Cast and crew united for week one of rehearsals, spent between Glenorchy & the Huon Valley. Kelly our choreographer, Jess our stage manager, Mel our production manager, Nick our lighting and AV designer, Bruce, Lex & Anne our actors… all flew in from around the country to join the team from the North West Coast. It was all on for young and old… literally! Check out the photos for some visuals on week one…

Huon News, Wednesday 25 February, 2009

After much preparation and anticipation, rehearsals have finally begun for This is Living, the Big hART production for Ten Days on the Island, showing in our Theatre at the Palais on the 4th & 5th April.  

Much interest this week surrounds the arrival of Bruce Myles as the veteran actor acquaints himself with the local company for the first time. Mr Myles joins fellow husband-and-wife team Anne Grigg and Lex Marinos - who ran workshops locally last month - in the intriguing drama at the centre of the story.

Born in Wagga Wagga, (by a strange coincidence the same birthplace as Mr Marinos), Mr Myles has crafted a long and illustrious career devoted to the theatre. Beginning on radio before heading overseas, where he observed many of the great kings and queens of British theatre, Mr Myles returned to Australia during the ‘new wave’ in the 1970s.

“I wanted to raise my children in Australia, and was excited by the prospect of being able to contribute to the cultural renaissance,” he said between breaks in rehearsal. Mr Myles established himself at the forefront of Australian theatre, primarily in Melbourne where he has been constantly in demand as an actor and director of classics and new, provocative Australian plays.

A rabid Hawthorn supporter, Mr Myles is no stranger to Tasmania, most recently directing a production of David Williamson’s ‘Travelling North’ in Devenport. “I’ve always enjoyed popping down here whenever I’ve had a bit of a break. It’s a great place for me to recharge my creative juices, just enjoying the peace and tranquillity… and playing my recorder!”

Those juices are flowing right now as rehearsals are on in earnest. “It’s terrific to be involved with Scott and Sophia, the locals in the Huon, and the company and the festival,” enthused the veteran, “and my old mates, Anne, who is absolutely brilliant, and Lex, who I’ve worked with before.”

Mr Myles’ enthusiasm has seen him fit in very easily with the locals. “It’s terrific to work with someone as experienced and generous as Bruce,” said Rod Gray of the Huon Valley Theatre Company, “he’s full of amusing anecdotes and useful tips.”

This is Living producer, Sophia Marinos agrees “for as long as I can remember Bruce and Dad [Lex Marinos] have always been getting together to have a few drinks and discuss their careers.”

This Is Living will be showing at the Palais Theatre in Franklin:

Saturday 4 April 7.30pm & Sunday 5 April 2pm

Tickets can be purchased online at www.thisisliving.org.au or at any Service Tasmania outlet.

CONTACT: 

Sophia Marinos

a week spent with paint on the hands… by the end we really mastered the art. look out for this fine line of clothing on tour! and check the photo captions for a step by step ‘how to screen print’ 

Huon News, Wednesday 29 January, 2009

While many were still enjoying the pleasures of the holiday season last week, some were returning to work. Some did so reluctantly, while others greeted the new year enthusiastically, like the performers in Big hART’s new production This Is Living, part of this year’s Ten Days on the Island festival and taking place right here in the Huon Valley.

Written and directed by Big hART co-founder Scott Rankin, This Is Living promises to be another groundbreaking work from this award-winning Tasmanian company. Utilizing tradtional text, live music, dance for non-dancers, the kinetic energy of skateboarders, and local photographic archives, the play explores our attitudes to work, sexuality, and leisure in an ageing society. Central to the story is a secret love triangle involving characters played by Big hART veteran Lex Marinos (Kingswood Country), Anne Grigg (Home & Away) and Bruce Myles (Blue Heelers, The Club).

Last week husband & wife team, Marinos & Grigg, conducted a series of workshops with local peformers in all 4 centres that the production will visit (Wynyard, Latrobe and Glenorchy, before concluding in the Huon Valley), putting the willing participants through a number of excercises. Ms Grigg, a NIDA graduate and qualified drama teacher, worked on vocal technique and awareness, while Mr Marinos began preliminary work on the text with the various groups, exploring different approaches. They were also assisted by Music Director, Andrew Viney of The Dunaways (who will be performing live on stage as part of the production). 

“Not only was it a great opportunity for us to get to know one another,” said Ms Grigg, “but it also emphasised the great commitment and energy that the local performers will bring to the production.” 

The compliment was returned by one of the participants, Ray Lyon who said how much he enjoyed the experience: “It was terrific to work with seasoned professionals, and to have ourselves challenged physically and mentally. I’m really looking forward to rehearsals, seeing how the whole thing comes together.”

After the workshops at The Palais Theatre, the participants were joined by others involved in the many layers of the production, (now totalling more than 200 across the state), for a barbecue where Mr Marinos showed his skill on the hot plate, while Ms Grigg & Mr Viney provided a preview of a couple of songs from the show. The entertainment was continued with local musicians Edie & Paddy Dawson playing their accordions, with some percussive accompaniment from Dr Dick Geeves on the djembe.

“These workshops have been a terrific follow up to the movement workshops we held last year with choreographer, Kelly Alexander, and will stand us in good stead when rehearsals begin in a few weeks,” noted producer Sophia Marinos. Adding to the ‘family’ feel of the show, Sophia is the daughter of Lex and Anne.

“We’re very proud of Sophia, and the way she has established such strong friendships with all involved in the production, and how well organised it all is,” said Ms Grigg. “Although it is a bit odd having her as our boss!”

Mr Marinos affectionately disagreed, “She’s been bossing me around since she was born, so I don’t notice any difference.”

This Is Living will be showing at the Palais Theatre in Franklin:

Saturday 4 April 7.30pm, Sunday 5 April 2pm

Tickets can be purchased online at www.tendaysontheisland.com or at any Service Tasmania outlet.

CONTACT: 

Sophia Marinos

Creative Producer, Big hART - This Is Living

0417 286 254 / 03 6432 4008

www.thisisliving.org.au 

We were blessed with a beautiful day as famous Franklin accordian duo Edie & Paddy Dawson played tunes from the old apple shed dance days, accompanied by Dr Dick Geeves on the drums. Once again the Huon Valley turned it on for This Is Living!

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here you have our chorus of witnesses in the huon valley, one by one… don’t they look the part?!

click on the thumbnails to check them out…

The River Huon and the Palais Theatre in Franklin set the tone for a focussed round of workshops in Tasmania’s southern most region. Husband and wife actor team, Anne Grigg and Lex Marinos command the room with our willing team of chorus witnesses in the Huon Valley

click on the thumbnails to view the pictures and captions!

Well, this has been a fun, enlightening project that I am pleased to have been a part of. It has given me the proverbial window into the life of the previous generation, enforcing my beliefes on some aspects while glimpsing at previously unknown circumstances.

Ash (NOT JOSH!!)

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The stories we heard with these old fellas at the healm… Jim told us of some 38 girlfriends he had in his time! A morning spent at the Cygnet Living History museum was very revealing to say the least. We teamed up with the Green Corps team and the museum to yarn about life in Cygnet many years ago - what a treat! 

 Click on the thumbnail images to get a closer look!

check out more photos by clicking on the post!