We sat down with the talented star of the upcoming show “Sabotage” to get an exclusive peek behind the curtains.
About Harrison Clark
What do you enjoy most about acting?
The emotional catharsis of it all. I find it incredibly healing and euphoric to explore the gamut of human emotions through characters whose circumstances are incredibly different from my own.
Do you want to work in film, live theatre or both?
I want to do it all. Any place where I can write or creatively express myself.
Do you believe talent or training is more important to an actor?
I do think there’s an element of talent that’s innate when it comes to acting, something instinctive that can’t really be taught. Whether or not someone chooses to go to drama school is entirely up to the individual but I don’t believe it’s essential. I believe that best training you can do to help your talent grow is by expanding your circle and getting outside your comfort zone. Those lived experiences become part of your toolkit, deepening your performances and helping you build richer characters.
What strategies do you use to overcome stage fright or nerves before a performance?
Honestly, I don’t think there’s a way to completely combat either! What I try to do is arm myself with the assurance that all the hard work gone into the rehearsal process and all the research behind creating the character will come through. As long as I’ve done the work, I know logically there isn’t much to be afraid of.
Are there any particular genres or types of roles that you prefer or feel most comfortable in?
I love all characters and archetypes but I have the most fun when I’m making people laugh.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
My play Sabotage will be on at the Motley Bauhaus from the 2nd until the 6th of December. The project is a complete labour of love and has so much talent behind it all. If you like Depeche Mode, nostalgia and beautiful love affairs come see Sabotage.
Where can patrons purchase tickets to this production?
Thank you for sharing your insights and passion with us. We wish you all the best for your upcoming show, Sabotage, at the Motley Bauhaus. Break a leg and let the magic of Depeche Mode and nostalgia light up the stage!
Today, we shared a delightful conversation with Rose Vallen, the visionary director behind Adrift in New York, an endearing melodrama set to grace the Arts Theatre Adelaide. With its timeless narrative of family, resilience, and justice, this production is destined to be filled with vibrant performances, evocative tunes, and authentic 1890s charm. Join us to cheer, boo, and be utterly captivated as this classic story unfolds on stage!
About Adrift in New York – A Melodrama!
What is this Production about?
Adrift in New York is a classic late-19th-century melodrama that tells a story of lost family, moral tests, and redemption amid the perils of the big city. It includes Gay 1890’s music hall numbers and opportunities for the audience to Boo the villain, Cheer the hero and sigh for the Heroine.
What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?
The challenge for me and the actors is to balance sincerity and irony. To play the truth of the story without descending into parody. The performances must be emotionally honest, even when the situations are heightened. Keeping the lid on some of the Actors has been hilarious and challenging.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
I love Melodrama, I have performed in several over the years and they are always so much fun for the actors as well as the audience.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
If you love big-hearted, old-fashioned storytelling — where good triumphs over evil, emotions run high, and every twist leads to a gasp or a tear, performed by vibrant and eclectic bunch of actors who incite you to join in the action, sing-along to old time music hall numbers and have a lot of fun, this show is for you.
What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?
Hopefully the audience will be still humming the music and chatting about their favourite character – was it the Villain, the Hero or the Heroine? But above all, they’ll leave with a sense of warmth — the pleasure of seeing virtue rewarded, love restored, and evil conquered by compassion.
What’s going to surprise people about this show?
It swings from tears to thrills to moral redemption in minutes — a mix that feels both over-the-top and genuinely moving. The sheer earnestness of its melodrama can be startling (and even charming) to contemporary viewers used to irony.
Who has the best costume?
Definitely all of the ladies have fabulous costumes, think authentic 1890’s gorgeous frocks. Thank you so much Sandy Whitelaw for lending us these fabulous outfits.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Melodrama Returns to the Stage: Adrift in New York Opens at Arts Theatre Adelaide. The Rep is proud to present Adrift in New York, a classic melodrama written by Addison Aulger, directed by the acclaimed Rose Vallen.
Synopsis This heart-wrenching tale of fate, family, and resilience promises to captivate audiences with its timeless themes and fun theatrical flair. Set against the bustling backdrop of the Gay Nineties in New York and the deep south, Adrift in New York follows the journey of a young girl cast into the unforgiving streets, navigating hardship and hope in search of her lost family.
