Stitching up the Drama Scene: Red Stitch 2015.

Coral Drouyn takes a look at the coming season for Melbourne’s Red Stitch.

Fourteen years ago a small core of actors decided to create their own ensemble theatre company to produce interesting and edgy plays that generally didn’t make it to the MTC or other Main Stage outlets. They provided a real alternative for theatre lovers, and along the way they acquired their own theatre in a tiny shed in the grounds of a St Kilda church. It’s hard to imagine how they made the space work, but they did; Red Stitch has never been afraid to take on a challenge. They benefitted from several artistic directors, some “apprentice” actors, and technical staff who were drawn to the quest for excellence. “Big name”actors (like Julia Blake, Alex Menglet and others) wanted to work with them because of the quality of their productions. Rarely did they put a foot wrong and they remain the benchmark, in this state at least, for all independent companies.

Now Artistic Director Ella Caldwell, in her second year at the helm, announces the 2015 season. It’s an eclectic bag of treasures, but never less than interesting.

“Its a big year ahead at Red Stitch as we continue to extend and challenge ourselves as a company. In 2015 we will premiere a variety of established and new voices from both Australian and international playwrights; we have tours and return seasons of shows that sold out during 2014. We are excited to be involved in Midsumma Festival for the first time and we have more new work in development,” said Caldwell.

Opening the 2015 season is the Australian premiere of The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas by Dennis Kelly, directed by Mark Wilson. Ritual Slaughter is a darkly twisted morality fable about a nice-ish young man who ranks near the top of the bottom half who, one otherwise ordinary day, is made an unexpected offer.

Ensemble member Brett Cousins directs the Australian premiere of Wet House, by Paddy Campbell, in which an idealistic young graduate faces a grim reality in a hostel for homeless alcoholics. Despair and humour sit side- by-side in a biting, insightful drama of social realism based on the playwright’s own experiences.

After a hugely successful collaboration with Melbourne International Film Festival in 2014 for The Flick, which was staged in a CBD underground cinema, Annie Baker’s production returns at the St Kilda venue in May. Directed once again by Nadia Tass, The Flick won the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and delighted critics and audiences in Melbourne. Baker has been described as the most talented American playwright of her generation and this faultless production is back by popular demand.

Denny Lawrence directs the Australian premiere of Mike Bartlett’s Love Love Love, a sharp-witted drama spanning 40 years that simultaneously skewers and relishes the bygone glory of the baby boomer generation. Combining the epic and domestic, Bartlett’s play won the UK Theatre Award for Best Play in 2011.

Julian Meyrick directs two exhilarating solo plays in a double bill in August, presenting the world premiere of Tom Holloway’s Dead Centre and the Australian premiere of UK playwright Simon Stephens’ Sea Wall.Presented as companion pieces, these local and international works by leading contemporary playwrights from two different continents explore family and place.

In the Obie Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-finalist play Detroit, by Lisa D’Amour, middle-class aspirations and suburban isolation are investigated through the story of two couples that form an unlikely and unsettling friendship amidst the economic downturn. Detroit premieres in Victoria after successful seasons in the USA, Canada and the UK.

Bridget Balodis directs Jurassica by Dan Giovannoni. Developed during his time as Resident Writer at Red Stitch, Giovannoni’s new play receives its world premiere in October. Weaving the past and present together in an examination of migration, displacement and the search for home, it follows two sets of immigrants to Australia in a timely production that spans generations.

Rounding out the 2015 season is the Australian premiere of Middletown by the highly regarded American playwright Will Eno, directed by Alice Darling. In a small American town, a new arrival searches for comfort and meaning in a deeply moving, funny play that articulates life’s absurd beauty and longing. In 2014 Darling worked with Red Stitch as the company’s inaugural Graduate Director, and this marks her first full production for the company.

As well as the main program, Red Stitch expands its reach with four productions that tour or perform return seasons throughout the year. In January, the final show of the 2014 season, Jumpers for Goalposts will make a weeklong return to the theatre as part of Midsumma Festival. Written by Tom Wells and directed by Tom Healey, this is a romantic comedy about an LGBTQ five-a-side team. Grounded, by US playwright George Brant, will show at the Seymour Centre in Sydney in April, while the 2015 production Love Love Love will tour after its Red Stitch run, taking in Bendigo and Wyndham in July.

“It’s rewarding as artists and as an organisation to reach audiences beyond our intimate venue, and it helps build our sustainability and longevity as a company,” said Caldwell.

"Something I particularly relish is developing new work with playwrights and the ensemble. In 2015, we continue working with resident writer Nicki Bloom on her project, as well as reaching out through our initiative, INK. I'm excited to be premiering resident writer Dan Giovannoni's Jurassica. Dan's play is poignant and very funny, and explores a world we don't often see on our stages.

“I've also invited Tom Holloway back to write for the company by commissioning a solo piece, Dead Centre, to be accompanied by Simon Stephens' Sea Wall. I've loved Tom's writing for years: his Red Stitch debut in 2008, Red Sky Morning, remains one of my favourite theatre experiences.”

RED STITCH 2015 SEASON

The Ritual Slaughter of Gorge Mastromas. Australian Premiere By Dennis Kelly.
Directed by Mark Wilson.

6 Feb – 7 Mar. Previews 3, 4, 5 Feb.

Wet House. Australian Premiere

By Paddy Campbell
Directed by Brett Cousins

20 Mar – 18 Apr.

Previews 17, 18, 19 Mar.

The Flick

By Annie Baker.
Directed by Nadia Tass

1 – 23 May. Previews 28, 29, 30 April

Winner 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama

Love Love Love. Australian Premiere

By Mike Bartlett.
Directed by Denny Lawrence

5 Jun – 4 Jul. Previews 2, 3, 4 Jun.

Dead Centre by Tom Holloway | Sea Wall by Simon Stephens.

World Premiere | Australian Premiere

Directed by Julian Meyrick

17 Jul – 15 Aug. Previews 14, 15, 16 Jul.

Detroit. Victorian Premiere

By Lisa D'Amour


28 Aug – 26 Sep. Previews 25, 26, 27 Aug

Jurassica. World Premiere

By Dan Giovannoni. Director Bridget Balodis

9 Oct – 7 Nov. Previews 6, 7, 8 Oct.

Middletown. Australian Premiere.

By Will Eno.
Directed by Alice Darling

20 Nov – 19 Dec. Previews 17, 18, 19 Nov.

Images: (from top) The Flick,  Ella Caldwell, Love Love Love, and Grounded (photographer Jodie Hutchinson).