Tue 26 August, 2014

Leland Kean announces resignation,
topping 10 monumental years as Rock Surfers Artistic Director

Leland Kean today announced his intention to resign as Artistic Director of Rock Surfers Theatre Company, coinciding with the final work of the 2015 Season, The Way Things Work, which he is directing.

In ten years as Artistic Director and CEO Kean has led a transformational journey for the Rock Surfers from thriving independent company to funded organisation, through the experimentation and sheer artistic volume of the Old Fitzroy Theatre to the position of Resident Theatre Company at Bondi Pavilion Theatre.

“Under my tenure I have seen a whole industry born and almost three generations of artists walk and be heard on the boards of the venues I have had the privilege to run. I have programmed over 130 main stage productions in ten annual seasons. My proudest achievement is over 100 of these works were additions to the Australian canon and I dip my trucker cap to the courage of the writers, directors and creators who have committed the brave act of documenting the architecture of our language and culture,” said Kean.

The Rock Surfers Theatre Company Board recognise the enormous contribution Kean has made to the company and sector and thank him for his work over the last decade in establishing the now iconic independent theatre company. Chair Nell Schofield said of Kean:

“Keano is a legend in Sydney’s theatre circles and has made Rock Surfers a beacon for new independent theatre practitioners.”

Speaking of his achievements Kean notes the establishment of wages and fees for artists in the company as another of his proudest.

“When I took over the company we had a small theatre in a pub in the back of Woolloomooloo, receiving a small amount of support through funding but mostly through our own passion. We were paid $50 a week by the company and worked in the box office to make ends meet and the artists working in the venue often received nothing for their time. I leave the company now with established local, state and federal funding in one of Sydney’s most iconic locations and one of my proudest achievements is the company employees and artists are now paid wages and fees for their work,” said Kean.

Rock Surfers’ Associate Artistic Director Phil Spencer will deliver Rock Surfers 2015 Summer Season as Acting Artistic Director. The Rock Surfers Theatre Company Board will initiate the search for a new Artistic Director for the Rock Surfers, with call for Expressions of Interest opening shortly.

For more information contact General Manager, Michael Brown
michael@rocksurfers.org 02 9365 0147

Rock Surfers Theatre Company Artistic Director, Leland Kean

Dear Friends and enemies, colleagues and critics, ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls,

Could you please turn off your mobile phones.

After ten wonderful years working for this amazing company, today I am proud to announce my resignation from the Rock Surfers as it’s Artistic Director and CEO. I will be stepping down from my position in November this year after almost 11 years with the Rock Surfers and almost eight of those as the company’s Artistic Director.

Under my tenure I have seen a whole industry born and almost three generations of artists walk and be heard on the boards of the venues I have had the privilege to run. I have programmed over 130 main stage productions in ten annual seasons. My proudest achievement is over 100 of these works were additions to the Australian canon and I dip my trucker cap to the courage of the writers, directors and creators who have committed the brave act of documenting the architecture of our language and culture.

Not many artists are lucky enough to be in the position I have and experience the force of artistic talent at its genesis. There is something amazing in the raw passion of the emerging artist and form. The need to create, the desire of that person or form be heard. To have had the privilege on so many occasions to witness this I am truly blessed.

It has also been a massive pain in the arse. The waiting on funding and endless search for money. Having councils turn up two days before Xmas to shut down the theatre. The endless leaks in the Fitzroy roof. The endless justification that what we do is valid and the importance of funding and supporting the emerging and independent sector. For to ignore this is to ignore the future of our industry and threatens the future relevance of the art form in this country.

Highlights? Heaps. I’ve loved to watch audiences laugh. From Men in 2000 to Empire in 2014 it’s been an amazing journey and I hope those of you who have worked with me or have sat in one of my theatres and watched one of my productions have had half as much fun as I have creating them for this wonderful company.

Disappointments? Not many. That the independent sector has yet to really represent our indigenous heritage and multicultural Australia. If there is to be a change in our theatre then it must come from the bottom up and while we probably do a better job than most we still do not do enough.

When I took over the company we had a small theatre in a pub in the back of Woolloomooloo, receiving a small amount of support through funding but mostly through our own passion. We were paid $50 a week by the company and worked in the box office to make ends meet and the artists working in the venue often received nothing for their time. I leave the company now with established local, state and federal funding in one of Sydney’s most iconic locations and one of my proudest achievements is the company employees and artists are now paid wages and fees for their work.

