Kerith Manderson-Galvin on 186,000

Kerith Manderson-Galvin is one of those performers who is fascinating to watch – as are the plays she has created and written.

Over the last few years, Kerith has been a regular player on the independent stages of Melbourne. Recent works have included Being Dead (Don Quixote) – which she performed in for Midsumma 2015 – and don’t bring Lulu (Union House Theatre, 2014). She was also seen on stage last year in Nicola Gunn’s fantastic production of Green Screen as part of the MTC NEON Festival. And don’t even get me started on all the shows she’s done with MKA Theatre! And speaking of MKA, as part of this year’s Midwinta Festival, Kerith, along with MKA, has run a number of panels and recently had a development season of her new show 186,000.

Double Feature

Photo by Sarah Walker.

MKA’s Double Feature kicks off the MTC NEON season with a bang. Consisting of two shows (Lucky, written by Tobias Manderson-Galvin and directed by John Kachoyan, and Lord Willing and The Creek Don’t Rise, written by Morgan Rose and directed by Kat Henry), the two pieces explore two worlds set in damaged landscapes – colonial Australia (Lucky) and New Orleans, post Hurricane Katrina (Lord Willing).

Richard II

Photo by Sarah Walker

Mark Wilson and MKA’s adaptation of the rarely performed Richard II is a bold and welcome addition to this year’s Fringe Festival.

The shows that made their mark…

Photo by Jeff Busby

Some people are talking about books, I’m going to talk about the plays that changed me, affected me & wowed me. But not in chronological order because my memory is not that good…

Saving Henry by Angus Cerini at La Mama – this show blew my mind. Raw, intense & powerful. While I have seen further, more professional productions of this, nothing compares to seeing it in the small space of La Mama.

Thyestes by Hayloft Project at Malthouse/Carriageworks – Words cannot express how much I love this show. I flew to Sydney just so I could see it again!

Rubeville by Black Lung at Lupa Arts – I have Black Lung to thank for my introduction to other companies like Hayloft. I saw this show 3 times. It was dirty, messy & the epitome of Fringe.

Mercury Fur by Little Death at Theatre Works – powerful. So powerful.

The Economist by MKA at Abbotsford/North Melbourne – Tobias Alexander Edward Manderson-Galvin wrote an amazing play. I saw it twice. I would like to see it again.

Slut by Patricia Cornelius at 45 Downstairs – I’m cheating with this a bit as I was in this production. But who cares as Patricia Cornelius created a powerfully devastating show that really made me think.

They Saw a Thylacine by Sarah Hamilton & Justine Campbell at North Melbourne Town Hall – this is one of the first shows I ever reviewed. I gave it 5 stars. And I can’t wait to see it on the Malthouse stage next year!

When I Grow Up by Juliette Burton at Trades Hall – funny, heartbreaking & real. Her honesty put a smile on my face.

The Sovereign Wife by Sisters Grimm at Southbank Theatre – this show was epic. That is all.

East is East & West is Footscray at La Mama. This was the first show that I saw that wasn’t MTC, Malthouse or Bell Shakespeare. While hesitant at first, this show kicked of my love for both La Mama & independent theatre. And it’s what encouraged me to pursue my love of theatre.

Over & out!

Side Effect

Side Effect, a co-production between MKA Theatre and Cradle Productions, is the perfect example of why I love fringe theatre. It’s messy, it’s thought provoking, it’s unapologetic, it’s sexy, it’s fringe.