Conversations with Ghosts

Actor Jeremy Waters, who plays Jason in Crushed, shares a spooky story with us....

Actors can be a superstitious bunch. Curses, ghosts and rituals carry a lot of currency within the board-treading fraternity. We’re attuned to any ‘signs’ that shape our theatrical destinies. I think the ephemeral nature of theatre encourages this. It makes sense that strange parts of our universe can be stirred as we go about the business of telling stories.

While rehearsing Melita Rowston's brilliant new play Crushed at Queen St Studios, Sean Barker, Lucy Miller and I were diligently working through some of the complexities of the play when something occurred that left us all open-mouthed…

There’s a strong balloon motif that runs through the play – literally and figuratively. So, there we were, three actors alone in the big Queen Street Studios space working on a scene that centres around this motif. We were actually doing work. Really. We were. I was offering a piece of blinding insight towards this crucial scene – really, I was, when I saw a flash of colour in the corner of my eye and Stone The Flamin' Crows Elsa! a cheeky clutch of helium balloons hovered mid-air between Sean and I. They must have been clinging to the high ceiling then deflated and floated down while we gabbed about the play.

After the requisite ‘Whooooahs’ and ‘What the....s,’ we agreed this was a sign from the theatrical powers that be, a quiet little nudge to let us know that we were not alone as we pushed off from land in the good ship Crushed… 

I mean, when was the last time you sat in a room and a bunch of coloured air balls parked themselves next to you while rehearsing a scene in which they figured prominently? Coincidence you say? Methinks not.

When our esteemed director Lucinda Gleeson returned from a production meeting, she was suitably impressed by the cool shit we had seen. Being of our ilk, she quickly recognised ‘The Happening’ for what it was. So, to ensure our director caught a whiff of its presence, our friendly spirit let one last balloon float down and nestle gently at her feet.

Call me crazy (it’s been done) but this was an intervention. We now know that the Crushed team are not alone as we embark on this significant theatrical journey.

‘And you, a would be player too

Will give the angry ghosts their due

Who threw their voices far as doom

Greatly, in a little room.’

A TASTE OF CRUSHED

Check out the latest video promo for Crushed.  One sexy dark ride.

A little sad and a little hilarious.

Our wonderful director Lucinda Gleeson was out spruiking Crushed at the culmination of our Queen Street Studios Performing Arts Residency last week, when she had a chat to the barman at our fave pub, The Clare, he asked her what the play was about and she mused... 

'Well, it's about Gen X, it's a little sad and a little hilarious.' 

The Gen Y barman replied, 'Oh, so just like Gen X then, really.' 

'Ouch!' she said as she stood there... 

'OUCH!' she said as she walked away....

Lucinda - a little sad and a little hilarious and a little bit SLASH.

Melita: Artist of The Week: Griffin Theatre's blog!

In case you missed Melita as 'Artist of the Week' on Griffin Theatre Company's blog last week, here's the repost: 

What are you working on currently?

I’ve just handed in the locked down script for my play Crushed, which starts rehearsal on Monday. I had the luxury of a month of staggered script workshops with the cast, director and dramatrug. We workshopped each scene on the floor, questioned relationship and action lines, rewrote chewy dialogue and sharpened the turning points. The actors start rehearsal knowing that any further changes are going to be super slight. How awesome is that for an independent production?

Who, or what, inspires you to create?

Well, I love my country. Call me unfashionable or just plain downright weird, but I really love this country! I don’t have a Southern Cross tatt, I hate sport, and I’ve never gambled, but there’s an essential part of me that feels such a strong connection to this place, to our stories. I started writing for theatre because I felt a strong pull to tell the many stories of this beautiful, fraught and complex country that I am so proud to call my home.

What was the most interesting thing you saw recently?

I’m a bit obsessed with Brene Brown at the moment. I recently caught her TED talk and it still hasn’t left me. Brene’s a research professor who studies vulnerability and shame. ‘Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.’ I’m writing a new play called Goodnight Moon and in that context, her work reaffirms much about the human condition. It’s charged me to want to write flawed, vulnerable and very confused characters!

Passing the TED love on:

http://www.ted.com/talks/brene_brown_on_vulnerability.html

What is the best piece of advice that you've been given?

Margot Nash, my screenwriting mentor at UTS, said to me, ‘Don’t listen too much.’ She was talking about listening to feedback. Feedback can get in the way. I’ve learnt this the hard way! Ultimately, I’ve learnt to trust my own impulses and tell the story my heart wants to tell. I think of what Margot said every time I go into a script workshop.

