On the Misconception of Oedipus Program

10 - 26 AUGUST

ON THE MISCONCEPTION

OF OEDIPUS

Ph

oto

: La

ch

lan

Wo

od

s

Malthouse Theatre presents

ON THE MISCONCEPTION OF OEDIPUS

Devised by Zoë Atkinson, Matthew Lutton and Tom Wright Text by Tom Wright

Directed by Matthew Lutton

Set and Costume Design Zoë Atkinson Lighting Design Paul Jackson

Composition and Sound Design Kelly Ryall

Assistant Director Daniel Lammin

Performed by Natasha Herbert

Richard Pyros Daniel Schlusser

Stage Manager Alice Fleming

Design Secondment Casey CorlessSound Secondment Lore Burns

BECKETT THEATRE10 – 26 AUGUST

Co-produced with Perth Theatre Company.Developed in the Engine Room thanks to support from CAL Cultural Fund.

Ph

oto

: La

ch

lan

Wo

od

s

DIRECTOR’S NOTEThis is not the famous Oedipus play by Sophocles or Seneca. This is effectively a prequel. It examines the events before these plays begin. This chapter of the myth was never written down. Therefore, we have frequently imagined our own version of events.

The figures trapped onstage are inspired by the characters of Laius and Jocasta (Oedipus’s parents) and Oedipus himself. Of course, they are also the contemporary psychological archetypes of the mother, the father and the child. You can’t explore any of the characters in this myth without wrestling with Freud and psychology.

All of the voices onstage are obsessed with telling their version of events. There is a lot of hubris onstage. They want to record their version of history and, therefore, frequently contradict each other. There is possibly no true version of history.

All the characters have to confront and question “what is fate?” They are all obsessed with analysing themselves and their relationship to fate (if they even believe in it) and they frequently change their mind on the subject.

Each time the characters approach a significant crossroads in their narrative, the theatre language onstage radically shifts. Therefore, the production is divided into three parts and each part invites you to analyse the behaviour of those onstage in a different way.

MATTHEW LUTTON

Ph

oto

: La

ch

lan

Wo

od

s

ZOË ATKINSONCO-DEVISOR, SET AND COSTUME DESIGN

Zoë studied design for performance at The Prague Academy of The Performing Arts (Faculty

of Puppetry and Alternative Theatre), The International Institute of Figurative Theatre (Czech Republic), and at the Institute International de la Marionette, France (under designer Josef Svoboda). Zoë’s most recent designs include the costumes for Puccini’s La Fanciulla del West (State Opera of SA, Opera Australia, Opera Queensland, West Australian Opera), and the set and costumes for Elektra (West Australian Opera) and Signs of Life (Black Swan State Theatre Company). Other designs include Plainsong, Jandamarra, The Carnivores, The Crucible (Equity Award Best Design), Away, Copenhagen, The Unexpected Man, Uncle Vanya (Black Swan Theatre Company); The Odyssey (Malthouse Theatre/Black Swan, Helpmann Award Best Costume Design); Million Puppet Project Exhibition (UNIMA World Puppetry Congress); Bench, Skin Tight (Perth Theatre Company); Drover’s Wives (Steamworks Arts Productions); Fantastical Adventures of Leonardo da Vinci (KAOS Theatre); Out of the Blue, The Velveteen Rabbit, The Bunyip of Berkley’s Creek (Spare Parts Theatre); Snark – The Way of the Bravest (Carry Grant Players/Maison de la Culture de Nevers et Neivers/Sydney Festival); Lawn (Splinter Group/Sasha Waltz & Guests/Stuttgart Tanzplattform, Green Room Award Best Design); The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (London Barbican BITE/Brisbane Powerhouse/Ridiculusmus UK).

