Film director Peter Carstairs (September) is about to make his theatre debut, with the hilarious black comedy The Lonesome West – the third work in Martin McDonagh’s famous Leenane Trilogy – opening at Belvoir St Downstairs Theatre on August 21.

The Connor brothers have been fighting since before they could walk. Valene collects religious figurines, obsessively, and Coleman attends funerals for the vol-au-vents and sausage rolls. They’ve just buried their dear father who died under suspicious circumstances – which is not so surprising in the “accidental death capital of the world”.

The melancholy, alcoholic parish priest attempts to teach the siblings the meaning of love and forgiveness, but he has limited success. Set against the bleak backdrop of the west coast of Ireland, a darkly funny, disturbing and explosive tale ensues.

With a brutally acerbic, yet extraordinarily compelling script, which is performed in dialect, there could be no two performers better suited to the roles of Coleman and Valene Connor, than Travis Cotton (My Year Without Sex, My Arm, Vigil) and Toby Schmitz (Ruben Guthrie, Travesties, Rabbit). Then, to round off an already stellar cast, B Sharp is thrilled to welcome Sibylla Budd (Yibiyung, Ray’s Tempest, The Secret Life of Us, The Bank) to the Downstairs stage for the first time. Jacob Nash – of Ruben Guthrie acclaim – is designing the production.

Director Peter Carstairs’ film September was in the official selection at both the Berlin and Toronto International Film Festivals, and was screened at the 2009 Cannes Film Festival in the Cannes Forum. Before that, Carstairs made a string of award-winning short films including Gate, starring Joel Edgerton.

"The Lonesome West is viciously funny but, at the same time, very human. It’s ultimately a play about forgiveness and our individual need to connect with each other; to love and be loved… McDonagh really is one of the most exciting writers around so, naturally, I’m thrilled to be doing the play – especially because it’s the first time it’s been done in Sydney," Carstairs said.

Martin McDonagh is renowned not only for his plays, but also films – in 2008 he received a Best Original Screenplay BAFTA and a Best Original Screenplay Oscar Nomination for In Bruges. The first production in McDonagh’s Leenane Trilogy – The Lieutenant of Inishmore – played with much bravado in the Upstairs Theatre in 2003. His pitch black comedy The Pillowman sold out in the Company B 2008 Season.

The Lonesome West is being produced by Arts Asia Pacific, a company which has a history of producing and touring large scale work within Asia. In 2009 AAP has been extremely active in Australia, co-producing the world premiere of Australian musical Metro Street by Matthew Robinson, as well as the Australian premiere of Broadway hit Avenue Q; which has played to great acclaim in Melbourne, and will open in Sydney on August 12 at the Theatre Royal.

Torben Brookman, Managing Director of Arts Asia Pacific, said: "Arts Asia Pacific is thrilled to be working with Peter Carstairs and an amazing cast and creative team on The Lonesome West. Arts Asia Pacific is committed to the development of the performing arts in Australia, and working with companies like Company B, through the B Sharp season, is a great way to showcase the incredible work of the next generation of Australian directors, designers and performers."

The Lonesome West previews on August 20 ahead of its August 21 opening night. It is scheduled to run at the Belvoir Street Downstairs Theatre until September 13.

Bookings: (02) 9699 3444.


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Jersey Boys producer Rodney Rigby says he cannot wait for the show to officially open at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne on Saturday night and with the overseas creative team now in Australia, all is in readiness for the big night.

Rigby said preview performances have been well received.

"The work in the rehearsal room has been great from day one," he told AussieTheatre.com.

"There is no compromising with the casting of Jersey Boys anywhere in the world and the same goes for Melbourne."

Rigby would not confirm if the show would tour beyond Melbourne, saying he is simply focused on the premiere season.

While the Four Seasons-based musical faces tough competition from Wicked and Avenue Q, Rigby said it all makes for a fruitful market.

"There's been a lot of great shows and great stories on stage in Melbourne this year," he said.

"People are going to the theatre, there will always be competition, but the people are coming."

Reports out of Melbourne are that Bobby Fox - who will apparently miss tonight's preview performance - is simply stunning in the lead role.

"The work of the four guys is just incredible," Rigby said.

"In Bobby's case, he is on stage all but a few minutes for the entire show - it takes a special performer to do that."

Jersey Boys opens in Melbourne on Saturday night.

AussieTheatre.com's Troy Dodds will be in Melbourne for the opening night, with comprehensive coverage following the first performance and the show's exclusive after party.


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As the audience waits in a small, cosy foyer, we can hear 23 young actors complete their vocal warm ups and focus exercises. The attendants usher us into a converted church hall theatre space, where we come face to face with the newest personalities in the business: The Actor’s Centre Australia’s (ACA) Graduating Class of 2009.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T -  you have to hand it to them! As the famous Aretha Franklin tune blares throughout the theatre, these 23 students begin to strut their stuff. They are showcasing two and a half years’ work … all that they have learned in a full time acting course which strips them bare, reconstructs the way they approach their craft and prepares them for an ever changing industry.

After a 75 minute showcase of monologues and scenes (and one beautiful song from the musical Ragtime), the graduates are buzzing with excitement. The first of 7 performances is over and they have a lot to be proud of.

For the better part of the last 5 weeks, The Actor’s Centre Australia (ACA) class of 2009 have been sifting through material from countless plays and films in order to find the perfect scripts to present in their graduation performance. And find them they did! Every student shines. Directed by ACA’s creative director and founder, Dean Carey and also by Simon Hunt, the showcase demonstrated the students’ love of their craft, and a passion for the arts.

A love shared by fellow alumni and patron of the college, Hugh Jackman: "ACA lit my passion for the craft and the fundamentals I learnt here are a huge part of the foundations I take to work with me every day.”

The school’s mission statement partly entails providing an “environment dedicated to possibility and achievement”. The showcase itself displayed achievement, but it is the students who are creating possibility through creating their own projects.

Luke Carson, who hails from Newcastle originally, is one of the many graduates who speak of creating their own work once ‘school’s out’. “I have been writing some short film scripts and I hope to finish them and start producing them”. Other students talk of their hopes to put on plays and other shows in the coming months.

Jennifer Williams, another graduate, speaks of her desire to create her own works, irrespective of the outcomes of showcase. “We have to take it as it comes. No-one is sure what kind of effect the global financial crisis will have had on the industry (but) there are a few things I want to put do, creatively in the next few months. We have to try and not stress, relax and just be positive.”

Carson echoes these sentiments and adds:  “I have learned to have confidence and belief in my own ability.” He also tells how the students have been very well supported at the Actor’s College and while he will miss the comfort of school, he will approach the industry with openness rather than tension and anxiety.

Ladies and Gentlemen (drum roll please…) please make welcome the newest and freshest faces in the industry – the Actor’s College Australia’s graduating class of 2009.

- Erin James


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