Theatre Preview
Eleanor Pearson 11 March 2016 Family Angst and a Touch of NostalgiaThere’s a word that keeps coming up in director Peter Farmer’s dialogue about Michael Gow’s play, Away. As Farmer recaps his experience on Lane Cove Theatre Company’s latest production, he can’t seem to avoid using the word: magic.
“I responded to Away when I read it the first time. It was the Australian idiom. It has a magic. The realism lifts it above the everyday affairs of the world to another dimension.” Farmer said. Away is set during the 1960s against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. Three internally conflicted families are on holidays, hoping to fix their troubles while they are away.
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Away
Season Starting: Friday, 18th of March (click on "Upcoming Events" for exact times.) Address: The Performance Space at St Aidan's Anglican Church 1 Christina Street, Longueville 2066 |
“The play is a battle towards self-awareness.” Farmer explained. “The characters have to let go of the past to understand themselves.”
Away has references to Shakespeare, and uses the device of a storm scene, which serves to clear the air.
“It’s not pessimistic, it’s uplifting.” Farmer said. Farmer is not about to be drawn into a discussion about the modern-day relevance of Away. After all that is the realm of English teachers, not directors. “You want to make the audience feel, and not think.” Farmer said. “You want them to identify with the characters emotionally. Later on the ideas bubble up. But they have got to connect.” Farmer, a Northbridge resident, “got bitten by the acting bug” early. Like many young aspiring actors, he auditioned for NIDA, twice, but was unsuccessful. In the mid to late 1970s he enrolled in the drama course at the University of New England (UNE), and loved it. This led to a small role in the 1978 landmark Australian film, The Chant of Jimmie Blacksmith. |
After working in TV and theatre in England, Farmer came back to Australia and became a high-school English/drama teacher, but kept an agent, and acted in commercials. He now works as a relief teacher, when he isn’t directing with Lane Cove Theatre Company.
Away is Farmer’s fourth production directing with the company, which is still in need of its own theatre space. What keeps him coming back?
“They are gypsies, but they always mount strong quality productions. This drives me back from sheer admiration.” He said.
In the week prior to this interview, one of the principal actors in Away dropped out due to ill health. In the true spirit of the show must go on, Farmer has his nose to the grindstone learning the part before opening night.
Away plays March 18-April 9, 2016
Away is Farmer’s fourth production directing with the company, which is still in need of its own theatre space. What keeps him coming back?
“They are gypsies, but they always mount strong quality productions. This drives me back from sheer admiration.” He said.
In the week prior to this interview, one of the principal actors in Away dropped out due to ill health. In the true spirit of the show must go on, Farmer has his nose to the grindstone learning the part before opening night.
Away plays March 18-April 9, 2016
Performers and Crew
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Peter Farmer
Trent Gardiner Hugo Fung Ross Mildwater Jeremy Cardew Sophie Parker Rose Edwards Sasha Satz Gary Black Margo Easton |