7 – 14 DECEMBER, 7.30PM SAT 14 DECEMBER MATINEE, 2.00PM

FIRE WESTERN AUSTRALIAN

YOUTH THEATRE COMPANY

51 JAMES ST | NORTHBRIDGE

DIRECTOR’S NOTESWhen people talk about old school friends it’s not uncommon to hear, “we just drifted apart”.

FIRE is a play that explores how friends can accelerate away from one another post secondary school. Musing on the expansion of the universe and the stellar phenomenon

redshift, our protagonist Liv asks, How do we keep the stars from disappearing? How do we keep them together?

Two simple questions to a not so simple problem — especially when those ‘stars’ (the people celebrating a Leavers that went horribly wrong) still wrestle with both guilt and emptiness a

decade on. Ten seconds, ten hours, ten years, FIRE also explores the slow burn of time. It makes ash of ‘who’ we were, as it will make ash of ‘who’ we will become.

‘Leavers’ – and its east coast twin ‘Schoolies’ — is sold as one last chance to deny our adult; one last chance to mock our slide into responsibility; one last chance to live a life free from

consequence. But as our characters soon learn, while the Leavers ritual stokes the fire of their adolescent hubris, it leaves them desperately unprepared for life’s great test: loss.

I’d like to thank the enormous team who’ve helped bring this production to PICA. The young writers for their fabulous script; the cast for their courage and play; the

design and production team for their creativity and support; and mentors Hellie Turner, Kirsty Hillhouse and Adam Bennett for their advice and belief. WAYTCo continues to

provide an important platform for young voices in the theatre and FIRE continues this proud tradition. I feel privileged to have been involved.

— Will O’Mahony

Director

PRODUCTION —

WILL O’MAHONY | DIRECTOR PATRICK JAMES HOWE | SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER

RHIANNE PERRIE | PRODUCTION MANAGER WILL SLADE | SOUND DESIGNER

STEPHANIE GULEV | STAGE MANAGER JOE LUI | LIGHTING DESIGNER

MEG COUSINS | LIGHTING BOARD OPERATOR NICK IRELAND | SOUND BOARD OPERATOR

BEN GATES | BUMP-IN CONSTRUCTION

CAST —

MICHAEL COLLINS | RYANANDREW DAWSON | LANCE

NIC DOIG | OLIVER/OLIEJAMES TAYLOR | DUNCAN

JACK WALKER | ANTVIOLETTE AYAD | LIV

ISABELLE MCDONALD | JULIAEMILY DAVID | AVA

KAT BONNY | VTESS CARMODY | APRILTANYA JADE | LIU YANG

FIRE WRITERS – JESSICA MESSENGER, GEORDIE CRAWLEY, ELLEN O’CONNOR, KANE PARKER

“The writing team for ‘Fire’ had the collective privilege and pleasure of working under the mentorship of the formidable Hellie Turner - an inspiring and incredibly talented playwright. Hellie’s wealth of experience and knowledge of narrative structure and craft along with her amazing skill for facilitation made her the perfect fit for this project. Throughout the initial development process she provided structure and feedback in a manner that pushed us to think differently and write in a stronger direction; whilst also empowering us to make the

work our own. Working with her provided a strong foundation on which to build, take risks and try new things. Under Hellie’s guidance we have all grown tremendously in our

understanding of play-building, and most importantly she enabled us to operate as a truly collaborative team.”

WAYTCo is proud to support the message of Act-Belong-Commit using theatre and expressive performing arts to keep mentally healthy.

actbelongcommit.org.au

ACT Theatre keeps your mind and body ACTive; keep in touch with others who share your passion.

BELONG Being a part of the theatre gives you a sense of BELONGing; share the experience and encourage others to join in.

COMMIT Theatre allows you to challenge yourself; to COMMIT to an action, test your limits, celebrate your achievements and inspire others.

ABOUT WAYTCoWe invest in the talent, creative energy and commitment of young emerging theatre artists

providing skills, opportunity and professional development to create and tell their own stories. We offer projects and activities that build confidence, strong expressive bodies and voices,

emotional literacy and an understanding of human motivation and action. Through productions and workshops we provide a forum for social leadership and personal development, creating career pathways and opportunities in a highly challenging industry. Our productions focus on

training, mentoring and inspiring young theatre artists, while providing the broader community with high-quality and exciting theatre experiences. Working in collaboration with renowned

industry professionals and emerging young artists we produce vibrant, visceral and edgy works that tap into the psyche of today’s youth.

—

Photo: Patrick James Howe

CORE SKILLS TRAINING —

On Sunday afternoons during term times we train teenage participants in the essential core skills of the actor – flexibility in movement, strong and dynamic

vocal technique, presence and immediacy, confident expression to an audience, emotional literacy and

expression, controlled and focused intention and action.

ENSEMBLE —

This exciting new initiative offers a dozen young emerging theatre makers over 16 a chance to work

with professional theatre artists in a concentrated way throughout 2014. Through training, collaboration, study, devising and presenting work over all four

terms, WAYTCo will offer professional development and a chance to present a fully supported professional production at the end of the year. Ensemble is only for

those who have already proved themselves with WAYTCo either by taking part in our acting classes,

workshops or events in 2013 or previously.

WRITING / VOICE —

On Wednesday and Thursday evenings during term times in 2014 we are offering alternate writing and voice

workshops. Each is an 8-week course culminating in either a monologue or scene.

TERM 1 (Thursdays Feb 20 – April 3) Writing for the stage

TERM 2 (Wednesdays April 30 – June 18) Voice gym

TERM 3 (Thursdays July 24 – September 11) Writing monologues and scenes

TERM 4 (Wednesdays October 22 – November 26) Performing audition monologues and scenes

OPEN AUDITIONS —

Major text production – SATURDAY March 29th 2014 for production dates July 4th – 12th 2014

CONTACT DETAILS

Artistic Director: Kirsty Hillhouse | kirsty@waytco.com General Manager: Adam Bennett / adam@waytco.com

King St Arts Centre , 357—365 Murray St, Perth, Australia 6000 +61 (08) 92262144 | www.waytco.com