LOW
DIRECTOR/ JENNIFER SARAH DEAN
WRITER/ DANIEL KEENE
8 - 12 NOVEMBER, 2022
EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
SHOW TIMES
TICKETS
ABOUT
Tues 8 NOV, 7:30pm Wed 9 NOV, 7:30pm Thurs 10 NOV, 7:30pm Fri 11 NOV, 7:30pm Sat 12 NOV, 7:30pm
Full price $45.00 Concession $35.00 Preview $28.00 Mob Tix $20.00
DURATION
WARNINGS
90 minutes
Use of imitation firearm, Use of imitation knives, Reference to sexual violence, Depiction of alcoholism, Blood.
CAST/CREATIVES
Cast: Matthew Connell, Veronica Thomas Director: Jennifer Sarah Dean Stage Manager: Harry Dowling Lighting Designer: Kris Chainey Set & Costume Design: Chelsea Neate Photography & Graphic Design: Chelsea Neate Marketing Manager: Tanith Facey Sound Design: Thomas Kunz
Low is a stark portrayal of individuals grappling with poverty, addiction, and the effects of trauma. It offers an examination of the human spirit's ability to endure and find glimmers of light in dark times.
As the 1991 recession presses harder, Emma and Jay take the law into their own hands to survive the lonely backstreets of Melbourne.
Staged at Theatre Works' warehouse space Explosives Factory.
Address: Rear Laneway 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda.
This is a lockout event.
CRITICAL RESPONSE
The Blurb
‘Veronica Thomas is outstanding in her characterisation’
‘Matthew Connell brings to bear a hangdog look in Jay’
‘Director Jennifer Sarah Dean ensures the play moves along at pace. Scene changes (28 vignettes) are swift and seamless.’
Theatre Travels
‘Veronica Thomas is a revelation in her role as strung-out Emma’
‘Chelsea Neate’s excellent minimal set is a crime scene the characters themselves complete'
MEDIA
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Low is a fierce text, about two star-crossed lovers living a less than fairytale story as they battle poverty and addiction in inner-city Melbourne. What first attracted me to the play was the power and provocation of Daniel Keene’s unique writing style, his mastery of language combined with the raw depiction of character and the human condition. Keene’s writing exists without judgement or opinion, it shares the world of these characters with us openly and allows us to join them on their journey across 28 captivating moments in time. I am so excited that we are able to share this provocative story with you. A story that may stimulate political conversation, inspire questions about morality, or reflections about our roles within society. Or it may not. At the very least I hope you leave the theatre tonight feeling engaged and excited to have shared in a piece of local storytelling here in St Kilda. Thank you for supporting the arts and independent theatre in Melbourne.
JENNIFER SARAH DEAN/ DIRECTOR
DANIEL KEENE/ PLAYWRIGHT
Jennifer trained at the Guildford School of Acting and later at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London. Jennifer is the Resident Director for the Australian Tour of Moulin Rouge! The Musical! and the Artistic Director of the Melbourne Shakespeare Company. Jennifer has directed 10 productions for Melbourne Shakespeare Company including Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Twelfth Night and The Taming of the Shrew. Jennifer’s other Australian directing credits include The Haunting at Melbourne’s Athenaeum Theatre, a site specific production of Festen at the Ripponlea Ballroom, and Tom Stoppard’s Travesties at fortyfivedownstairs. Jennifer was the Resident Director on the first Australian national tour of Ghost Stories, Associate Director on Hamlet for Victorian Theatre Company and Text Coach/Director's Mentor for And She Would Stand Like This for Antipodes Theatre Company. Jennifer is represented by Ian White Management and you can follow her on Instagram @jennifersarahdean
‘Daniel Keene has written over 70 plays and his work has been produced in every Australian capital city, including at the Melbourne Theatre Company, The Sydney Theatre Company, The Malthouse Theatre, The Griffin Theatre, The Seymour Centre, Theatre Works, The Sydney Opera House and La Boite. He has won numerous literary and performing arts awards including The Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award, The NSW Premier’s Prize for Literature (three times), The Victorian Premier’s Prize for Literature (twice), The Sumner Locke Elliot Prize and The Adelaide Festival Award for Literature. Source: danielkeene.com.au Keene wrote LOW in 1990.
MATTHEW CONNELL/ ACTOR
VERONICA THOMAS/ ACTOR
Matthew is an acting graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts. His television credits include The Blake Mysteries, Preacher, Ms Fisher’s MODern Murder Mysteries, Neighbours, Celebration Nation & Sherazade: The Untold Stories as well as Australian feature films The Boy Castaways (Arena Media, Soft Tread, Mene Mene) and Ecco Homo (Ghost Pictures). Matthew’s theatre credits include Hello Goodbye & Happy Birthday (Malthouse/ Melbourne Festival), Hamlet (Australian Shakespeare Company), Romeo and Juliet and King Lear (Melbourne Shakespeare Company), Travesties (Bloomsday In Melbourne) Cock (15 Minutes From Anywhere), The Darkening Sky and LOW (Victorian Theatre Company), and Variations Or Exit Music (Justin Nott Company). Most recently he featured in Code Of Conduct (Rory Godbold & Mark Wilson). As Artistic Director of Victorian Theatre Company, Matthew has programmed six productions to date.
A Melbourne local, Veronica has been an avid performer since the age of seven. An accomplished dancer and cellist from an early age she then found her calling in acting, refining her skills at The Victorian College of the Arts. Whilst training at The VCA, she toured for the Adelaide Fringe and various shows in the Melbourne Comedy Festivals. Since graduating, her stage presence continued performing with the Redstitch Ensemble (‘Playlists’), Lamama (‘Thigh Gap’, ‘When The Light Leaves’), Theatreworks (‘Himmelweg, ‘Hose’), Fortyfivedownstairs (‘Fallen) amongst others. Some of her screen credits include ‘Neighbours’, The international award-winning 'Bruce' 'Sexy Herpes' ‘The Dr Blake Murder Mysteries', ‘Shantaram’, How to Talk Australian’ and ‘Ride Like a Girl’. Veronica most recently performed with the Victorian Theatre Company in ‘Low’ and is set to soar with more upcoming projects this year.
