Sometimes I have the good fortune of stumbling across free tickets for films that are being promoted: sometimes through the Queen St Studio newsletter.. sometimes through work… sometimes through If Magazine, AWG Newsletter or artshub.com.. all fantastic sources of promos, givaways and free ticket comps. Sometimes, I think I should only go to what I win, as opposed to what I choose: perhaps then the karmic influence of the universe will put it in perspective… Read more

I am going to declare a few things. The last time I saw a revolving stage at Belvoir St Theatre was in 2000, in Michael Scott Mitchell’s design for the MTC/Belvoir co-production of Yasmina Reza’s The Unexpected Man, for which I was a 20-year-old Honours student sent in to observe a rehearsal process. What I learnt from that experience was profound and personally transformative: and ultimately I came to understand what an absolute NIGHTMARE revolving stages are. The sound of the revolve, the awkwardness of furniture when it is placed on the revolve. Stage managing, timing, pacing all the challenges of blocking a play are tenfold! So when I saw that Simon Stone, “the youngest director to direct in the Upstairs theatre” had taken on a revolve. I thought, “oh dear, I hope he’s got a good one- and he knows how to use it!” Read more

A quick note to say that Off The Shelf will return to FraserStudio in the second half of this year.

Designed to hothouse 5 full length theatre script projects over a month, Off The Shelf encourages the community of writers to focus on their play. The result of their work is a showcase in November for industry representatives to provide feedback on the scripts and provide a networking opportunity for writers and directors.

For more information check out the Queen Street Studio Website:
http://www.queenstreetstudio.com/offtheshelf.html

or contact me augustasupple[at]hotmail[dot]com

There are divisions in the theatre. Always. What is good, what is bad. What is new, what is old. What is hot, what is not. Divisions occur because there is very little anyone can absolutely say is true and right in the theatre… indeed perhaps life. It comes down to taste, attention, experience and above all else articulation of the individual’s response to what they have seen. Read more

I am currently preparing for the season celebrating new Australian writing at New Theatre and I am calling all writers and directors to contact me if they are interested in being a part of this exciting occasion: If youare keen please contact me on augusta_newtheatre@y7mail.com Read more

When lights dim and the performance starts there is clicking of black riverbed stones as boots march and grubby feet scamper. Read more

I have found this rather a difficult production to review as I must declare: this really isn’t my thing. I recently had the epic wonder of experiencing Elevator Repair Service’s The Gatz at The Sydney Opera House: an 8 hour theatre experience of The Great Gatsby which was nothing but a sublime once in a lifetime theatrical experience (which I will write up soon). This however, was not quite a reading, not quite a staging, not quite theatrical: though surrounded in theatrical devices and conceits. So here is my review… in which I question the effectiveness of this chapter of Dostoevsky adapted for stage. This is where I am the conservative reviewer: if it aint broke why fix it? Read more

I am a fan of Mary Rachel Brown’s work. She is a playwright who has won several awards in recent times… including the 2006 Max Afford Award and the 2006 Griffin Award for New Australian Playwriting and more recently the 2008 Rodney Seaborn Playwright’s Award, which she was awarded for “Inside Out.” Read more

As many of us look around us, it is clear to see that what we are living, is the nightmarish consequences of an infantile mindset. Written in 1953 – the year my parents were born this is a facinating play which I have the great honour to be working on as Assistant Director. This is one of the great plays of the Australian cannon, which shows us how far we have come and how little we have changed… Read more

It was a wonderful night in a warehouse in Chippendale: the only request I made of the heavens was that rain didn’t happen between the hours of 6pm-8:30pm… for no other reason except for the tin roof that has no insulation and would completely drown out the words of the writers… of course if did rain and in the spirit of the show must go on: the shows did go on… as 50 people moved their chairs from the showing space in studio 14 to studio 10. Read more