The Cove

July 22nd-August 16th 2009
The Dog Theatre
42A Albert Street Footscray
premieres: cafe table/somewhere in the middle of the night/a death/the morning after
revivials: two shanks/to whom it may concern/a glass of twilight/the first train

four world premieres and four revivals of the work of daniel keene
directed by matt scholten
featuring harli ammes, danielle carter, jan freidl, matthew molony, bruce myles and majid shokor
set design kat chan costume design katherine branch lighting design lisa mibus

This project has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, its arts funding and advisory body.

http://thecoveseason.blogspot.com/

Australia Council Grant

If Theatre has received an Australia Council Grant in the Production category to present our season of work by Daniel Keene called The Cove. This grant is greatly appreciated and will assist in the production and payment of the key personnel bringing the work to The Dog Theatre in July & August this year.

Stay tuned for more news soon on the season.

If you would like to read the Australia Council announcement please visit: http://www.australiacouncil.gov.au/grants/amr/theatre/theatre_-_march_2009

Season 2009

Click on the image above for a larger, readable version.

Dear friends, supporters and colleagues,

I would like to invite you to engage with us in 2009 as part of our growing audience. My thanks to all of you who have seen and supported our work over the past two years. In 2009, we are premiering three new projects based at The Dog Theatre in Footscray.

In May, our theatrical response to Dostoevsky's Crime and Punishment will open for a limited showing of this "work in progress". A collaboration with Justin Batchelor and Line Up Films, this project will re-surface in 2010 as a fully realised adaptation of the classic novel and will be presented this year in a very limited season as part of its creative development.

In July, we will be presenting The Cove a world premiere season of four new plays by Daniel Keene along with four revivals of his past work. This is an exciting opportunity to engage with the work of the amazing Daniel Keene in a four week season of new work and revivals of selected works from the acclaimed Keene/Taylor Project.

In November Mr. Football, a new documentary-style play written and directed by me and based on the life of legendary Footscray footballer EJ "Teddy" Whitten will debut as part of the Big West Festival. A life lived large in Melbourne's West brought to the stage for the first time as a tribute to a great man and an icon of Aussie Rules: written, created and performed in his home town.

Our work in 2009 has been generously supported by The Dog Theatre's Creative Director, Ms. Peta Hanrahan and the City of Maribyrnong.

The Dog Theatre's new website will be up and growling very soon at: http://www.thedogtheatre.com

Best Wishes to you all for a wonderful year ahead

Matt Scholten
Artistic Director, If Theatre

Crime + Punishment 1.0 (a work in progress)

With support from The Dog Theatre, If Theatre will be presenting five public showings of Crime + Punishment 1.0 a work in development as a collaboration between If Theatre and Line Up Films.
An adaptation of Dostoevsky's novel, the work is being adapted and directed by Matt Scholten in collaboration with film maker Justin Batchelor and will feature live performances by actors Troy Larkin, Susan Miller, Genevieve Guiffre, Lawrence Price, Kevin Summers, Brad Williams and Paul David Goddard in conjunction with a filmed element featuring these and other performers.
The work will be developed and shown in a limited season at The Dog Theatre in Footscray.
We invite you to come along and participate in the development of a new Australian work based on one of the greatest novels of the ninteenth century in Melbourne's newest theatre space, The Dog Theatre.
More details, new dates and more casting news to come.

If Theatre and Line Up Films Presents
Crime + Punishment 1.0
after Dostovesky
Adapted and Directed by Matt Scholten
Film and Visuals by Justin Batchelor
Designed by Matt Scholten & Justin Batchelor
Stage Manager Jo Kargiotis
Picture Credit: Justin Batchelor

The Cove

If Theatre presents
The Cove
8 short plays by Daniel Keene
Directed by Matt Scholten

July 20-August 16 2009
Tuesdays to Saturday 8pm
Matinee Saturdays and Sundays 2pm
The Dog Theatre
42A Albert Street Footscray

$25.00/$20.00
Tuesday 8pm Performances All tickets $20.00

If Theatre presents four world premieres and four revivals of the work of the remarkable Daniel Keene, all directed by Matt Scholten whose acclaimed production of Keene's Half and Half opened The Dog Theatre in September 2008.

8 hours of theatre performed by an ensemble of eight amazing actors over a four week season at The Dog Theatre.

More details to come...

Mr Football

A docu-drama about the life and legend of EJ "Ted" Whitten.
Written and Directed by Matt Scholten
Big West Festival
November 20-29 2009
Click here for more details

Half & Half

Anthony Winnick & Matthew Molony in Daniel Keene's Half & Half

Directed by Matt Scholten Designed by Katherine Branch at The Dog Theatre September-October 2008

Click for a larger version of the photograph

About the show:
Alison Croggon's Preview
Star News Article

Click the postcard above to enlarge

Anthony Winnick (Ned) & Matthew Molony (Luke) in Daniel Keene's Half & Half opening The Dog Theatre Wednesday September 24th at 8pm. Tickets via www.melbournefringe.com.au or (03) 9660 9666 www.thedogtheatre.com

Two half brothers meet again in a kitchen and garden.

A play by Daniel Keene opening up a new independent theatre space in Melbourne's Western Suburbs: The Dog Theatre in Footscray.

"In the city of the dead the living find their way... Was there a map?"

"It will be exactly like this life! - The same garden, Deep, deep, thick, dim. And towards noon People will enjoy themselves at being reunited there Who never met and who do not know One from another. You will have to dress As if for a party and go in the night Of the lost, all alone, without love and without lamp. It will be exactly like this life . . . " O. V de L. Milosz

If Theatre presents
Half & Half by Daniel Keene
Performed by Matthew Molony & Anthony Winnick
Directed by Matt Scholten
Assistant Director Brendan McCallum
Designed by Katherine Branch
Stage Manager Jo Kargiotis
Crew Jordyn Hare & Daniel Saveski

The Dog Theatre
Dancing Dog Cafe/Bar
42A Albert Street Footscray
September 24-October 4 2008 All Shows at 8pm

Daniel Keene's Half & Half returns to Melbourne and opens the first independent theatre space in Melbourne's west. VCA graduate and director Matt Scholten, Anthony Winnick and Brendan McCallum from VCA's Company 2007 and one of Melbourne's most respected theatre actors Matthew Molony combine forces to bring a story of masculinity, family ties, identity and crossword puzzles.

Winner of the 2003 NSW Premier's Award (Best Play)

Past Production Photos

A Slight Ache by Harold Pinter (If Theatre's debut production)
June 2007 Chapel off Chapel
Actors: Lawrence Price, Lou Endicott & Troy Larkin
Designed by Shayne Greenman
Stage Manager Alyce Fisher

Three Old Friends/Just Before the Honeymoon/This Great Gap of Time by Jack Hibberd
La Mama's 40th Birthday Season
July 2007
Actors: Troy Larkin, Lawrence Price, Glen Hancox & Lou Endicott
Designed by Matt Scholten
Stage Manager Ben Morris

Half & Half by Daniel Keene
The Dog Theatre
September-October 2008
Actors: Anthony Winnick & Matthew Molony
Assistant Director: Brendan McCallum
Designed by Katherine Branch
Stage Manager Jo Kargiotis