ALICE FLEMINGSTAGE MANAGER

Alice recently returned from touring Vienna and London with Back to Back Theatre’s European

premiere of Ganesh Versus the Third Reich. She is currently completing a Master’s degree at The University of Melbourne. Previous Malthouse Theatre credits include The Histrionic, Look Right Through Me and Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl. Other theatre credits include: Spicks & Speck-tacular – The Finale Tour (Token Events); The Gift, Clybourne Park (Melbourne

Theatre Company); A Bird, A Tree, The Moon (Peepshow Inc); Sundowner (KAGE); Do Not Go Gentle... (fortyfivedownstairs). Alice’s event experience includes Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s The Doctor Who Symphonic Spectacular, WOMADelaide Festival, The Australian Ballet for Target’s Full Year Business Update, Australian Dance Awards, Next Wave Festival’s Sports Club Project, Fringe Festival, Castlemaine Arts Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties and The Falls Festival. Alice will directly follow this project by joining Back to Back Theatre to premiere Food Court in Philadelphia and Ganesh Versus the Third Reich in Rotterdam.

NATASHA HERBERTJOCASTA

Natasha most recently appeared at Malthouse Theatre in Happiness and previously in Kitten.

For Melbourne Theatre Company some highlights are The Dream Life Of Butterflies, God of Carnage, The Pillowman, Three Sisters, The Balcony, I’m Not Rappaport and I Hate Hamlet. Other theatre credits include Madeleine for Black Sequins Productions, Small Metal Objects for Back to Back, The Wall for Ranters Theatre, Progress and Melancholy at fortyfivedownstairs, The Country at Belvoir Downstairs, Still Angela, Rapture, Honour, Love Child and Wolf for Playbox Theatre Company, Skylight at Hothouse, and Hamlet at Theatre Up North. Natasha received Green Room nominations for her performances in God of Carnage, Love Child and Honour and was awarded Best Actress in 2001 for her portrayal of Mrs Kay in Portrait of Dora at La Mama. Natasha’s film credits include X, Lake Mungo, Corroboree and Boytown.

PAUL JACKSONLIGHTING DESIGN

Paul works for Melbourne firm The Flaming Beacon and is Associate Artist (Design) at Malthouse

Theatre. His design work for performance includes theatre, dance, opera and cabaret with companies as varied as Malthouse Theatre, Playbox Theatre Company, The Australian

Ballet, The Royal New Zealand Ballet, W.A. Ballet, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Chamber Made Opera, Melbourne Workers’ Theatre, Victorian Opera, W.A. Opera and many others. Paul has lectured in design at the University of Melbourne, RMIT University, NMIT and Victorian College of the Arts. A founding member of not yet it’s difficult performance group and a Churchill Fellow, Paul has received a number of Victorian Green Room Awards and nominations for design, as well as multiple Helpmann and Sydney Theatre Award nominations. He was named in The Bulletin’s Smart 100 for 2004.

DANIEL LAMMIN ASSISTANT DIRECTOR (BESEN FAMILY ARTIST PROGRAM)

Daniel is a recent graduate of Directing from the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). His directing credits include Howl (NIDA), The Cutting Boys (La Mama) and The Laramie Project (Monash University Student Theatre). He was also Assistant Director on Pains of Youth (NIDA), The Economist (MKA) and The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later (Red Stitch). As well as directing, Daniel has worked as a playwright, with a number of works presented at La Mama and the Midsumma Festival. This is his first production with Malthouse Theatre.

MATTHEW LUTTONCO-DEVISOR, DIRECTOR

Matthew is an Associate Artist (Direction) for the Malthouse Theatre. Past works for Malthouse

include Die Winterreise, The Trial and Tartuffe. For Sydney Theatre Company Matthew has directed The Duel and The Mysteries: Genesis, for Belvoir Street Theatre Tom Holloway’s Love Me Tender, and for Griffin Theatre Company Don’t Say the Words. In 2011, he directed the world premiere of Miroslav Srnka’s new opera, Make No Noise, for the Bavarian State Opera in Munich, and in 2012 Richard Strauss’s Elektra for West Australian Opera, Opera Australia and the Perth International Arts Festival.

