The much-loved National One Act Play Festival run by Noosa Arts Theatre is on again. The three finalists have been chosen from across Australia with two comedies and a drama showcasing some of Australia’s best writing and acting talent.
Noosa Arts Theatre is agog at the calibre of actors who turned up recently to the One Act Play auditions and are chuffed to secure some of the most experienced actors on the coast and from abroad.
Finalist one ‘Seeking Nirvana’ by Dave Wellings and directed by Tania Nash, is a gentle comedy revolving around an aged care facility and the characters that live there.
The actors bringing them all to life are talented beyond measure and have well over 100 years of on-stage experience between them. Back treading the boards is Sandy Ludscome, last year’s winner of both Best Actress awards at the Noosa One Act Play Competition and the Sunshine Coast Theatre Festival at The Lind in Nambour. Sandy has portrayed a broad range of characters on stage and screen in the UK, Singapore and in Australia where she’s appeared with the Canberra Rep, Sydney’s Marion Street Theatre, Pymble Players and Chester Street Theatre. Alongside Sandy is Tim Murfin, a Noosa Arts favourite, Julia Verburght, Jim Crawford, Paul Ritchie, Nicole Koy and Sam Taylor.
Finalist two ‘The Big Lap’ by Bruce Olive and directed by Sue Sewell, is a strong family drama with great flourishes of black humour. Talented locals Oriana Packman and Kat White play mother and daughter in crisis and Rob Carroll plays the mother’s boyfriend. Rob trained in Australia but has performed the majority of his theatre work in the UK. He has worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company in their Complete Works Season and in the RSC’s ‘Histories’ company as well as performing in theatres around the world. Rob has worked on stage and screen including Eastenders, Cold Feet and the movie Flipper. Rob’s professional experience is extensive but still remains committed to local community theatre.
Finalist three ‘Unforgettable’ by Cerise De Gelder and directed by Jacqui Mata Luque is a fascinating tapestry of history with a breezy humour to the piece that will engage the audience from the very beginning. A talented cast weave the vignettes together into a captivating story about one of the world’s most famous artworks. This is Joe Jurivesic’s first one act play but certainly not his first on-stage experience intact you are more likely to see him in musicals and full length plays. Joe first performed in a stage play in 2006 in Gingerbread Lady, followed by roles in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, and the Williamson plays Brilliant Lies and Influence at Noosa Arts. Another cast member, Deb Ellison has travelled the world as a professional dancer and continues to dance and act her way around the Sunshine Coast. Most recently Deb performed at the Tivoli in Brisbane and also right here in Noosa Art’s panto as Cinderella’s Fairy Godmother. Deb teaches Performing Arts by day and acts by night so her love of theatre is definitely a full- time passion!
Starring Deborah Ellison, Joe Jurisevic, Sean McDermott , Janine Ritchie, Glen Miller, Claire Fermo, Paul Southgate and Robert Hicks.
Evenings: 12 July, 7.30pm (cut price preview $22)
13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21 July at 7.30pm
Matinees 15, 16, 22 July at 2pm
Tickets: $31 adults, $27 Concession, Member/Group $25, Under 18 $22
Box Office: 5449 9343 www.noosaartstheatre.org.au
