Leigh Scully Joins the TRAINSPOTTING cast – Photo by Alex Vaughan – Copyright Alex Vaughan

Actor Leigh Scully joins the cast of TRAINSPOTTING

Black Box Theatre is excited to announce that actor Leigh Scully will be joining the cast for the Sydney Premiere of TRAINSPOTTING and will playing the roles of Franco, Johnny ‘Mother Superior” Swan and Mrs Renton.

Leigh is best know for his television roles in Rescue: Special Ops, Cleo: Paper Giants, All Saints and East West 101. Leigh also appeared in several stage productions including Managing Carmen, Brooklyn Boy (Ensemble Theatre) and Stella by Starlight – for which he received a nomination for Best Newcomer at the Sydney Theatre Awards.

The cast and crew are amazed at Leigh’s professionalism, energy and commitment, and are counting down the days to a successful opening week season.

CAST ANNOUNCEMENT
TRAINSPOTTING

Damien Carr, Brendon Taylor, Mark O’Connor and Taylor Beadle-Williams

Black Box Theatre is proud to announce the cast of its Sydney and Illawarra Premiere production of TRAINSPOTTING, based on the novel by Irvine Welsh,  adapted by Harry Gibson and directed by Luke Berman.

 Leichhardt resident Damien Carr steps into the lead role of Mark Renton, an unemployed university drop out and drug addict. Damien graduated from Flinders University with a double major in Drama and English, and boasts a strong theatre resume which includes The Glass Menagerie with the Adelaide reparatory Theatre Company, Two Gentlemen of Verona and Cosi.

 University of Wollongong Faculty of Creative Arts graduate Brendon Taylor plays four roles. Tommy Murphy is Mark Renton’s unemployed friend who loves alcohol and Ecstasy. Simon ‘Sick Boy’ Williams, also friend’s with Renton, is a rent-boy and Junky. Since graduating his theatre degree, Brendon has acted over eighteen stage productions including six Shakespearean productions and several productions with the Sydney Fringe, Adelaide Fringe, Riverside theatre and the Newtown Theatre.

Sydney University Arts graduate Taylor Beadle-Williams was a standout in an aggressive audition hit-out to assume several challenging and confronting roles in TRAINSPOTTING. Her primary role, Alison works as a waitress and is mother of her loved child ‘Dawn’. Alison is also a ‘junky’. Taylor also plays Tommy’s ex-girlfriend Lizzie and Franco Begbie’s pregnant girlfriend June.

 Irish born actor and musician Mark O’Connor takes on the aggressive role of Franco Begbie, the heavy drinking petty criminal as well as drug dealer ‘Mother Superior’ Johnnie Swan. Mark is looking forward to arguably one of the biggest challenges of his career, and is taking to his role quickly.

Director Luke Berman is very satisfied with the high calibre of talent who put their hands up to be a part of TRAINSPOTTING, and is excited about the strong potential and commitment already shown by this fine ensemble of actors.

TRAINSPOTTING opens 8^th May at the King Street Theatre and will run a three week season in association with Emu Productions, before travelling south to the Illawarra for a two week season in Wollongong.

For more information, subscribe to blackboxtheatre.org, join the Black Box Theatre Facebook group, follow @blakboxtheatre on twitter or visit http://www.kingstreettheatre.com.au.

Audition Notice

 TRAINSPOTTING

Based on the Novel TRAINSPOTTING by Irvine Welsh , adapted by Harry Gibson

 Produced by Black Box Theatre and The King St Theatre Newtown

Directed by Luke Berman

 Season Dates
SYDNEY
8^th-24^th May 2014
King St Theatre Newtown

WOLLONGONG
5^th -14^th  June 2014
Port Kembla Leagues Club (TBC)

Black Box Theatre and the King Street Theatre Newtown are excited to announce the auditions for the Sydney and Wollongong premier of this bold, gripping and entertaining piece of Drama.  The play will run its initial three-week season in Newtown (Sydney Premier) followed by a two week season in Wollongong (Illawarra Premier). Rehearsals will be held in Kings Cross and the King Street Theatre, Newtown.

We are seeking four experienced and brave actors to meet the high demands of this confronting piece of theatre. Actors must be confident with Scottish accents, be over the age of eighteen and have the versatility to play several roles. Character description and breakdown below.