There are so many people to thank who have helped the Rock Surfers and myself over the last ten years and as always I’ll miss a few I’m sure but here goes. First Bridgette Van Leuven and Angela Cecco at Arts NSW, without each of your support and understanding of the sector it would not be what it is today. Antoinetta Morgillo and Lyn Wallis at Oz Co for your endless efforts in recognising the sector’s importance. Naomi Jacobs without whom the Bondi Pavilion Theatre would not exist.

To all the members of the Rock Surfers family both past and present but in particular our founding father Dr. Jeremy Cumpston, Iain Crossing, Zena Cumpston, Ansuya Nathan, Lucinda Gleeson, Kirsty Smyth, Danielle Denny, Fiona Butler, Zoe Norton Lodge, Luke Cowling. Larna Burgess Munro, Vashti Pontaks, Dave Jank (in so many ways), Sophie Finnane, Michael Brown, Phil Spencer, Leonie Tillman, Van Badham, Jennifer Hamilton (I don’t think anyone will truly know how much you did for this company Jen x), Chris Fardon, Simon Robinson, Jamie Exworth, The Rock Surfers Board both past and present and in particular Clayton Noble who has been there all the way with me. To the Pasfield family and especially Garry, thanks for letting us do what we did in your house for so long. To Riggo, Sparky, Nev, Billy M, Jimmy W, and Dave Bish, I will never forget.

To all the writers, performers, designers, technicians and theatre makers who have contributed to the Rock Surfers in the last decade thank you but especially for me my creative team of Luiz Pampolha, Jeremy Silver and Tim Burns. John AD, Sue, Suzie, Trav, Minch, Stephen, BBC, David thanks for all the scribbles and to Toby, thanks mate, your words have been a gift and built the foundations of the Rock Surfers reputation.

To Alan Flower, the man who started all this for me, I want my ten years back you bastard! Thanks mate x To my all my mates who have supported me and this company for the last 17 years but in particular Em J and Rock who have had to listen to me whine more than most. To my beautiful partner Kar Chalmers who lived this world for seven years and then has been forced to live it for seven more, thank you for your patience, your ear and your understanding x

It has been a joy emerging with you all, now, what’s the wind doing….

Keep surfing, keep independent

Keano

Submissions are now open for the Rock Surfers 2015 Season at The Bondi Pavilion Theatre.

For over a decade The Rock Surfers have been committed to the creation and presentation of the best new contemporary theatre and performance practice.

Just download 2015 Rock Surfers Submission Pack for all details on how to apply:

Queries, email submissions@rocksurfers.org

Application Deadline: 5.00pm MONDAY SEPTEMBER 15, 2014.

Turn off the TV. Shut down the computer. Rock Surfers Theatre Company is coming to a lounge room near you – maybe even yours! The Rock Surfers are stepping out of their Bondi theatre and into your home, with three new shows ready to order straight to your door. The choice is yours – throw open your front door and play host, or invite yourself to a stranger’s home for an intimate night of theatrical antics, music and storytelling

ATTEND A PERFORMANCE: bookings open soon, join the e-news list (“in the loop” on the right hand side of the page, to be first informed when bookings open).

VOLUNTEER YOUR HOME TO HOST A PERFORMANCE:
What does it take to host a night of this thrilling project you say?

1. Have a decent sized room in a house/apartment located in City of Sydney Local Government area – map and included suburbs at this link http://bit.ly/cofssuburbs

2. Have this pretty big room in a house/apartment (approx 3m x 3m, think big living room, lounge room, to fit 10-20 people, might need to move some furniture. The more the merrier).

3. Own the house (sorry, yes, you have to own it) or have direct permission of owner (e.g. if they’re your parents). Sorry but we can’t go into rented places.

4. Have a sense of humour, adventure and readiness to welcome some guests into your home for an hour to share in some good art

To submit your interest in this unique opportunity to be a part of art presented in a brand new way, close to home, please complete the form below or contact michael@rocksurfers.org directly or call Rock Surfers, 02 9365 0147.

If you have any difficulty completing the form please go direct to the form here

Rock Surfers Theatre Company presents Bondi Feast 2014.

