Old Fitzroy Theatre 2014 Season

Sydney Independent Theatre Company (SITCO) announced its 2014 Season at the iconic Old Fitzroy Theatre this week.

SITCO have programmed an eclectic range of productions, collaborating with a wide variety of emerging and seasoned Australian independent theatre companies and artists. The line‐up consists of mainly Australian plays including five world premieres.

The 2014 Season kicks off on 7 January, 2014 with the Australian premiere of Wittenberg by David Davalos (Brevity Theatre Co). Other offerings include Decorum’s world premiere in February of LEGEND! ‐"Slips" Cordon ‐ A Safe Pair Of Hands by Pat Sheil ‐ the unreliable hyperbolic reminiscences of the greatest Australian who ever lived! ‐ directed by Lex Marinos and performed by John Derum; the Sydney premiere of Australian play, Who Knows by Paul McIntyre in June ‐a play about a fanatical Dr Who fan; and Melbourne’s Fly on the Wall Theatre Company brings the world premiere of November Spawned a Monster by Alex Broun to Sydney in November – a one-man musical interwoven with the songs of Morrissey and the Smiths.

The ‘Old Fitz’ has been home to a diverse range of independent theatre since 1997. “I am committed to retaining the theatre as a performance venue,” said Garry Pasfield, Proprietor of the Old Fitzroy Hotel. “Over the years we’ve had many opportunities to do something else with the space, but we stayed with the theatre format because The Old Fitz is an iconic Sydney pub: it is a part of the community, and this is our way of contributing to the Sydney Arts Scene.”

The theatre being attached to a pub is a major part of the Old Fitzroy Theatre’s appeal. All performances include a meal and show offer and opportunities for the audience to chat with performers over a drink after the show. “We love it that we can offer our audiences a complete night out including dinner, drinks, fun catching up with friends and of course a great show,” said David Jeffrey, SITCO’s co‐artistic director.

SITCO took over as the residents and managers of the theatre in March 2013. “We aim to entertain, challenge and inspire audiences with a range of entertainment that is accessible, affordable and – most importantly – a really fun night out.” said Julie Baz, co‐artistic director of SITCO. “We are thrilled to give a unique opportunity to so many independent companies to stage their work at such a wonderfully creative and intimate theatre,” said Baz.

SITCO has remodelled the stage layout, making it more versatile for its incoming productions. “The improved layout enabled us to seek out collaborations with a broader range and a new generation of Sydney’s independent and emerging performing artists,” said Jeffrey.

Tickets are now on sale for SITCO 2014 Season productions at the Old Fitzory Theatre. Visit the SITCO website: www.sitco.net.au for 2014 Season ticket offers including a Christmas Gift offer of 25% off.

All the productions are produced by or in association with Sydney Independent Theatre Company.

For more information and tickets visit www.sitco.net.au, email admin@sitco.net.au or phone 1300 307 264.

Photos: 2014 season launch. Julie Baz.

The Productions

7 ‐25 January 2014 – Australian premiere of American play

Wittenberg by David Davalos

Produced by Brevity Theatre Co and directed by Richard Hilliar

A thought provoking take on literature, history and the world we live in through the medium of a Hamlet/Faustus

fantasy.

28 January ‐15 February 2014 – World premiere of Australian play

LEGEND! ‐"Slips" Cordon ‐A Safe Pair Of Hands by Pat Sheil

The unreliable hyperbolic reminiscences of the greatest Australian who ever lived!

Produced by Decorum, directed by Lex Marinos and performed by John Derum

18 ‐22 February 2014 – Sydney premiere of Australian play

Everything I Know I Learnt From Madonna written and performed by Wayne Tunks

An autobiographical emotional story of life and loss interlaced with those Madonna lyrics we all know so well.

Produced by Tunks Productions as part of the 2014 Sydney Mardi Gras Festival and directed by Fiona Hallenan‐Barker

24 February ‐1 March 2014 – American play

Fully Committed by Becky Mode

One of Sydney's most diverse actors and leading voice and dialect coaches Nick Curnow, brings 40 different characters

to the one stage.

Produced by Brevity Theatre Co, directed by Alexander Butt and performed by Nick Curnow

4 ‐22 March 2014 – World premiere of Australian play

Tidy Town of the Year by Victoria Greiner, Sarah Hodgetts and Andy Leonard

A dying town, one award, three motel cleaners, one limbless headless torso ...

Written and performed by Victoria Greiner, Sarah Hodgetts and Andy Leonard

25 March 12 April 2014 – Australian play

A Moment on the Lips by Jonathan Gavin

Produced by Mad March Hare Theatre Company and performed by Sarah Aubrey, Claudia Barrie, Julia Billington,

Maeve Macgregor, Ainslie McGlynn

It's the odd moments and the little things.

Winner of the Philip Parsons Young Playwright Award 2003.

15 April ‐3 May 2014 – Sydney premiere of Australian play

Lies, Love and Hitler by Elizabeth Avery Scott

Produced by CADA Studio Productions, directed by Rochelle Whyte and performed by Dug Chapman and James Scott

Risk versus reward, tyranny and pacifism, institutionalism and the nuances of contemporary sexual mores.

Shortlisted for the Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award in 2009.

13 ‐31 May 2014 – English play

Scenes from an Execution by Howard Barker

Produced by No White Elephant and directed by Richard Hilliar

One man's idea of victory is one woman's idea of slaughter.

3 ‐21 June 2014 ‐Australian play

Brad Checked In by Paula Noble

Produced by Citizen Content Productions presents, directed by Steven Tait and performed by Laura Holmes, Chris

Miller and Sam Smith

Brad's out of marriage and into social networking.

24 June ‐12 July 2014 ‐Sydney premiere of Australian play

Who Knows by Paul McIntyre

Produced by Kore Productions and directed by Samara Kinney

A play to remind us all that FAN is short for FANATIC!

15 July ‐2 August 2014 ‐World premiere of Australian play with music and songs

Play Me, I’m Yours by Robert Allan

Produced by Sydney Independent Theatre Company and directed by Julie Baz

The life and death of a piano and the generations of people who played it.

5 ‐23 August 2014 ‐World premiere of Australian play

Joan, Again by Paul Gilchrist

Produced by subtlenuance and directed by Paul Gilchrist

In 1431, Joan of Arc was burnt at the stake. Fifteen years later, she was back.

26 August ‐13 September 2014 – American Play

The God Of Hell  by Sam Shepard

The greatest American playwright of his generation ... As hilarious as it is sobering.

Produced by MopHead Productions, directed and designed by Rodney Fisher and performed by Vanessa Downing, Jake

Lyall, Ben McIvor and Tony Poli

7 ‐25 October 2014

A play to be announced

Produced by Sydney Independent Theatre Company and directed by Julie Baz

28 October 15 November 2014 ‐World premiere of one‐man Australian musical interwoven with the music of Morrissey and the Smiths

November Spawned a Monster by Alex Broun

Produced by Fly‐on‐the‐Wall Theatre (Melbourne) and directed by Robert Chuter

Sleep on and dream of love because it's the closest you will get to love ‐poor twisted child...

18 November ‐20 December 2014 – eighth season

Sydney Shakespeare Festival

Produced by Sydney Independent Theatre Company and directed by Richard Hilliar

One cast plays perform in two of Shakespeare's classic plays on alternate nights.