BY TOM WELLS

3 MAY – 1 JUNE 2019 WELCOME

I am always thrilled when the right project and right team land in our laps. And Tom Wells' FOLK with Terence O’Connell as Director, Genevieve Lemon as an outrageous folk-singing nun and Libby Asciak and Gerard Carroll adding to the mismatched trio, is a very exciting prospect indeed! We are so pleased to have such a beautiful, gentle and heart-warming story as part of our 2019 Season and for those who enjoyed Wells' THE KITCHEN SINK, you are in for another treat. For those who missed that play, I am envious of your introduction to Tom Wells' life-affirming world. Enjoy!

Mark Kilmurry Artistic Director

SYNOPSIS

Sister Winnie’s no ordinary nun. She’s feisty, irreverent and has a soft spot for a pint of Guinness. Her front room is a haven for socially awkward Stephen, who shares her passion for folk music. Their world is suddenly turned upside down when fifteen year old wayward and rebellious Kayleigh unexpectedly appears into their lives. Each of them is keeping a secret and as confidences are shared, ever-optimistic Winnie concocts a harebrained scheme to help her friends unleash their musical talent on the world.

FEATURED SONGS

HOLY GROUND (Traditional) DIRTY OLD TOWN (Ewan MacColl) WILD MOUNTAIN THYME (Tannahill/Smith) BRING ME A BOAT (Traditional) IF I SHOULD FALL FROM GRACE WITH GOD (Shane MacGowan) WINNIE’S AIR (Composed for this production by Gerard Carroll)

RUNNING TIME APPROX 90MIN NO INTERVAL First presented by Birmingham Repertory Theatre, Hull Truck Theatre and Watford Palace Theatre at The STUDIO at Birmingham Repertory Theatre on 14 April 2016. DIRECTOR’S WRITER’S NOTE NOTE A few years back, I was lucky enough to When you listen to a lot of folk songs, you direct THE KITCHEN SINK for Red Stitch see that the stories they tell are full of in Melbourne and became an instant Tom struggle and resilience, full of characters who Wells fan. Most of Tom’s funny, tender plays feel strong and brave and sometimes a bit are set in Withernsea, his home town, and broken. I wanted to have a go at writing a he has peopled its East Yorkshire landscape play that felt a bit like a folk song, fill it with with a collection of unique, memorable music, and see what happened. It’s lovely to characters including a teenage girl searching think that (a bit like a folk song) it’s made for aliens, a forlorn milkman who can’t move it to the other side of the world. I’m really with the times, a gay five-a-side football excited for this company to give the play a team and, in FOLK, a smoking, drinking, new life, fill it with their heart and spirit and singing Irish nun. warmth and humour, and make it their own. Music, and its transformative possibilities, Tom Wells is a vital ingredient in his work: in BROKEN BISCUITS, three teen geeks form a band; in THE KITCHEN SINK, the aspiring artist son is a Dolly Parton fanboy; in DRIP, a shy outsider presents a one man musical to his school assembly; and FOLK floats it’s plot on a col- lection of great Irish traditional songs. His plays are about families and friendship and, usually, how his ‘slightly broken’ characters find both. It’s been a great privilege to be part of the Ensemble family and to work with such a great team to bring Tom Wells’ latest Withernsea story to you. Terence O’Connell

CAST CREATIVES

KAYLEIGH DIRECTOR TERENCE O’CONNELL LIBBY ASCIAK ASSISTANT DIRECTOR ERIN TAYLOR STEPHEN SET & COSTUME DESIGNER HUGH O’CONNOR GERARD CARROLL LIGHTING DESIGNER TRENT SUIDGEEST SISTER WINNIE COSTUME SUPERVISOR RENATA BESLIK GENEVIEVE LEMON STAGE MANAGER ERIN SHAW DIALECT COACH AMY HUME PRODUCTION ASSISTANT ABBY GALLAWAY

