The Rapidly Written Story about How A Washed Up Director Made A Crappy Movie and Almost Destroyed the World

Griffin Independent and Arts Radar in association with Theatre503 present An Australian premiere

HOLLYWOOD ENDING
Or
How A Washed Up Director Made A Crappy Movie That Almost Destroyed The World

BY CJ JOHNSON
21 NOVEMBER-15 DECEMBER

So what’s the story? Besides Keitel slamming the ham in the Sahara. Pitch it to me.

As the year draws to a close, Griffin Independent together with Arts Radar brings you a play so here, so now, it’s barely in existence. Hollywood Ending is a wickedly satirical, poison-tipped story about the hacks behind the most controversial film of the year – a piece of atrociously written propaganda that managed to enrage the Muslim world.

In an attempt at one last shot to make something that matters, washed-up porno director Don gathers an entourage of previous collaborators to realise his artistic vision. But can he pull-off something bigger than Ben Hur with a lunch-money budget? Hollywood Ending dives into the gutters of Hollywood, and confronts the kind of toxic desperation it can breed.

Rapid Write introduces a lightning-fast, rock ‘n’ roll concept to Australia, developed by London’s lauded Theatre503 and directed by newly-appointed artistic director of Playwriting Australia, Tim Roseman. The hottest Australian playwrights were given the opportunity to pitch ideas in response to the developments, dreams and dilemmas of the world right now. With a restricted timeframe of just eight weeks to get this topical and responsive story onto the Griffin stage, selected writer CJ Johnson is conjuring a fictional exploration of these now infamous characters.

Of the process, Dramaturg Lee Lewis said, “Rapid Write is the craziest process I have ever worked on. Tim Roseman is either a genius or a madman. CJ is unbelievably brave to take on this challenge and immerse himself in the ideological clash between capitalist ethics and Muslim ideology. This is a comedy that is dangerously difficult to write but a story that concerns us all today. Working on a play which is directly connected to daily global politics and questions the relationship of artists to those politics is refreshing and confronting.”

Casting is currently underway with Caroline Craig the first to be confirmed for a role. Her recent credits include Underbelly, Speaking in Tongues (Griffin), Loot (Sydney Theatre Company) and Blue Heelers. Further casting announcements will be made as they become available.

Writer CJ Johnson’s recent credits include The Dog Logs, Barnesy, The Harbour and You, Backpacker! and The Young Tycoons for Darlinghurst Theatre Company. His screenplay Backpacker was one of three short- listed finalists for the TropFest Feature Program in 2006.

Hollywood Ending is at the heart of contemporary theatre-making and pushing the boundaries of the Australian artistic landscape.

Going from blank page to stage in just 8 weeks, theatre doesn’t get more immediate than this.

‘Theatre503’s commitment to developing the very best new plays is awe-inspiring. Their commitment to nurturing the next generation of theatre-makers ensures the most inspirational, cutting-edge work takes shape on their stage’ – Kevin Spacey, Artistic Director, Old Vic Theatre

SEASON INFORMATION

HOLLYWOOD ENDING
By CJ Johnson
SBW Stables Theatre, 10 Nimrod Street, Kings Cross

Director Tim Roseman Designer Rita Carmody Dramaturg Lee Lewis
Lighting Designer Hartley Kemp With Caroline Craig

Previews 21 & 22 November
Season 24 November – 15 December Monday-Friday 7pm
Saturday 2pm&7pm

TICKETS
Bookings 02 9361 3817 or http://www.griffintheatre.com.au
Adult $30 | Concession/Preview/Matinee $23 | Seniors/Group+8 $26 | Under 30 $26
$15 Rush tickets – limited number available Monday evenings at the door. Monday Rush supported by Foxtel – all tickets unsold one hour prior to performance are $15 (max 2 tickets per person)

Griffin acknowledges the generosity of the Seaborn, Broughton and Walford Foundation in allowing it, since 1986, the use of the SBW Stables Theatre rent free, less outgoings. Griffin Theatre Company is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body; and the NSW Government through Arts NSW.

Michael Morcos Publicist

02 9332 1052 0416 256 225

michael@griffintheatre.com.au

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OPPORTUNITIES

VACANT ROOM APPLICATIONS OPEN
PACT offers interdisciplinary artists the opportunity of a month long residency to develop an idea or project with artistic mentoring through Vacant Room. This creative development period will culminate in a showing for feedback from an invited audience. Residency dates: 28 July – 25 August. Applications due 16 April, with decisions advised 4 May. Click HERE for more info.

THE SYDNEY FRINGE ARTIST REGISTRATIONS
Artist registrations for The Sydney Fringe 2012 open on 1 March.  There will be a Sydney Fringe Artist Registration Launch on March 2 at Venue 505. Click HERE for more info.

BRISBANE FESTIVAL’S UNDER THE RADAR CALL OUT
Do you have a brave new artistic idea or work that should be explored while supported within an International Arts Festival? UNDER THE RADAR is calling for 2012 applications. Applications close 1 March 6pm (QLD time). Click HERE for more info.