With villains to boo, heroes to cheer, and a story that tugs at the heartstrings, this production revives the golden age of melodrama with a fresh, local twist. And a good Melodrama often includes Music Hall-style acts to enhance the audience’s enjoyment and create a more exciting theatrical experience.
In this production, there will be well known songs and the amazing, hilarious spectacle of the famous Balloon Dance featuring the incomparable Lindy Le Cornu, who has made this artform her own! Join us for an unforgettable night of fun, laughs, drama, emotion, and theatrical tradition. Adrift in New York is a must-see, feel-good production.
Where can patrons purchase tickets to this production?
Thank you so much for sharing your insights and passion with us. Best of luck with Adrift in New York; may the cheers be thunderous, the boos be hearty, and the audience leave with hearts full of joy and melodies in their heads!
Today, we’re diving into the whimsical world of Monopoly: The Unauthorised Musical with its creator, Jasper Cruden. Described as a fantastical adventure with a touch of 80’s and 90’s nostalgia, this original musical promises a delightful journey with characters that leap straight out of your favourite games. So, grab your tokens and get ready for a tour through a reimagined board game universe that’s sure to captivate and entertain.
About Monopoly: The Unauthorised Musical
What is this Production about?
The journey of Monopoly: The Unauthorised Musical began in late 2021 when final year WAAPA composition student Jasper Cruden started thinking of clever ways to structure his graduating recital. In typical chaotic fashion, he crafted a simple but entertaining story about some of the player tokens from the classic game ‘Monopoly’ (Boot, Iron, Car, and Scottish Terrier) attempting to bring an explosive end to the rule of a tyrannical queen
Immediately following the success of that performance, Jasper and drummer Ian Tassicker began discussing ideas to further develop the project, with Ian taking on the bulk of the responsibility of re-working the existing story. The story was reshaped to expand the world and bring in characters from classic games such as Chess and Charades, and the human character Scott was added to give audiences a window into this fantastical world.
Join Scott on his unexpected adventure through a fantastical world inspired by ‘Alice in Wonderland’, and 80’s/90’s live action fantasy (‘The Princess Bride’, ‘Labyrinth’) as he meets the likes of the fierce but kindly Lady Luck, dramatic Sir Knight, verbose Miss Wordsmith, awkward Baron von Strategy, unpredictable Admiral Cannonblast, and the ruthless Mayfair.
What character are you playing, and what can you share with us about them?
I’m not playing one of the characters. I created them! I am playing drums in the band though.
Our characters include:
Scott – An uptight lawyer who is known in his town for being no fun at all. He goes on an unexpected journey in a very ‘Alice in Wonderland’ fashion and comes out the other side changed.
Lady Luck – A very hot/cold personality who switches between foul-mouthed aggression and sweet kindness. The leader of the group of heroes and the only one able to protect them from Mayfair. Avatar of cards and dice.
Miss Wordsmith – An overly verbose nerd who struggles to get the other characters to understand her. Avatar of word spelling games.
Sir Knight – A courageous but often overly dramatic warrior. Is compelled to deliver a soliloquy on death every time he sees a skull. Only walks in ‘L’ shapes. Avatar of Chess.
Baron von Strategy – A somewhat cowardly, awkward chap who suffers from the curse of no one ever having heard of his game: ’99 Gnomes That Know How to Knit’.
Admiral Cannonblast: A rambunctious pirate who acts as an agent of chaos among the group. Drinks homemade booze made from sea slugs. Avatar of games where you blindly guess where the opponents boats are and attempt to sink them via a grid reference.
Mayfair – The evil tyrant and antagonist of our story. Forces our heroes to play games for her amusement, and drags the losers away to be trapped forever as she attempts to cement her monopoly on power.
What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?
Bringing an entirely original idea into the world is always difficult, but especially so when it’s a full length musical! This project has been in development for 2 years, and it’s been countless hours of drafting, reading, then re-drafting scripts and music. We’re also learning how to function as producers and marketers as we go!
I’ve never been this busy, but I wouldn’t trade it for anything at this point.
Why did you want to be involved in this production?
Creating an original work that means something to people is something I’ve always wanted to do. I’ve also come away from every show I’ve ever played as a musician going ‘I think that script could have worked better if XYZ were changed’, and this is my chance to prove myself right.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
Anyone who is young at heart and finds joy in playing games! There’s something in this show for all ages, and we’ve got such a wide range of characters that everyone should find someone to root for.
What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?
Personally, I hope they go home thinking about finally getting around to organising that games night they keep putting off!