Special thanks to Alasdair Fraser for his performed composition of Dawn Dance and Common Ground in our show FOLK, both from his 1996 album DAWN DANCE

PROGRAMS: $2 which helps enormously with the cost of printing. 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. Rehearsal Images Prudence Upton TOM WELLS TERENCE O’CONNELL PLAYWRIGHT DIRECTOR Plays include: DRIP (Script Terence has directed Club/Boundless Theatre); and/or devised some 150 BROKEN BISCUITS (Paines productions in theatres, Plough/Live Theatre, concert halls, circus tents, Newcastle); FOLK (Birmingham Rep/Hull Truck cabaret rooms, comedy clubs and at arts Theatre/Watford Palace Theatre), JUMPERS festivals across Australia and internationally. FOR GOALPOSTS (Paines Plough - Watford Selected work from his eclectic career includes Palace Theatre and UK tour, 2013/14); COSMIC LIFE ON MARS: THE WORDS AND MUSIC OF (Ros Terry/Root Theatre, E. Yorkshire tour, DAVID BOWIE (New Moon Theatre), WHEN 2013); THE KITCHEN SINK (Bush Theatre, 2011, I WAS A GIRL I USED TO SCREAM AND winner of the Most Promising Playwright - SHOUT (Wharf Theatre), DARLINGHURST Critics Circle, 2011 and the 2012 George Devine NIGHTS ( Theatre Company), CIRCUS Award); ME, AS A PENGUIN (West Yorkshire OZ (Los Angeles, Edinburgh), CERTIFIED Playhouse, 2009 and Arcola Theatre/UK Tour, MALE (Australia, Dublin), THE KING & I and 2010) and ABOUT A GOTH (Paines Plough/ OKLAHOMA! (, Melbourne), Oran Mor, 2009). BEN & LUMP, written as part CIRCUS SENSO (London), Spiegelworld’s of the Coming Up season (Touchpaper), was EMPIRE (Sydney, Montreal, Tokyo), THE broadcast on Channel 4 in 2012, and JONESY KITCHEN SINK (Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre) was broadcast on Radio 4. He has also written and many National Tours including three pantos for the Lyric Hammersmith. BOUNCERS, Steven Berkoff’s DECADENCE, BUDDY - THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY, FLYING FRUIT FLY CIRCUS, AROUND THE WORLD IN 80 DAYS and, for Playbox/Malthouse, and Carla in IN THE HEIGHTS ( MINEFIELDS AND MINISKIRTS: AUSTRALIAN Company/). Libby’s WOMEN AND THE VIETNAM WAR. screen credits include Rachel Rossi in THE Forthcoming productions include PRIVATE SECRET DAUGHTER (Screentime/Seven PEACEFUL (Chapel Off Chapel), MELINDA Network), Alisha in HERE COME THE HABIBS! SCHNEIDER: THE WOMAN and THE BLONDE, (Nine Network) and NEIGHBOURS (Fremantle THE BRUNETTE AND THE VENGEFUL Media/Network 10). REDHEAD, both touring extensively. Terence is currently adapting ONE CROWDED HOUR: GERARD CARROLL NEIL DAVIS COMBAT CAMERAMAN for STEPHEN Tasmanian Theatre Company. Gerard is a graduate of ERIN TAYLOR NIDA and has worked ASSISTANT DIRECTOR consistently over the past 25 years. Gerard Erin is a director and recently appeared as Eamon in the multi- dramaturg and the 2019 Helpmann Award winning musical ONCE in recipient of the Sandra Melbourne, directed by Tony Award winner Bates Director’s Award. She John Tiffany. TV credits include RIOT, THE will work as Assistant Director at Ensemble on CODE 2, CAMP, UNDERBELLY: BADNESS, FOLK and BABY DOLL. In November this year RAKE, THE KANGAROO GANG, TOUGH Erin will direct KASAMA KITA by Jordan Shea NUTS and HOME AND AWAY. Gerard most for 25A at downstairs Belvoir. In 2018 she recently played Robert in PROOF at Glen directed EVERYTHING YOU EVER WANTED by Street Theatre, Richard in COLD LIGHT for Rachel Roberts for the Joan Sutherland Street Theatre and Homeless Man in the Performing Arts Centre and A GIRL IS A HALF acclaimed HIDDEN SYDNEY. He created the FORMED THING by Eimear McBride for KXT. In role of Smokey in the