Tom Holloway’s Beyond the Neck

Peacock Theatre Hobart ABOUT TASMANIA Tom Holloway is an exceptionally 12–15 Sept 2007 PERFORMS talented Tasmanian playwright, he has crafted a play which Earl Arts Centre Launceston The performance you are about springs from, and belongs 18–21 Sept 2007 to see is part of a resurgence to the island and yet has of contemporary professional Duration 1hr 30min, no interval universal relevance. The creative adult theatre being produced team includes the best local in Tasmania. professionals mixed with a

Tasmania Performs is an number of young Tasmanians initiative of Arts Tasmania, who have been away to complete in partnership with the their studies and now return Australia Council for the Arts to share their skills. To ensure and supported by Tasmanian our work connects with what is Regional Arts and Ten Days happening elsewhere in on the Island. The Project the nation, we have added the works in partnership with nationally renowned actor Ron all levels of government, the Haddrick and the talented corporate sector and artists, director Iain Sinclair.

to support product and The Tasmania Performs vision market development for the includes increased national and Performing Arts. international touring for local

Beyond The Neck epitomises productions, thus the project is everything we hoped Tasmania managed through Performing Performs might achieve. Lines Ltd. This Sydney based company is an internationally renowned producer of the performing arts, whose experience and enthusiasm is energising the touring and export efforts of our Tasmanian performing arts organisations.

Annette Downs Producer Tasmania Performs

FROM THE PLAYWRIGHT I thank you all very much for from the very beginning and I coming and sharing in the thank The Royal Court Theatre Introduction to the play stories of the characters you in London for the amazing On Sunday the 28th of April are about to meet. I hope that opportunities it has given me. 1996 I was 17, in my last year of being in this theatre with family, I give great thanks to the school and delivering pizzas in friends, acquaintances and even skilled, tireless and never the northern suburbs of Hobart. strangers around us, we will all ending work of Annette Downs It was a beautiful Tasmanian get to feel part of something and Wendy Blacklock, without autumn day: still and quiet with that too often we feel we have to whom this production would not orange leaves falling from the face alone. be happening. trees, crystal clear air all around This play has given me immense and pale blue skies above. It was The people I must thank most experiences. It has let me meet Tasmania at its best. of all though are Gaye and John some amazing and strong Fidler, Pamela and John Law, I remember the first report on people, it has let me travel Peter Wilson, Anne and John the radio. Shots had been fired across the globe and, without Francis, Rosie Crompton Crook, at Port Arthur. It was believed meaning to sound cliché, it has Senator Stephen Parry, the Port there were casualties. Very little allowed me to follow my dreams. Arthur Historic Trust and every seemed to be known. Yet it has also brought me great one else that was willing to share challenges and while working on As the reports kept coming their stories with me. it I have been faced with some of though and the situation became the most personal and I give this play to them, to my clearer and more horrific, none painful experiences of loss in family and friends and to anyone of us at the shop could believe my own life. that has suffered anything like what was happening. And we what these characters have weren’t alone. The city, the state suffered, which is probably all of and in fact the entire country was Introduction to Argy Bargy us to some degree or another. suddenly stunned, shocked and I must introduce you to a new scared. The boss turned the oven Tom Holloway company as well: A Bit Of Argy off and sent us home. Playwright Bargy. Founded by director That first day will stay with me Martin White, designer/animator forever and all I was doing was Jamie Clennett and myself, we working to earn pocket money hope it can be used to support 100kms away from what was communities in being able to happening. It was an event that share their most difficult stories, became so tragic that people as well as develop the art form struggled even to talk about it. It by exploring what it can do and was too big and too painful. For whom it can reach. Storytelling is many it still is. For me though it a powerful and redemptive tool brought up things that I needed that has many forms and faces to share, to know I wasn’t alone, and the theatre is an exciting, but how do you share something challenging and uplifting place. like this?

