Cutting edge theatre has world premiere in Mount Gambier
The truth is a slippery thing at the best of times. What happens when you put it in the hands of an audience…literally?
When was the last time you saw a world premiere? Half Real, the cutting edge new work from Adelaide’s The Border Project is preparing for its world premier right here in Mount Gambier in the lead up to their season in this years Melbourne Festival.
Audiences in Mount Gambier will be the first to witness what will undoubtedly be one of the most talked about events of 2011. Taking that most rigid of narrative forms – the murder mystery – Adelaide’s The Border Project equips its onlookers with the technology to rewind events, replay them from different perspectives, enter the minds of characters and revise the meanings of everything played out before them.
A young woman has been found in a bath with three shots to the head. Her name is Violet Vario. There are three suspects, all of whom have a connection to Violet Vario and motive for her murder. Unaware why, these suspects find themselves in the same room.
In throwing out the rulebook and refiguring the audience from passive watchers to fickle, powerful gods, director Sam Haren questions the most fundamental assumptions of theatre. But at the same time, as this intriguing thriller unfolds, the audience may wonder who exactly is being played here.
Acclaimed as “Adelaide's edgiest and most innovative theatre company”, The Border Project is committed to charting the future language of live performance.
Sam Haren, Border Project’s director says "We are surrounded everyday by sound and images from videos, pop music, film, television and cyber-media. Half-Real uses this multilayering to challenge the traditional theatrical experience and the role of the audience with the use of technology - a component so essential in our modern lives."
Harnessing the latest in real-time movement tracking, 3D video mapping and projected imagery, Half-Real will transform physical space itself in response to the audience’s commands. More than just a game, the drama itself has been written in collaboration with award-winning playwright Duncan Graham (The Love Play), who has produced a dense and insightful series of fascinating characters to populate this dazzling new world.
Steve Saffell, CEO of Country Arts SA is extremely pleased that Half Real will have its world premiere as part of the 2011 Shows on the Road program.
“A world premiere is always exciting but this is an unprecedented opportunity for our audiences in Mount Gambier and throughout regional South Australia. They will be the first to witness the next exciting chapter in live performance” he said.
Half-Real invites audiences to slide into the driver’s seat and start exploring the dimly lit alleyways of truth, intent and control. As audiences navigate Violet Vario’s death with the technologies of our brave new world, they may start questioning just how solid our reality is.
Tour Dates:
Varcoes Performance Space
Ferrers Street, Mount Gambier
Preview - Thursday 25 August 7:30pm Tickets $15
Performance – Friday 26 August & Saturday 27 August 7:30pm
Tickets: Adult $25, Conc $20, Student $12
The Renmark Institute
Riverland Youth Theatre
54 Ral Ral Ave, Renmark
Performance - Tuesday 30 August 7:30pm
Bookings: (08) 8586 3437 or at the door
Tickets: Adult $25, Conc $20, Student $12
The Keith Institute Theatre
Corner of Heritage Street and Anzac Tce
Performance – Thursday 1 September 7:30pm
Bookings: Keith Tatiara District Council Office
34 Hender St Keith, (08) 8755 3347
Tickets: Adult $25, Conc $20, Student $12
Institute Theatre, Port Augusta
52 Commercial Road
Performance – Saturday 3 September 7:30pm
Bookings: Cultural Centre Booking Office
6 Beauchamp Lane (08) 86419176
Or Milhinch Hourglass Jewellers
83 Commercial Road
(08) 8642 3788
Tickets: Adult $25, Conc $20, Student $12
Half-Real was produced and created at the Varcoe Foundry Residency, Mt Gambier, South Australia through Country Arts SA’s Local Stages Initiative. The Border Project is assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council its arts funding advisory body.
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