Gerry Sont | Théâtre Excentrique

7 Days in the Life of Simon Labrosse

BY CAROLE FRÉCHETTE

TRANSLATED FROM FRENCH CANADIAN BY JOHN MURRELL

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE – Creative Space 99, Sydney 2016

“This is another wonderful night at the theatre. Don’t miss it. Highly recommended.” Lisa Thatcher

“Anna Jahjah’s direction is free and humorous, delivering a work that feels unrestrained and exhilarating.” Suzy Goes See

Wonderfully, hilariously and painfully relevant.” South Sydney Herald

“An intriguing, well presented, surreal experience.” Broadwayworld.com

“Fréchette holds us in the palm of her hand.” – Toronto Star, Canada

Don’t know how to handle your angry partner? Struggling to express yourself? Do you wish people noticed you more often? Well, Simon Labrosse has the answer!

For a reasonable price, he offers his services as an emotional stunt man, a finisher of sentences or your very own audience. All guaranteed to help you bear the emptiness of your existence.

A surreal comedy by award-winning playwright Carole Fréchette, brought to Australia for the first time.

“Fréchette’s use of language sparkles with sublime whimsy.” L’Express, France

Duration: 1h30

Listen to an interview of Anna Jahjah on SBS Radio about the play.

CAST

Steve McGrath, Cassady Maddox and Gerry Sont

CREW

Director: Anna Jahjah

Assistant Director: Kris Shalvey

Stage Manager: Pauline Evans

Graphic Design: Clarisse Ambroselli

Production Photographer: Emma Lois

Performed at Creative Space 99, Sydney / 18 May – 29 May 2016

Antigone

by Jean Anouilh – PACT, Sydney 2015

“It’s a pleasure to see a neglected classic tested before an audience.” Sydney Morning Herald

“One of the most powerful interpretations of Sophocles’ tragedy.” Alternative Media

“Incredible that such a handful of very accomplished actors can have such a powerful impact.” South Sydney Herald

“What kind of happiness do you foresee for me? Tell me: Who will I have to lie to? Who do you want me to leave dying, while I turn my eyes away?”

Antigone says “No” to everything and everyone. To King Creon, who has banned the burial of her brother. To her sister Ismene, who thinks she is a mere little girl not up to the task. And to life itself, if it involves compromise and betrayal.

In this acclaimed contemporary version of Sophocle’s classic tragedy, Jean Anouilh questions our ethics and notions of power and individual liberties.

Directed by Anna Jahjah With Roslyn Blake, Kate Fraser, Kirsty Jordan, Aurora Kinsella, Karl Kinsella, Philippe Klaus, Neil Modra, Gerry Sont, Ellen Williams

And Blacktown Girls High as the French-speaking Greek Chorus

Lighting Designer Larry Kelly
Costume Designer Yvonne Hocothee
Translated by Kris Shalvey and Anna Jahjah

Performed at PACT centre for emerging artists, Sydney

23 April-2 May 2015

Leaves

WORLD PREMIERE – by Steve McGrath – King St Theatre, Sydney 2014

“Steve McGrath’s work is a fascinating look at masculinity and the ageing process”. Sydney Arts Guide

“Leaves deserves high praise for its spot-on casting and brilliant set and costumes.” South Sydney Herald

“The production is vibrant, often with a frenzied, almost childlike energy that translates passionately.” Suzy Goes See

An exotic wilderness. Three men and a birthday cake. In this world premiere of Leaves, you are invited along on a dark and hilarious lost weekend.

Chas has arranged his old school friends, Harvey and Wilbur, to spend a camping weekend in a remote paradise. As they attempt to celebrate turning 50 years old together, their expedition takes a muddy detour during a feast of booze, beef and barbiturates. It’s the sort of weekend that Wilbur would describe as the bastard child of Waiting for Godot and Picnic at Hanging Rock.

Will they make it to Monday morning ?

Written by Steve McGrath Directed by Markus Weber With Martin Ashley Jones, Steve McGrath and Gerry Sont

Performed at King Street Theatre, Sydney – 19 to 29 November 2014

Poo Poo Pee Doo

WORLD PREMIERE – Written by Anna Jahjah – Sydney 2014

“In turns fantastic, grotesque and hilarious, ‘Poo Poo Pee Doo’ is a joyous romp in the anarchic spirit of commedia dell’arte. Each of her small compagnie gleefully play several characters, and it seems, sometimes several characters almost at once, energetically subverting gender, culture, politics and revelling in ridiculous situations, absurd repartee and entertaining stage action.” South Sydney Herald

Cap-Ten and Say-Lore are two hopeless seamen on a mission: To meet their idol, Marilyn Monroe. In their absurd anachronistic quest, they sail from one island to the next, fraternising with the locals: a very hairy Jules-Yet Caput-let, a Mummy’s boy King Don, followed by his über-faithful servant Coyote, and a ker-aaaazy Viking, Frau Brünhilde, who performs Opera for cardboard penguins.

This is theatre where Cervantes and Wagner meet George Orwell and Radiohead in a cheeky homage to Billy Wilder’s Some Like It Hot. A magical maniacal farce that explores the notions of gender, voluntary servitude, fear of others and the loneliness that lies beneath…

Written and directed by Anna Jahjah Translated by Kris Shalvey With Anna Jahjah, Kirsty Jordan, Kris Shalvey, Gerry Sont and Anthony White Set and costume design Yvonne Hocothee

Performed at the Short and Sweet Festival (excerpt) January 2014 and Sandy Point Theatre May 2014