NUTS

sour cream of the crop.

2010-08-01T00:30:00.000+10:00

Greetings friends family followers and fellow sleep deprived contestants. I write to you all from the comfort of my bed, ready for some much deserved sleep.
Congratulations are in order for team salient fruit who hail from BnG who took out the top spot. Judges awarded the prize based on the beauty in a relationship that was developed and fostered. Competition was tight with all three pieces attending to the themes with heart and soul.

Salient fruit will continue to work on their piece and hopefully keep us updated on three progress..........zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- McBain

The afternoon after

2010-07-31T16:36:00.000+10:00

Hello from Salient Fruit.

IN this time the Internet carked it so we had no chance to update. We have since our last post consumed a considerable amount of sugar fat and chips and one banana. We have a sexy potato. We have sour cream. There were two beneficial workshops and prior to that, there was a breakfast of failed bacon, sad hash browns and eggs in a hole... and juice. There was a song about the events that went on in a bear cave, there was some brainstorming and the revelation of the sexiest way to have nachos. We have had an amazing time, we are tired full of junk slightly ill and have a finished play with a script en passage.

Watch this show, it is worth it for the erotic cream. Trust me.

Salient fruit love.

Good Morning!

2010-07-31T09:54:00.000+10:00

10am report.
Teams are up, well fed, and ready for workshop number 1.
I'll let them update you shortly, I've got a script to write.

-McBain

SHHHHHH

2010-07-31T04:53:00.000+10:00

Forty five minutes ago I took up the challenge to write a short piece based on one of the remaining stimuli.

So here I am madly typing away with an orchestra of sounds only the arts centre could provide at this hour. The rain patters lightly on the tin roof outside, the snores and restless shuffles of the 5 individuals passed out beside me as they drift in and out of REM sleep, and occasionally a groan (of pleasure? who knows) from the couple spooning in the far dark corner, away from the glow of my laptop screen.

In the under ten hours worth of working time that I will get; I will present the showcase with a 5 - 10 minute piece based on the sensation of touch.

I intend to touch on some sensitive and topical subjects, and maybe, spend some time on taste, sound, sight, and smell.

There will be either fireworks, or a steam roller flattening out a roll of bubble wrap.

-McBain

P.S. other teams who want to maliciously attack me... the original plan is that you guys weren't sleeping this year. I'm being nice.

three degrees of art wank

2010-07-31T03:45:00.000+10:00

the INCREDIBLE AWESOME (TM) is blindly stumbling along with head torches and our minds are frazzled with sleeplessness and our stomachs full of all natural jellies....Apparently we have to write a blog. But seriously, we are ACTORS...we are incapable of the written word. Screw you, Mcbain. PS. we have a script which is 2.5 pages long.....Mcbain says we are supposed to have one page per minute, so 10 PAGES. jesus christ. repetition will be used- this is quite the dramatic tool and very effective. the BRAIN needs sleep and our spirits are BATTERED and CUTLERY will be used as a tool against Mcbain and his evil sadistic ways. PPS. ad on the way.....we will try to find as many songs with the word SEE in the title....

We see your true colours.

It's getting late, chums

2010-07-31T03:22:00.000+10:00

So, it's 3.13am. So far, our team has consumed 20 nuggets, 1 packet of biscuits, 4 large cokes, 1 bag of chips and a bottle of wine. We have put forward and cut down over 40 story ideas. We have blocked 2 scenes, scripted one, improvised several more, and played for a total of 3 hours on our allocated electric scooter. Yep, writing a play based on a disability is not easy, not only to write into the rollercoaster ride of having a disability, but also to make sure that noone in the audience is offended in anyway. In theory, we must present 'hacving a disability' as a positive characteristic as much as we can.
However, this late at night (or early in the morning), things are falling apart... ideas that we once were set on are completely out the window now, and characters have been replaced so many times, we've lost track of who's playing who. Among all this mayhem, however, it seems a remarkable and clever storyline is taking shape. I'm confident that by 7:30 tomorrow night we will be able to present something that is going to challenge the audience immensely, and alter their perspectives on how a blind or mute person really views the world.
I just need a coffee to get there...
Jess (Burgmann Team)

Trying to create creativity

2010-07-31T02:15:00.000+10:00

Talking isn't the thing we want right now. It's action. Improv has been our friend so we can experiment with how our characters can react. Pizza was our friend as spongebob squarepants hurt our brains for that brief moment while he absorbed all water in a bathtub. Sex and fruit have been melded into a blob of talk. But we are straying from the old sexless couple that we've been talking about. We just need to try new things - then soon we can have our first block of sleep.

-Salient fruit.

Captain's Log

2010-07-31T00:48:00.000+10:00

Finding our way through the darkness. Received stimulus resources. Panic broke out among the crew.

Fortunately all has been restored to THE INCREDIBLE AWESOME! (TM) thanks to some quick thinking and red snakes. 'Brain'wave breakthroughs have enabled us to 'Batten' down the hatches and get large amounts of planning done and eating was done without 'Cutler'y. We see a light at the end of the tunnel of the beauty of what the morning sun will bring. Mainly breakfast.

End Transmission

THE INCREDIBLE AWESOME! (TM)

Workshops all done

2010-07-30T23:21:00.000+10:00

The first night of workshops are over. We are all on there own. The next meeting will be at 8am at breakfast. In theory we should all be prepared for characters, script writing, and improv work. However, in actuality we are desperately alone and smoke may or may not be starting to ...smoke... out of the walls. Buzzmonkey will defiantly cause hallucinations and paranoia from us humble theatre-goers. Time to start this baby, after us being thrown in the deep end. 11:20 and time to start a horror film with young theatre people. If the horrible monster doesn't get us, you'll hear more!