world premiere of DEAD 2017 Erin was a mentee in Melbourne Theatre MAN BRAKE by Alana Valentine at Merrigong. Company’s Women in Theatre Program. As a Gerard also created the role of Mr Frog in the Dramaturg Erin works regularly with musical workshop production of DO GOOD Playwriting Australia (PWA) as a Script AND YOU WILL BE HAPPY by Hilary Bell. He Assessor and has read for Sydney Theatre toured Australasia with BUDDY: THE MUSICAL Company’s Patrick White Award. playing Norman Petty as directed by Craig LIBBY ASCIAK Ilott. Other theatre credits include PATSY: KAYLEIGH THE MUSICAL with Deborah Conway, Weasel in WIND IN THE WILLOWS, A MIDSUMMER Hailing from Melbourne, NIGHT’S DREAM, THE SEAGULL, WEST SIDE Libby moved to Sydney STORY, CYMBELINE, ANNA KARENINA, to study at the National and GATHERING OF VAMPIRES. A proud Institute of Dramatic Art Equity Member since 1994. (NIDA). She received a Robertson Family Trust scholarship and graduated with a Diploma in Music Theatre. After graduating from NIDA Libby moved to Perth to study at The Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) graduating with a Bachelor in Musical Theatre in 2013. Since graduating, Libby’s stage credits include Heather Duke in HEATHERS (Hayes Theatre Company/QPAC/Showwork), Monique/Kate/Joe in THE INCREDIBLE HERE AND NOW (National Theatre of Parramatta) GENEVIEVE LEMON HUGH O’CONNOR SISTER WINNIE SET & COSTUME DESIGNER Genevieve’s numerous theatre credits include, for Hugh O’Connor is Ensemble a production, set, costume Theatre: DIPLOMACY, and event designer. Hugh WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF?, holds a Bachelor of Design from NIDA where TRIBES, BROKEN GLASS; for Sydney Theatre he graduated in 2013. He was nominated for Company: THE HANGING, THE GIRL WHO best set design at the 2015 Sydney Theatre SAW EVERYTHING, HANGING MAN, Awards for his work on THE ALIENS for HARBOUR, HAY FEVER, MERRILY WE ROLL Outhouse Theatre. Production credits in set/ ALONG, MIRACLE CITY, MORNING SACRIFICE, costume design include: THE NORMAN NOISES OFF, ONCE IN A LIFETIME, THE CONQUESTS, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, RECRUIT, THE REPUBLIC OF MYOPIA, NEVILLE’S ISLAND for Ensemble Theatre; THE SUMMER RAIN, VICTORY, SUMMER RAIN; for WIND IN THE WILLOWS and COSI for La Melbourne Theatre Company: PIAF, SUMMER Boite Theatre Company; THE WITCHES for OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL; for Griffin: THE Griffin Theatre Company and Malthouse HOMOSEXUALS OR ‘FAGGOTS’, THE BIG Theatre; A LIFE IN THE THEATRE, PICTURE; for : A TASTE OF GOODWORKS, RIDE and FOURPLAY, HONEY, THE BLIND GIANT IS DANCING, THE DAYLIGHT SAVING for COSMONAUT’S LAST MESSAGE, DEATH OF A Company; THE ALIENS, THE FLICK, 4 SALESMAN and SEVENTEEN. Genevieve was MINUTES 12 SECONDS for Outhouse Theatre; in the London and Sydney seasons of Working HIDDEN SYDNEY: THE GLITTERING MILE for Title’s production of BILLY ELLIOT (Helpmann Vivid Sydney; MY NAME IS ASHER LEV and Award, Sydney Theatre Critic's Award, Green THE MAN IN THE ATTIC for Moira Blumenthal Room Award). Genevieve’s television credits Productions; THE FANTASTICKS for The Hayes include: FRAYED, AFTER THE BEEP, Theatre; THIS HOUSE IS MINE for Milk Crate HEARTLAND, NEIGHBOURS, PRISONER, RAKE, Theatre Company; A DOLL’S HOUSE for Sport REDFERN NOW, THE SECRET RIVER, THREE for Jove. MEN AND A BABY GRAND, TOP OF THE LAKE (Equity Ensemble Award), and a special guest TRENT SUIDGEEST star role on HOME AND AWAY. Film credits LIGHTING DESIGNER include: THE DRESSMAKER, BILLY’S HOLIDAY, Trent’s recent Lighting HOLY SMOKE, THE PIANO, SOFT FRUIT, Design credits SUBURBAN MAYHEM, THE WATER DIARY, include MURIEL’S ACUTE MISFORTUNE, LADIES IN BLACK, AND WEDDING THE SWEETIE (Australian Film Critic's Award). MUSICAL (Global Creatures/Sydney Genevieve has sung on cabaret stages the Theatre Company); THE RABBITS (Barking world over, and released a live album of her Gecko Theatre Company/Opera Sydney Opera House concert, ANGELS IN THE Australia); CARMEN and SYDNEY OPERA CITY. She also performed in many incarnations HOUSE - THE OPERA [The Eighth of THE WHARF REVUE, and shows at the Wonder] (Opera Australia), ACCIDENTAL Tilbury Hotel. DEATH OF AN ANARCHIST, TALK, HAY FEVER (); PRIMA FACIE, FEATHER IN THE WEB, KILL CLIMATE DENIERS (Griffin Theatre Company) and THE HOMOSEXUALS, OR ‘FAGGOTS’ (Griffin/ Malthouse Theatre). Other credits include: I AM EORA (Sydney Festival/Performing Lines); THE SAPPHIRES (Belvoir/Black 2018), THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED OR AN Swan), THE BOY FROM OZ, JESUS CHRIST ACTOR DEPLOYS (Ensemble Theatre, 2018) SUPERSTAR, DUSTY, NICE WORK IF YOU and THE NORMAN CONQUESTS (Ensemble CAN GET IT, KISMET and THE KING AND Theatre, 2018). Erin feels privileged to have I (The Production Company); GYPSY, THE worked with such an incredible team on this VIEW UPSTAIRS, DARLINGHURST NIGHTS, production and looks forward to ONLY HEAVEN KNOWS and CALAMITY JANE the season. (Hayes Theatre Co). Trent is a graduate of AMY HUME WAAPA. DIALECT COACH RENATA BESLIK Amy Hume is a Voice COSTUME SUPERVISOR Teacher at NIDA, Voice Renata graduated from and Accents Tutor at NIDA in 2007 with a ATYP and Founder of Bachelor’s degree in leading voice and drama studio, Viva Voice. Costume Production. She is currently Voice Coach on the new Supervising credits include: THE BIG ABC/Netflix TV series THE UNLISTED. For TIME, LUNA GALE, SHIRLEY VALENTINE, Ensemble: Dialect Coach THE NORMAN DIPLOMACY, THE KITCHEN SINK, BUYER CONQUESTS, SHIRLEY VALENTINE and AND CELLAR, WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA THE KITCHEN SINK. For Belvoir: Voice WOOLF?, ODD MAN OUT, BAREFOOT Coach SAMI IN PARADISE, Voice Support on IN THE PARK, BETRAYAL, A HISTORY OF COUNTING AND CRACKING, THE ROVER FALLING THINGS (Ensemble Theatre), and GHOSTS. Other credits include Voice/ ARTASERSE, ATHALIA, THE CORONATION Dialect Coach at the Sydney production OF POPPEA, RAMEAU: ANACREON AND of MATILDA THE MUSICAL (RSC/Louise PIGMALION, THEODORA (Pinchgut Opera), Withers), Voice Coach for MEASURE FOR HENRY V, THE WINTER’S TALE, MACBETH MEASURE and THE SERVANT OF TWO (Bell Shakespeare) STAY HAPPPY KEEP MASTERS (Sport for Jove), and Dialect SMILING, THE TEMPEST, WOYCECK, A LIE Coach for STONES IN HIS POCKETS (Critical OF THE MIND, PORT, THE THREESOME Stages). In New York she has worked on (NIDA). Renata is also an accomplished productions with Shakespeare & Co, The costume maker and milliner who has worked Shakespeare Forum and Columbia Stages. At for companies including Opera Australia, STC Viva Voice, Amy regularly facilitates corporate and Darlinghurst Theatre, for films like THE voice and communication training across GREAT GATSBY and musicals such as LOVE different industries. NEVER DIES. ERIN SHAW STAGE MANAGER Graduating from the Technical Theatre and Thank you to Martin Guitars for providing Stage Management course the guitar for this production. at NIDA in 2016, Erin has previously worked in the industry as a Dresser on GIRL ASLEEP (Belvoir, 2016); Stage Manager on LITTLE BORDERS (The 505, 2017), MOTH (ATYP, 2017), and LOVE, ME (The 505, 2018); and Assistant Stage Manager on DIPLOMACY (Ensemble Theatre, 2018), BLISS (Belvoir,

