Queensland’s La Boite Theatre Company has unveiled a trailblazing 2018 season, putting vital female voices at the heart of a season of new Australian works.
“It is no surprise that our 2018 season has a vital and strong group of female artists leading the charge,” La Boite Artistic Director and CEO Todd MacDonald said.
“Throughout its 90+ year history, La Boite has been heavily influenced by formidable and talented women, from Barbara Sisley and Babette Stephens to Jennifer Blocksidge and Sue Rider.
“In 2018, our season tackles global issues, personal narratives, innovative forms, and a host of exciting new collaborations, including four world premiere productions.”
La Boite’s 2018 season opens with The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek (10 February – 3 March); a new dark-comedy by acclaimed Queensland actor and playwright Kathryn Marquet (Pale Blue Dot), co-produced by Playlab.
Set in the isolated wilds of Tasmania and described as “McDonagh meets Tarantino”, The Dead Devils of Cockle Creek stars John Batchelor, Julian Curtis, Kimie Tsukakoshi and Emily Weir, directed by PlayLab’s Artistic Director and CEO, Ian Lawson.
La Boite 2018 also sees the return of La Boite and MDA’s sell-out, participatory verbatim work The Village (30 April – 5 May), based on the real-life stories of refugees and asylum seekers.
Featuring a fearless company of six sharing their life-changing true stories of survival in the face of adversity, The Village stars Cieavash Arean, Arwin Arwin, Silva Asal, Joyce Taylor, Lili Sanchez and Ngoc Phan.
Long-time La Boite collaborator Suzie Miller (Snow White; Medea) returns in 2018 with her highly-anticipated new work The Mathematics of Longing (2 – 23 June); a collaboration with internationally acclaimed Gold Coast based dance-theatre company The Farm.
Also premiering is a contemporary feminist response to Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, by 2016 Text Prize winner Claire Christian, set on 21 January 2017 when women all over the world amassed to protest a Trump-led free world.
Led by a fierce female chorus of women including Brisbane’s own Amy Ingram and Hsiao-Ling Tang, Lysa and the Freeborn Dames (21 July – 11 August) features some of Queensland’s brightest emerging talents, with QUT Bachelor of Fine Arts Final Year Acting students completing the QUT Creative Industries co-production.
Rounding out the main stage season is Neon Tiger (27 October – 17 November); a roaring new Australian play with songs by Julia-Rose Lewis (Samson), composed by Gillian Cosgriff.
Directed by Kat Henry, this world premiere production, in association with Brisbane Powerhouse, stars Courtney Stewart, fresh from her star-turn in 2017’s runaway hit Single Asian Female.
Playwright Suzie Miller said she was proud to be part of this pioneering season of new work.
“To be part of a season that’s led by female writers is such an incredible experience,” Miller said.
“I remember when I first started my career in 2000 noting that there were very few women playwrights in main stage seasons, so to have come this full circle where that’s the predominant voice in the season is incredibly exciting.”
La Boite 2018 Season
DEAD DEVILS OF COCKLE CREEK
By Kathryn Marquet
10 February – 3 March
World Premiere
McDonagh meets Tarantino in a biting new comedy about leading the charge for change.
THE VILLAGE
30 April – 5 May
Return Season
Experience the compelling real stories of refugees and people seeking asylum.
THE MATHEMATICS OF LONGING
By Suzie Miller
2 – 23 June
World Premiere
Physics and mathematical theorems intersect in a new co-production with internationally acclaimed Australian dance-theatre company The Farm.
LYSA AND THE FREEBORN DAMES
By Claire Christian
21 July – 11 August
World Premiere
A fury-fuelled feminist dramedy inspired by the original battle of the sexes, Aristophanes’ Lysistrata.
NEON TIGER
By Julia-Rose Lewis
27 October – 17 November
World Premiere
A roaring new play with songs set to the beat of Bangkok’s back alleys and go-go bars.
www.laboite.com.au