-Josh

Improvised Mayhem

2010-07-30T22:42:00.001+10:00

Workshop 2 complete.
Our intrepid play makers have their heads spinning with ideas. The first session was looking at ways to start the process. Chris talked about methods of brainstorming, how to scaffold scenes of well known stories and the effective use of genres. His main advice was be ready to cut ideas both strong and shit if they are not fitting with the play. Highlights included meeting Batman's neighbour and learning the wisdom of not picking up the blue condoms.

The second session (run by the beautiful and talented Ben) looked at utilising improvisation techniques to help build a play. Performers had the chance to word associate, to rant and to talk about boxes while drilling for oil, pumping or just straight out doing it with a he/she. Hopefully our performers will take in his advice on the use of mantra's when repeating scenes in the development process.

Currently we have just heard "Innuendo, defence mechanism for a lack of humour' (Will) as our performers work with Geoff on developing characters which can control a stage.

The question is, will our players take on the advice they have been given tonight, or will they see it for the sham it really was attempting to take away three of their very precious hours, meaning that they will have no choice but to pull an all nighter.

Chris

Time to Improvise!

2010-07-30T21:09:00.000+10:00

Sight, Taste, Movement.
These are the challenges facing three of our teams this year. All teams are currently scribbling ideas down on giant whiteboards and small pieces of paper.
Shortly though, an impro workshop with Ben and character work with Geoff. Thanks also to Chris for his tips on scaffolding earlier in the hour.

Next update at 10pm from Dean and Chrissy.

-McBain

food madness

2010-07-30T20:02:00.001+10:00

Talking about food is a curious thing. we have now resulted in talking about what fruit looks like what body part. It is going down the road of madness for the next hours... we shall see how food means at the end for all of us. We hope that sexy chocolate will never be the same for anyone ever again.

AND THE WINNER IS

2009-08-02T14:20:00.001+10:00

Irish Wristwatch!
Congratulations to team 6 who successfully snared victory after a long night of work.

Was their decision to go home and nap the key to their success... or did they have other tactics?
We'll have them update this blog in the next few days along with the videos that couldn't be viewed at the showcase due to sound issues, detailed information on how the event went, and maybe even a reunion... all on their way...

Thankyou to all who participated, contributed, or just came for the ride in this mindblowing passed 24 hours.

365 DAYS TO GO until the next most intense 24 hours of your life.

24 hours of theatre blog post - "Numbers"

2009-08-01T16:10:00.000+10:00

It's 3:53pm, and we've just finished the final version of our script. Now all we have to do is learn it.

Between us, we've had 12 hours of sleep, and at least 5L of caffeinated beverages. 2 of us haven't slept at all; 1 of us is sleeping right now. 1 of us is wearing their own clothes right now, 2 of us are wearing deodorant, 2 of us have brushed their teeth, and none of us has had a shower. (though 1 has given himself a sponge bath)

We've lost count of how many good ideas we've shot down, how many bad ideas we've suggested, how many times we've secretly wanted to kill each other, and how many times we've burst out laughing at something not even vaguely amusing. We've had 2 shouting matches, and broken 1 condom. (though not how you'd think)

There have been 4 drafts of the script; exactly one line has remained the same the whole time (our opening line) and it will be strangely familiar to everyone else doing the challenge. 3 of us have switched characters, 2 of us in the last few hours, and 1 character has changed gender completely.

5 sausages between the group, 3 packets of Shapes, 4 packets of chocolate biscuits, 1 bag of cashews, and (oddly enough) 3 pieces of fruit. 3 workshops, 2 whiteboard markers, and a huge number of silly voices. We've played with 7 puppets, and included 0 of them in our final piece. (though 3 of them made it into a video blog.)

We've killed off 3 characters (1 in the play itself; 2 during the drafting process), cut out 6 musical numbers, kept 3 in (all of them 80s numbers) and changed the era of the play 4 times. (1930s, 2006, 2009 and 1984.) We look back at our early notes, and think "What the hell were those guys thinking?"

0 injuries, 0 deaths, 0 fist-fights, 0 recreational drugs, and 0 bodily fluids exchanged. (except when Chris's character spat on the floor and Bronny accidentally stepped in it.)

Since I started this blog entry, 1 more team member has fallen asleep, in the most ridiculous position imaginable. Image attached (no, this was not faked.)

It's been a good weekend.

2009-08-01T14:27:00.001+10:00

ITS CRAZY here at the ANU

Costumes, Props, Smoke, Trolley poles, bags, cd's PAPER PLANES!

Time is running out, so we've relieved the teams of the responsibility to blogg.

Will you be at Canberra Grammar School by 7:30 pm tonight?

Irish wristwatch count's down to 6:45pm

2009-08-01T11:37:00.003+10:00

I do believe in fairies. I do. I do.

I'm really dehydrated. I am. I am.

So, we took all of Finnigan's scriptwriting advice and it was massively helpful. We made a list of 25 hilariously theatrical ideas and concepts to include in the script...and now, with 7 hours to go, we've realised that we didn't end up including any of them.

Dang.

Thanks anyway Finns. You're tops.

p.s. everyone come to the showcase tonight. Bring your friends. Canberra Grammar school 7:30

Lights are on for curtain lamp

2009-08-01T11:08:00.003+10:00

We are going mind freak on all your arses.

