LOW
By Daniel Keene
8 - 12 NOVEMBER, 2022
EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
Rear Laneway 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda.
CAST Matthew Connell, Veronica Thomas
DIRECTOR Jennifer Sarah Dean
STAGE MANAGER Harry Dowling
SOUND DESIGN Thomas Kunz
LIGHTING DESIGN Kris Chainey
SET, COSTUME DESIGN Chelsea Neate
PRODUCER Matthew Connell
MARKETING MANAGER Tanith Facey
PHOTOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC DESIGN Chelsea Neate
VICTORIAN THEATRE COMPANY AT THEATRE WORKS
ABOUT
Jay and Emma take the law into their own hands as they try to survive the streets of Melbourne. A dark, poetic love story that comes from and belongs to our streets.
Australia: 1991. Recession grips the country and many Australians find themselves out of work and out of luck...
Through 28 poems, Daniel Keene’s LOW tells the story of two outcasts trying to claim their place in society. The text is weaved together with an original score that underpins the emotional journey of the young narrators.
As the struggle of isolation is widely felt, now more than ever, Daniel Keene’s LOW (written in 1990), travels through time and grabs us by the heart. Although the characters find themselves in dire circumstances, it is ultimately a story of hope.
SHOW TIMES
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
TICKETS
Full price $45.00
Concession $35.00
Preview $28.00
Mob Tix $20.00
DURATION
90 minutes
WARNINGS
Use of imitation firearm, Use of imitation knives, Reference to animal violence, Reference to sexual violence, Language, Depiction of alcoholism and alcoholic behaviour, Blood.
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 Dean, Director.
JENNIFER DEAN - DIRECTOR
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
MATTHEW CONNELL - ACTOR
Matthew is an acting graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts.
A 2013 Heath Ledger Scholarship finalist, 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.
VERONICA THOMAS - ACTOR
A Melbourne local, Veronica has been an avid performer since the age of 7. An accomplished dancer and cellist from an early age, she then found her calling in acting, performing in various productions and short films, before being accepted into the VCA straight out of school.
Whilst training, Veronica performed in The Melbourne International Comedy Festival and The Adelaide Fringe, and sustained her interest in dance, teaching casual classes.
Among Theatre credits are: her role as Ruth in 'Cosi' (Directed by Greg Stone); Perdita in, 'A Winter's Tale', (Directed by Rhys McConnochie); Alister Smiths 'Hose', and 'Himmelweg', performed at Theatreworks; and 'Alice in Wonderland,' (playing Alice) (Directed by James Wardlaw).
She has done Television and Radio commercials for RACV, Tourism Victoria, iSelect, ANZ, Medibank, and Dennis Family Homes. Extensive screen experience including ‘Neighbours’, a lead role in the international award-winning 'Bruce' Directed by Tony Rogers; 'Sexy Herpes' Directed by Madeleine Mullen Dyer, screened on the 9 Network; and a lead role in, 'The Dr Blake Murder Mysteries' Telemovie on ABC.
Veronica recently performed in ‘Thigh Gap’, at La Mama whilst simultaneously performing in ‘When The Light Leaves’ which toured around regional VIC in 2020. She was excited to see the release of her first feature film ‘Ride Like A Girl’ and has also just finished shooting a new Netflix series that is due to be released in 2022.
DANIEL KEENE - PLAYWRIGHT
‘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.
8 - 12 NOVEMBER, 2022
