Shannon Woollard

Birnam Wood Theatre and akAA Productions present…

Jazz Angel

You can play an important role in the world premiere of Jazz Angel, an exciting new theatrical production commencing August 7, 2013, Upstairs @ The Athenaeum Theatre, Melbourne, Victoria.

“You are all a lost generation.” Gertrude Stein

Set against the glamorous backdrop of Paris in the Twenties, Jazz Angel is a poignant psychological drama that tells the true story of one of the most infamous literary rivalries of the twentieth century: the tortured friendship between F. Scott Fitzgerald (The Great Gatsby) and Ernest Hemingway (A Farewell to Arms) and the women who inspired their writing. If you were delighted by Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris and are eagerly anticipating Baz Luhrmann’s big screen adaptation of The Great Gatsby, then Jazz Angel needs your support. It is a unique theatrical experience that offers a glimpse into the private world of two literary icons whose words defined an entire generation and continue to haunt us even today.

Written by Melbourne playwright Amedeo Astorino, the play has received significant dramaturgy from director Emma Valente, winner of the Green Room Award, and playwright Bridgette Burton, two-time winner of the R.E. Ross Trust Award. In August 2012, the play was given a very successful rehearsed reading at La Mama. This reading was directed by Shannon Woollard and featured three extraordinary actors: Lliam Amor, Justin Hosking, and Katharine Innes. Astorino, Woollard and the audience were so convinced by the results of this reading that it was decided to proceed with a full scale production in 2013, using the same cast.

Hoy Polloy Theatre and Baggage Productions have shown their support for this project. You can join them!

As practitioners of independent theatre, we operate on a profit share basis. We receive no arts funding and have limited resources at our disposal. In order for us to be successful, we need to raise a basic production figure of $5,500, which will cover theatre and equipment hire for our two week season. Any amount that you can donate will be greatly appreciated. In fact, donations can be as small as AU$1.00. We can’t do this without you, so please donate now!

Project Team

The cast and crew are all talented industry professionals devoted to their craft and with extensive experience in theatre, film, and television.

Writer

Amedeo is a fiercely independent playwright who studied Professional Writing and Literature at Holmesglen Institute of TAFE and Deakin University. He is currently teaching English in Secondary School. His plays include: Someone Like Me (Mechanics Institute Performing Arts Centre), The Meeting (Chapel Off Chapel), The Attic (Dancehouse Theatre), Wrestling With Angels (La Mama), Meet the Darlings (La Mama), demens (The Dog Theatre), and Little Green Men (The Newtown Theatre, Sydney). Australian Stage Online describes his work as: “…indie theatre at its best.” Most recently, he wrote and co-produced Stars in their Eyes: Two One-Act Plays with fellow playwright Amel B Kenza at the Northcote Town Hall.

Director

Shannon Woollard has a diverse theatrical background that stretches back more than 25 years embracing professional, independent and community events. An actor, singer, dancer, director and producer, he has been involved with the writers' theatre movement in Melbourne for almost seven years. He is Artistic Director of the annual PlaySix festival in Williamstown, which he founded in 2006. He formed the Birnam Wood Theatre collective in 2004, which had its first (official) outing with Mark Andrew’s Time’s Arrow at the La Mama Courthouse theatre in 2011. As performer, he most recently appeared in Fred Rowan’s Death of a Comedian at La Mama in November last year.

Birnam Wood is a creative theatre collective, a moving grove of sorts, unconsciously founded in 2004 by Shannon Woollard and whose composition varies according to requirement and serendipity. Its primary purpose has always been the same – to produce vibrant new works within an independent theatre context, but with great attention to detail at every level of production. BW has seen a plethora of designers, technical operators, builders, photographers, graphic artists and other assorted journey-folk engaged in its activities. All have, over the past decade, been actively involved with various other independent companies in Melbourne, including Hoy Polloy, Bearing Your Arts, Baggage Productions, Eagles Nest Theatre and Melbourne Writers’ Theatre.

akAA productions

In 2011, Amedeo began an exciting collaboration with emerging playwright Amel B Kenza and formed the theatre collective “akAA”. As writers, they are determined to maintain their creative freedom and produce theatre that is challenging, diverse, and of the highest quality, while offering an alternative to “main stage” productions. They have successfully written and produced two shows at the Northcote Town Hall, including Adrift and Stars in their Eyes. Amel’s first full-length play Ticket to Leave was given a rehearsed reading at La Mama in February 2013.

Season details:

Gala Opening Wednesday 7th August, 8.00 pm, 1920s attire de rigueur

Thu 8th, Fri 9th August at 8.00 pm, Sat 10th - 2.00 pm matinee, Sun 11th at 7.00 pm

Wed 14th, Thu 15th, Fri 16th August at 8.00 pm, Sat 17th - 2.00 pm matinee, Sun 18th at 7.00 pm

Upstairs at The Athenaeum, 188 Collins Street, Melbourne

Featuring Lliam Amor, Justin Hosking and Katharine Innes

BOOKINGS NOW OPEN:  http://www.trybooking.com/CLNW