I hope this play is not just about My personal thanks what happened that day. I hope it I must thank Dr Julian Meyrick, is not purely about the aftermath Peter Mattheson, Iain Lang, either. I hope this play is about Simon Stephens and Dave something you can feel close to Ryding. I also owe The Australia even if you have never heard of Council for the Arts a great deal Port Arthur. for supporting this project right FROM THE DIRECTOR CREDITS

“Give sorrow words. The grief that does not speak whispers the oerfraught Playwright: Tom Holloway heart and bids it break.” Director: Iain Sinclair Production Design: Jamie Clennett There is a punishment cell at Port Arthur, a tiny stone room cut off from Lighting Design: Daniel Zika any contact with the world, including light and sound, that was the final Composer/Sound Design: extension of a new mode of thinking in the English penal system: That Steve Toulmin isolation and seclusion had stronger reformative properties than bodily harm. Conductor/Associate Sound Not far away from this cell the walls of an asylum stand testament to the Design: Matthew Dewey flaws in this thinking. We know that isolation is an acute form of punishment. Poster Photography: Peter Mathew Sitting in this theatre, you are about to take part in an ancient human activity Graphic Design: Kieran Bradley that is the opposite of isolation. Since trauma began there have been people gathering together to share experiences, tell their stories, comfort each other Cast and cherish all that is good in life. We are drawn together by tribulation ... Jonathan auf der Heide and in times when we are exposed to unfathomable cruelty we come together Sara Cooper in ceremony. Jemma Gates This is something I believe Tom Holloway knows at an instinctive level. Ron Haddrick More than simply a play about something that happened in his home. This is a work that unites us in the old fashioned way. Tom has crafted a gift for his people that invites us into a special kind of mourning. One that helps Production us stand together and put mute cruelty in its place ... well away from the Production Stage Manager, goodness of our hearts. Lighting and Audio Operator: Jen Cramer To echo the words carved in stone at the memorial site: Assistant Stage Manager: Linton Hutchinson-Kern May we who come to this garden cherish life for the sake of Set Construction: Tim Williams those who died. Cherish compassion for those who gave aid. and Red Arrow Cherish peace for the sake of those in pain. Construction Consultant: John Bowling Costume alterations: Iain Sinclair Elissa Knezevic Director

BIOGRAPHIES nationally toured Double Act for Film work has included the Hit Productions in 2006 directed independent feature Rosebery, Jonathan auf der Heide by Terence O’Connell. shorts Kaleidoscope, Starring Xavier, and VCA Post Grad shorts Jonathan will be graduating the In 2004 Jamie completed a The Teacher, and A Boy Named Bachelor of Film & Television diploma in Animation and Marina. Television appearances Course at the Victorian College Interactive Media (AIM) at RMIT, include the award winning of the Arts later this year. where he produced a short Channel Ten mini-series My animation titled The Fabulous Before VCA, Jonathan established Brother Jack. Adventure Of Mr. Money. himself as an actor performing Mr. Money premiered at the Sara is currently recording in Keene/Taylor’s production Melbourne International Film voices for a 26 episode of The Choirbook (2001) dir. Festival in August 2005, and cartoon series for Blue Rocket Ariette Taylor. Arena Theatre also screened at the prestigious Productions, Pixel Pinkie, to be Company’s Play Dirty dir. Stuttgart Festival of Animation launched worldwide in Cannes at Rosemary Myers, as part of the in Germany in 2006. Recently MIPTV in April 2008. Melbourne International Festival Jamie created animation for the (2002), Freedom of The City She will appear in Terrapin’s puppet show, Dr Egg & The Man dir. Greg Stone, for Melbourne Explosion Therapy in 2008 under With No Ear directed by Jessica Theatre Company (2002), the direction of Frank Newman. Wilson and premiering at the Jigsaw Theatre Company’s Vin Arts Centre’s Fairfax Theatre dir. Greg Lissaman (2003), this June. Jamie is currently Jen Cramer Stuck Pig Squealing’s showing working on pre-production for of Agrophobe dir. Chris Kohn A graduate of NIDA’s Bachelor of a short animated film about (2003) and Tom Holloway’s Technical Production Jen has 12 his grandmother entitled Nan’s production of The Bus at the years experience as a Production House, which is funded by the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2004). Manager, Stage Manager, Tour Australian Film Commission. Manager, Operations Manager Jonathan has also had numerous and teacher of technical theatre. film and television appearances for Blue Heelers, Stingers, John Sara Cooper Jen spent 5 years in Sydney

