Based on his own first hand experience working in a Wet House, Red Stitch Actors Theatre presents UK playwright Paddy Campbell’s award-winning play in an Australian premiere from 20 March.
A Wet House is a hostel for homeless alcoholics, where the residents can drink on the premises. When Andy, an idealistic young graduate gets a job in a wet house, he is plunged into a world where rules about what is right and what is normal have become blurred. And that’s just among the other staff!
Wet House is directed by founding ensemble member Brett Cousins who makes his directorial debut with Red Stitch Theatre. Brett has performed dozens of roles at Red Stitch over the company’s twelve years including Out Of The Water, The Aliens, Stockholm, Creditors, Farragut North, Motortown, This Is How It Goes, The Shape Of Things, and Some Voices.
Television credits include roles on Howzat! Winners and Losers, Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries, Underbelly, City Homicide, and JAG. Brett will appear in the upcoming Feature film The Menkoff Method, and is currently in the final stages of development on his first feature film, Breakable.
“Ella (Artistic Director), and the entire Red Stitch ensemble have been encouraging me to direct a production here,” says Cousins. “It was the discovery of this wonderful script that really made everything fall into place. I hope that the result will be a riveting play that has been brought to life by a cohesive and well established creative team, and a little step forward in the evolution of Red Stitch and our ensemble.”
Paddy is a Northern Irish writer based in Newcastle upon Tyne. His first full-length play, Wet House premiered at Live Theatre in September 2013 as part of their 40th birthday celebrations, directed by Max Roberts. Following the success of the run, Live Theatre revived the production in September 2014 before embarking on a short tour to Hull Truck and Soho Theatre.
Paddy’s short plays include The Great Unwashed (Live/National Theatre), The Nest (Live/Nabokov), The Walloper (Arundel Theatre Trail), Flowerpet (GIFT Festival) and My New Favourite Place, a children’s play for Theatre Auricaria.
Wet House sees the long awaited return of former Artistic Director David Whiteley, alongside ensemble members Paul Ashcroft, Dion Mills, Anna Samson, guest actors Caroline Lee and Nicholas Bell, and Composer, Tim Rogers. Lighting Design by Clare Springett & Michael Robinson, and Set & Costume Design by Sophie Woodward.
“A thrillingly funny and painful vision of life in a homeless shelter… All hail a fine new voice.” – The Guardian
Wet House
Red Stitch Actors Theatre, 2 Chapel Street, St. Kilda
Season: 20 March – 18 April 2015
Bookings: (03) 9533 8083 or www.redstitch.net
For more information, visit: www.redstitch.net for details.
Image: Dion Mills in Wet House – photo courtesy of Red Stitch Actors Theatre