Artist Talk – Chris Bendall
A NOTE FROM BREC’S CREATIVE LEARNING COORDINATOR
Inspired by the Fridays for Future student-led protests, this inspiring new Australian play for teens brings two unlikely heroes together to find their voice and save the world. Dynamic writer/director Chris Bendall will conduct workshops and has created outstanding education resources for teachers.
FOR SCHOOL YEARS 6 – 12
TEACHER RESOURCES
An Education Kit will be provided including classroom ready Pre-Show and Post-Show activities.
CURRICULUM LINKS
Politics • Science • Climate resilience • Finding your voice
Personal and social capacity • Sustainability
WARNINGS: Use of haze
Artist Talk with Director and Playwright Chris Bendall
Chris is a nationally respected and award winning arts leader, artistic director, programmer, producer dramaturg.
He has been Director CEO of Critical Stages Touring since 2014, connecting outstanding professional theatre and live performance with regi onal and metropolitan audiences across Australia and New Zealand (2014 present). He was previously Guest Curator of the 2013 National Play Festival for Playwriting Australia; Artistic Director CEO of Deckchair Theatre (2008 2012) in Fremantle WA. He wa s Artistic Director of Theatre Risk in Melbourne (2001 2007) Resident Director at Melbourne Theatre Company (2002-2006).
Chris’s current work with Critical Stages Touring recently won the PAC (Performing Arts Connections) Australia Touring Legend Awa rd for 2019. He has won the WA Equity Award for Best Director in both 2009 and 2011 and was nominated for a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction in 2001. He has been awarded the Queen’s Trust Australia and Foundation for Young Australians Centenary Grant (and the George Fairfax Memorial Award for Theatre (2003).
Chris was a founding member and Treasurer of Theatre Network New South Wales, Chair of Stages WA, and WA state advocate for Playwriting Australia. He is currently a member of PAC Austr alia Regional Arts Australia’s Touring Advisory Group. He is also on the nominating panel of the Helpmann Awards for Regional Touring (Deputy Chair) and for Theatre.
Chris was awarded the Goethe Institut Playwriting Australia Dramaturgy Fellowship a nd Ian Potter Foundation Cultural Trust Award in 2008, which enabled him to travel to Germany and work as Guest Dramaturg on Hiob directed by Johan Simons at the Munchner Kammerspiele.
Highlights as a director include: Thomas Murray and the Upside Down River by Reg Cribb (Griffin Theatre world premiere Jan 2016, NORPA, Lismore April 2016, Critical Stages national tour Feb April 2018); Stones in his Pockets (Critical Stages NSW tours 2015 2016, national tour 2017). For Deckchair Theatre production s include: world premiere of The Magic Hour by Vanessa Bates (Nominated for Drover Award for Tour of the Year for 2014, National Tour with Performing Lines, including seasons at Queensland Theatre Company and Darwin Festival); Taking Liberty (WA Equity Award nominations Best Production Best Director 2012); The Modern International Dead by Damien Millar (WA Equity Award Winners Best Director and Best Production 2011); world premiere of Grace adapted from the novel by Robert Drewe (Perth International Art s Festival 2010); Checklist for an Armed Robber by Vanessa Bates (WA Equity Award Winner Best Director 2009)
BLACK SUN BLOOD MOON By Chris Bendall
Two intertwining stories – one magical, the other all too real – bring two unlikely heroes to the stage in a new work inspired by the Fridays for Future student-led protests of 2019 and set in Wagga Wagga.
Black Sun/Blood Moon follows Maddy, a ten year-old climate champion, and Katie, the underachieving assistant of a climate-denying politician, as they set out to save the planet. When Paul unwittingly inspires his 10-year old daughter Maddy to take part in a school climate strike, their lives are turned upside down irrevocably.
Maddy’s journey will put her at increasing risk as she takes her message to the powers that be, while Katie will find herself on the back of eagles and dolphins as she attempts to fulfill a fantastical quest from the future.
Credits
Written and Directed by Chris Bendall
Dramaturg Hilary Bell
Set & Costume Design Isla Shaw
Sound Design Kingsley Reeve
Video Design Susie Henderson
Design Assistant Claudia Spackman
Production Manager Tim Burns
Costume Supervisor Rebecca Jones
Puppetry by Erth Visual & Physical Inc
Performers: Garth Holcombe, Adelaide Kennedy, Tommy Misa, Francesca Savige
ENQUIRIES & BOOKINGS
To book your school group please book online or download the Creative Learning program and email it to the BREC Education Office.
BREC Education Office
T: 1300 661 272
E: education@bunburyentertainment.com
* Please note that BREC’s Creative Learning Program is subject to change.
Download the Creative Learning Program
BREC Creative Learning Online Booking Form