Taking a look at what it means to be a man in an age of identity crisis, Jeffrey the Cat Productions presents HOBO at The Blue Room Theatre from 5 July 2016.
Fred’s lost everything – his wife, his job, his money, and to top it off, he now lives in an alleyway with a homeless blackfella named Tank. With nothing much to do and plenty more to say, both Fred and Tank share a camaraderie that is strengthened by a mutual love of music and witty banter. Thinking the world’s gone to shit, Fred seems content in his self-imposed exile until an unexpected visit from his estranged son Terry shakes the foundations of his new reality.
Raw, crude and packed with humour, HOBO is the debut play from Jeffrey the Cat Productions, helmed by writer James Taylor, who has collaborated with one of the brightest young theatre directors in Western Australia, Ian Wilkes.
A multitalented artist proficient in dance, music, theatre and storytelling, Wilkes studied Aboriginal Theatre at WAAPA, and made his theatre directorial debut in 2015 with Yirra Yaakin’s Kep Kaatijin, followed by Songbird (Shakara Walley) at The Blue Room Theatre.
Wilkes was specially hand-picked by writer James Taylor for his polished directorial style and close familiarity with the play. Having previously collaborated with Taylor – on Songbird and Yirra Yaakin’s current season of So Long Suckers – Wilkes promises to bring justice to the Hobo script, which has been further developed since its run at The Blue Room Theatre’s Summer Nights program earlier this year.
Known for his visceral directional style, Wilkes has been working with production designers to develop a multi-sensory theatre experience that almost transcends the fourth wall. With Taylor’s honesty and Wilkes’ vision, audiences can expect to be fully immersed in the this journey of self-realisation and acceptance in all its raw crudeness.
Director: Ian Wilkes Featuring: Maitland Schnaars, James Hagan, James Taylor Lighting Designer: Chloe Ogilvie Set Designer: Chris Brain Sound Designer: Taylor Everitt Stage Manager: Rebecca Davidse Producer: Elinor King Writer: James Taylor
HOBO
The Blue Room Theatre – Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge
Season: 6 – 16 July 2016 (preview: 5 July)
Information and Bookings: www.blueroom.org.au
Image: Hobo – photo by Rob Fischer