Young university student, your program is being discontinued.
You will be the last to ever be taught here.
You have no options in this matter.
How do you react?
In their first of a three year Musical Theatre program, this question was pointedly thrust towards what would become the graduating cohort for the 2011 VCA Bachelor of Fine Arts (Musical Theatre).
The answer that these young performers came up with was the formation of their own semi-professional theatre company: Company Eleven. A monumentally bold thing considering the established competition which already occupies the theatrical sphere in Melbourne, and yet if Melbourne is to live up to its branding of Australia’s East End, emerging companies must be encouraged to be bold and perhaps, if they feel up to it, a little daring.
Company 11’s first theatrical sojourn has them tackling David Williams’ Third World Blues under the leadership of former course coordinator and acting teacher Margot Fenley. Third World Blues is set in 1972 behind the context of Australia’s much debated military involvement in the Vietnam war.
The storyline centres around conscript Graham (Nelson Gardner) who returns home to his wife Keren (Alana Tranter). Things are complicated though when it’s revealed that Keren has been making the beast with two backs with Neville (Evan Lever), who has a pregnant wife of his own.
It is worth noting that since 2011, VCA have reinstated their Musical Theatre program and will be accepting applications for their 2015 intake later in the year.
Third World Blues will play at the Studio Theatre at Gasworks Arts Park from 3 to 6 September, featuring Nelson Gardner, Evan Lever, Hannah Fredericksen, Alana Tranter, Connor Crawford, Robert Tripolino and David Bulters.
Performances will be held from Wednesday to Friday at 7pm and Saturday at 2pm and 7pm.
Tickets are now on sale and are priced $25 or $22 for concession holders.
For more information on this event, visit the Gasworks Arts Park website or Company Eleven Facebook.
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