STARK. DARK. ALBERT PARK.
14th – 22nd September
Gasworks Arts Park
STARK. DARK. ALBERT PARK. was our Melbourne Fringe production for 2018. It was presented in the Studio Theatre at Gasworks Arts Park – the publicity teaser ran as follows:
Five original stories infused with history, glamour, dogs, truth, and a dose of Vitamin B.
A man arrives on historic Sandridge beach with his piano and axe. On Middle Park beach, a labradoodle mysteriously vanishes. A Vegemite Girl ruminates on her cursed life; a bisexual protests her invisibility; Save Albert Park protests for justice; and Frank Thring protests against 50s conservatism on his flamboyant opening night of ‘Salome’. Five of Melbourne Writers’ Theatre’s sharpest writers went digging with their pens in Albert Park and the suburbs that touch it, and the result is this starkly observed and darkly humorous monologue showcase. Go on, put on your black cape and come and watch it.
* Created by: Clare Mendes Directed by: Elizabeth Walley
* Penned and performed by: the Writers and Actors of MWT
Our writers and actors were:
Bruce Shearer Darke’s Ark (performed by Kyle Roberts)
Mazz Ryan Teddy Bear (performed by Mazz Ryan)
Clare Mendes Invisible Petition (performed by Emma Cox)
Russell Bywater Happy Little … (performed by Cosima Gilbert & Isabella Gilbert)
Alec Gilbert The Thring Is … (performed by Alec Gilbert)
Reviews:
http://www.stagewhispers.com.au/reviews/stark-dark-albert-park
http://www.whatdidshethink.com/2018/09/stark-dark-albert-park-theatre-review.html
Listen to the Writers talking about their work in these 1-minute videos:
Bruce Shearer ‘Darke’s Ark’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__npYywY39g
Mazz Ryan ‘Teddy Bear’
https://youtu.be/Hpz_M1SNgno
Clare Mendes ‘Invisible Petition’
https://youtu.be/fEngpkki3dY
Russell Bywater ‘Happy Little …’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NhKMRLMzAg
Alec Gilbert ‘The Thring Is …’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QzpiwyNCFwE
Photos by John Edwards
STARK. DARK. ALBERT PARK. was presented by Melbourne Writers’ Theatre for Melbourne Fringe 2018. MWT gratefully acknowledges the support of staff at Gasworks Arts Park throughout the process of bringing this show to life, and would also like to thank the Albert Park businesses and cafes who helped to promote the show – in particular The Guilty Moose and The Vincent. Support from the devoted members of the Middle Park History Group and the Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society must also be acknowledged. And of course, we’d like to thank the many, many patrons who came along to see Stark. Dark. Albert Park. We hoped you enjoyed our creative offering and look forward to showing you the next one.