Expect Chris Angel.

Simon's acting workshop got us up and moving after the delightful exercise session earlier this morning. Breakfast was tasty, however we shall keep this post short and sweet. Time for our workshop with Jim.

Peace, love and No-Doz.

Food glorious food!

2009-08-01T09:01:00.006+10:00

GOOOOOOOOODMORNING!

Teams are currently up, awake, and energised after a brief workout session conducted by CIT Graduate Simon Temby.

Breakfast is currently on the BBQ, The next update will come shortly after we all have a full stomach and the first workshop.

-McBigmac

Theory proven - puppets aren't even funny at 6 in the morning

2009-08-01T07:12:00.003+10:00

24 Hours of Theatre - creating new discoveries every moment.

Next update - after Aerobics at 9am.

...

2009-08-01T06:50:00.002+10:00

Good Morning World

elrhgldfhgdlfghjdfk.

We apologise in advance for the multitudes of people that we will offend tonight. Toughen Up.

All our team feels at the moment is an emotion somewhere between rage and total exhaustion, we have performed several full brain lobotomies and the resulting vegetable people are now sitting, sleeping or both in a state close to cataonic. Also, we want pasta. If you have ever loved any of us you will bring us pasta. Lots of pasta. Or come with a suitabley sharp/blunt object and for the love of all that is holy in theatre put us out of our misery.

A side note to the 'musical' birds of the ANU campus:

Your days are numbered. Make your arrangements.

But we have an idea, a script, a spontaneous 3am dance party and an hour or two of sleep to push us over the finising line. Hopefully, this will be enough to make this sodding ordeal worth it.

We can dance if we want to...

The 6:30 Report

2009-08-01T06:24:00.002+10:00

Dear outside world,

The sun has risen on this fine establishment. 3 weary dramatists and 2 exhausted organisers remain standing - what does this mean for us? Very little. Very little indeed. For some reason, people stayed awake without even working on the scripts. Why?

We have resorted to speaking through puppets. And not even good puppets - children's puppets. However, very shortly into the peace talks puppet wars began. This was the lamest thing of the night and will not be repeated.

ABC 666 Radio Interview was good fun - Remy, Chris, McBain and Duncan stood in the cold, filled with a sense of pride. Once again Greg commented on McBain's eyes. Good job Greg.

Aerobics starts in 88 minutes. I believe I am slowly drowning in mint slice. I can feel it moving up my oesophagus. Good job mint slice.

All I can say is that I've somehow used up almost 2 hours of footage on someone's camera. Puppet Wars may yet become a feature film.

If I hear another person utter the word ambiguity I will likely disqualify them from the competition.

Looking forward (because that's the sensible option),

McBain and Duncan

Next update from the Young Ones at 7:30.

5am actually exists?

2009-08-01T04:55:00.002+10:00

Stay tuned to 666am to hear our radio interview at approximately 6:15 am

http://www.abc.net.au/canberra/radio/howto.htm?section=online

Follow this link to hear us online

McBain

-Sleep deprived as promised

i said baby, its 3am i must be lonely..

2009-08-01T03:11:00.001+10:00

We should be sleeping. But we're not. There are reasons we are not.

A) Too much caffeine

B) Investigative phone calls/booty calls from the other groups.

C) Too many copies of the same but slightly different scripts....

We discovered you can view how your pizza is cooking/being delivered online thanks to wonderful services such as Dominos.

And alot of good happens in Manuka thankyou Duncan,

we are here.

We all have belly buttons.

Belly buttons are fun.

Lizzie has funny pants.

They are green... i like green.

Just remember kids...

" THis area which roughly constitues ancient Aeolia has been settled since Paleolithic times."

Love and mush,

Emma,Sasha,Byron and Lizzie

6am post

2009-08-01T03:10:00.001+10:00

Argh! I write to you as the last surviving member of my team. We're balls deep and i can no longer see the surface. When we began this journey with eager hearts and fun ideas primarily concerned with the need to stay awake. In addition to the slab of Mother we consumed we deemed it a great idea to buy a case of beer. We've barely gotten through a 5 minute brainstorm without someone taking a toilet break. The harsh reality is that we are down to around 12 hours to go, the sun is rising and the hangover is setting in. I just reread the script we have so far...

It's funny. Oh yeah, it's very funny. No one's is questioning the quality of humour contained within. But does it make sense? If volume is an indication of logic, then yes...yes it does make sense. It certainly is loud.

I apologise to the fans of 80's Robot but i'm honestly far too exhausted to continue. I'm off to grab a quick nap on the toilet and kill two birds with one stone. But what i can promise is that in 12 hours time we will be putting on a performance of side-splitting head-scratching ball-ticking proportions.

Big Love!

24 Hours of Theatre Blog - FANG

2009-08-01T03:03:00.001+10:00

Tensions are high as we get closer to 4 AM. So far, there have been disagreements on:

-The moral correctness of shaving the teeth

-Whether 2006 was really 'the funniest year'?

-Why the only female in our group has been cast as "Dad"

-Who the Prime Minister should be

-The best way to climb onto Brian's back

-How long we should stay on Brian's back

-How long we can face the back wall and still hold the audience's attention

-Whether we can get away with saying each character's full name every time they enter. And date of birth.

-It's true what they say about women. They certainly are.

-How Bronny manages to make one line go for 200 words and 5 minutes.

