Skip to main content

Article: Big Scary Animal on Stage! - Queensland Theatre Door 3 Program

A blistering legal drama that exposes our insatiable appetite for high profile assault case leads Queensland Theatre’s 2024 DOOR 3 program.

 

The Norman Mailer Anecdote, written by local BAFTA and EMMY award-winning screenwriter, Anthony Mullins, is set amongst Brisbane’s upper middle class and spins on questions of reimagined realities and the lies we convince ourselves are true.

 

Helen is poised to finally make equity partner at her law firm — that is, until her husband Marshall, a career novelist, drops a bombshell. He has been accused of an historical sexual assault. Over one night of heavy drinking, they will claw at one another, love hard and hate hard, as they attempt to make sense of their uncertain future.

 

The Norman Mailer Anecdote is directed by Julian Curtis – returning from Hollywood for his stage directorial debut. Julian was a lead in the EMMY nominated cast of Are You Afraid of the Dark - Outstanding Children’s Series (2024) and nominated at the Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.

 

The cast includes well known Brisbane actors Christopher Somers (Elvis, The Water Diviner, The Bureau of Magical Things and Sweet Tooth) and Zoe Houghton (Upright, Joe v Carole, Wanted) and fresh NIDA graduate Hattie Clegg Robinson making her professional stage debut.

 

Anthony Mullins was the award-winning writer behind Safe Harbor (SBS) and Paramount +’s Five Bedrooms. The Norman Mailer Anecdote will be his stage debut. The play is produced by local company Big Scary Animal and supported by well-known local arts identity, Philip Bacon.

 

It opens at the Diane Cilento Studio at Queensland Theatre TODAY! Performances start at 6pm Wednesday to Saturday. Tickets available from: https://queenslandtheatre.com.au/plays/the-norman-mailer-anecdote

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Review: Picnic at Hanging Rock - Javeenbah Theatre Company

Written by Mark Rickell “The infamous picnic has become a faux Australian history that has haunted the Australian psyche for almost fifty years.” - Hunter Wall, Director This is the backdrop on which the story takes place, not that of the period in history, but in the present. In the effect of this story and what it means to Australians. Children study the text in schools, the name, and the mystery, is synonymous with Australian literature.  “Whether Picnic at Hanging Rock is fact or fiction, my readers must decide for themselves. As the fateful picnic took place in the year nineteen hundred, and all the characters who appear in this book are long since dead, it hardly seems important.” - Joan Lindsay, Author This adaptation of the text is extremely true to the original material, and serves as an excellent example of the power of theatre as a way of bringing stories to life. This adaptation, expertly staged at Javeenbah Theatre, is a triumph of storytelling. It is clear that dire...

Review: The Cemetery Club - Tugun Theatre

Written by Rett Visser Meet the Cemetery Club! Three longtime friends in their late fifties to early sixties, who are now also united by bereavement. Meeting once a month to visit the cemetery where their deceased husbands lay, their friendship and love for their husbands form the cornerstone of ‘The Cemetery Club’. As in real-life, each woman is dealing with grief differently, as every relationship is different: Doris is struggling with losing the love of her life Abe, despite it being four years since his passing, Lucille is kicking up her heels and spending the inheritance left by the unfaithful Harry, and Ida misses her Murry but realises that she doesn’t want to mourn forever. When Sam, the widower meets the ladies whilst visiting the grave of his deceased wife, a shy attraction to Ida sees cracks in the friendships begin to grow. Efficiently directed by Julie Neumann, the space was well-considered enabling the audience to feel like they were included in the conversation as the la...

Article: Drama Dispatch Team's Achievements!

In the vibrant world of Australian theatre, few opportunities shine as brightly as La Boite’s Assembly Program. This prestigious initiative has long been a beacon for nurturing creative talent and fostering innovative storytelling. This year, we are thrilled to announce the inclusion of two exceptional individuals from our ranks: Grace Wilson, a celebrated playwright and regular Drama Dispatch Reviewer, and Jake Goodall, an acclaimed director and Drama Dispatch's Managing Director. Their acceptance into the Assembly Program promises to enrich the Australian theatre landscape with fresh perspectives and compelling narratives. Grace Wilson’s journey as a writer is nothing short of inspiring. With a background in playwriting, Wilson has carved out a niche for herself with her unique voice and evocative storytelling. Her works often explore the intricacies of human relationships, societal norms, and the complexities of identity. Wilson’s ability to weave intricate plots with deep emoti...