First presented at Ensemble Stages 2013 Spring Reading, Blood Bank by upcoming playwright Christopher Harley will now debut as part of Ensemble Theatre’s main season from 21 October 2015.
Michael is waiting to give blood for his brother. Justin is waiting for the transfusion. And Abbey is just, well, waiting. They don’t know it yet, but they desperately need each other. In the dreamlike limbo of an ice-cold waiting room, they slowly trade secrets – and a surprising love story emerges.
Making his debut for Ensemble Theatre, Anthony Skuse has previously directed for Griffin Theatre (main stage and independent), ATYP, Darlinghurst Theatre, NIDA, WAAPA, Pinchgut Opera and La Boite in Brisbane. His production Punk Rock for ATYP’s Under The Wharf won the 2012 Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Independent Production and Best Director and his production of 4000 Miles for ATYP’s Under The Wharf which also toured to La Boite in Brisbane, was nominated for two Sydney Theatre Awards in 2013.
Playing the role of the Nurse, Meredith Penman’s recent theatre credits include Boys Will Be Boys for STC, All My Sons for Darlinghurst Theatre, Persona for Belvoir and A Winter’s Tale for Bell Shakespeare. Recent television credits include House Husbands and Dr Blake Murder Mysteries.
Playing the role of Abbey, Gabrielle Scawthorn recently appeared in Ride & Fourplay, also directed by Anthony Skuse for Darlinghurst Theatre at the Eternity Playhouse. Other credits include Words of War and Power of Poetry for Poetry in Action which toured high schools. On television she has appeared in The Killing Field.
Tom Stokes is playing the dual roles of brothers Michael and Justin. He previously appeared at Ensemble Theatre in The Glass Menagerie. Other theatre credits include Sport For Jove’s Of Mice and Men at The Seymour Centre, Music for Griffin Independent, I Want To Sleep With Tom Stoppard for Tamarama Rock Surfers and Pygmalion for STC. Tom also appeared in the films Equals and The Railway Man.
Christopher Harley is a Sydney-based writer and composer. His first full-length play The Kimono-Wearing Queen won the QTC Young Playwright’s award and since then he has had work produced by ATYP, Griffin, US A UM, PWA and NIDA. Working as a composer his sound designs and original music have been used in productions by STC, Sport For Jove, NIDA and Stooged Theatre. Blood Bank is Christopher’s second full-length play.
Director: Anthony Skuse Featuring: Meredith Penman, Gabrielle Scawthorn, Tom Stokes Designer: Tobhiyah Stone Feller Lighting Designer: Nicholas Higgins Audio Visual Designer: Tim Hope
Blood Bank
Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli
Season: 21 October – 22 November 2015
Bookings: (02) 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au
For more information, visit: www.ensemble.com.au for details.
Image: Gabrielle Scawthorn and Tom Stokes feature in Ensemble Theatre’s production of Blood Bank