Master Clown teacher & founding director of THE CLOWN SCHOOL in Los Angeles, David Bridel, will be in Australia at the end of May/beginning of June to organise masterclasses in Melbourne and then in Sydney where he’ll be doing an interview with me for the ‘In Conversation With’ series on my YouTube channel.

  David trained with Clown Maestro Philippe Gaulier, who will be teaching a 2-week masterclass at David’s studio in LA in August this year. His performing & teaching CV is amazing, & the ‘Testimonials’ on the School’s website universally laud the School as a hub of brilliant teaching & totally wonderful training in the beautiful traditions of Clown, Commedia & Mask.

Take a minute to check out the School’s website – www.theclownschool.com – & stay tuned for the interview on-line & live in June.

I’m especially interested in talking to David about his inter-disciplinary approach to teaching Clown, his own performance work in Commedia & Mask & why he feels such traditions are relevant in contemporary acting methodologies.

Very much looking forward to this interview.

 NEW THEATRE COMPANY IS ESTABLISHED IN THE BLUE MOUNTAINS

That great mountain township of Katoomba is set to have it’s first professional theatre company – the Katoomba Theatre Company. Having been officially formed in mid-2012 with founding members Larry Buttrose & his partner Belle, Chris Gabardi, Georgia Adamson, Andrew McDonell, Joanne Samuel, Tiriel Mora, Beth Champion, Adam Quinn & Louise O’Halloran. The community campaign began last April & 3 heavyweight patrons coming on-board – Bruce Beresford, Jack Thompson & Larry’s cousin, 2013 Australian of the Year, Ita Buttrose.

 KTC Supporters one & all.

 The new home for the KTC will be the old library space which the Council has ear-marked $750,000 for a conversion & fit-out for the new theatre. Work is due to begin very soon. The conversion plan sees the library being converted into a 200 seat theatre with tiered seating, full, lighting & sound & numerous other facilities.

 The soon-to-be home of KTC.

This is a fantastic initiative by Larry & Belle Buttrose & the founding members of KTC. There is lots more on the agenda & in development as well.

 Larry & Belle. 

This is a project that is deserving & worthy of all our support in the wider performing arts community in Sydney. A lot of hard work & planning is about to come together…just like a good production!

Big chookas everyone.

For more information visit www.katoombatheatrecompany.com.au

When I worked for Megan Finlay’s CUT Theatre in her return season of ‘Queen Lere’ in 2005 we rehearsed in this space & it’s a great space which is open for hire. Dance, theatre, film rehearsals can all be accommodated in this space. They have just put down a new dance floor too.

The Loft Space, Lev.1, 247-257 Bulwara Rd., Ultimo, NSW.

For more information contact 0400 098 988, Facebook or check out www.theloftspace.com.au

FAB NEW REHEARSAL/AUDITION/CLASS SPACE NOW OPEN….

 @ 19-21 Byrnes Street.,Botany 

Zebra Studio now open for auditions, rehearsals, workshops, masterclasses: kitchette, big & spacious, M & F toilets, carpet, free parking, close to coffee shops & food outlets, easy access by bus.

Contact actor Gerry Sont on 0403 354 687. Also find Zebra Studio on facebook.

 First table read.

Having spent 6 or so weeks rehearsing & a sold-out season with full houses every performance, Hunters Hill Theatre’s production of Picasso at the Lapin Agile by Steve Martin closed last Saturday night. It could have easily extended a week to accommodate all those who missed out seeing this visually delightful (set design, Jill Keyte), funny character-driven evocation of Martin’s play set in Montmartre Paris 1904.

 Picasso set…a joy to work on. 

From the out-set director Jennie Bazell had a strong vision both technically & artistically, & wasted no time re-imagining character references, staging elements, lighting challenges; & gender-swapping roles as well as opening up the internal demands of the script by inserting live music/musician (Geoff Jones), singing, dancing (Choreog. by Linda Young) & (happily) banishing the cliched notion that every Parisian bar has red-checked tablecloths on small round tables dotted about the floor…..some do, but not this Lapin Agile!.

The cast was a blend of young emerging actors & seasoned pro’s all pooling their talents, energy, experience & dedication towards realising Jennie’s vision whilst respecting the needs & demands of their character work. Researching this whole period from the mid 19th C. to the first decade of the 20th C. was essential & for me, was a brilliant re-awakening my appreciation of the art movements of that period which ushered in the development of what became known as ‘Modernism’.

      Gaston, Germaine & Frede   Suzanne & Picasso       Sagot & Co.                Picasso, Lennon & Einstein.