Safran Vs God, Tom White, Sara graduated with a drama where she worked with Company Em4Jay & The Independent major from Tas Uni in 1992 and B Belvoir St, Theatre of Image, (cinema release late 2007). from The John Bolton Theatre Fox Studios Australia and School, Vic, in 1997. Ceremonies for the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Jamie Clennett Theatre credits include The Since returning in 2002 she has Tasmania born Designer Women’s Jail Project (Vic), worked with every professional and Animator Jamie Clennett Dante’s Inferno (ACT), Light Theatre Company Tasmania completed a Bachelor Of Particles, The Present, Revelator, has to offer including Theatre Fine Arts at the University Of and Snapshot 8x10 for Sleeping Royal, Is Theatre, Terrapin, Tasmania in 1999. In 2003 Dogs Performance Company, Tasdance, Stompin Youth Dance, Jamie graduated the Bachelor Robin Hood, Treasure Island, Salamanca Arts Centre and Ten of Dramatic Arts in Design from Alladin, Alice in Wonderland and Days on the Island as well as may NIDA. Jamie’s Theatre credits Monkey Magic for Big Monkey local community and amateur include… The Homecoming Inc., My Sister’s an Alien Terrapin companies. She is a coordinator, with B-Sharpe at Downstairs Puppet Theatre, Ten Wonderful trainer and assessor for the Belvoir directed by Robert Years Is Theatre Ltd, and Dream Salamanca Arts Centre Course in Kennedy; Snapshot at the Masons for S.A.C. and Ten Days Entertainment. Melbourne Fringe directed by on the Island.

Sean Munro, which received a festival commendation, and the Most recently Jen Stage Managed Annette Downs Jemma Gates the site specific outdoor Annette has worked as a Jemma Gates has been working spectacular Dream Masons for university lecturer, performer, in Theatre, Film and Television the Salamanca Arts Centre’s choreographer and artistic for over ten years, as a performer 30th Anniversary celebrations director. She is a Churchill and in various production roles. and the 2007 Ten Days on the Fellow and was the 1998 She has studied Design at NIDA Island Festival. Telstra Tasmanian Business and Visual Arts, Media and Woman of the Year. Annette Creative Writing at the VCA. has served on numerous Boards Matthew Dewey Jemma has performed for including six years with the Terrapin Puppet Theatre, The Matthew Dewey is a composer Tasmanian State Development Australian Script Centre and is and singer based in Hobart. Board, Tasmanian Arts Advisory Theatre where she appeared In addition to music for the Board and the Playing Australia in the sell-out season of Ten concert platform and for film, Committee. Some previous Wonderful Years, directed by he has written extensively for Board appointments include the Ryk Goddard. the theatre; including three Australian National Playwrights chamber operas A Priest’s Centre, Salamanca Arts Centre, Jemma has a number of character Passion (2004), The Death of and the Cultural Industries voice over Credits for award Chatterton (2005) and 15 Years Council. She is currently a winning animation company, on Hold (2007); and numerous member of the Australia Blue Rocket Productions and is incidental scores for a range Council’s Theatre Board and the currently in recording for the TV of theatrical situations - from Theatre Royal Board. series Pixel Pinkie, which will air experimental pieces Underwhere in 2008. Jemma has performed During the 1990’s Annette (2007) to works by Shakespeare. in two readings of Beyond the was the Artistic Director of Matthew’s compositions have Neck by Tom Holloway, the Terrapin Puppet Theatre been commissioned and first directed by Sean Monro and saw the Company grow performed by groups and for Sleeping Dogs Performance from a Tasmanian schools companies including: The New Company and the second touring company to one that York Miniaturist Ensemble (USA), directed by Iain Lang for Big regularly toured interstate and Contemporanes ensamble de Monkey Inc. As well as freelance internationally. She was then guitarras de Monterrey (Mexico), performance work, Jemma also General Manager of Is Theatre IHOS Music Theatre laboratory, works for the ABC in TV News and in 2006 Relationships the Seymour Group (Sydney), Production and at Wide Angle Manager for Ripe Online which the Sydney Children’s Choir, Tasmania – a company providing included project management Hobart Chamber Orchestra, equipment, training and support of www.fuel4arts.com. Annette Backgammon Baroque, for emerging film makers. is currently employed by Terrapin Puppet Theatre and Performing Lines as Producer of by musicians including William Tasmania Performs, a project to Lane (Violist), Joshua Rubin advance audience, market and (Clarinetist – International product development initiatives Contemporary Music Ensemble), for the performing arts in Harry Spaarnay (Bass Clarinet), Tasmania and she loves her job! Brooke Green (Viola da Gamba), Sarah Jones (Soprano), Michael Lampard (Baritone), Christopher Richardson (Baritone) and Ben van Tienen (Pianist and Choral Conductor). Ron Haddrick Tom Holloway Linton Hutchinson-Kern