RICHARD PYROSOEDIPUS

For Malthouse Theatre: A View of Concrete, The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. For

Sydney Theatre Company: Gross und Klein (Big and Small), Money Shots, The White Guard, Before/After, Leviathan, The Comedy of Errors, Oresteia, Vs Macbeth, The Mysteries: Genesis, Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Woman in Mind. For Societas Raffaello Sanzio/Barbican Theatre BITE09: Inferno. For The Arches Theatre, Glasgow (and Scottish National Tour): Amada. For Hebbel Am Ufer, Berlin: The Crumbtrail. For Societas Raffaello Sanzio: Hey Girl. For Melbourne Festival/Barbican BITE07/ASSITEJ and international tour: Gilgamesh. For Arcola Theatre, London: The Miniaturists (At Sea). For Lyric Hammersmith, London: Coyote Canyon. For Camden People’s Theatre, London: Scenes of a Massacre. For Bell Shakespeare: The Two Gentlemen of Verona. For A Poor Theatre: Hamlet. For Melbourne Festival: Remembrance of Things Past. For Wentworth Arts Festival: Romeo & Juliet. Film: The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark (Melbourne Film Fest 07), Noise (Sundance Film Fest 07). TV: Big Bite, Stand Up Australia. Radio: Hamlet (ABC Radio). Positions: Member of the STC Residents, 2009-2012. Awards: Irene Mitchell (VCA). Training: VCA, and with Philipe Gaulier, Anne Bogart, Di Trevis, Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod. Proud member of Actors’ Equity since 2003.

KELLY RYALLCOMPOSITION AND SOUND DESIGN

Kelly’s recent works include: The School For Wives, Macbeth and Julius Caesar (Bell Shakespeare),

On The Production Of Monsters, Return To Earth, Dead Man’s Cell Phone and God Of Carnage (Melbourne Theatre Company), Disappearing Acts (World Theatre Festival), The Boys (Griffin/Sydney Festival), And No More Shall We Part (Griffin), Die Winterreise (Thin Ice, Malthouse Theatre), Sundowner (KAGE), Expectation (Arts House), The Trial (Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Thin Ice),

Love Me Tender (Company B, Griffin Theatre Company and Thin Ice), The Harry Harlow Project and The Man With The September Face (Full Tilt), One Night The Moon (Malthouse Theatre), Pieces for Small Spaces (Lucy Guerin Inc), Red Sky Morning (Red Stitch), Savage River (Griffin Theatre Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Tasmanian Theatre Company), Thom Pain (B Sharp), Mr Freezy (Arena Theatre Company), Chocolate Monkey, Space Monkey and Love Monkey (The Amazing Business), Chapters from the Pandemic, Detest, Wretch and Save for Crying (Angus Cerini/Doubletap) and Mercury Fur (little death/Griffin Theatre Company). Kelly has received three Green Room Awards, a Melbourne International Arts Festival Award and a Melbourne Fringe Award.

DANIEL SCHLUSSERLAIUS

Daniel is a director, dramaturg and performer. He most recently performed in Persona (Fraught

Outfit), as Hamlet in Ophelia doesn’t live here anymore (Daniel Schlusser Ensemble/Chamber Made Opera/Bell Shakespeare Mind’s Eye), and as Krogstad in The Dollhouse (Daniel Schlusser Ensemble at fortyfivedownstairs). He is an Associate Artist of The Rabble and has performed the roles of Bernarda Alba in Cageling and Herod in Salome for that company. Previous performances include the solos Kill Hamlet (La Mama, The Universal Theatre, and Griffin Theatre) and Camus’ The Fall (Stork Hotel/Melbourne Writer’s Festival). Daniel has a Master of Arts in Theatre Directing from the Victorian College of the Arts and most recently directed The Histrionic (Malthouse Theatre/Sydney Theatre Company). He is Artistic Director of the Daniel Schlusser Ensemble, with whom he is currently working on an adaptation of The Master and Margarita in association with Theatre Works.

TOM WRIGHTCO-DEVISOR, WRITER

Tom is the Associate Director of Sydney Theatre Company. He started as a member of Barrie

Kosky’s Gilgul in the early 90’s, then with Michael Kantor’s Mene Mene in the late 90’s. He has worked as an actor and director at the Melbourne Theatre Company, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Sydney Theatre Company, Playbox, La Mama, Company B, Anthill, Gilgul, Mene Mene, Bell Shakespeare Company, Chunky Move, Black Swan Theatre, Chamber Made Opera and the Adelaide, Sydney, Edinburgh, Perth and Melbourne Festivals. He has written a number of plays or adaptations, including A Journal of the Plague Year, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Ubu, This Is a True Story, Lorilei, Medea, Babes in the Wood, Puntila and His Man Matti, Tense Dave, The Odyssey, The Lost Echo, Criminology (with Lally Katz), Tales From the Vienna Woods, The Women of Troy, The War of the Roses, The Duel, Baal, Optimism, Oresteia and The Histrionic. The radio version of his play Lorilei won the Gold Drama Award (British Radio Academy) and BBC Radio Drama Award, 2007. His adaptation of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, The Lost Echo, won five Helpmann awards in 2007, including Best Play. His adaptation of Shakespeare’s History Plays, The War of the Roses, won six Helpmanns in 2009.

PERTH THEATRE COMPANY is a resident company of the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia. Under the Artistic Direction of Melissa Cantwell, Perth Theatre Company presents smart, fearless theatre and supports the work of emerging West Australian artists. Recent work includes critically outstanding productions of The Ugly One (starring Gemma Ward), Tender Napalm, Blackbird and It’s Dark Outside. The company is the proud producer of the international, multi-award winning production The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer.

Perth Theatre Company is proud to be co-producer of On the Misconception of Oedipus to be performed in the Studio Underground at the State Theatre Centre of Western Australia from 5-15 September 2012.

PTC TEAM

Artistic Director Melissa Cantwell, General Manger Nic Clark, Operations Manager Sarah Weber, Membership & Marketing Coordinator Kate Hancock, Administration Officer Liam Mangan, Production Manager (On the Misconception of Oedipus) James Nerva, Finance Officer Suzanne Fielding, Public Relations Grant Capriotti & Lauren Elliott Muse Bureau, US Agent Laura Colby Elsie Management.

perththeatre.com.au

vu.edu.au/aehdcricos Provider No. 00124K

sapientNitro VUr 1128CREATIVE PRACTICEThe school of communication and the Arts at Victoria University offers exciting opportunities to extend your creative arts practice.

Get inspired with our Bachelor of creative Arts industries course offering best practice teaching in performance, music, creative writing, visual arts, and digital media.

Enrich your career prospects with our postgraduate research program offering world-class supervision in performance and creative writing projects including:

• Fiction/nonfiction writing • Site specific performance • Sound and public spectacle • Dance improvisation and writing • Writing for theatre • Poetry

At Victoria University we don’t just prepare you for the day you graduate, we equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to shape a great career in creative arts.

For further information visit our website or call 1300 VIC UNI.

VUR 1128 AEHD A6 148x105.indd 1 11/05/12 4:25 PM

vu.edu.au/aehdcricos Provider No. 00124K

sapientNitro VUr 1128CREATIVE PRACTICEThe school of communication and the Arts at Victoria University offers exciting opportunities to extend your creative arts practice.

Get inspired with our Bachelor of creative Arts industries course offering best practice teaching in performance, music, creative writing, visual arts, and digital media.

Enrich your career prospects with our postgraduate research program offering world-class supervision in performance and creative writing projects including:

• Fiction/nonfiction writing • Site specific performance • Sound and public spectacle • Dance improvisation and writing • Writing for theatre • Poetry

At Victoria University we don’t just prepare you for the day you graduate, we equip you with the skills and knowledge needed to shape a great career in creative arts.

For further information visit our website or call 1300 VIC UNI.

