Since its launch as an exciting new theatre space in 2015, KXT – Kings Cross Theatre has been renowned for showcasing new, risky and exceptional theatre. In 2018, the dynamic theatre company behind the programming for KXT, bAKEHOUSE, will continue their commitment to presenting works driven by diversity, gender equity and exciting collaboration.
The season has been carefully curated to showcase some of the city’s most accomplished independent theatre makers while also featuring the work of our most promising directors. It includes five world-premieres, nine Australian premieres, five new works from Australian writers, and the development of new works by nine writers. bAKEHOUSE continues its radical community engagement with two major social justice programs developed from community collaborations working in partnership with two NGOs.
Kicking off the season in January is Will O’Mahoney’s Tonsils and Tweezers directed by Jack Rabbit’s Michael Abercromby, followed by highlights including Enda Walsh’s The Walworth Farce directed by Kim Hardwick for Workhorse Theatre Company; Clare Barron’s You Got Older directed by Claudia Barrie for Mad March Hare returning after her 2017 smash hit Dry Land; and the premiere of Justin Fleming’s Dresden, directed by Suzanne Millar for bAKEHOUSE and starring Yalin Ozucelik as Adolf Hitler.
KXT champions cultural diversity with the Pidgin Project’s ambitious production of Daniel Keene’s The Serpent’s Teeth directed by internationally renowned leader in intracultural theatre, UK based Kristine Landon-Smith. While Human Activity, Katie Pollock’s response to 2017’s Jatinga, receives development ahead of production in 2019.
The 2018 season includes a stellar list of Sydney’s most dynamic directors including Shaun Rennie with Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist, Erin Taylor with A Girl is a Half Formed Thing and Alastair Clarke with Ironbound. While exciting young artists in the season include Lucy Clements directing Yen, Jessica Arthur directing Laura Lethlean’s new work Two Hearts, Rebecca Blake and Amy Morcom with a first staging of Rotterdam and Carissa Licciardello alongside Gretal Vella with The Hysteric.
A must-see in the season, bAKEHOUSE will partner with Solotel and KX Hotel to present a trilogy of large scale immersive theatre events staged across multiple levels of the hotel. Led by Co-Artistic Director of bAKEHOUSE, John Harrison, the productions are the return of Visiting Hours, KX Ultra (part of Vivid Sydney) and Armistice, commemorating a century since the end of the first World War.
Rounding out the huge year will be new work StoryLines, developed in partnership with award-winning NGO, Cana Community. StoryLines is a platform providing a voice to some of our most marginalised and alienated, and will see Cana Community members paired with writers and actors to develop powerful works for the KXT stage in December.
In 2018, bAKEHOUSE invests into the future with their Step Up Program, supporting 15 young artists, nine writers and six developments. In addition, bAKEHOUSE has partnered with Casula Powerhouse Arts Centre to offer a writer’s residency to a promising young writer from the Liverpool area to develop a new work for the stage in 2019.
“bAKEHOUSE is so proud of the incredible growth of KXT,” said Co-Artistic Director, Suzanne Millar. “It’s developed into an exciting venue that’s both accessible and affordable, invested in the sustainability of independent companies and artists, and known for works of excellence. We’re looking forward to another year of theatre for change.”
Tickets are now on sale. For more information, visit: www.kingsxtheatre.com or www.bakehousetheatrecompany.com.au for details.