The Newsletter of New Farm Nash Theatre April 2014 Nash Notes All THE WORLD’S A STAGE…2014 The Maltese Falcon Hedda Gabler A Midsummer Night’s Dream Cyrano de Bergerac Once upon a Midnight The Canterville Ghost Mar 1 – 22 May 10 – 31 Jul 12 – Aug 2 Sept 13 – Oct 4 Oct 31 – Nov 22 Our Upcoming Production… Hedda Gabler Directed by Brenda White Opening Saturday 10 May 2014 at 7.30pm Production Details Then playing Fri 16, Sat 17, Fri 23, Sat 24, Fri 30 at 7.30pm Sun 18 at 2pm and Sunday 25 at 6pm Closing Saturday 31 May 2014 at 7.30pm Bookings: T: (07) 3379 4775 E: [email protected] W: www.trybooking.com/81752 Hedda comes to Nash! She’s mean at the beginning and even meaner at the end. A more repellent personality woud be hard to imagine, and yet Hedda Gabler is one of the eternal fascinators of the word stage. Since she sprang from the imagination of the Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen in 1890, this cold-hearted anti- heroine has maintained a tight grip on the attention of audiences across the globe. So what is the mystery of her attraction? No matter how many times we encounter her, Hedda remains strangely inscrutable. Hedda is trapped inside a conventional life: she married the scholar George Tesman but money is short, Tesman’s old rival Eilert Lövborg has turned up again, Judge Brack is visiting with alarming regularity and Hedda’s volcanic boredom is reaching boiling point. So begins a dangerous game as finding purpose in a purposeless existence. Life just isn’t good enough for Hedda Gabler. For Hedda, actions do speak louder than words, and all her actions are destructive. The list of distinguished actresses who have portrayed Hedda is a long one: Ingrid Bergman, Diana Rigg, Glenda Jackson, Claire Bloom and Annnette Bening, to name a few. In Australia there was Cate Blanchett of course, and this year Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre has cast a man, Ash Flanders in the role, though it seems a pity to deny an actress the opportunity to play the role of a lifetime. New Farm Nash Theatre is proud to bring this wonderful play with its fascinating ‘heroine’ to our stage and we hope that you are looking forward to experiencing it as much as we are looking forward to performing it for you. (photo: Kristi Gregory as Hedda) New Farm Nash Theatre PO Box 625 New Farm, 4005 (07) 3379 4775 [email protected] A Note from the President… We are now into our programme for 2014 with our first production, two live radio plays, The Maltese Falcon & The Canterville Ghost closing its successful season on 22nd March. However, this may not be the last time they are seen as there is an opportunity to take one if not both of them to the Redlands Drama Festival in July. We are excited about this and will keep you posted. First prize in our raffle was won by S. Treable, the second prize by H. Burdis and the third by D. Gage, whom we have not been able to contact yet - so if you are reading this D. Gage please contact us to receive your prize! There is more excitement ahead with our production of one of Ibsen’s most challenging plays, Hedda Gabler opening in May. We have assembled a cast of some familiar faces from last year's programme, Gilly Graham (Romeo & Juliet), Sharon White (Rehearsal for Murder), Chris Vaag (Romeo & Juliet), Ralph Porter (A Streetcar Named Desire) and Tristan Ozinga (A Streetcar Named Desire) plus two welcome new additions, Kristi Gregory as Hedda and Sophie Goto as Thea Elvsted. The excitement continues in June with our first Month of Sundays production and, of course, the party to celebrate Nash Theatre’s 20th birthday! There is a lot to look forward to so make sure that you have the dates in your diary and do not miss any of the excitement. Brenda White An URGENT call for Front of House and Bar staff… How would you like a FREE ticket to see the upcoming production – Hedda Gabler? Here’s how you can. We are currently in URGENT need of Front of House and Bar staff for all our shows this year. “But what’s involved?” I hear you ask. Front of House staff assist in the set-up of the box office, greet patrons, sell tickets, programs and raffle tickets. For less than an hour’s work, you get a FREE ticket to see the show on a night of your choice – even the night you do the Front of House! Bar staff assist in the set-up of the bar and operate the bar (serving patrons, making tea and coffee, pouring wine, selling chocolates, crisps and cake) before the show and during intermission. While your time commitment is around the same as Front of House, your