The Blue Room Theatre in collaboration with Black Swan State Theatre Company have facilitated the curation of a new pilot program set to launch in 2021 as part of BSSTC’s annual season.

This initiative celebrates exceptional independent West Australian theatre makers, presenting new local tales to a wider audience. This unique opportunity is the bridge for early career artists to grow beyond The Blue Room Theatre and to develop new future remount and touring opportunities for our artists, a prospect that has never existed before in this way.

This program is designed to build sustainable careers for our hometown artists and to offer them the next step in developing their craft.

“The Blue Room Theatre supports and facilitates opportunities for local independent artists to develop their artistic skills, work and grow their careers. This new partnership we have forged links together two local companies and gives independent artists the opportunity to have their work considered for programming within Black Swan State Theatre Company’s artistic vision.” says Katt Osborne, Executive Director of The Blue Room Theatre.

In 2021 the first cab off the ranks is Playthings by Second Chance Theatre. Playthings is a modern coming-of-age story that winds through the suburbs of Perth in the mid 90s. It follows two outcasts, Lucy and Arnold, sees their decision and actions ripple into a tale of more than just homework and hormones, but also homicide.

Katt further comments: “We hope that our pilot year and the presentation of Playthings will be the first opportunity an ongoing partnership with Black Swan State Theatre Company that creates more opportunities for local independent theatre makers to further develop their careers and to grow a wider audience and hunger for local productions and talent.”

Playthings first premiered at The Blue Room Theatre in 2019 to raving audience and publication reviews, becoming one of the must-see works of last year. Both The Blue Room Theatre and BSSTC hope that this new programming initiative sees more West Australian stories shared across the globe.

Writer and director of Playthings, Scott McArdle, commented on the unique opportunity: “This programming initiative really is a dream-come-true. It’s an invaluable stepping-stone for independent artists to, not only, upskill but to remount work. I feel so grateful to have the opportunity to present a show so close to my heart once more in this city I love.”

Playthings by Scott McArdle

29 April – 8 May 2021 Studio

Underground State Theatre Centre of Western Australia

www.bsstc.com.au

For more information, call The Blue Room Theatre (08) 9227 7005.