Bondi Feast is a fringe-style winter festival celebrating the best in homegrown theatre, music, comedy, visual arts and food. Housed at the iconic Bondi Pavilion, Bondi Feast has doubled in size since 2012, and this year will showcase over 100 artists in around 40 shows across three weeks from July 7 – 26.

So now we need your help!

Volunteering for Bondi Feast is just the right combination of fun and rewarding. Share your time and skills and you’ll become part of the Bondi Feast community of over 100 artists and volunteers, score free entry to stacks of Bondi Feast shows, meet cool people, and get hands on behind the scenes experience in a unique independent arts festival.

Whatever your skills, interests and experience, there’s something for everyone. Whether it’s art gallery installation, assisting technical crew, herding crowds and ripping tickets in front of house, serving up hot ciders at the Feast bar, or supporting the festival’s local and interstate artists, we’ve got just the job for you.

There are also a number of more engaged intern roles with longer lead in to the festival, including support roles in marketing, publicity, logistics, artist liaison, production, and assistant lighting and sound design. These roles would suit students or recent graduates in these fields, or super keen individuals looking to gain experience in these areas.

Volunteering at Bondi Feast is a great way to gain new skills, expand your networks, and find career opportunities; and of course, free tickets, memories and your very own laminated festival pass!

We hope to see you on board for Bondi Feast 2014.

Essential Requirements

Participants must be over 18 years of age*
Participants must be available during the festival dates (July 7-26)

How to Apply
Please complete the registration form below

Welcome to the Rock Surfers 2014 Season.

The year ahead is filled with urgent political discourse, pitch black comedy, innovative collaborations, jam-packed festivals and a few superheroes too.

TROUBLE by Drop Bear Theatre (21 – 26 April)
A fast paced comic exchange for kids by award winning writer Mike Kenny.
“…children’s theatre at its finest” (Mem Fox, Author). Ages 2+

SYDNEY WRITERS’ FESTIVAL (19 – 24 May)
Australia’s finest literary celebration heads to Bondi for a week of shows, interviews, and storytelling. Featuring award-winning UK poet/playwright Inua Ellams, Melbourne’s own Poet Laureate Telia Nevile, playwright Nakkiah Lui and much more.

SYDNEY COMEDY FESTIVAL (13 May)
Sydney Comedy Festival hand-pick the funniest and freshest acts of Sydney’s biggest annual comedy event and squeeze them Into one hilarious night of world-class comedy. This is the best value ticket in town, so don’t miss out!

THE BOAT PEOPLE by Benedict Hardie (29 May – 21 June)
Rock Surfers have teamed up with multi-award winning theatre company The Hayloft Project to premier a black comedy about our desire to decide ‘who comes to this country and the circumstances in which they come’. Life vest not included.

BONDI FEAST (July 8 – 26)
Rock Surfers’ sell-out annual winter festival celebrates all the best in homegrown theatre, music, comedy, visual arts and food over three delectable weeks of feasting. 15 Nights. 50 + Performances. 200 + artists. EOI close April 21.

THE SUPERHERO TRAINING ACADEMY (30 Sep – 4 Oct)
Hey Kid! The Superhero Training Academy needs YOU! Suit up, get the moves, get the powers and Pow! Bam! Snurk! your way to victory. Theatre meets workshop meets magic, told in rap and rhyming slang. Ages 6-10.

THE WAY THINGS WORK by Aidan Fennessy (5 – 29 Nov)
With the support of Cordell Jigsaw Zapruder (CJZ) we will present a newly commissioned play by Aidan Fennessy. A tense political thriller about the business of business and how we get the kind of criminal we deserve.

CUT & PASTE (Various)
Rock Surfers team up with Giant Dwarf to present a bi-monthly scratch night which invites playwrights, comics, musicians, poets, cabaret artists and the occasional strong man to try out a new ten-minute idea in front of you, the audience. Giant Dwarf (199 Cleveland Street).

THE REMOVALISTS (On tour)
Leland Kean’s razor sharp production of one of David Williamson’s most popular and explosive plays hits the road on a national tour, with Critical Stages, at Brisbane Powerhouse and Glen St Theatre

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Rock Surfers’ SUMMER CAMP program presents six weeks of Sydney artist residencies, showings and theatrical orienteering from Jan 27th – March 8th, 2014.