Who, past or present, would you like to share a meal with and why?

Berthe Morisot. She was a French Impressionist painter. I saw quite a few of her paintings when I was living in Paris. Berthe was good friends with Manet and also sat for him. In those paintings, there’s a delicious unspoken relationship that plays out between Berthe, the sitter, and Manet, the artist. (I might be writing about this)… They were both married, but I totally reckon they did it. I’d ask her if they did it. And if she has a good recipe for homemade pate.

Pooky and Boo Boo

My husband Rob and I live in a state-of-the-art Spaceline display home near the Beauty Bay Shopping Concourse.

We have two Airedale Terriers called Pooky and Boo Boo.

Pooky and Boo Boo.

It's been a dream of mine to breed Airedales. Their temperament is energetic and boisterous. We cemented over the backyard and bought cages in preparation for breeding, but it was not meant to be as the council didn’t approve our application. I still go to the breeding shows run by DOGS NSW now and again and imagine what could have been...

Pooky and Boo Boo are my consolation after long days at Beauty Bay LAC. As the Susie Greene case has been getting more intense it's such a joy to come home to these personality PLUS creatures and forget about the worries of the world!!!!!!

Although, I should let you now that the Beauty Bay LAC has been experiencing a number of stealings from unsecured garages, houses and storage facilities. Items such as bikes and gardening equipment are being stolen. So please ensure that you have good locks on garages and any other storage facilities. If you see any suspicious persons loitering around contact police immediately.

Keep Yourself Safe.

Generation X is sick of your bullshit

'Generation X... It might still take some ecstasy, if it knew where to get some. But probably not. Generation X has to be up really early tomorrow morning.'
Awesome blog about our generation: 

http://gizmodo.com/5851062/generation-x-is-sick-of-your-bullshit

Rehearsals Day 1

Day 1 of rehearsals as part of our Queen Street Studios Performing Arts Residency, and here's what our leading lady Lucy Miller has to say!

'Great rehearsal today! Hours of vibrant talk, chats, flirting, laughing, chilli chicken at the pub, questions, some answers, good answers, no answers, epiphanies, brain freezes, skull fucks, chewing gum, singing, 'Who's better Madonna or Cindy?' A few renditions of Nirvana, 'shut up ya big shut up', ciggies, Freudian slips, trapped souls, horns locking, childish recriminations followed by adult hindsight, star gazing, 'Jelly Kelly', Sweet Child of Mine...


GEN X ROCKS!  


Amen.'

Stop I Love You

In 2010, Crushed was selected for Queen Street Studio's 'Off the Shelf Residency.' We performed 4 scenes and the audience was asked to fill out anonymous feedback cards for the writers. Here's my fave - it quotes a joke from my play. I have carried this with me around Europe, propped it up in my studio in Paris where I finished writing Crushed, and it now lives in my Newtown studio. It inspired me to keep going against all odds. So mystery artist, whoever you are, thank you for touching my life in such a beautiful way.

Keep Yourself Safe

Hi there everyone!!! My name’s Margaret. I’m a member of the NSW Police Force LAC (Local Command Area) - Beauty Bay.  And I'm very excited about this hi-tech social networking technology that is all the rage right now!!!!! It's amazing what the internets can do to bring people together from the convenience of our desktop computers!!!!!! 

Even though I was actually the first person at the crime scene, (Bill was on an RDO), I only make a small appearance in the play. It’s a pity, because I'm not just a constable, I'm your friend.

If I was in the play more, I’d definitely tell you about the opportunities for young people who wish to enter a career in the police force. Lucky I can tell you here!!!!!

Stay tuned and remember, Keep Yourself Safe.

QUOTE COMPETITION

Three characters:  Kelly, Jason and Dazza.  Three blogs:  Gunners, Scrublands, Moonlight. 

Match the characters to the blog quotes and five lucky bloggers will each score a double pass to the first preview of CRUSHED, Wednesday 16 May, 8pm at the New Theatre, Newtown.

Be one of the first 5 correct guesses on Crushed Facebook Event Page or Blogger and see you at the theatre.

GUNNERS

One night, Susie was sitting on the bonnet of my van

singing ‘Sweet Child O Mine’,

the next she’s gone.

SCRUBLANDS

At the old bus stop, on the edge of the Ironbark Scrublands. 

That's the last time I saw her.

MOONLIGHT

image: www.freeimages.co.uk

Poison. I saw her top glitter 'Poison'.

Then she turned and walked away.

The moon, it went behind a cloud.

The darkness, it kind of swallowed her.

Welcome to Crushed.