Ron Haddrick has an extensive At the beginning of this Linton is an ex-Rosny College theatre career, having performed year Beyond The Neck was student who has worked in with Stratford Memorial Theatre, one of ten plays out of four theatre in Australia & Europe. now known as the Royal hundred entries to be chosen He has become involved in Shakespeare Company in King to be part of The Royal Court several Old Nick Theatre John, Romeo And Juliet, Twelfth Theatre’s International Young Company shows including Night, Pericles and Hamlet. Playwright’s Festival in London. “Myth Propaganda and For Bell Shakespeare, Ron has While in London he also Disaster in NAZI Germany and performed in The Winter’s Tale studied at The Royal Court Contemporary America” and “The and The Tempest. His other Theatre’s Invitational Writer’s One Day of the Year”. theatre credits include The Cherry Program and signed with one Orchard, The Importance of Being of the world’s top agents for Linton has work with an Opera Earnest, Caucasian Chalk Circle, playwrights, Mel Kenyon at company in Germany, and Othello and School for Scandal for Casarotto and Ramsey Ltd. throughout the six week festival the ; he worked on Ballets, concerts, In 2007, with the support Three Sisters, The Suicide and and two operas, “Don Carlos” and of Arts Victoria, Holloway The Club for Nimrod Theatre; The “The Magic Flute”. has been one of four artists Club, Tom and Clem, The Cocktail researching and developing Recently he has been involved Hour, Broadway Bound, Labour the original cabaret, Only in more Tasmanian shows Day and The Gin Game for Marian The Lonely, inspired by male including “Wolf Lullaby”, “The Street Theatre; and The Man From suicide and mental health in Cygnet” and “Who’s Afraid of the Mukinupin, Henry IV, Cat on a Hot Australia. He is also playwright Working Class?” Tin Roof, Fields of Heaven, The in residence at Melbourne’s Red Way of the World, Gossip from Stitch Actors Theatre. Iain Sinclair the Forest, The Cherry Orchard, Nicholas Nickelby, Floating World, In 2006, his adaptation of his Iain is a graduate of the Royal On Top of the World, Three Sisters, play The Bus aired on ABC Academy of Dramatic Art and , The Crucible, Much Ado Radio National. In 2005 he King’s College London Masters About Nothing, Don Juan, The One worked as playwright and program, a Churchill Fellow Day of the Year, Away and Festen actor on Snapshot, winner of and Queen’s Trust scholar. for . His Best Ensemble Performance at He is a dramaturg as well as a television credits include The the Melbourne Fringe Festival. director and specialises in the Outcasts, Sleep of the Prisoners, In 2004 he was part of a development of new work. The Taming Of The Shrew, The collaboration of international Recent work includes. The Man on the Ten Dollar Note, young playwright’s for the Designated Mourner, The Fever, Tartuffe, The Stranger and many production Playgrounds at the This is Our Youth, The Romans guest appearances in well-known Edinburgh Fringe Festival and in Britain, Who Smokes Kool?, My Australian television shows. Ron in 2003 he was an Australian Arm, Hurlyburly, Festen, Lord of won the Sydney Critics’ Circle delegate at Interplay, the the Flies and Troupers. Award for his performances in International Festival for I’m Not Rappaport and Long Young Playwrights. In 2002 Iain’s next work will be as Days Journey Into Night and was he was a featured playwright assistant director to Cate awarded an MBE for services to the at the Australian National Blanchett on Blackbird with arts in 1974. Playwright’s Conference. The Sydney Theatre Company in November and after that he Ron has just completed will be directing The Seed by performing in Othello as the Duke Kate Mulvany for Company B of Venice for Bell Shakespeare. in February. Steve Toulmin Daniel Zika WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO... Steve graduated from NIDA Daniel has worked on dance, • Wendy Blacklock (who is one of a kind) and (Technical Production) in 2006 theatre & festival projects all the staff at Performing Lines. and has since worked across and has collaborated with numerous areas of both theatre artists, designers & architects • The Tasmanian Performing Arts Industry and events. In Sound Design for multi-media exhibitions who have so generously supported and his credits include The Seed and presentations around engaged with this project.