Week 5 of Summer Camp sees Luke Carson, Stephen Wilkinson and Elizabeth Heaney, aka Cut the Bull, lighting their creative campfire. Cut the Bull are an independent collective of actors and writers producing self-written work. While at Summer Camp, they’re teaming up with actors Zoe Carides, Peter McAllum, and Jeremy Waters to develop and refine their first full-length play, Second Time Around – a play about strengths, fears and second chances.

Luke Carson Bio:
Luke has written for Heart Dot Com (Tap Gallery), 12 Plays of Christmas (Tap Gallery), Griffringe (The Stables), Cut & Paste #9 (Rock Surfers Theatre Company), Jurassic Lounge (Australian Museum), Sydney Comedy Festival (Factory), Sussmania (The Sugar Mill) and Singled Out (Seymour Centre).

Stephen Wilkinson Bio:
Stephen has appeared in Political Hearts of Children and Christina In the Cupboard (Subtlenuance), Mayday project (Tap Gallery), I Contain Multitudes (Old 505), Cut & Paste #9 (Old Fitzroy Theatre) GRIFFringe (The Stables Theatre), Sluteratti (New Theatre), and Brand Spanking New (New Theatre), amongst other productions.

Elizabeth Heaney Bio:
Elizabeth has appeared in Bronte (ATYP) which she also produced, Cut & Paste #9 (Rock Surfers Theatre Company) and numerous short films.

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Rock Surfers’ SUMMER CAMP program presents six weeks of Sydney artist residencies, showings and theatrical orienteering from Jan 27th – March 8th, 2014.

Theatremaker Benedict Hardie will spend a week at Summer Camp from 3-7 March to develop his latest work.

Hardie’s award-winning theatre company The Hayloft Project is committed to shaping an Australian theatre culture that reflects and engages with our ever-changing society. These guys seek to develop and extend their collaborative theatremaking practice, and to find new forms, voices and narratives to create intelligent, passionate theatre that lives long in the memory.

Benedict Hardie Bio:
Benedict Hardie is an actor, writer and theatremaker, and the Artistic Director of The Hayloft Project. For The Hayloft Project, he co-wrote and co-directed 3xSisters; wrote, co-devised and performed in Yuri Wells; co-adapted and performed in The Nest; and wrote and directed Delectable Shelter and The Seizure. Benedict graduated from the VCA in 2007, and his acting credits include Julius Caesar (Bell Shakespeare), Life Without Me (MTC), Crime and Punishment (Stork Theatre), and Actors at Work (Bell Shakespeare). His writings for film include The Nurses (Channel Ten) and Staying (MTV One80project).

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Rock Surfers’ SUMMER CAMP program presents six weeks of Sydney artist residencies, showings and theatrical orienteering from Jan 27th – March 8th, 2014.

Cantadora is a young, all‐female collaborative group, interested in exploring current issues for women today. Multidisciplinary artists trained at AADA, these girls act, direct, write, design and produce all of their works.

While camping out at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre from 24-28 February, Candatora (Stephanie Lindwall, Madeleine White, Maryellen George, Laura May Farran, Sophie Fairweather & Gemma Scoble) will begin work on a piece exploring what it is to be a female today.

Stephanie Lindwall Bio:
(TRS) Actor & ASM: Empire; SM: The Horse’s Mouth Festival; Swing  Technician: The  Removalists, Anaconda. (NIDA, Parade Studio) SM: Set, The Play. (The Old Fitz, Cupboard Love) Production Manager: Say Hello First. (Riverside Theatres) SM: A View from Moving Windows.

Madeleine White Bio:
(Sydney Chamber Opera) ASM: Owen Wingrave. Madeleine spent an extensive part of the year exploring theatre making across India and in New York and Boston.

Maryellen George Bio:
(Bell Shakespeare) Placement Shadow Director: Actors at Work, (Sport For Jove) ASM:  Summer Season 2012-­13 Othello, (The Old Fitz, Cupboard Love) Assistant Director: Say Hello First, (Riverside Theatres, RLE) Director: The Shoehorn Sonata, (Epicentre Theatre Company & The Long Walk Theatre Company) Actor – Blackrock.

Laura May Farran Bio:
Bell Shakespeare Actor Training, (Packemin Productions, Riverside) Actor: Hairspray, (Brave New Word Theatre Company) SM: Body Language, (The Long Walk Theatre Company) Assistant Designer: Blackrock.