duties are spread out over the night. And for your efforts, a FREE ticket to see the show on a night of your choice. Contact Brian White directly at [email protected] or via the Nash email or phone if you can offer your services for a night. Did I mention you receive a FREE ticket in exchange??? The Costume Catalogue Nash's wardrobe is currently being listed, catalogued and photographed to aid all future directors when dressing their productions. If for any reason you have begged, borrowed or stolen any item/s of costume from the collection would you please be so kind as to return the item/s to any Committee Member as soon as possible. Rehearsals of the latest production have commenced and we are anxious to complete the selection of costumes for this production as soon as possible so your co-operation would be very much appreciated. Thank you! Gilly Graham Why not visit us on Facebook? www.facebook.com/Nashiefan Auditions New Farm Nash Theatre AUDITION NOTICE William Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream directed by Nigel Munro-Wallis Auditions held by appointment: Saturday 10 May Male and Females 18+ required Please prepare a monologue (maximum 2 minutes) from ANY Shakespearian comedy as your audition piece. A Midsummer Night’s Dream Season: July 12 – August 2 Those wishing to audition MUST book an audition time – contact June A Balfour on 0410 706 263 or email [email protected] or [email protected] Auditions will be held at The Play Shed Merthyr Road Uniting Church 52 Merthyr Road New Farm (Access via Amity Street) For more information contact June A Balfour – 0410 706 263 ACT-Up Annual Awards Dinner The annual ACT-Up Awards dinner will be held in Warner Hall, Merthyr Road Uniting Church, Merthyr Road, New Farm on Saturday 3 May starting at 7.30pm. Cost is $40 for members and $45 for non- members. Come along and support Nash Theatre in their entries in the Annual Community Theatre awards. RSVPs are essential – please contact Brian or Phil via the Nash Theatre email address ([email protected]) if you would like to reserve your place. A great night out for all! Month of Sundays We are still seeking expressions of interest in our Month of Sundays program. If you are a budding writer or if you know a budding writer who would like to have their work rehearsed and put on stage, then why not give us a call or drop us a line? Contact us on [email protected] or (07) 3379 4775 for more information. Had a yearning to act or work behind the scenes? Contact us for more details… Nash is turning 20! Nash is celebrating 20 years of quality theatre. If you haVe been inVolVed in its remarkable journey oVer the years, please join us for the birthday party! When: 7pm on Saturday 21 June 2014 Where: Merthyr Road Uniting Church, New Farm Bar and sausage sizzle: gold coin donation RSVP essential for catering purposes: E: [email protected] T: 07 3379 4775 Memorabilia will be on display. This will be a chance to reminisce and catch up with people you might not haVe seen for some time… What’s on around Brisbane… As well as seeing the quality shows at Nash, why not check out what other companies are offering… Europe; A Musical Journey hosted by Merthyr Road Uniting Church is an afternoon of music to delight and tantalise the senses. Featuring Sophie Manoharan on the flute and Laura Tiong on the Piano. One performance only, on Sunday 6 April 2014 at Merthyr Road Uniting Church, Merthyr Road, New Farm. Please forward all enquiries to Desley on 0409 498 403. Pride and Prejudice by Brisbane Arts Theatre. Adapted by Helen Jerome and based on Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice. Directed by Nash Theatre’s Sandra Harman. Playing March 8 – April 12. Visit the Brisbane Arts Theatre web site: www.artstheatre.com for more information. Suggestions for the newsletter? Have an article to add? Email us at [email protected] Get involved with Nash! If you can use a hammer; sew a piece of fabric; are handy on the computer and love designing; have a passion for meeting and greeting people. Nash needs you. We are currently updating our files of handy people – people who loved to be involved but who don’t necessarily want to be treading the boards – there is always work to be done before we get to that point. If you are interested in building sets; creating or finding props; sewing and searching for costumes; happy to work behind the bar; on front of house; being a stage manager or operating light and sound, then send us your details and enjoy the excitement of being involved with a production.