What’s going to surprise people about this show?
Probably how professional it all looks and sounds! I think most people hear the words ‘Original Musical’ or ‘Debut Show’ and it sets off alarm bells about lower production values or aspects of the show being a bit under-cooked.
Our team is comprised entirely of people who are either in the professional space already or actively working towards entering it, so we’re executing at a high level.
How is this production bringing something new to this story?
The entire story is new, so I’ll answer instead by saying that we’re aiming to bring something new to the theatre scene in Perth, and ideally, the world.
Is there anything else you’d like to add?
Only that ticket sales are going pretty well, and we’re expecting a full house on opening night. Don’t miss your opportunity to be there for the premiere of something special!
Where can patrons purchase tickets to this production?
Thank you for sharing the captivating journey of Monopoly: The Unauthorised Musical with us. Best wishes for a jam-packed opening night and a fantastical run! May the adventures of Scott and the other beloved characters bring joy and smiles to every corner of the theatre.
Emily McKendry is a multi-talented director, actor and playwright originally from Taree in NSW. Her first two plays, “The Haunting” and “Murder by Invitation” were very well received. Emily co-founded Odyssey Theatre in 2023 alongside Rebecca Smith and Caitlin Addinell. Today we take the time to meet Emily, writer and director of “Once Upon A Grimm Night”, an immersive storytelling escape room experience currently being performed in Sydney.
About Emily McKendry
What’s your favourite fairy tale from childhood? Why?
It’d have to be Cinderella. I used to love the Disney film with the little mice and their corn, then was a bit shocked when I read the Brothers Grimm version: naaaasty. The live action remake is right up there with my favourite comfort films.
Which character from Once Upon a Grimm Night is most similar in personality to the actor/actress who plays them, and how?
I’d have to say Jared as The Narrator and myself as The Witch. Originally, I had thought that I would play the role of The Narrator but I always like to hold open auditions because you never know who will walk through the doors. We’d asked Jared to prepare for The Grimm but when he came in he’d prepared for The Narrator instead. His take on this wonderfully cabaret manic style Narrator inspired me to totally rewrite the character for him. As for The Witch – she’s socially anxious and prefers cats and crosswords to people – I did not set out to write myself but here we are.
What makes your show different from other interactive experiences?
I think the various types of interactivity blended within the one show whilst still maintaining a strong narrative structure. Most of the show is in fact scripted narrative, then on top we’ve got audience improvisation, escape room puzzles, and interactive potion making.
Why did you decide to perform your theatre experience at Old Government House?
You just can’t beat the immersive nature of an actual heritage location. We could try and replicate it somewhere else but it would cost a pretty penny and still never achieve the same ambience. One of my favourite parts of the show is when the audience enter The Witch’s lair – the gasps and audible appreciation of the setting give me little bursts of joy every time.
Do you have any funny or interesting stories of how people reacted during the last season of your show?
How long do you have? Audience interaction means that no two shows are the same. Unfortunately, a lot of them reveal spoilers for the show but The Witch scene always gets some hilarious audience responses.
There is a section where The Narrator asks the audience to consider their futures. One show Jared walked up to a lady and joked that he saw a lot of cats in hers, then with absolute glee she ripped her jacket open and revealed a T-shirt that was printed with the faces of all her 10+ cats. We couldn’t have written that better if we’d tried.
I know you’ve written 2 plays in the past. What inspired you to write this storyline in particular?
I used to write and be a Theatre Production Manager for Dark Stories Theatre, and a few years ago they got approached to create a production in a winery for a winter festival. It didn’t end up happening because there just wasn’t enough time to create it, but I got inspired by the idea of winter and harvest. Traditionally what would you do at that time of year? You’d gather around a fire and tell stories. BOOM; Grimm was born.
If there was any magical object you could bring into this Earth realm from Ever After…what would it be?
I’ve got to go with a classic – a magic wand. I grew up on Harry Potter and desperately wanting to be a witch and not a muggle. I’ve got my bibbity bobbity boo and levi-o-sa down pat.
Is there a sequel in the pipeline so we can see the adventures The Witch and Grimm Volkov get up to next?
You know, so many people have asked me that! I did leave the play open ended on purpose purely because I love the stories that linger with you and make you consider different possibilities. When writing the ending I’ll confess I created a rough outline of their future adventures but as for a sequel, who knows? Never say never.