Sophie Fairweather Bio:
(Old Fitz, Cupboard Love) SM/Actor: Say Hello First, (Paddington Reservoir Gardens) Actor: Absolutely Relative, (New Theatre) SM: Pillowman, (Joan Sutherland Theatre) SM: In a Moment.

Gemma  Scoble Bio:
(Monkey  Baa) SM: The Chaos Fairy, (The Long Walk Theatre  Company) Actor: By  Any  Other  Name, (SITCO) Actor: Friday, (Les Theatre Des  Assasins) Actor: Roberto Zucco, (Shakespeare on the Green) Actor: As You Like It.

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.

Rock Surfers’ SUMMER CAMP program presents six weeks of Sydney artist residencies, showings and theatrical orienteering from Jan 27th – March 8th, 2014.

Melissa Lee Speyer brings her new play TickTickBoom to the Bondi Pav from 24-28 February as part of our Summer Camp program. During her week in the theatre, Melissa and her team will work on the second draft of TickTickBoom, her first full-length play.

Melissa Lee Speyer Bio:
Melissa graduated from NIDA’s playwriting course in 2011. Her NIDA graduation play, Seekers, received a Highly Commended in the Di Cranston Script Award from the Fellowship of Australian Writers, and in 2012 she received an Artstart grant from the Australia Council. TickTickBoom is her first full-length play, the first draft of which was shortlisted for Playwriting Australia’s National Script Workshop in late 2013. Melissa is teaming up with director Felicity Nicol for TickTickBoom, which will be their second collaboration together after The Small Poppies at New Theatre in 2013.

Felicity Nicol Bio:
Felicity has been creating theatre and performance for the local and national independent sector for eight years. During this time she has directed contemporary Australian and German work, and devised multi-disciplined physical theatre which includes the cabaret Bienvenue à Brelville for the Adelaide Fringe Festival, and the physical theatre/sideshow Fat Boy Dancing for the Sydney Fringe Festival, later nominated for the Excellence in New Theatre Award. In 2011 she attended NIDA as a Postgraduate Director, and then went on to study Mask and Mime theatre in Paris with Philippe Gaulier after being awarded an Ian Potter Cultural Trust Grant.  In 2013 she collaborated with The Border Project and the internationally acclaimed Belgian company Ontroerend Goed on their most recent interactive devised work, Fight Night, which is currently touring Europe. Felicity holds a Bachelor of Art History & Theory from College of Fine Arts and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre & Performance Studies from UNSW.

Rebecca Barbera Bio:
Growing up in Perth, Rebecca performed in stage productions including Sweet Charity and To Kill A Mockingbird before being accepted into The National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) in 2009. While studying at NIDA, Rebecca performed in productions such as Not I directed by Kip Williams, The House of Bernarda Alba directed by Tony Knight,Twelfth Night directed by Tom Healey and Port directed by Kristine Landon-Smith. Since graduating in 2011 Rebecca has been involved with a number of projects including the touring production ofFrenzy For Two directed by Rachel Baring and The Morning Show written by Micah Joel. Rebecca also worked as an assistant director on the ATYP production of 4000 Miles, directed by Anthony Skuse. Since 4000 Miles in May this year, Rebecca has worked extensively as both an actor and assistant director in the development of new Australian works for a number of independent companies, directors and playwrights.  Rebecca was most recently seen in Don’t Look Away’s 2013 production of Rooted directed by Phil Rouse.

Maeve McGregor Bio:
Maeve McGregor graduated from NIDA’s Acting course in 2011. While at NIDA she performed in Steve Martin’s adaptation of The Threesome, directed by Morgan Dowsett, and Ian Wilding’s new Australian work, Rare Earth directed by Chris Mead. She also performed in developments and moved readings of new writing by the NIDA playwriting students, including the graduation plays Pictures of Bright Lights by Maree Freeman, directed by Stephen Nicolazzo, and Seekers by Melissa Lee Speyer, directed by Rodney Fisher. Since graduating from NIDA, she has also performed in Top Girls by Caryl Churchill, directed by Alice Livingstone for New Theatre and Lyrebird by Amelia Evans, directed by Jemma Gurney for Tamarama Rock Surfers.

Click HERE for more info on our Summer Camp program.