TRAINSPOTTING is the story of Mark Renton and his friends in the Edinburgh heroin scene of the eighties. The generation defining novel, before it became a global success as a film, was a highly successful and controversial stage play winning the Sunday Times award for best new play.

“Life’s boring and futile. Wi start oaf wi high hopes, n then we bottle it. We realise we’re all gaunny die withoot finding out the big answers. Basically, we live a short, disappointing life, and then we die. We fill oor lives wi shite, things like careers and relationships, tae delude oorselves that it isnae totally pointless. Smack’s an honest drug, because it strips away the delsuions. Wi smack, whin ye feel good, ye feel immortal. Whin ye feel bad – ye see the misery o the world as it really is. Real life…”

Characters:

The play was written to be performed by four actors:

Mark Renton, Unempoyed, university drop-out, junky.

Tommy Murphy, Unemployed, into drink, E and clubbing.
and Simon ‘Sick Boy’ Williamson – rent boy, junky.
and Morag ‘Jam Rag’ Henderson, as a schoolgirl

Franco, petty criminal, heavy drinker, cunt.
and Johnny Swan, 40s, drug-dealer.
and Mother (Mrs Renton), 40s, Mark’s Mother

Please note audition applications for the female roles have now closed.
June, unemployed, pregnant by Franco.
and Lizzie MacIntosh, unemployed, Tommy’s ex-girlfriend.
and Alison, waitress, Mother of Dawn by Sick Boy, junky.
and Lassie, in pub.

To express your interest in being a part of the cast for this exciting production, email your CV and current headshot to luke@blackboxtheatre.org. Be sure to include your contact phone number and your preferred audition date and whether you would like to audition in Sydney or in Wollongong.

MEET THE CAST

Three Actors from Playmates Illawarra discuss the upcoming evening of improvisation madness. Kelly-Maree Michael (Team Captain, Stanwell Park Arts Theatre),  Adam Armitt  (Wollongong Comedy) and Madeleine Diggins (The Drama Studio)

Why did you chose to perform in Playmates Illawarra?

Kelly-Maree: Despite this being my first year, meaning I am likely going to be hopelessly outmatched, I’ve always been envious and admiring of the SPAT teams that get to participate in this event. I’ve always loved improv, and when the usual SPAT players were unable to be involved this year, I stupidly volunteered myself as the sacrificial lamb (aka “Team Captain”). I assume it will be equal parts exhilarating and humiliating, but after all, what is theatre but the willingness to be humiliated for the sake of art?

Adam: After hearing about playmates I was incredibly interested, having participating in my high schools improve team i have always loved improvised theatre

Madeleine: They needed a token girl for the all male drama studio team.

What games are you most hoping to play on the night?

Kelly-Maree: Murder Endowments. I feel this will be very cathartic, knowing my team mates (I’m a very morbid human being). I’m also looking forward to the singing games, as we’ve got a couple of amazing singers on the team. Also, In a…With a…While a.. and Play in the Style of..as I think these are the two most likely to take a bizarre turn.

Adam: Slow mo commentary or foreign language film, as i love they capture the best of both clever dialogue and slap stick

Madeleine: Slow motion commentary is my favourite! Also song, just so my fellow team member, Evan can dominate while i stand in the back and hum

What games do you hope you DON‘T get on the night?

Kelly-Maree: Opera, because I’m hoping that up until this game people will be impressed with my singing ability.

Adam: Song or opera i don’t think anyone on my team can sing.

Madeleine: The four minute games terrify me!

Are you nervous?

Kelly-Maree: Not yet, which is worrying.

Adam: I am always nervous before i perform, its all about overcoming those nerves and using it to enhance your performance.

Madeleine: Hell yes!

Do you think your team can win the Trophy?

Kelly-Maree: If beginners luck is a thing..maybe. We’re in it for the fun.

Adam: I know we can

Madeleine: I think we have a good chance!

Why should people come and watch the show?

Kelly-Maree: Because public spectacle always draws a crowd. The gladiatorial contests never went away, we still enjoy a bit of public humiliation, it’s just a bit gentler in modern society. I promise it’s better than Big Brother.
Also, a night out is always fun, plus the money is going to a good cause.

Adam: This is an incredibly fun night where the audience can get involved and our team has some of the best comedians Wollongong has to offer.