So far, we've been working and writing for 8 hours, and we've almost finished the....second scene. Of 6. This is going to either be the best 24 hour play ever written, or the best 24 hour play ever half-written and then hastily finished.

Got to get back to it. There is currently an argument going on about who is the best at tossing off football players. Whether or not this will end up in the final play will doubtlessly be the cause of another argument. Hope everyone else is having as much fun and as many arguments as we are!

Irish wristwatch with the correct time this time

2009-08-01T02:35:00.001+10:00

Hey there!

We have finished our script.

Thats it.

Brown chicken brown cow.

Words from the Abyss - What have I created?

2009-08-01T00:21:00.002+10:00

Citizens,

I write to you at 1am from the refuge of the Woroni office. The teams have all moved in separate directions. Prima facie, a combined play would be about Michael Jackson reading the news to no-one in a blackout, incidentally foretold by a gypsy pygmy. Sounds like a winner.

All groups have done an amazing job, taking into account what Finnegan said about incorporating vastly different ideas and marrying ideas. Some a little too literally than others, but all in good fun. The popular combination of nectarine and chicken in a biscuit, with a dash of energy drink, has really set the pace going. Let's see if it keeps them fresh.

Here's an update

Early frontrunners seem to be 'the young ones', having already completed both a script and memorial shrine. They have also punished 7 bags of starburst and a couple of litres of red, pink and green flavoured liquid. But there are still 15 and a half hours to go and so it's anyone's game.

Eighties robot look to be lagging currently. After being informed by administration that their script could not in fact be written in lines of powder, they were forced to re-start their entire project.

ImproACT luminaries Team Fang spent over an hour playing impro warm up games - wasted time, or funny for some? You decide on the latest NUTS24poll (if you put the words together, it sounds more cutting edge).

Irish Wristwatch broke early and updated the blog without needing too. Good job guys.

Team Meat have a sound idea and seem to be working the best collaborative project so far. However, the presence of Alex Brattoni in their group suggests that failure is imminent.

Byron and Sasha have fled to Manuka. Nothing good has ever come from Manuka. Good money is not on them.

I have uploaded some photos to the facebook event/group for your enjoyment. Enjoy them. And if you can't, have them enjoyed for you.

Great job.

The Young'ns Blog Post

2009-08-01T00:11:00.001+10:00

Too Soon..?

After the first couple of hours the Young'ns have proved themselves to be exceptionally tasteless. These delinquents have clearly got no class whatsoever; expect puns, bad gags, an empty hole where the plot would be and repetition of bad gags. In the matter of stimulus, the group has finally incorporated one of their props but remains confidently clueless about the second.

We have taken an idea and have run with it until it has, frankly, gone to crap. We are now starting to pick up said crap and smear it on paper in a way that makes it resemble a 'script' of sorts. After consuming inordinate amounts of sugar and chocolate the resulting crash has also taken it's toll on various team members who are counteracting these effects with a mixture of drugs, more sugar, vomiting and power-napping. Also, panadol and soft drink is shit!

Finally animated, after an all time sugar low the young'ns have gotten on to actually standing up and rehearsing their shoddy, poop script. Amazing inspiration has come in the form of deciding that a recently dead popstar legend's lyrics should comprise 50% of the script. This and the actual movement of the cast has led to the powerful humour of the french exchange student coming in to play.

Beware, Midnight is approaching....

The next update comes from Duncan Ragg at one am.

Blog

2009-07-31T23:33:00.002+10:00

Team Irish Wristwatch is off to a cracking start this evening. They have already written their third play and are currently deciding which one will pack the biggest punch...
In all seriousness though, we are excited by the ideas we have had this evening and are currently in the process of getting our script down on paper. Expect big things.

80's robot 11pm update.

2009-07-31T23:11:00.001+10:00

Breaking news from the script library:
After half a case of beer; five lines of cocain off a first edition
copy of Death of a Salesman; at least two confirmed reports of
premature ejaculation and a hastey clean up...
80's Robot are racked up and ready to report.

10:00pm Blog Post - Curtain Lamp

2009-07-31T21:56:00.001+10:00

It's an extended metaphor.

About what a boy wants to be when he grows up. And Winnie the Poo's in it. So are vampires, firemen getting stoned, and they're fat, and there's three of them, no, five, no wait, there's as many as you choose to believe there are.

Actually, it's a play about solving one mystery, and by mistake solving a different, far greater mystery. The mystery of what happened to Hansel and Grettel. But they aren't in the play, because they're too busy smoking weed in a graveyard.

And there's ambiguity - he's a dude in the play. He's in a box that doesn't fit, or maybe he's a puzzle piece. Maybe everyone's a puzzle piece - literally - but it's really just a metaphor.

In short - we have a lot of ideas, and not much coherence. Understandably, there's a a lot of uncertainty in direction. We're having fun though, smashing Tim Tams, drinking water, chilling. You know, fun.

Also, we're now officially called, "Curtain Lamp," although there is controversy over the spelling of curtain.

Next update will be at 11pm from Pete, Will, and Sam

Then at 12pm from "The Young Ones" Remmy + Group

Blog Update

2009-07-31T21:19:00.001+10:00

Have retreated to the Ellis family Manuka mansion after an hour long trip of collecting toothbrushes and creative juices.

Byron is enjoying the feeling of the carpet on his feet, and is proceeding to pace up and down. Although two slices of bread did go missing.

The mexican thinking hats have gone on -

Emma: Should the other teams be afraid??

Byron: Yes.

Sasha: this is turning into our script

Bryon: Stop! You're giving too much away!

