amy jane stephenson

As you may remember at the Melbourne Fringe Festival last year ,“Six Women Standing in Front of a White Wall” won the Gasworks development award. This month director, Chenoeh Miller, is creating her new show “Cordelia” during a three-week development at the Gasworks. We’re all looking forward to immersing into the creative process with an exciting cast (which includes men this time). I’m working backstage and liking the idea of putting on the blacks and radio headset for a change.

Here’s the press release;

CORDELIA
A thrilling hybrid performance spectacular

The individual versus family. Love versus duty. CORDELIA delves deep into the complexities of human relationships.

Little Dove creates a timeless new world of song and dance amidst a unique story inspired by characters from Shakespeare’s KING LEAR.

“Maybe we shall let her go, to freedom and true love – to leave behind her dark foundation…”

THIS CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT SHOWING IS FREE AND BY INVITATION ONLY. TO REQUEST AN INVITATION PLEASE EMAIL chenoeh@littledove.com.au

I have a dear friend performing in Lawyers, Drugs and Money as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival at the moment.

I saw it in the first week and it was a tight, fast-paced show with a really strong ensemble. Refreshing to see some Australian humour intermingled with a story and characters most can relate to. In fact, one character was so strong I found it difficult to look at him. Apparently he’s a really nice guy “in real life”!

Congrats Emily on performing such evocative characters, it was impossible to look at anyone else onstage with such beauty.

See Laywers, Drugs and Money at La Mama until April 25th.

“What teachers are up against nowadays. “

Found on Reddit.

I’m looking forward to heading down to Fitzroy on Friday 26th February to the exhibition opening which my Mum is a part of. It’s at the Brunswick Street Gallery and the exhibition runs from 26th Feb-11th March.

Linden has some beautiful, detailed prints from her MFA exhibition. Printmaking is such an incredible art which must take so much patience and skill. I love the earthiness of prints, they make me feel real & alive in a time when so much is digitised and hidden on a computer hard drive.

This year there are some especially great performances to check out in the festival. Each show reflects a contemporary edge which I am a huge advocate of. They re-work traditional texts to create original work, or don’t even use text, and cross boundaries to surprise the audience.

2 Dimensional Life of Her

La Petite Mort – The Orgasm

La Petite Mort – The Orgasm is a raunchy cabaret romp through sex and sexuality.

“A truly original, delightful, accomplished show, another of the shows that remind you why you love the Fringe so much.” The Scotsman.

Hamlet Apocalypse

A group of actors stage Hamlet the night the world ends. As the reality of the situation sets in, the play, the characters and the actors break down to the simplest of human states as they attempt to reconcile their lives in the face of a dying world.

I’ve crossed paths or worked with artists from each of these shows and have so much respect for the incredible art they’ve created. Keep going my friends.

The 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival has awarded  Six Women Standing in Front of a White Wall;

• Best Dance Award &
• Gasworks Award (in-kind $3000)

(View here)

Not to mention the awards from Edinburgh Festival in 2007…

• Herald Angel Award Winner
• Scotland on Sunday Best Director
• Total Theatre Award Nominee

We are thrilled to have received these and look forward to using the Gasworks Professional Development Award to create a new production in 2010!

I wonder what exciting path we will take next.

Little Dove is delighted to announce that we will be bringing our acclaimed Butoh Live Art work Six Women Standing In Front Of A White Wall to the Melbourne Fringe Festival 2009! We would love to see you all there, so please start spreading the word to those you love, those you like a lot, or even just the lady at the cornerstore with the crinkly smiley eyes…

Browse Little Dove’s website to read the stunning reviews from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and bio’s for the performers.

*Please note that bookings are essential as there is limited audience capacity!

Northcote Town Hall
Ph: (03) 9481 9500
www.northcotetownhall.com.au

Melbourne Fringe Festival
Ph: (03) 9660 6666
www.melbournefringe.com.au

This is such a beautiful experiential performance, I cannot wait to be a part of it again. Won’t you join us?

Currently NGV have a free event running called  ’Art Chat’ which I am rather excited by. Tomorrow (July 30th) Chris Kohn (Artistic Director of Arena Theatre Company) will be discussing The importance of risk-taking in making theatre for the young and old. As a drama teacher and keen performer what could be more appropriate than “subjective perspectives on the topic”?!

Only yesterday some fellow drama teachers and I were discussing how drama in schools may or may not connect to the greater arts community. Does the VCE structure set aspiring actors and directors up for the arts industry? Is it too outcomes-based?  How can we make theatre which connects to gen y? Or conversely how do gen y make theatre?

I feel passionate about public programs between schools and companies such as Arena Theatre. Not only do they enhance learning experiences but also illustrates to students that there are many ways of expressing ones values and dare I say opening up one’s identity.

Next week is an exhibition which I have been awaiting for a few years. I am filled with absolute intrigue and excitement about the final prints and installations of Linden’s Masters after the many fragmented ideas and brief descriptions she has shared during the process.

It’s on in Hobart  and I have a feeling this will not be one of those passive, echoey exhibitions where you’re afraid a single cough might interrupt the flat atmosphere. No I think she may have some surprises in there…

I’ll be there.

Did I mention she’s my mother?