OUR SUPPORTERS Thank you for your generous support and ensuring our future is bright

Spotlights $10,000+ Peter Lean Anna & Richard Green Charlene & Graham Bradley AM Elisabeth Manchur John Douglas Guppy Jinnie & Ross Gavin Helen & Michael Markiewicz Margaret & Donald Harris Ingrid Kaiser John Nethercote Jill Hawker Estate of Leo Mamantoff Barbara Osborne Yvonne Hazell Jeannette & Graham McConnochie Liane Potok James Henderson Victoria & Ian Pollard Maggie & Jim Pritchitt Nora Hinchen & John Flint Jenny & Guy Reynolds AO William Sherrard Fiona Hopkins & Paul Bedbrook Diana & George Shirling Karen & Max Simmons Adrienne & David Kitching ‘Supporting the next generation Russell Stewart Robin & Warwick Lewarne in theatre’ C Thomson Lisa McIntyre Diana & John Smythe Lynn & Tony Tonks Dr David Millons AM Wendy Trevor-Jones Judy Moore & Marcelle Trenoweth Bright Lights $5000 – $9999 The Shirley Ward Foundation Ewan Mylecharane Joanne Daly & Michael Adena Laura Wright Anthony Newman David Z Burger Foundation Carole O’Brien Peter E J Murray Starlights $500 – $999 Caroline Phillips Merryn & Rod Pearse Anonymous x 10 Peter Roach Ruth & Mark Sampson Melanie & Michael America Emine Sermet Catherine & John Taylor Heather Andrews Jenny & Andy Small Deborah Thomas Peter Antaw Sarah & Chris Smith Charlotte & John Banks Shining Lights $1000 – $4999 Holly Stein Stephanie Berry Anonymous x 2 Pam & Rob Stewart Duncan Boyle Margaret Barnes R H J Thompson Denise & Neil Buchanan Anne Clark Janice Wilkinson Carolyn Burt Jan & Frank Conroy Laura Wright Joy & Nicholas Cowdery Richard Cottrell Helen Creasey Debby Cramer & Bill Caukill Joanne Dan In memory of Mari de Meyrick Onofrio & Michele Ferrara Jayati & Bish Dutta Diane Ferrier Susan Effeney Justin Gardener Gail Giles- Gidney The late Andrew K Gibson Paula Hall Jennifer Giles Wendy & Andrew Hamlin Michael Gill Roger Hewitt Margaret Goode The Hilmer Family Endowment Michael & Lianne Graf Margaret Johnston Elisabeth & Warren Gray