Team Meat. Signing off.

24 Hours of Theatre Blog

2009-07-31T19:56:00.003+10:00

The entire team was unfocussed. We sat there, trying to hear what Dave was saying, but none of us was taking it in.

Dave's wonderful words about tearing apart structure, creating a play from nothing, collaborating, workshopping, all of these amazing concepts and techniques, they all went zipping over our heads, as we sat there, concentrating on one thing, and one thing only.

Duncan was wearing his tight jeans again.

Like a family watching a game of tennis, our heads turned as one every time Duncan shifted his body weight. We wished, hoped and prayed our little hearts out that the fates would smile upon us and that someone would drop something, so he'd be forced to bend over...

An entire Sudanese village could have been kept in water for a year had someone thought to bottle our drool.

But God was not on our side tonight, and Duncan's behind was not displayed as prominently as we would have liked.

At the end of the workshop, Team Fang had not learned anything useful, yet all of us were on the same page. We came together to discuss what our play should be about, and our voices were in sync.

So in a little under 24 hours, be prepared to see Team Fang's presentation:

A Hat, an Umbrella, Two Gloves, a Tie, a Corset Bag, and Duncan's Deriere: A Play in One Act.

Next update will be delivered at 9pm by MEAT 3 aka Pink Polkadots (Sasha, Emma, Lizzy, Byron)

2009-07-31T19:24:00.001+10:00

At 6:45pm the 6 teams, having been given their stimuli, began their journey. Trolley poles, smoke machines, bags, CDs, and painting utensils were bestowed upon them and after a workshop by David Finnegan, local playwright work begun.

Each team is required to include the following lines at some point in their 8 minute masterpiece:
"sometimes, it is wise not to investigate every mystery you encounter."
And,
"it turns out that some people are quite tolerant of ambiguity."

What happens next?The next update will be here at 8pm posted by the visiting team from ImproAct.

Goodluck to all
-McBain
Events coordinator and anticipating a lack of sleep

24 Hours of Theatre

2009-07-26T00:47:00.005+10:00

Over a period of 24 hours, Canberra's brightest university students will be devising a single theatrical event. 24 HOURS OF THEATRE offers students an opportunity to work with some unique personalities.

Kicking off on Friday (6.30pm) and finishing with completed plays at 7pm on Saturday, 24 HOURS will be a test of endurance, creativity and teamwork.

Workshops will take place with Canberra Theatrical luminaries like David Finnegan, Adam Hadley, Simon Aylott, Jim Adamik, and ImproAct's PJ Williams.There is also going to be a half hour workshop from the ACT Writers Centre, making this a truly united theatrical event.

This truly collaborative event offers a unique one-off performance from students who will be given some loose rules on the Friday and work all day Saturday to present the best completed play they can.

The aim of this event is to ensure the next generation of Canberra theatrical highlights have a deeper understanding of the theatrical process, making them better, stronger performers and producers.

Your Participation can be in the form of acting, writing, or directing. Entry will cost $5 to participate. First prize will include the opportunity to have your piece workshoped further over the semester and presented again to another audience at the end of the year.

Members of the public are invited to join in the festivities by attending the showcase at the conclusion of preparation time; 7:15pm doors open at the ANU arts center. Entry is $5.

For those of you who cannot afford the time to participate, or cannot make the showcase, you can participate by keeping an eye on this blog during the event for hourly updates (24 in total) or by following our facebook group which has a comprehensive list of rules and regulations.

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=127878866336

For more information contact nutsanu@gmail.com or Andrew on 0403816007.

Good Luck and get some extra sleep in! You'll need it.

Bush Week Theater Sports Competition

2009-07-16T18:42:00.006+10:00

The 'Bush Week' Theatre Sports competition went off with a bang on Tuesday night. Four teams rose to the challenge to deliver what proved to be the best ANU had to offer in improvised stand up comedy theatre.

It appears the yellow team stole the hearts of the crowd with their moving 'flower ninja' ballet. Team blue attempted to present 'Frogger' the broadway musical; Team red (from BnG) presented a memorable round of lines from a hat; whilst the Green team's hopes were riding on Byron's fluro tights.

The night also included an 'Irish Drinking Song', a spectacular 'Chain Murder Endowments' and the very risky 'Piano Bar'.

On behalf of NUTS, a great big thankyou to players from Impro ACT, Peter C Hayward and Kym Starr; A huge round of applause to the lyrical fingers of Bec Taylor; and last but not least our gratitude to M.C. for the night, the lovely Geoff Setty (also from Impro ACT).

Stay tuned for the posting of videos and photos from the night

"One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest": November 6 - 8

2008-10-29T17:25:00.000+11:00

NUTS and The Gods' Cafe present One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, Dale Wasserman's acclaimed adaptation of Ken Kesey's novel, directed by Cara Irvine.

Randall McMurphy's arrival in an institute for the mentally ill threatens to tear down the thin boundaries between the sane and the insane, while the fierce Nurse Ratched battles against him. An absorbing and relevant investigation of our treatment of the mentally ill, Cuckoo's Nest is both hilarious and thoughtful, and features a cast of up-and-coming Canberra performers.

Tickets are $10 for NUTS Members, $15 for students, and $20 full price. They can be purchased at the door.

Three performances: Thursday 6th, Friday 7th and Saturday 8th @ 8PM in the ANU Arts Centre (Building 16). The Gods Cafe will be open before the show and during interval for drinks and tapas.

