Flashpoint New Theatre Series

This new series of free theatre readings and performances features winners of previous RE Ross Trust Playwrights’ Script Development Awards.

At the State Library

(Readings of key scenes)

Tuesday 24 April

Flower of Malaya - Sue Ingleton

An intriguing new play by award-winning actor, director and writer Sue Ingleton. After the fall of the Japanese, the British return to Malaya. Through the eyes of Argus journalist Douglas Woolcott, we experience the brutality of war, then love and betrayal as he becomes involved with a local woman. Forty years later, his middle-aged daughter travels to Malaysia to find her lost brother and uncover the secrets of the past. Sue Ingleton wrote Flower of Malaya in Malaysia on an Asialink grant.

Tuesday 1 May

Brother Boy - Nic Velissaris

This moving play explores how the Greek culture traditionally deals with grief, and how this affects relationships within families. This reading and performance of key scenes will feature actors Tony Nikolakopoulos, George Kapiniaris, Ben Adam and Alex Tsitsopoulos, with music by Achilles Yiangoulli. Afterwards, director Peta Hanrahan will discuss the play's themes with the playwright and actors. Nic Velissaris' play What the Umbrella Did Next won the Australian National Young Playwright's Award. His play Wanderlands, commissioned by St Martins Youth Arts Centre, will premiere in 2007.

Tuesday 8 May

Killing Jeremy - Bridgette Jane Burton

Killing Jeremy follows the story of a young woman dealing with the consequences of a car accident which left her boyfriend in a coma. This engaging play explores themes of love, loss and responsibility. This reading and performance of key scenes will feature actors Fabian Kahwati and Bridgette Burton, directed by Wayne Pearn. Afterwards, writer/director Kiera Lindsey will discuss the play's themes with the playwright. Bridgette Jane Burton has written two other one-act plays, Not Forgotten and Juice, and has collaborated on comedy scripts performed at the Melbourne International Comedy Festival.

All State Library events

Time: 6.30-8pm
Venue: Village Roadshow Theatrette, State Library of Victoria (Entry 3, La Trobe Street)
Bookings: 03 8664 7016 or bookings@slv.vic.gov.au
Cost: Free

at fortyfivedownstairs

(Full script readings)

Wednesday 16 May

Still Waiting - Alexandra Collier

It's Madeleine's last day at the restaurant. But as each day ticks over, with uncanny similarity, she is still waiting. But just beyond the domestic chaos of her mundane job, another world beckons. Still Waiting had a sell-out season at La Mama (2005), and was part of the Adelaide Fringe Festival (2006). The play was profiled in the Australian Script Centre's collection of the best Australian plays of 2006. This rehearsed reading is directed by Cat Wilson and will feature Dylan Lloyd, Simon Maiden and Miriam Glasser. Alexandra Collier is currently working in the literary department at the New York Theatre Workshop.

Thursday 17 May

Do Not Go Gentle - Patricia Cornelius

In this humorous excavation of the ageing process, the story of Scott’s failed attempt to conquer the South Pole is used as an allegorical parallel to the lives of the residents of an aged-care facility. The result is a vital, compassionate rendering of the human condition. This rehearsed reading is directed by Julian Meyrick. Patricia Cornelius is a founding member of Melbourne Workers’ Theatre and has written over 20 plays, including Lilly and May, Jack’s Daughters and Who’s Afraid of the Working Class.

Friday 18 May, 8pm Please note: this event has been cancelled due to illness

Bear Witness - Mari Lourey

Bear Witness follows Dixie, a young photojournalist from Australia, into several war zones and tracks her moral trajectory in the face of the atrocities she records. This powerful play offers a view of war unlike that of the mainstream media. This rehearsed reading, directed by Stefo Nantsou and Rachel Maza, will feature actors Nadja Kostich, Melodie Reynolds and Rupert Reid. Mari Lourey's play Dirty Angels played at La Mama in 2003, and she was also the primary writer of the community play The Bridge, made in 2003 for The Torch Project.

All fortyfivedownstairs events

Time: From 7.30pm (Bear Witness from 8pm)
Venue: fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane, Melbourne
Bookings: 03 9662 9966 or info@fortyfivedownstairs.com
Cost: Free

The RE Ross Trust Playwrights' Script Development Awards, administered by the State Library of Victoria, provide support to Victorian-based writers to develop their play scripts. Entries for the 2007 awards close on 21 May 2007.