VUR 1128 AEHD A6 148x105.indd 1 11/05/12 4:25 PM

MUSE DONOR PROGRAMURANIA (MUSE OF THE STARS)

Annamila Pty Ltd, The Dara Foundation

CLIO (MUSE OF HISTORY)John & Lorraine Bates, Craig Reeves, Anonymous (1)

THALIA (MUSE OF COMEDY)Frankie Airey & Stephen Solly, Betty Amsden OAM, Daniel & Danielle Besen,

Eva Besen AO & Marc Besen AO, Debbie Dadon, Roger Donazzan & Margaret Jackson AC, Neilma Gantner,

Peter & Anne Laver, Richard Leonard, Michele Levine, Judith Maitland-Parr, Peter McLennan, Elisabeth & John Schiller, Carol & Alan Schwartz AM, Anonymous (1)

MELPOMENE (MUSE OF TRAGEDY)Chryssa Anagnostou & Jim Tsaltas, Ian Hocking & Rosemary Forbes,

Val Johnstone, Jon Webster

EUTERPE (MUSE OF MUSIC)Ingrid Ashford, John Bourne, Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM, Diana Burleigh,

Ingrid & Per Carlsen, Dominic & Natalie Dirupo, Rev. Fr Michael Elligate, Carolyn Floyd, William J Forrest AM, D.L & G.S Gjergja, Marco Gjergja, Colin Golvan SC, Michael Kingston,

Sue Kirkham, Pamela McLure, Naomi Milgrom AO, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, Sue Nattrass AO, Rae Rothfield, Jenny Schwarz, Tim & Lynne Sherwood,

Neil & Barbara Smart, Leonard Vary & Matt Collins, Jason Waple, Simon Westcott & Dr Ben Keith, Phil & Heather Wilson, Anonymous (1)

TERPSICHORE (MUSE OF DANCE) Sally Browne, Sieglind D’Arcy, Taleen Gaidzkar, Brian Goddard, Brad Hooper,

Susan Humphries, Graeme & Joan Johnson, Ann Kemeny & Graham Johnson, K & J Lindsay, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE & Lady Nossal, Robert Peters, Ernie Schwartz,

Gina Stuart, Fiona Sweet & Paul Newcombe, Joanne & Dr Niv Tadmore, John Thomas, Richard P Watson, Anonymous (1)

ERATO (MUSE OF LOVE)Simon Abrahams, Graham & Anita Anderson, Sandra Beanham,

John & Alexandra Busselmaier, Robyn Campbell, John Carruthers, Ros Casey, Tim & Rachel Cecil, Min Li Chong, Diane Clark, Patricia Coutts,

Tania de Jong AM, Charles Gillies & Penelope Allen, Peggy Hayton, Roberta Holmes, Irene Irvine, Vas Katos, Irene Kearsey, Patricia Keith, Ruth Krawat, Liquorice Studio,

Brad Martin, Gael & Ian McRae, Robyn & John Morris, Dr Kersti Nogeste, Linda Notley, Tony Oliver, James Penlidis & Fiona McGauchie, Irene Purcell,

John & Margot Rogers, Katherine Sampson, Morry & Anna Schwartz, Lisl Singer, Thea & Hayden Snow, Maria Sola, Ann Tonks, Rosemary Walls, Jan Watson,

Joanne Whyte, Barbara Yuncken, Angelika & Pete Zangmeister, Anonymous (7)

To find out more about the Malthouse Theatre Muse program, please contact Nicole Punte on 03 9685 5162 /

[email protected].

Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.

113 Sturt Street Southbank VIC 3006Box Office +61 3 9685 5111 Administration +61 3 9685 5100 Facsimile +61 3 9685 5112

Email [email protected] Web malthousetheatre.com.auTwitter twitter.com/MalthouseMelb Facebook facebook.com/MalthouseTheatre

BOARD OF DIRECTORSSimon Westcott (Chair), Frankie Airey, John Daley, Michele Levine, Ian McRae, Thea Snow, Sigrid Thornton, Kerri Turner, Leonard Vary.