As our final show for 2008, the revived National University Theatre Society would like to thank our supporters: the ANU Drama Department, moonlight productions, the ANU Students' Association, Teatro Vivaldi Theatre Restaurant, and the Gods' Cafe.

Starring:
Ben Williams as McMurphy and Bronwyn Hill as Nurse Ratched with Duncan Ragg, Shane Pike, Pete Dabro, Peter Stiles, Natalia Thomas, Chris Endry, Ross Walker, Bojana Kos, Clare Hedley, Simon Thomson, Shaun Wykes, Matt Skinner, John Bannon, Sol Mason

NUTS Executive 2009

2008-10-20T20:07:00.002+11:00

NUTS proudly welcomes its 2009 Executive Board:

Will COWARD
Byron FAY
Martha HALFORD
Cara IRVINE
Andrew MCBAIN
Duncan RAGG
Zoe TUFFIN

The new board will meet for the first time on Wednesday October 29, after which time positions will be announced, and preparations will begin for NUTS' 2009 season. Anyone with suggestions or expressions of interest in getting involved should email nutsanu@gmail.com

Stay tuned for further info about the final show for 2008: "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest", November 5 - 8 @ ANU Arts Centre

October NUTS goss

2008-10-07T20:48:00.001+11:00

Techies needed

NUTS' production of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, directed by Cara Irvine, is in urgent need of tech/backstage people. If you're interested - with or without experience - send us an email here at nutsanu@gmail.com. The show goes on November 5 - 8, and you'll be needed from Monday October 20. A meeting will be held in the Arts Centre foyer on Monday 20th at 4:30PM for all interested.

Theatre Sports Comp!

The NUTS Theatre Sports Comp kicks off at 6:30 PM on Tuesday October 14th at the ANU Arts Centre. With a gold coin donation at the door, the night will be a riot of laughter with some of the uni's best theatre sports and improv competitors. Come for a drink afterward with the competitors and the outgoing NUTS exec.

Ball Ticket Sales

Tickets continue on sale for "That was NUTS: The NUTS Ball", to be held on October 18 at Teatro Vivaldi Theatre Restaurant. Tickets are $45 and include UNLIMITED alcohol and finger food. To buy your ticket, come to the Arts Centre foyer between 12 and 2 from Monday to Wednesday (Oct 13 - 15) or email nutsanu@gmail.com with your details. (Those who have already booked will need to attend one of those sessions to pay for their tickets, or contact us to arrange another time, thanks!)

Election Nominations

Nominations close this Friday the 10th for positions on the NUTS Executive. Voting will be held directly after the Theatre Sports Night on Tuesday October 14th, with the new Executive team taking up the reins in early November. It's a great way to be very active in the uni (and wider) Canberra theatre community, so email us your nomination at nutsanu@gmail.com!

That was NUTS: The NUTS Ball

2008-09-21T12:50:00.001+10:00

To celebrate our first year back in business, come along for a night of UNLIMITED alcohol, finger food and a damn good time, brought to you by the National University Theatre Society on Saturday October 18 from 8PM onward!

Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend:

Tickets are $45 for members and $50 for non-members, and cover unlimited alcohol and finger food.
Tickets can be purchased between 12PM - 2PM from September 22 - September 26 (last week of term) in the foyer of the ANU Arts Centre (Gods Cafe Building), or you can email nutsanu@gmail.com

The theme of the evening is your favourite character (theatre, film, tv... you choose!).

It's going to be a fantastic night, so mark it in your diaries and make sure to get your tickets early!

NUTS Theatre Sports Workshops

2008-09-05T11:25:00.000+10:00

NUTS Theatre Sports Workshops have begun: The group will meet each week on Tuesday from 5pm at the ANU Arts Centre. Each session will go for approximately 1.5 to 2 hours, with the potential to kick on for drinks afterwards.

The aim is to become more familiar with the format of improv nights, as well as creating a team to compete with in the NUTS Theatresports night in October.

All welcome - please invite your friends. There is no cost for entry. For more info, email NUTS at nutsanu@gmail.com

2008-07-29T18:25:00.000+10:00

Auditions for NUTS' production of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest" will be held on Thursday July 31 and Monday August 4 at 5:30 in the ANU Arts Centre. There are roles for men and women of all ages!

The show is going to be heavily promoted, and reviewed by Canberra theatre critics, so anyone who wants to be involved - backstage or onstage - should give the director, Cara Irvine, a call on 0408 624 626. (Backstage enthusiasts can also email nutsanu@gmail.com)

Hope to see you all there!

Bush Week Theatre Sports Night!

2008-07-13T09:12:00.002+10:00

Come along to the ANU Bar on Monday July 21 the first ever Bush Week Theatre Sports Night, a joint presentation of the National University Theatre Society and the ANU Students' Association!

It's gonna be a great night of entertainment, laughs and beer, featuring some great performers from the uni and Canberra, and followed by the Bush Week Bar Crawl.

The fun kicks off at 6PM in the ANU Bar. Gold coin donation at the door.

.For further information, contact NUTS at nutsanu@gmail.com.

NUTS presents "Bed" by Brendan Cowell!

2008-06-30T16:36:00.002+10:00

The National University Theatre Society presents "Bed" by Brendan Cowell, an edgy, sexy play about one man's lifetime of relationships.

CAT Award nominee Sam Lavery stars as Phil, whose journey we follow from schoolboy dalliances and college trysts to marital failure and home-bound houseboys.

Directed by Lucy Hayes and Andrew Holmes.