(Mimmam Productions/B Sharp); Australia & overseas. Some of • Lou Cox and Magdalena Grubski for their Last One Standing (Tamarama Daniel’s lighting design credits brilliant marketing campaign advice. Rock Surfers), Holding the Man include: Mercy: a Dance for • Angela Driver for the great publicity (Griffin Theatre Company), the Forgotten (TasDance/Ten in Launceston. Ordinary and Cymbeline Days on the Island); Dream (NIDA Productions). In Stage Masons (Salamanca Arts Centre/ • The Arts Advocates who helped spread Management: Hedwig and the Ten Days on the Island); The the word … David Walch, Daryl Peebles, Angry Inch (Showtunes); Holding Legend of Ned Kelly (Terrapin Robert Jarman, Adela Morton, Craig the Man - Mardi Gras and Sydney Puppet Theatre); Cancelled by Wellington, Mudlark Theatre, Allison Opera House Seasons; Blue Eyes Popular Demand (Lambrusco Farrow and LIVE Tasmania. and Heels (Darlinghurst Theatre Brothers/Salamanca Arts • The staff at Arts@work for their ongoing Company), Light the Night and Centre); Traitors- Green Room support of Tasmania Performs. The Lost Echo (NIDA secondment Award winner (La Mama/Branch with Sydney Theatre Company). Theatre); Macbeth Exploration • Theatre North and Centrstage for including In AV/Video Design and Editing: (Melbourne Theatre Company); us in their mailouts.

Take 40 Australia, Telstra’s Falling Petals, Svetlana in • Salamanca Arts Centre for the sponsorship. Wotnext, Peugeot 207cc Launch, Slingbacks, Post Felicity and • Jude Ranson for connecting Tom with Sydney Lord Mayor’s New Year’s Inside 01- Green Room Award talented local young writers. Eve Party, Bell Shakespeare winner (Playbox Theatre); & Education Launch. Liquid, Red Rain and Quiescence- • The staff of the Australian Script Centre for nominations for 2000 and managing Tom’s Industry workshop 2001 Green Room Awards (co. • Is Theatre staff for a warm and welcoming motion). Other collaborations rehearsal space. have involved, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Victorian • Tim Munro and the Theatre Royal for the College of the Arts School of fabulous lighting desk and crew assistance. Dance, Arena Theatre Company, Festival of the Arts, Hot House Theatre Company, Polyglot Puppet Theatre, Anthill Theatre, Australian Performing Arts Museum & RMIT School of Architecture & Design.

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