CRACK THEATRE FESTIVAL CALL OUT
Crack is calling for artist proposals for this years festival 27-30 September, as part of This is Not Art, Newcastle NSW. Applications close midnight 16 March 2012. Click HERE for more info.

DIRECTOR WANTED
Sunnyfield Inner West Day Option Program is looking for an actor/director to work with 10 people living with an intellectual disability or acquired brain injury.  In a paid position that begins planning in March, the director/actor will be working along side Gaye Fleming Community, Cultural and Arts Coordinator, Sunnyfield Support team and managers. For more information please contact Gaye Fleming on 0418 490291 – g.fleming@sunnyfield.org.au

MULTICULTURAL ARTS FORUM 2012

Multicultural Arts Forum FLYER

For more information please visit our site HERE

FraserStudios Open Day – Sunday 31 July

This Sunday 31 July, Fraser Studios will be having an open day and exhibition at FraserStudios from 1pm-5pm.  

Have a wander of the artists working studios, enjoy an eclectic exhibition of our residents’ work, and enjoy a drink and the BBQ in our beautiful warehouse space. 

There’ll be informal artist talks from 2pm-3.30pm, with our six month residents Team Mess, current Performing Arts resident Gavin Clark, and Visual Arts resident Sarah Breen Lovett. 

Hope to see you there!
FraserStudios Open Day – Sunday 31 July

Want a Showing in Front of Industry Professionals? Applications open for New Visions/New Voices 2012

The Theatre Board of the Australia Council and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts are once again offering an opportunity for selected Australian artists to participate in New Visions / New Voices, an intensive week long script development workshop, culminating in a weekend festival of showings for industry professionals. New Visions / New Voices will be presented by the Kennedy Centre in Washington DC from 14 to 20 May 2012.

For the 2012 New Visions / New Voices festival, we will support two opportunities for Australian artists’ involvement:

• a two person writer/director team
• an independent dramaturg

Application forms and guidelines are attached to this email or can be found on the Australia Council website.

The deadline for proposals is Monday 1 August 2011. All applicants must speak with staff at the Theatre Board of the Australia Council prior to applying. Please contact Tija Lodins on 02 9215 9117 t.lodins@australiacouncil.gov.au

Please forward these guidelines through your networks as appropriate.

Do You Think We Should Start A Theatre Network?

If so you are not alone.

Below is a letter for Kym Hanna who has put together a survey in the attempts to gain more information for a study that will help establish a theatre network structure in NSW.

Click to complete survey HERE:

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Dear Colleagues,

I am writing to call upon your participation in a study that will assist in the establishment of a Theatre Network that is based in NSW.   At this stage, we need to collect important baseline information for this purpose.

In February this year, a meeting was held with members of the theatre community at the Performance Space, in order to canvas opinions about setting up a NSW Theatre Network.

It was agreed at this meeting that before doing so, that a scoping study should be initiated. Consultant Kim Hanna (whom many of you will know from his years with the Australia Council) has been engaged to undertake this project, with modest funding support from Arts NSW.

Your participation in this survey will assist in the provision of credible data that will inform future developments.

This is an important time to focus on a NSW Theatre Network. The groundswell of community interest has created an opportunity to build on that energy and to link a NSW network with the national body, Theatre Network Australia.

The due date for completion of this survey is 5pm Friday 17^th June. It should take no more than 5 minutes of your time.

If you any further enquires please contact Kim Hanna at nswtheatrenetwork@gmail.com

Thank you for your participation and please feel free to pass this email onto your relevant networks, before you complete the survey.

Click to complete survey:  https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/6XH78F7

ATTENTION DIRECTORS: Have an Inspiring, Brave, Innovative Production that Needs a Theatre? Promising New Season At Riverside May be Just for You.

Riverside Theatres has announced a new initiative that will present three assisted theatre productions in an inaugural season of work chosen to give voice to Sydney’s west.

“True West will be looking for fresh ideas that demonstrate strong vision, brave investigations, inspiring writing and innovative staging concepts,” explained Riverside Theatres Producer Camilla Rountree. Each production will be assisted with a financial and marketing package for presentation from August for a two‐week season each in Raffertys Theatre at Riverside Theatres. Preference will be given to those productions with a base in or strong connection to the greater west.  The program encourages all forms of performance: new Australian plays, drama and comedy, multi media and hybrid theatre forms, devised performance, music theatre or physical theatre that is text based and culturally specific works.

The artists applying for True West must share a passion to present exciting and challenging work of excellence. All projects submitted for production must have significant relevance to the west of Sydney. This can be demonstrated by the themes contained in the work, relevance to cultural groups represented in the west, through the work having been devised or developed in the area or through the core artists being based in or having a strong connection with the greater west.

“There are many elements that will be taken into consideration for inclusion with the True West season,” said Camilla Rountree.  “Such as quality and originality of scripts and ideas, past creativity and an established track record in the creation of new work. We aim to support a lively theatre body that enjoys a sense of ownership of Raffertys Theatre as a space where their work is welcomed, supported and appreciated”.

