In a first time collaboration, Red Stitch Actors Theatre team with Arthur to bring you the world premiere of The Mesh. A place of absurd and cruel dilemmas, that is unusual and familiar all at once.
Wolf and Clara, Max and Lottie: these guys know how to throw a costume party. Clara is a butterfly and a singer, Lottie a witch. Max is a king amongst men, and Wolf, well, a bit of a wolf. Refugees with no homeland to return to, they ‘party’ in an effort to band together, maintain hope, and save their faltering sanity.
Caught in a cruel limbo between past and present and striving to find their place in a new land, they fall under the increasingly sinister surveillance of ‘The Suits’ as they attempt to gain safety and security. The Mesh is a haunting and timely allegory filled with dancing, original songs and a rich musical score.
The Mesh is inspired by the story of Elise Hearst’s grandparents, Austrian Jews who fled Europe after the German occupation, daringly escaping and making the long journey to begin a new life in Melbourne. St Kilda-based Hearst is one of the most interesting young playwriting voices in Australian theatre, whose previous work includes The Sea Project (Griffin Theatre) and Dirtyland (The New Theatre).
Directed by Paige Rattray, co-founder of Arthur and previous Resident Director at Griffin Theatre, the cast features Red Stitch ensemble Ella Caldwell, Rosie Lockhart and Olga Makeeva, with guests Tom Dent, Kevin Kiernan-Molloy and Nick Masters.
Led by Rattray and producer Belinda Kelly, Arthur makes both text-based and devised new work exploring contemporary Australian identity, myth and magic in a variety of venues including theatres, churchyards, cabaret venues, and under their mini-big top.
This partnership between Red Stitch and Arthur was born from a shared interest in exploring current voices and urgent questions. The Mesh unites the intimate text-based work of the Red Stitch ensemble with the heightened visual and physical style of Arthur.
Director: Paige Rattray Cast: Ella Caldwell, Tom Dent, Kevin Kiernan-Molloy, Rosie Lockhart, Olga Makeeva, Nick Masters Set & Costume Designer: Mattea Davies Lighting Design: Ross Graham Sound Designer/Composers: Tom Hogan & Kelly Ryall Choreographer: Kurt Phelan Dramaturge: Amelia Evans.
The Mesh
Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Rear 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda East
Season: 15 October – 8 November 2014
Bookings: (03) 9533 8083 or online at: www.redstitch.net
For more information, visit: www.redstitch.net for details.
Image: courtesy of Red Stitch Actors Theatre