Also starring Carol Whitman, Peter Stiles, Fiona Atkin, Will Coward and Imogen Fry.

Three performances: July 10, 11 and 12 @ 8PM, ANU Arts Centre.

Tickets: At the door: $15/$10 Concession/$5 NUTS Members. (NUTS sign-up available at the door.)

For more information: contact nutsanu@gmail.com

With thanks to our sponsors The Gods' Cafe, Papermoon, Teatro Vivaldi and the ANU Students' Association.

Auditions; and crew needed

2008-06-24T18:33:00.000+10:00

Greetings, fellow Nutters!

Just a few notes before the holidays overtake us:

1. The NUTS show, "Bed", is looking for a lighting operator. Experience isn't necessary (although it isn't bad!) as we'll happily help you out. The show is on July 10, 11 and 12, and you'd also be wanted for at least the couple of nights before that. Contact us on nustanu@gmail.com, or call the directors: Andrew (0412209945) or Lucy (0417662588)

2. AUDITIONS: Sam Shepard's "Fool for Love", a moonlight production

Auditions will be held on Wed 25th June & Fri 4 July, 5pm. Also, Sat 5 July at 1PM in the ANU Arts Centre

Roles: 3 men & 1 woman
Season 18-27 September 2008

Contact Fiona for more information
fiona.atkin@anu.edu.au, 0438 517 745
or ANU AD Hope Bldg rm G36

The show is also looking for a stage manager.

moonlight is the graduate student company of the ANU

NUTS Auditions

2008-05-09T16:35:00.000+10:00

Auditions for the second NUTS show of 2008 will be held Tuesday, May 13:

BED
By Brendan Cowell
(Winner of the 2001 Patrick White Playwright’s Award)

Directed by Lucy Hayes and Andrew Holmes

Performance dates 10, 11, 12 July 2008.

“Phil is a guy you'll love to hate. . . but he might just charm your pants off. Literally! Spend an evening with Phil and see his darkly comic misadventures in Bed. From schoolboy dalliances and college trysts to marital failure and home-bound houseboys, Phil's relationship roller coaster will entertain, appal, and maybe even shock you with a hint of the familiar.”

- Press Release, The Playwrights’ Centre.

ROLES
(please note: actors younger than the age bracket are welcome to audition!!)

Phil - male actor, mid 20s to late 30s.
Kane - male actor, 16 to early 20s.
Daisy - female actor, 18 to early 20s.
Grace - female actor, early 20s to mid 30s.
Drew - male actor, late 20s.
Flo – female actor, mid 20s to late 30s.

Auditions date 13/5/08 after 5pm. Meet in the foyer of the Arts Centre ANU.

Please contact Andrew 0412 209 945 or Lucy 0417 662 588 for more information, or if you can't make the audition time.

Hope to see you there!

NUTS General Meeting

2008-05-05T16:49:00.002+10:00

There will be a general meeting for all NUTS members and interested parties this Thursday the 8th of May. The meeting will be held in the Drama Lab in the ANU Arts Centre at 5:30 PM.

We'll be discussing, among other things, auditions for the upcoming NUTS show "Bed", upcoming theatre sports night, (hopefully) upcoming cabaret, and opening the floor for questions from members.

Please come along! If you can't make it to the meeting, and have questions or suggestions, drop us an email at nutsanu@gmail.com, or catch up with any of the exec through our Facebook group.

Hope to see you there,
*Sam*

The first NUTS show for 2008 is here!

2008-04-08T22:38:00.001+10:00

The National University Theatre Society (NUTS), in association with the ANU Drama Department, presents a double bill of sexy one-act plays about love, lust and the perils of open relationships.

Van Badham's Morning on a Rainy Day, directed by Byron Fay. Featuring Kerrie Greenland and Duncan Ragg.

Franca Rame and Dario Fo's The Open Couple, directed by Zoë Tuffin. Featuring Cara Irvine and Shane Pike.

Three performances: 8PM on Thursday the 24th, Friday 25th and Saturday 26th of April.

Tickets available at the door:

Adult - $15

Student - $10

N.U.T.S Members - $5

The National University Theatre Society is the student-run theatre company of the ANU, aiming to provide theatrical experience - onstage, backstage or in the audience - for all members of the ANU community. To get involved, or to contact any of the executive, send us an email: nutsanu@gmail.com.

With thanks to our supporters: the ANU Drama Department, the ANU Students' Association, Teatro Vivaldi's and the Gods' Cafe.

Papermoon's double bill + Audition notices

2008-04-01T23:22:00.000+11:00

papermoon presents "An Absurd Double Bill"

papermoon has decided to offer all NUTS members a half-price discount on their student price for An Absurd Double Bill –two quirky plays by Eugene Ionesco.

The show starts this Thursday night at 8pm and you can Purchase tickets at the door (and tick your name off the Members list) for not $20, but $10!!

It's a great chance to meet other NUTS members and also to see some absurd theatre which is a rarity in Canberra. Jump on the bandwagon and spoil yourself for a night!

The show is on in the ANU Arts Centre. Performance dates are:
Thurs to Sat 3rd to 5th at 8 pm; Wed 9th at 6.30 pm;
Thurs to Sat 10th to 12th at 8 pm; Sat 12th at 2 pm.

Auditions: "Let's Have Sex!"

(Please note this is not a NUTS show)

"Let's Have Sex!" by Valentin Krasnogorov.

Performance Dates: September 17 - 20, Belconnen TheatreParts: 2 Male, 2 Female,1 Either

AUDITIONS
When: Saturday 12th AprilWhere: Nellie Hall, MelbaTime: 12 - 3 pm

Some acting experience preferred!