Artistic Director Marion PottsExecutive Producer Jo Porter

Associate Artist (Design) Paul JacksonAssociate Artist (Direction) Matthew LuttonAssociate Artist (Writing) Van BadhamDirector in Residence Adena Jacobs

Company Managers Lucy Birkinshaw Nina Bonacci Associate Producer Josh WrightAdministrator Narda ShanleyFinance Manager Mario AgostinoniFinance Administrator Liz White Finance Assistant Connie StellaMarketing and Communications Manager Lisa SciclunaDigital Strategy & Marketing Coordinator Carl Nilsson-PoliasDevelopment Manager Jaclyn BirtchnellPhilanthropy Manager Nicole PunteDevelopment and Marketing Assistant Hiroki KobayashiMedia Manager Maria O’DwyerTicketing Manager Emma HowardTicketing Assistant Lauren WhiteYouth and Education Program Clare WatsonExecutive Assistant Emily FioriAudience DevelopmentConsultant Jason TamiruBuilding Manager Peter ManderslootBar Manager Cherry Rivers

Front of House Managers Tristan Watson & Sean LadhamsProduction Manager David MillerTechnical Manager Baird McKennaOperations Manager Dexter VarleyHead Electrician Stewart Birkinshaw CampbellHead Mechanist Andy MooreTheatre Technician Nathan Evers Head of Wardrobe Amanda CarrWardrobe Assistant Chloe GreavesWorkshop Supervisor David CraigSteel Fabricator Goffredo MameliScenic Artist Patrick JonesProps Master Ross Murray (lifetime recognition)

FRONT OF HOUSE/BAR STAFFLeeor Adar, Matt Adair, Michelle Baginski, Claire Beynon, Jacqui Brown, Ben Carollo, Kathryn Delaney, Tom Dent, Carla Di Stefano, Alice Dixon, Graham Downey, Tanja George, Josh Green, Kate Gregory, Simon Jeanes, Bridie McCarthy, Ian Michael, Anna Nalpantidis, Daniel Newell, Ruby Nolan, Syrie Payne, Kliment Poposki, Beck Rafferty, Claire Richardson, Sanne Rodenstein, Kathryn Joy, Phoebe Taylor, Jade Thomson, Lee Threadgold

BOX OFFICE STAFFJack Angwin, Liz Bastian, Paul Buckley, Mark Byrne, Dan Giovannoni, Kate Gregory, Michelle Hines, Ian Michael, Fiona Wiseman,Liz White

Malthouse Theatre would like to acknowledge the people of the Kulin nation on whose land this work is being presented.

Vale Marc Psaila, our Company Manager, much loved and greatly missed.

gratefully acknowledges its supporters

GOVERNMENT PARTNERS

MAJOR PARTNER

PRODUCTION PARTNERS MEDIA PARTNER

CORPORATE PARTNERS CORPORATE ASSOCIATES

COMPANY SUPPORTERS

TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS Slome-Topol Family Charitable TrustAustralian Communities FoundationSpanish Cultural Co-operation Program Vera Moore Foundation

PROGRAM PARTNERS

EDUCATION & YOUTH ACCESS PROGRAM REGIONAL EDUCATION PROGRAM

ARTIST PROGRAM WOMEN DIRECTOR’S INTERNSHIP PROGRAM

Danielle & Daniel Besen COMPANY IN RESIDENCE NEW AUSTRALIAN COMMISSION & PRODUCTION

MALTHOUSE REGIONAL Annamila Pty Ltd PERFORMANCE PROJECTS ARTISTS IN RESIDENCE

Jeanne Pratt AC, Rae Rothfield, Sue Nattrass AO, Judith Maitland-Parr Tom Kantor FundTHE KENN BRODZIAK ASSOCIATE PRODUCER INDIGENOUS THEATRE PROGRAM

Malthouse Theatre is supportedby the Australian Governmentthrough the Australia Council,its arts funding and advisory body

AN

D T H A T ’ S N O L I E

A NEW

MUSICAL

3 WEEKS ONLY! 6-29 Sept

BOOK AT malthousetheatre.com.au or 9685 5111