Norpa News

Theatre alive and well on Zigzag Street

There is only one aspect of Australian theatre Sean Mee (pictured) feels gloom and doom about, and that's Federal Government funding, or lack thereof, for things like the current Zigzag Street tour.

Otherwise, the artistic director of Brisbane's La Boite theatre is extremely positive about the plays, the players and the punters who are keeping the Australian theatre industry alive and well.

"La Boite likes to create work that connects with people," he said. "There are many ways of looking at theatre... we take the more democratic view. If we create work people can connect to, that affirms and enriches their experiences, they will come to it. Zigzag Street is a prime example of that," Mee said. "One thing is that theatre has to compete with a range of entertainment and cultural choices, and people are exercising more discernment. If you can find that connection with people, then theatre is a wonderful experience. Last year we had over 40,000 people through our venue, the Roundhouse Theatre, largely through plays like Zigzag Street. But tours and such are expensive. The government needs to invest in theatre for the good of the nation."

Mee says he believes theatre is all about engaging people in an individual level.

"In terms of perspectives like 'theatre must challenge the dominant paradigm' - I think that's rubbish," Mee said. "It's a discourse, it's a real conversation with the actors and the play content, and with the audience. It's that great thing of live debate and it's the same reason people go to pubs, or live concerts, or read books. They want to have a conversation. Theatre is a very ancient form of communication and social activity, I don't think we'll ever lose it."

Mee feels La Boite has been very fortunate to work with three of Nick Earls' works, including this current play.

"Nick writes very specifically about the contemporary world, and in particular the people of Brisbane," Mee said. "He has a wonderful generosity, he doesn't really hate anyone. His characters are just ordinary people, trying to do ordinary things, and this quirky humour. It's a celebration of us as a community."

Zigzag Street will be performed at the Star Court Theatre in Lismore next Tuesday night at 8pm and next Wednesday at 11am and 8pm.

The show contains language and concepts that make it suitable for audiences over 15 only.

Tickets are $35.20/$29.20/$15.20 and on sale now at the Northern Rivers Ticket Centre. Phone 6621 5600.

Events and giveaways

• Experience one of the benefits of being a NORPA subscriber with a special invitation to the showing of The Drover's Wives at the Star Court Theatre this weekend. The Drover's Wives is a dance theatre work being developed in the NORPA C-Lab, which is expected to preview at the Perth Festival next year. There will be a special free showing of this work-in-progress for subscribers and NORPA supporters only, but six Echo readers will also be invited to come along. To win, be one of the first six people to send an email to norpa@norpa.org.au with the words "Drover's Wives preview" in the subject line, and your name, address, and telephone number in the body of the email. You'll also have to tell us what was the lead story on page five of this week's Echo, so we know you read about it here in your local free weekly.
• Winner of the double pass to Ruby's Story is A Hermann of Lismore.
• Winner of the double pass to see Paul Capsis is M Brown of Alstonville.