SALE NOW!

The ClubHouse, 22 Cottell St, Hyde Park

www.theatreinq.com An Amateur Production By Arrangement with ORiGiNTM Theatrical, on behalf of Samuel French Ltd. - A Concord Theatricals Company