Rehearsal images: Prudence Upton OUR PARTNERS Thank you to our partners for playing a vital role in our success

MAJOR PARTNER Anna & Richard Green John Douglas Guppy Margaret & Donald Harris Jill Hawker Yvonne Hazell James Henderson Nora Hinchen & John Flint SUPPORTING PARTNERS Fiona Hopkins & Paul Bedbrook Adrienne & David Kitching Robin & Warwick Lewarne Lisa McIntyre Dr David Millons AM Judy Moore & Marcelle Trenoweth Ewan Mylecharane STRATEGIC PARTNERS Anthony Newman Carole O’Brien Caroline Phillips Peter Roach Emine Sermet Jenny & Andy Small Sarah & Chris Smith Holly Stein Pam & Rob Stewart R H J Thompson Janice Wilkinson Laura Wright PLEASE HELP US GROW OUR LITERARY TEAM

Plays are the life blood of any With your help we would "The most important and theatre company. A good play like to grow the department, exciting thing a theatre will keep you entertained and expand our literary outlook company can do is it is our mission to bring you and have the funds to generate new plays, and the best of good plays from bring new plays to life. With a literary manager is a near or far. Plays don’t write your generous help and a vital asset in making that themselves. resourced literary team we happen.” can continue to find the best To research the best plays and David Williamson plays for your enjoyment. form relationships with writers For more information and their agents we need a Mark Kilmurry Artistic Director contact: healthy literary team. THE END OF FINANCIAL David Balfour Wright Currently, our literary YEAR IS JUST AROUND THE (02) 8918 3421 or department is a team of one, CORNER. DONATE NOW [email protected] one day a week. AND HELP US REACH OUR TARGET OF $50,000. – Spectacular harbour views – Great food & wine – Captivating theatre

BY ARTHUR MILLER

18 JUN – 24 AUG

ENSEMBLE THEATRE TEAM

Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry Head Chef Nathan Jackson Chief Financial Officer David Balfour Wright J.P. Restaurant Manager Vincent Ellena Executive Director Loretta Busby Front of House Manager James Birch Artistic Producer Claire Nesbitt-Hawes Front of House Supervisors Cate Broomfield Casting & Events Merran Regan & Hannah-Rae Meegan Literary Manager Janine Watson Caretaker Bing Barry Accounts Gita Sugiyanto Production Manager Simon Greer ENSEMBLE LIMITED BOARD Deputy Production Manager Slade Blanch Chair Graham Bradley AM, Hamish Balnaves, Head Technician Adam Chapman John Bayley, Narelle Beattie, Mark Kilmurry, Marketing Consultant Margo Weston Anne-Marie McGinty, James Sherrard Marketing Manager Sophie Withers Acting Marketing Coordinator Charlotte Burgess ENSEMBLE FOUNDATION BOARD Marketing Assistant Emma Garden Chair Deborah Thomas, Diane Balnaves, Media Relations Susanne Briggs Graham Bradley AM, Joanne Cunningham, Ticketing Manager Spiros Hristias Ross Gavin, Mark Kilmurry, Victoria Pollard, Ticketing Coordinator Mireille Vermulst Guy Reynolds AO, Margo Weston Box Office Team Belinda Hodgson, Anita Jerrentrup, Bronte Kellem-Pearson & Kathryn Siely

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(02) 8918 3400 The management reserves the right to make any alteration to cast which may be rendered ensemble.com.au necessary by illness or any other unavoidable cause. Patrons are reminded that out of 78 McDougall St, Kirribilli consideration for others, latecomers cannot be admitted until a suitable place in the performance.