One look at the pictures will give you some idea of how wonderful the wardrobe (Penny Korths), lighting (Casey Moon-Watton), sound (Peter Tucker) & setting/props (Grant Fraser, Simon Clarke, Geoffrey Kiely) were, lending us a visceral sense of who we were, where we were & why we are there. And for the audience it all came together beautifully, conveying a ’wow’ factor which unified this world of the Lapin Agile circa 1904.

 Sagot & the Countess say “Good night”

A huge hug to my cast mates for one of the most enjoyable theatre gigs in a while: Lois, Michael, Si, Jim, Cait, Geoff, Sarath, Sean & Frances (also our stage manager). And to Jennie B. for making bold directorial choices which came up an absolute treat…:-).

S4SUCCESS TEES has now been launched by Erryn Arkin & Jamie Laura who are living & working in LA. I worked on Erryn’s film ‘EQUILATERAL’ in 2010 & as an actor he’s doing great guns in LA but has now added, with Jamie, another gig to his & her CV.

Check out the website – http://www.S4successtees.com/ – to see more stylish hip & practical tees for any type of work-out you care to be into.

Right now you get FREE GLOBAL SHIPPING!!!!. Fantastic work you two & huge enormous chookas for this fresh take on sporty hip good-looking work-out tees.

 It’s been a joy preparing for the role of ‘Germaine’ in this upcoming production of Steve Martin’s play Picasso at the Lapin Agile. Set in Montmartre, the BoHo heart of Paris 1904, this production at Hunters Hill Theatre will be brimming with that atmosphere…plus a few surprises along the way.

    Come meet 2 of the most power-house talents of the 20thC – Picasso & Einstein – along with Gaston, Freddy, Germaine the Waitress & a host of eccentric characters who challenge the notion of ‘linear storyline’. Directed by Jennie Bazell, it’s fun, imaginative & atmospheric.

       March 1 to 16th, Thursday to Sunday.

Bookings on 02-9879 7765 or online @ www.huntershilltheatre.com.au – $26/$23 conc. & groups of 10 or more.

Maggie Scott will be directing THE DOG LOGS by multi-award wining writer/director for film & theatre CJ Johnson.

4 actors manifrsting 12 dogs on stage – pet pooches, wild barkers, working dogs, police dogs, sniffer dogs & more. Dog lovers this one is for you!!!

INSOMNIAC THEATRE has been performing successfully in the Inner West for the past 9 years at various venues – The Crypt Theatre in Balmian, Roxbury Hotel, West End Hotel, the Cat & Fiddle Hotel & the Exchange Hotel in Balmain.

2013 sees INSOMNIAC back at the Cat & Fiddle, 456 Darling St., Balmain.

For more information & bookings contact Maggie Scott on 0403224980. $25 adults & $20 Concession. From March 1st ph. 9555 9009 for bookings.

Also follow the compamy on FACEBOOK as Insomniact Page.

“Ruff Ruff…Ruff Ruff…Ruff”……   that’s ‘Chookas for a great season’ in Dog lingo folks.

He’s been away across the Pond for a while but Peter Benedict Salole is back in Sydney & is open for business shooting Actors Headshot for $250 package, creating awesome show reels & crafting promotional videos for you & your business.

Peter filmed the 2003 PACT THEATRE season of ‘Significant Others….Shakespeare’s Women’ & did a great job. He has also shot numerous videos of Short & Sweet plays so is very experienced at shooting live theatre gigs. He has a good creative ‘eye’ for filmmaking & editing your work so you can show yourself at your best.

While he was in New Zealand he completed a film script & has now re-launched himself in Sydney.

Next time you want to get your gig filmed don’t hesitate to contact Peter via www.openmindfilms.com.au & LinkedIn.

Welcome back Peter!

  Melbourne film director Darren Vukasinovic of IGNIION PICTURES current project ‘Mr. Stowlicker’  is now completed & by the looks of it you can bet it’s going to be a winner, like his previous short films.

Taking renowned comedian Andy Kaufman as a source of inspiration & coming in at 17 minutes, ‘Mr Stowlicker’ explores the inner terrain of a man who doesn’t speak, has no friends or relationships. He lives in self-imposed isolation in his domestic landscape, watching the world go by. What makes him this way? & who eventually forces him to face his past & present so there is the possibility of a future?

It looks a treat & sounds fascinating. If you’d like to find out more about this project visit http://www.pozible.com/stowlicker & perhaps contribute to Darren’s crowd funding campaige to help him complete this gem of a film. Even gold coins can make the difference when your trying to get your film completed.

Bravo Darren for doing everything possible/pozible to get the job done.

Perhaps you’re interested in speaking to Darren about the film yourself?….contact DannenVukasinovic on 0414 465 733 or darren@ignition.com.au .

  You can see more stills & other films by visiting http://www.facebook.com/stowlicker .