Supported by a grant from Arts NSW and supplemented by Riverside Theatres, True West is also sponsored by the Sydney Morning Herald.

“Riverside Theatres is committed to the ongoing support of new work with emerging artists and creative teams,” said Riverside Theatre Director Robert Love.  “With True West we hope to discover and launch great works for the future.”

The three productions chosen for True West will each have up to ten performances over two weeks between held from August to November 2011. The announcement of the successful companies to take part in True West 2011 will be on 23 May 2011.

For more information and applications forms are available from the Riverside Theatres’ website.  Applications close on 29 April 2011.

http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Application enquiries:

Camilla Rountree

Producer Riverside Productions

P O Box 3636

Parramatta NSW 2124

P: 02 8839 3398

M: 0412 708 112

E: rountree@ozemail.com.au

Media enquiries:

Michelle Guthrie

MGM Management

P: 02 8399 1613

M: 0412 547 297

E: michelleguthrie@mgmmanagement.com.au

Once Under A Sky Created by Freya Sant and Kate Sherman

Performers, writers & devisors

Freya Sant and Kate Sherman

Director, writer & devisor

Michael Pigott (Flight Path Theatre)

Set Designer Tom Bannerman Lighting Designer Stephen Hawker

Composer and Sound Designer Stuart Hunter

Today is a day like no other…. May thinks that August is a fish, she believes she has an upside down tree in her chest and she wipes up their puddle they have been caring for the last 17 years. When they realise the watering holes have dried up the women are forced to embark on a journey away from their comforts and into the terrifying desert.  In a moment of desperation they fish in a tiny pool of spit and uncover a mighty storm and grief as big as the heart of a whale.

Once Under a Sky is a whimsical yet energetic tale of two fisherwomen who journey from their seaside village to arid desert. An enticingly poetic venture into the unknown, with unique physicality and magical deftness of touch by the 2 performers, Freya Sant and Kate Sherman in collaboration with Michael Pigott..

This innovative new work has been in development for three years. It has been created during a number of self funded developments as well as a residency at Legs on the Wall’s Feet First emerging artist program.

Originally inspired by the European Clown tradition this play has been moulded around the story of fisherwomen from a tiny seaside town in New Zealand, Once Under a Sky is a magical combination of storytelling, physical theatre and absurdist elements. Director Michael Pigott is the perfect match for this production with his vivid imagination and physical approach to direction. Once Under a Sky beautifully creates a surreal and provocatively poetic reality for the audience to indulge in.

Ms Sant has the disarming physical qualities of a vast array of technique that includes circus and a mentoring in Bodyweather by the De Qunicey Co. Her partner, Kate Sherman, similarly, with a NIDA and Legs On the Wall background brings energy and a raffish good humour and earnest energy, physical and intellectual to her creation… The language of the writing is mesmerizing.

– Kevin Jackson

ONCE UNDER A SKY

The Old Fitzroy Theatre – Cnr Cathedral St and Dowling St Woolloomooloo

Previews: 17^th & 18^th May 2011

Dates: 17^th May – 4^th June 2011

Opening Night: Thursday 19^th May 2011

Performances: Tues-Sat, 8pm and Sunday 5pm

Tickets: $33 Full, $25 Concession, $40 Beer, Laksa and Show , $21 Preview and Cheap

Tuesday, $29 Beer, Laksa and Show (NO booking fee)
Bookings: http://www.rocksurfers.org or 02 8019 0282

Tooth Of Crime Directed by David Harmon

Atyp Under the Wharf and Arts Radar presents

TOOTH OF CRIME a play with music by Sam Shepard

Directed by David Harmon

Revolution. Warfare. Rock n Roll…

In a futuristic American wasteland where heavily armed rock gods clash violently in the streets for fame and power, aging rocker Hoss comes face to face with a ruthless gypsy named Crow. Trapped in his fortress, Hoss is a marked man, the prey of a true genius killer with a new sound and ethos, whose arrival threatens to strip Hoss of everything he has fought for.

A fusion of live music, video, intense language and movement, the play burns with the kind of incendiary energy that Sam Shepard (True West, Fool for Love) is known for. This new production by a young and emerging team will be part rock concert, part poetry slam, part death match. It will be straight up revolution and insurgency, open warfare, head to head till one’s dead.

Starring Akos Armont, Martelle Hammer, Matthew Hardie and Jim Gosden.

SEASON: 2 – 25 June 2011 @ atyp Studio 1

Welcome to Sydney’s 2011 Independent Theatre Season

Its March and the Independent Theatre Seasons for 2011 are now truly launched and under way. There is some exciting seasons this year. This year BSharp has gone but The Independent Theatre has a full season and The Seymour Centre has received funding and are putting together and exciting new independent season downstairs while Under The Wharf is stronger than ever.

Check out a List of the Independent Theatres and their 2011 Seasons.

GRIFFIN INDEPENDENT:

THE OLD FITZROY THEATRE:

UNDER THE WHARF:

THE NEWTOWN THEATRE:

THE SEYMOUR CENTRE DOWNSTAIRS SEASON: – STAY TUNED

THE DARLINGHURST THEATRE: