Reg Livermore
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REG LIVERMORE 26 JULY – 1 SEPTEMBER 2018 WELCOME WE HOPE YOU ENJOY THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED There are three reasons I wanted to direct Reg Livermore doesn’t need to prove Reg Livermore in his brand new play: anything; he has earned all the highest 1. Reg Livermore. of accolades; his peers love him; he is a 2. Reg Livermore legendary performer. He writes plays like 3. Reg Livermore. THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED and performs plays with characters like Arthur Kwick (with As an actor Reg has that beautiful quality a KW) because he wants to. That’s what all the best actors have of making the art he does. That is his life. And for me and for of acting look effortless; but you know every the many audiences who will experience moment is considered and reconsidered, this latest play from his wickedly funny every phrase planned, every throwaway imagination, we are grateful Reg is presenting rehearsed. his latest solo work for our 60th year. As As a writer he is as creative as Beckett and as part of our continuing commitment to new absurd as Patrick White but all with his own comedy I hope you will enjoy the master of brilliantly unique comedy voice. them all: Reg Livermore. As a human being he is inspirational in his Mark Kilmurry drive, his excellence and his commitment to Artistic Director a theatrical life. WRITER'S NOTE Growing older, arriving at an age where The play is not intended as a biographical one’s sense of personal relevance is statement, my own career has been much often dramatically tested is an ominous more successful than Arthur’s particular predicament for many, I’m sure. Nudging that journey, though there are commonalities. inevitability myself, I thought to write a play Amongst the array, we both possess vivid about a jobbing actor, one Arthur Kwick, who imaginations which is always helpful when having survived the unpredictable ups and you’re plying your craft in show business. As downs associated with a career in the theatre, a practising actor, therefore, I am qualified now confronts the fact he has probably to examine his story, to expose his strengths reached that rocky plateau. But there is a and weaknesses and to empathise with reprieve. It comes as a late life job offer from his situation. I am well aware what the an unexpected source, requiring all of his job entails and demands. I know what is talents and previously tested abilities, plus expected of us from so many quarters. I can a range of new challenges calling for much certainly imagine Arthur’s existence, and for more specific skills. It also requires a sense of the purposes of this play, his deployment. I adventuring that I’m not sure I would be brave suppose in some ways I am a horse’s mouth. enough to countenance. Reg Livermore RUNNING TIME APPROX 90 MINUTES NO INTERVAL Ensemble Theatre acknowledges the Cammeraigal people of the Eora nation as customary owners of the land on which we work and share our stories. We pay our respects to Elders past and present. REG LIVERMORE 26 JULY – 1 SEPTEMBER SYNOPSIS CAST ARTHUR KWICK REG LIVERMORE Actor, comedian and raconteur Arthur Kwick’s career has been largely CREATIVES unremarkable despite a surprisingly notable DIRECTOR MARK KILMURRY performance playing Widow Twankey in SET & COSTUME DESIGNER CHARLES DAVIS a landmark production of the pantomime LIGHTING DESIGNER CHRISTOPHER PAGE ALADDIN at Sydney’s Tivoli Theatre in 1969. STAGE MANAGER STEPHANIE LINDWALL A theatre jack-of-all-trades, his career has ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER ERIN SHAW seen him take any role that has come his COSTUME SUPERVISOR MARGARET GILL way, even if that’s meant hosting off-the- PIANIST BEV KENNEDY wall stag nights or working as an all-weather clown at children’s parties. SPECIAL THANKS DARREN BISCHOFF Now Arthur has a new job. As he improvises, SHOEMAKER FOR REG LIVERMORE riffs and makes what he can from his LAURIE JAYNE VERLING surroundings, it’s a job that will test his CRINOLINE MAKER mettle, question his core beliefs and could well be the most challenging of his life. PROGRAMS: $2 which helps enormously with the cost of printing. CAST ARTHUR KWICK REG LIVERMORE CREATIVES DIRECTOR MARK KILMURRY SET & COSTUME DESIGNER CHARLES DAVIS LIGHTING DESIGNER CHRISTOPHER PAGE STAGE MANAGER STEPHANIE LINDWALL ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER ERIN SHAW COSTUME SUPERVISOR MARGARET GILL PIANIST BEV KENNEDY SPECIAL THANKS DARREN BISCHOFF SHOEMAKER FOR REG LIVERMORE LAURIE JAYNE VERLING CRINOLINE MAKER Rehearsal images: Prudence Upton Rehearsal REG LIVERMORE popular theatre. In 2004/05 he starred as PLAYWRIGHT/ Max Bialystock in the new Mel Brooks Musical ARTHUR KWICK THE PRODUCERS, performed for Opera Australia in numerous Gilbert and Sullivan Spanning more than sixty operas, played Henry Higgins in their 2008 years, his theatrical career presentation of MY FAIR LADY, and most on stage and in television recently scored as Alfred Doolittle in the Julie includes achievements Andrews 60th Anniversary production of this as actor, author, director and designer. In most celebrated musical for which he won the 1958 Reg became a founding member of the Colleen Clifford Memorial Award 2016 and Ensemble Theatre; during its 60th Anniversary a Green Room Award 2017. He received the 2018 Season Ensemble is staging Reg’s most Sydney Critics Lifetime Achievement Award in recently written THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED 2015, and a Helpmann Award the same year or AN ACTOR DEPLOYS, the theatre having for his performance in WICKED. He is also the previously presented his WISH YOU WERE recipient of The J.C. Williamson Centenary HERE, RED RIDING HOOD THE SPEED HUMP Medal for Lifetime Achievement 2017; The AND THE WOLF, and THE THANK YOU Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award DINNER. As a performer he is remembered 2013; The Rodney Seaborn Memorial Lifetime for show stopping appearances in HAIR and Achievement Award 2017; The Colleen Clifford JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as the original Memorial Award 2005; The Hayes Gordon Dr Frank’n’furter in the Australian production Memorial Award 2002; The Norman Kessell of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and for his Memorial Award 1994. Reg was granted an bravura performance in the musical BARNUM. Australian Creative Artists Fellowship in 1994, During the 1970’s the major successes of his and received an AO in 1996; Hardie Grant ground-breaking one-man shows the BETTY published his autobiography CHAPTERS BLOKK BUSTER FOLLIES series including AND CHANCES in 2004/2005. Later this WONDER WOMAN and SACRED COW year Hardie Grant Books will publish his new propelled him to the forefront of Australian memoir STAGES. MARK KILMURRY CHARLES DAVIS DIRECTOR SET & COSTUME Mark is the Artistic DESIGNER Director of Ensemble Charles is a set and Theatre. Recent directing costume designer for credits include: SHIRLEY theatre, opera, dance and VALENTINE, TAKING STEPS, film. A recent graduate of NEVILLE’S ISLAND, TWO, ODD MAN OUT, NIDA, Charles also studied architectural design RELATIVELY SPEAKING, BAREFOOT IN THE at Monash University. Charles’ theatre designs PARK, BETRAYAL, GOOD PEOPLE, MY ZINC include: A SMOKE SOCIAL (Darwin Festival), BED, EDUCATING RITA, ABSENT FRIENDS, BUYER AND CELLAR and THE KITCHEN SINK OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE ANZAC PROJECT, (Ensemble Theatre), SMURF IN WANDERLAND RICHARD III, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, (Griffin Theatre/National Theatre of FRANKENSTEIN, MANAGING CARMEN, Parramatta), the Helpmann Award nominated RED, THE SPEAR CARRIER and HAMLET. FLY (Lano and Woodley national tour, Token Mark’s recent acting credits include: Frank Events), THE WHALE (Old Fitz), UNFINISHED in EDUCATING RITA, Richard in RICHARD III, WORKS (Seymour Centre); he co-designed Hamlet in HAMLET; Otto in THE ACT; Angus THE GRAND HOTEL (Sydney Grammar), in THE DRAWER BOY and Serge in ART. KANDAHAR GATE, and WRITING FOR Mark’s recent plays and adaptations include; PERFORMANCE (NIDA). Charles was associate RICHARD III (with Patrick Dickson); HAMLET set designer for MURIEL’S WEDDING – THE (with John Trutwin); THE BIG DRY (based on MUSICAL (Sydney Theatre Company/Global the novel by Tony Davis); CASANOVA (based Creatures). Charles’ opera designs include: THE on the TV series by Russell T Davis); DIARY OF CORONATION OF POPPEA (Pinchgut Opera), AN OLYMPIC CABBIE (based on the book by BIOGRAPHICA (Sydney Chamber Opera/ Anthony Sharwood); MERCY THIEVES; HAPPY Sydney Festival), OH MENSCH! (SCO, costume), AS LARRY & VIV and ONE SHOT. Mark is the HANSEL AND GRETEL directed by Michael recipient of two Norman Kessell Memorial Gow (Queensland Conservatorium), and Awards for Outstanding Performance by an associate set design for CARMEN and THE Actor for his roles in HAMLET and JAPES, MERRY WIDOW (Opera Australia). Upcoming he was awarded the 2006 Hayes Gordon work includes design for: THE REVUE for Memorial Award for Important Contribution Sydney Theatre Company and ARTASERSE for to Theatre and the 2017 North Sydney Pinchgut Opera. Charles was nominated for a Community Award. Sydney Theatre Award for THE WHALE. Charles is a lecturer and mentor for NIDA’s undergraduate design programme. View Charles’ designs at: charlesdavisdesigner.com AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE – Spectacular harbour views – Great food & wine – Captivating theatre BY REBECCA GILMAN BOOKINGS WITH GEORGIE PARKER Box Office (02) 9929 0644 OR 07 SEP - 13 OCT Bayly’s Bistro (02) 9956 8250 ENSEMBLE THEATRE TEAM Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry Head Chef Nathan Jackson Chief Financial Officer David Balfour Wright J.P. Restaurant Manager Camille Hugon Executive Director Loretta Busby Front of House Manager James Birch Artistic Producer Claire Nesbitt-Hawes Front