The play is a wonderful example of theatre of the absurd, and looks at the role and importance of sex in society and relationships. The play explores issues of taboo, homosexuality, marriage and of course: the physical act of sexual intercourse.
Email lhs_auditions@hotmail.com for an audition time and for more information.

Thursday Market

2008-03-25T13:25:00.002+11:00

This Thursday the 27th of March the ANUSA is doing a promotion for Arts at ANU in Union Court. The SA have invited NUTS to put together a stall and we are taking the opportunity to advertise ourselves but also the shows that are happening at the moment in connection to the ANU Drama Department. Actors will be performing short scenes from their show as well as handing out flyers. We are also hoping to do some impro theatre, so if you are interested in taking part be sure to come along. It will also be an opportunity for new members to sign up.

So come on down and show your support! We will be there from roughly 10:30-2pm.

First Auditions for NUTS Show

2008-03-09T22:29:00.001+11:00

The plan for the first NUTS show is to do a double bill with two one act comedies. The show will be in the drama lab, running the 24th, 25th and 26th of April, which is six weeks away so for any one thinking of auditioning please be aware that it will be six weeks of intense rehearsal.

"Morning on a Rainy Day" by Van Badham is a short play about two friends who for the past nine years have been casually sleeping together. When Pol decides to marry someone else it puts an end to the 'comfort sex' arrangement she had with Ben, but are they really ready to give each other up?

"The Open Couple" by Dario Fo and Franke Rame is a satirical comedy about a married couple who agree to have an open marriage. To begin with, the husband relishes the sexual freedom while his wife is pushed to near insanity. However, the tables are turned when his wife meets a fabulous professor and suddenly the husband is exposed to the fatal flaws of an open marriage.

We are looking for cast members for both plays and people are welcome to audition for one or both. Auditions are to be held on Monday 10th of March at 10am and Tuesday 11th of March at 5pm, meeting in the foyer of the Arts Centre.

For "Morning on a Rainy Day" we require:

* 1 female - aged mid twenties

* 1 male - aged mid twenties

For "The Open Couple" we require:

* 1 female - aged 26

* 1 male - aged 28

Please note: you do not have to be in your mid twenties to audition. These are simply the ages of the characters. If you are older or younger than that is fine.

For both auditions you are welcome to prepare a short monologue which displays your comic acting abilities or alternatively to perform an unseen exert from the script.

We ask you to please email as at nutsanu@gmail.com to let us know which audition you will be attending.

N.U.T.S Improv and Theatre Sports Night

2008-02-18T10:34:00.003+11:00

Come along on Thursday night for the first N.U.T.S event of 2008: our ANU O-Week Theatre Sports night, to be held at 7PM on the 21st of February in the ANU Arts Centre (the Gods' Cafe building).

Featuring a cast of ANU and Canberra's clowns and comics, the night will involve hilarious gags, riotous games to test our competitors, door prizes and audience participation.

Come along for the fun and the atmosphere, meet the members and exec of N.U.T.S, sign up for membership, and join the O-Week party afterward! (Gold coin donation at the door)

REVIEW- Closer and Sexual Perversity in Chicago

2007-12-11T13:09:00.000+11:00

The very new company Paris Hat Productions has, in its first production, cemented its creator Fiona Atkin as a fearless and exciting young director. Fiona jumped head first into the Canberra theatre scene, presenting the audience in the Street Theatre's Studio with a double bill of new and confronting ideas about theatre.

With her talented young cast, Atkin takes the audience on a trip from Chicago to London on a bumpy ride of humor and tears with some of the most accurate observations about sex, love and life.Sexual Perversity in Chicago (SPIC) is a quick and confronting look at the sexual experiences of four young Americans, whose paths cross in a series of small scenes which jump across the stage. Sam Lavery convincingly portrays the overbearing and misogynistic Bernie Litko who challenges and manipulates his naïve friend and work colleague Dan Shapiro (Andrew Dillon). Steph Brewster and Carly Jacobs play Deb Soloman and Joan Webber, flatmates who counter the male side of sex and life with their own profound observations. Dillon and Brewster display a very familiar relationship, which ends as quickly as it began. The cast were solid and the text was funny, SPIC was a great opener for this sexy night at the theatre.

Closer slows the pace down and looks at the deeper side of the human condition, focusing primarily on its pitfalls. It is a twisted series of events which leads to betrayal, infidelity, deception and a warping of relationships. Jess Brent is Alice, a young girl who in her own words is no-one, after an accident Alice meets Dan (Ben Williams) a failed writer who now writes obituaries and they start a relationship. Time is warped in this play as we jump forward undefined amounts of time and meet Anna (Naomi Milthorpe) what appears to be years after the initial scene. Anna and Dan fall in love and Anna's partner Larry (Sam Lavery) is blind to her infidelity and marries her. With the swapping and sharing of partners the characters are significantly affected by their own and each others actions, and the cast are able to portray the emotions so convincingly that only the heartless can display dry eyes at the end.

Kudos to Sam Lavery who must have worked twice as hard being in both plays. Jess Brent thoroughly deserved her raving review in the Canberra times, however the stand outs for me were Carly Jacobs in SPIC and Naomi Milthorpe in Closer. Both these talented young women portrayed their characters unwavingly and certainly impressed me.

Congratulations to this new company, I look forward to many more interesting and innovative shows from Paris Hat Productions.