Madeleine: What else are they going to be doing on Saturday night? This is a once in a lifetime (or yearly) event to watch hilarious live theatre…at an affordable price!

PLAYMATES 2013
PREVIEW

This year’s Playmates Illawarra is heating up, with six well balanced and talented teams of actors from six theatre and entertainment groups in the Illawarra sharing the stage together for one night only in the name of fun and friendship. This Saturday night will see teams from Roo Theatre, Stanwell Park Arts Theatre (SPAT), University of Wollongong Faculty of Creative Arts, Wollongong Comedy, and 2012 Grand Finalists The Drama Studio return for another shot of the trophy won last year by Roo Theatre. Playmates welcomes Moonburn Productions to their first Playmates hit-out, and they are looking to steal the trophy from their seasoned Playmates rivals in their inaugural hit-out.

The teams will face four rounds of improvisation challenges with the audience dictating what the actors will perform for them. Each scene will be scored by our panel of judges, and the two teams with the highest scores will go head to head in the Grand Final round, the winner taking home the Golden Gong trophy which has lived in Shellharbour for the last two years.

This year’s audience can expect to see our actors creating original operas, improvise wacky scenes stolen from SBS world movies, play out scenes in mime or gibberish, slow motion commentaries (eg world championship nappy changing), original poems and scenes where the actors must change their emotions up to twenty times! (and many more!)

The energetic and gifted Jim Fishwick returns to host the evening and is joined by Sarah Knight who will be this year’s timekeeper and co-host.
Read more about this year’s hosts

The well loved and respected local actor, director and advocate for community theatre in the Illawarra Olav Lehmann returns again as Judge for the seventh year. This year he will be joined by award winning playwright Maree Teychenne and one of the Illawarra’s most loved and energetic local performers Trent Bowater who is best known for his Robbee Williams showcase.

Roo Theatre are again fielding another all-boys team and are hungry to equal the Playmates record of three years consecutive Playmates victories set by Arcadians 2007-2009. Led by captain Daniel Stevanovski with the energetic and committed David Rienits, the talented and charming Adam O’Brien and James Poole who is ready to impress in his first Playmates.

From the north of the Illawarra, a new generation of actors make the trip to the gong to enter possibly their greatest theatre challenge ever. The warriors from Stanwell Park Arts Theatre are hungry to take home their first Playmates trophy. This team of fresh faces is captained by Kelly-Maree Michael with Adam Wade, Sophie Mathieson and Reece Mathieson.

Fired up and ready for victory is the young and energetic team of academic thespians representing University of Wollongong’s Faculty of Creative Arts. Team captain Rebecca Hurd is expecting nothing less than high distinction performance by her team which stars Billie Scott, Lisa Omodei and Kate Cameron.

Wollongong’s longest running troupe of stand up comedians return after their brave theatrical debut last year with a strong and balanced team starring team captain, professional comedian and the main man of Wollongong Comedy – Stu Macpherson. Young upcoming comedian Adam Armitt returns after impressing last year’s audience, and is joined by explosive seasoned actors and comedians Will Thomas and Craig ‘Gnarly’ Gregory. This team may pose the greatest threat of stealing Roo’s crown.

Team captain, freelance composer, conductor, and university lecturer Dr Houston Dunleavy teams up with daughter Margaret Dunleavy in Moonburn Productions. These musical masters will be looking to titillate the ears and hearts of the Playmates audience, and will be a strong chance of making this year’s Grand Final round. Sydney actress Jen Jackson, who recently moved into the Illawarra gets to tread the Wollongong boards for the first time, while the composed and witty Matt Sandford rounds out what is an exciting team.

Last but certainly not least are last year’s Grand Finalists who on their Playmates debut fell just short of taking home the trophy. The team of local emerging talent coming out of one the regions leading independent drama schools The Drama Studio will be looking to go one step further in 2013. Captained by the amazing Even Kerr, who was a standout in 2012 will be joined by promising young actor Martin Field, the bold and hilarious Madeleine Diggins and youngster Matt Latham.

Tickets for this year’s comedy spectacular are selling quickly, so book now to make sure you don’t miss out on the hottest seats in town. Show starts at 8pm Saturday 9th November and will be lighting up the Owen Theatre at City Diggers Club, Burelli street Wollongong.

Click here to reserve your seat.