Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre is making magic happen again, presenting a whopping marathon event this December to raise funds for its future, with 24 hours of non-stop play readings by Melbourne’s own ensemble live streamed to your home.
The big little theatre will host The Great Red Stitch LOCK-IN live from its Cromwell Road venue and live-streamed online from 8.00pm – Tuesday 19 December to 8.00pm Wednesday 20 December 2023, as part of its end of year fundraising campaign, AMPLIFY, which has officially launched this week.
The initiative is designed to bolster the power of theatre and its ability to amplify diverse voices and spark important conversation. With help from the community, AMPLIFY will create a more sustainable environment that will nurture innovation, cultivate new artistic talent, and create space to take creative risks in Melbourne’s independent arts scene.
For 22 years, the ensemble-led theatre has remained a constant force in the world of independent and professional theatre in Melbourne and Australia. While providing employment and career progression for hundreds annually, the theatre continues to keep artists at the core of its philosophy and practice since its inception.
The INK playwriting program is evidence of this, steered by Artistic Director, Ella Caldwell, it offers opportunities for theatre-makers at all stages of their careers in the development and presentation of new Australian works.
Now, in a feat of creative endurance, the Red Stitch ensemble are rolling up their sleeves and getting to work as they invite the wider community into their rehearsal space to take part in this story and help raise $50,000 to support its future.
“As we set our sights on 2024 and beyond, our strategic focus is on sustainability,” said Red Stitch Artistic Director, Ella Caldwell. “Sustaining the momentum we’ve built is no minor task, and we’re keenly attuned to the ever-shifting social and economic landscape.
“This is a pivotal moment for us, and we require our community’s support as much as ever. The LOCK-IN is about getting back to where it all begins for us; actors in a room reading the words from the page,” said Caldwell.
Everyone is invited to watch the LOCK-IN event online at any hour and cheer from the comfort of your own home as the ensemble read a range of new and classic works on their feet with whatever props and practicals are on hand, and with whichever actors are still standing!
The jam-packed program will include:
- Live ‘ad-breaks’ to hear about what the ensemble do, their plans for the company’s future, and their response to the challenges facing live theatre post-Covid.
- The chance to watch some of Red Stitch’s newest and most seasoned actors working on impulse – with only a script, a minimal prop table and 24 hours to bring to life a range of dramatic works including ambitious contemporary and classic texts!
The Great Red Stitch LOCK-IN takes place online for 24-hours from 8.00pm – Tuesday 19 December 2023. A full schedule of the plays being performed will be available closer to the event. For more information and how to donate to the event, visit: www.redstitch.net for details.
Image: courtesy of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre