Theatre Preview
Eleanor Pearson 17 February 2016 All Out at the LocalThree pub cricketers frequent a watering hole that is becoming increasingly trendy and overrun by hipsters. When the usual channels of negotiation don’t work, and the cricketers feel they are becoming persona non grata at their favourite pub, they become increasingly homicidal.
Stanmore playwright Richie Black asserted The Local is not “a sit down comedy”. “It’s very physical and violent.” Black said. Having said that, Black wants his audience to take the central conflict with a grain of salt and a big helping of humour. |
The Local
Season Starting: Tuesday, 8th of March (click on "Upcoming Events" for exact times.) Address: The Exchange Hotel 94 Beattie Street Cnr Beattie & Mullens Street Balmain NSW 2041 “It’s very difficult not to write humour into a play about a pub.” Black said.
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Despite its satire, Black insisted the play was not written in a spirit of meanness.
“As a writer, I get to shine a light, not only for the sake of making comedy, but also in a sense of all us being in this together. I’m a humanist."
“As a writer, I get to shine a light, not only for the sake of making comedy, but also in a sense of all us being in this together. I’m a humanist."
Black said there were things he admired about his protagonists and their “ludicrous in the extreme” reaction to the gentrification of their local pub.
“There’s an inner geek in everyone…I’m celebrating the marginalised.” Black also said he identified with both the hipsters and the pub cricketers. “Humans are all struggling. So this play is written with hopefulness… What is the point of being territorial?” Black asked. Black is studying for his masters’ degree (writing for performance) at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). But The Local premiered four years ago as part of the Sydney Fringe Festival. At that time Black said it was “a bunch of friends having a go.” |
This time independent Sydney company, Insomniac Theatre, is producing The Local. It has been extensively rewritten by Black, and will be staged at The Exchange Hotel in Balmain.
“There’s a delicious irony staging a play about a renovated pub in a renovated pub.” Black said.
Director/producer Maggie Scott agreed.
“I hope the pub doesn’t catch onto the irony, because it’s not a dig at them.” Scott said.
Scott founded Insomniac Theatre in 2004, and has been working with the cast of The Local since January. For the cast and crew it has been a labour of love.
“All the actors are professional, but they have full-time day-jobs as well.” Scott said.
Actor Steve Maresca played Keith in the original production of The Local,and initially brought the play to Scott's attention. Maresca now reprises the role of Keith with Insomniac Theatre.
The Local plays March 8-20, 2016
“There’s a delicious irony staging a play about a renovated pub in a renovated pub.” Black said.
Director/producer Maggie Scott agreed.
“I hope the pub doesn’t catch onto the irony, because it’s not a dig at them.” Scott said.
Scott founded Insomniac Theatre in 2004, and has been working with the cast of The Local since January. For the cast and crew it has been a labour of love.
“All the actors are professional, but they have full-time day-jobs as well.” Scott said.
Actor Steve Maresca played Keith in the original production of The Local,and initially brought the play to Scott's attention. Maresca now reprises the role of Keith with Insomniac Theatre.
The Local plays March 8-20, 2016
Performers and Crew
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Maggie Scott
Lucy Conlon Peter Tucker Grant Fraser |
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