28.04.16
Last night the Griffin production of David Williamson’s Emerald City was SCREENED(!!!) at the Ritz in Randwick. The Australian National Theatre Live teamed up with Griffin to record the show when it was onstage in 2014, and last night a huge and happy audience — a lot of them had missed the live production — got to experience David’s play and enjoy the fabulous performances of that great cast.
Why are we doing this? Because not everyone has access to the great writing that comes out of Griffin. People around the country read about plays we do here but will never get to see. Yes sometimes we tour our shows. But touring is hideously expensive and as you may have noticed there is not a lot of extra money floating around in the small to medium arts sector at the moment. Also not every play is suited to touring.
So. Beautifully filmed live shows going to cinemas around the country so everyone has access to the writing and ideas coming from our Australian playwrights at Griffin. That’s the plan. And the first step happened last night.
Check out ANTLive and think how awesome it would be for audiences in towns around the country to be able to see plays like The Bleeding Tree (shortlisted for NSW Premier’s Literary Award’s Nick Enright Prize for Playwriting) or our next show The Literati.
I am in rehearsal for this wonderful play by Justin Fleming at the moment. It’s our co-production with Bell Shakespeare so we are rehearsing down at the Rocks – very flash! I wish you could be with me watching the actors wrestle with Justin Fleming’s language. The play may have started in the 17th century but really ideas are so modern – it is a wonderful argument for gender equality and a satire of pretension. Can’t wait for you to see it!
Love,
Lee
