A hilariously frank story of sibling grief after three sisters suddenly lose their mother, Black Swan State Theatre Company of WA and The Blue Room Theatre presents Toast by Liz Newell at Studio Underground from 5 May 2022.
The childhood home is up for sale. Three sisters are left adrift and grappling with the sudden loss of their mother, and each other. Candice just wants to pack up a lifetime of memories without getting sentimental, while Alex – newly sober and dreading a relapse – sneaks old bits of Tupperware into her handbag.
Their adopted little sister, Sydney, is doing pretty well, when she’s not trying to tell her best friend she’s in love with her. And the rookie real estate agent is only there to pay off her credit cards.
The Black Swan partnership with The Blue Room Theatre that brought you Playthings continues in 2022 inviting you into this funny and charming work about the family we’re given and the family we choose for ourselves.
“This partnership creates career defining opportunities and pathways for local independent theatre makers to further develop their craft,” said The Blue Room Theatre’s Executive Director Katt Osborne.
“Taking an original WA play and audience favourite from our black box theatre to a main stage production brings together the best of local independent and main stage theatre, symbiotically developing new audiences for both.”
Winner of The Blue Room Theatre 2017 Awards for Best Production and Best Performance (Amy Mathews), Toast is a superbly written story about the surreal experience of loss, and a love letter to the people who hold our hand in the dark.
Toast is a local (and universal) story written by a fresh, red-hot West Australian playwright,” says Director, Emily McLean. “The team is a dynamic combination of shiny, new talent and experienced All-Stars.”
“It’s set in a garage and one of the protagonists is a toaster. And, in a very Chekhovian move, there’s early talk of an axe offstage, just waiting… Here we go!”
“Liz Newell‘s script is crackling and real. It speaks to all of us who have ever had the surreal experience of grieving…Toast is about the family dynamic, the grieving process, and just letting go.” – Fourth Wall Media
Director: Emily McLean | Featuring: Anna Lindstedt, Amy Mathews, Sam Nerida, Alison van Reeken | Set & Costume Designer: Sally Phipps | Lighting Designer: Jolene Whibley | Lighting Design Mentor: Lucy Birkinshaw | Composer & Sound Designer: Rachael Dease | Sound Design Assistant: Georgia Snudden | Stage Manager: Isabella Taylor | Assistant Stage Manager: Riley Billyeald | Directing Secondments: Courtney Cavallaro, Molly Earnshaw
Toast
Studio Underground – State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, 178 William Street, Perth
Season: 7 – 15 May 2022 (previews: 5 & 6 May)
Information and Bookings: www.bsstc.com.au
Checkout the trailer here!
Image: Anna Lindstedt and Alison van Reeken – photo by Frances Andrijich