The Writer - Rita Kalnejais
rita kalnejais
Rita Kalnejais is a VCA graduate who has worked extensively as an actor at Belvoir, Griffin, Malthouse and Sydney Theatre Companies. Her first play, B.C. was nominated for Best New Australian Play in the 2009 Greenroom Awards. Her short plays, Whistling in Bed and How To Get Very Clean were performed at Sydney Theatre Company in 2011. Whistling was later presented by Caryl Churchill at Theatre 503, London. In 2012 Rita’s play Babyteeth premiered at Belvoir St Theatre and was subsequently produced by the State Theatre Company of South Australia in 2013.
She was resident playwright at Sydney Theatre Company in 2011 and at Soho Theatre, London in 2014/2015 where First Love is the Revolution enjoyed a popular season. It has since been produced by Steep Theatre, Chicago; Apollinaire Theatre, Boston and had a critically acclaimed and award nominated season at Griffin Theatre in Sydney in December 2019. This Beautiful Future was listed in the top ten critics’ choices for 2017 in The Guardian, UK. Rita wrote the screenplay adaptation of her play Babyteeth which in 2019 screened at multiple festivals around the world. She is currently living in London with her gorgeous kid and dog, writing films.
The Director - Emma Drysdale
Emma is a British actor & director trained at the Central School of Speech and Drama, who has been living “down under” since 2018. Acting credits include: Olivier award-winning 'Goodnight Mr Tom' (West End/UK Tour) short film 'Perfection' (Best Comedy at the Melbourne Short Film Festival '22) and 'Big Words, Small Stories' for ABC Kids.
Directing credits include: 'Every Second' (Wit Inc.) ‘Madwomen Monologues’ (Baggage Theatre), ‘Mid-west Scouse’ (Theatre Works/ MWT) ‘Four Femmes on the Thames’ (Edinburgh Festival) Emma has been a part of Wit Inc. since 2021 and is proud of the whole team for their dedication to making Indie theatre.
From the Director
What a wild ride this has been! Bringing this story to life has been a riviting challenge. Being fairly new to directing, there were many moments when initially reading the play I questioned how we could do this. Chickens dying? Inter-species love making? Insane fight sequences? We needed an ambitious, brave and committed team of artists to bring this gloriously absurd world to life, and working collaboratively with each of them has been a rewarding experience, where we have all been stretched artistically. Rita wrote this play ten years ago, but it feels more relatable now than ever. This play is the reason why we watch theatre; to feel, to laugh, to be shocked, and to share this experience with strangers, in a world that is full of so much uncertainty. This play highlights the best and the worst in all of us and our unquestionable need to connect with others. And that despite all the hate, the fear, the chaos that surrounds us daily, love always wins.
The Artists
(Click the pictures for Artist Bios)
Cast
Rdeca: Madeleine Magee-Carr
Basti: Sam Eade
Cochineal/Bailey Chicken: Tara Daniel
Simon/Gregor Mole/Quentin: Grag Caine
Thoreau/Rovis: Conagh Punch
Gustina/Gemma/Smulan: Shanu Sobti
Crew
Director: Emma Drysdale
Production Manager/AD: Lansy Feng
Lighting Designer: Jarman Oakley
Sound Designer: Josh Mitchell
Tech operator: Darren Thao
Costume/Set Designer/ Stage Manager: Silvia Shao
Stage Manager: Ella Compbell
Marketing Manager: Lauren Gallina
Publicity support: Claire Burns
Other contributors
Photographer (hero image): Ashleigh Coleman
Photographer (production): Sarah Clarke
Intimacy Coach: Rebecca Fortuna
Movement Coach: Lily Fish
Stage Combat Coach: Seb Muirhead
Graphic Designer: Ash Tardy
Interns
Production manager assistant: Yiwei Ju
Show Info
Duration: approximately 100 minutes
Age: Suitability: 15+
Content Warning: Coarse language, adult theme, violence, sexual scenes, strobe lighting effects, sudden loud noises, theatrical fog/haze. ( Content warning guidelines.)
With support from Maribyrnong Arts and Culture
The Company
Wit Incorporated is a vibrant and inclusive professional theatre community championing diverse and engaging work that inspires artists and audiences alike.
Our mission is to forge artistic connections in Melbourne's West by sharing stories that are culturally rich and representative of humankind as a whole.
Wit Incorporated values inclusivity, joy, bravery, sustainability and respect.
We run a series of programs, including our Sundays Creative Workshops and Wit Kids children's drama classes.
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Theatre is a vital part of a healthy, growing society. Sharing stories helps us to grow, learn and connect. Since 2014, we have worked to create accessible, sustainable theatre that reflects the experience of our people.
We value creativity, accessibility, sustainability, inclusion and kindness.
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