MKA | 2011-2013

  MK-ALPHA presents

22 Short Plays

by David Finnigan

Junkies turn into superheroes; an adult man goes undercover in a children’s playground, we stop at a slave market at a top ski lift, steal a man’s kidneys and before it’s done we’ll take you inside a computer game that you are destined to win. 22 Short Plays is an episode in theatrical history not to be missed!

If you like your writing if you like your writing normal and normal and have at times been to the theatre then this is also the theatre! At the beginning we’ll ask you to sit. The conventions are many! People like to clap! Be like people! They’re everywhere!

“22 Short Plays is like speed dating,” says company director, Tobias Manderson-Galvin,

“Terrifying; Humiliating; It could be hell. And you just might meet the love of your life.”

David Finnigan has written 22 Short Plays. Rythmic. Provocative. Hilarious. Short. Witness as he effortlessly subverts the everyday and the banal; combining philosophy, poetry and pop-culture into a devastating, hysterical night of entertainment.

THAT’S A GOOD PLAY

DURATION
75 minutes, no interval

WARNING
Contains Adult Themes, Simulated Solo Sex Scenes, Druggish References, Medium Level Coarse Languages, Supernatural Themes, at least one attempt at a human pyramid, Themes

Reviews

Original Production| 2011

“An ideal snapshot of postmodern theory in theatrical form.”
REALTIME ARTS JOHN BAILEY

“edgy, absurd sketch comedy…handled with effortless comic skill..on the strength of this show, MKA is a company that will make its mark.”
THE AGE CAMERON WOODHEAD

“this rapid fire collection of 22 concentrated bits of comedy make this another MKA show worth seeing”
CROSSOVERMAN KEITH GOW

“22 Short Plays hits you like a slap in the face, and I feel energised by the experience”
THEATRE ALIVE PENNY IVISON

“I loved this show”
THEATREOFWORDS 

” Officially my favourite company this year… a middle finger salute to boring theatre… far funnier than any sketch show.”
AUSSIETHEATRE

Original Production Tour | 2011

“Often funny and always clever.. Finnigan is a master of the form.”
FOYERTALK also AUSTRALIANSTAGE

Re-boot | 2013

“Inspired genius.”
FESTIVALFREAK

“The punch line is the first victim… Dent, Gallacher and Manderson-Galvin – under the incisive direction of the latter’s brother and MKA Creative Director, Tobias – are unstinting in their commitment to the silliness”
MARGINALIA 

“MKA certainly hit the mark..Don’t bring the kids.. No! No! No!”
HECKLER.COM.AU

“keenly observant, sometimes hilarious, sometimes bizarre, sometimes enigmatic… certainly entertaining”
ADELAIDETHEATREGUIDE

Credits

Original Production| 2011
WORKSHOP

MKA Open Season, MKA Secret Pop-Up
Melbourne
November, 2010

PLAYWRIGHT DAVID FINNIGAN
DIRECTOR TOBIAS MANDERSON-GALVIN
FEATURING
JOSHUA CAMERON / JOHN PECK / ELLEN GRIMSHAW

PREMIERE

MKA Season One, MKA Prahran
Melbourne
May31-Jun18, 2011

PLAYWRIGHT DAVID FINNIGAN
DIRECTOR TOBIAS MANDERSON-GALVIN
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR LOURIS VAN DE GEER
VIDEOGRAPHER TREWLEA PETERS
SOUND DESIGNER BEN HUTCHINGS
STAGE AND LIGHTING DESIGNER
DAVID SAMUEL
PRODUCTION MANAGER
SIMONNE JOHANSEN
PERFORMED BY
PAUL BLENHEIM / CONOR GALLACHER / ELLEN GRIMSHAW

MELBOURNE+CANBERRA | 2011

MKA Richmond + Street Theatre
Melbourne + Canberra
July, 2011

PERFORMED BY
BRAD WILLIAMS / CONOR GALLACHER / KERITH MANDERSON-GALVIN

GEELONG | 2012

NewYearsRevolution, Courthouse Arts
Geelong
Jan 27, 2012

PERFORMED BY
BRAD WILLIAMS / CONOR GALLACHER / TOBIAS MANDERSON-GALVIN

David Finnigan used to run Crack Theatre Festival, invented You Are Here Festival but wait: he’s huge in Canberra. So ok that doesnt count for squat here in Melbourne but be good, pretend to be family and start sending him congratulatory cards. Friend him on facebook, he loves that.

Rookie Paul Blenheim joins the cast, fresh from VCA Drama. No doubt crowds will be looking for him to stand up, throw the training wheels aside, make a watch from them and let you know in no uncertain terms, what time it is. Usually about 8pm.

Coming back to play is the 29-year-old veteran Conor Gallacher. Respected comedian and raconteur, he’s guaranteed to get the laughs out early and hard. Gallacher’s also been doing a lot of work in the off-season exposing the human condition, I can’t wait to see what happens when he takes on a leadership role.

Back from last years’ Open Season, the cheeky Ellen Grimshaw. She knows the text, she’s done it before, this should be a chance for her to really carve it up like an angry butcher. Butchers can be angry for any reason but this time let’s say the butcher is a scorned and jilted lover with a thirst for vengeance that can only be quenched with plays and/or meat but mainly plays.

The Melbourne smash hit came to Adelaide re-cast to feature former South Australian now East-Coast theatre star Tom Dent (he only reached SAFL for football… or was it netball).

Re-boot | 2013

MKA Pop-Up Collingwood, Second Story
Melbourne
March, 2013

MKA Pop-Up Adelaide, Producers Bar
Adelaide
Mar05-16, 2013

_____________________

PLAYWRIGHT DAVID FINNIGAN
DIRECTOR TOBIAS MANDERSON-GALVIN
DESIGNER AMAYA VECELLIO
FEATURING
TOM DENT / CONOR GALLACHER / KERITH MANDERSON-GALVIN
TECHNICAL OPERATOR/STAGE MANAGER BEC POULTER

Videos

2013 Trailer

2011 Trailer

Clip #1

Clip #2

Stills

Live Stills | 2013
Rehearsal Stills | 2011

Dates

MKA Season One, MKA Prahran
Melbourne, 2011
The Street Theatre,
Canberra, 2011
NewYearsRevolution, Courthouse Arts
Geelong, 2012
MKA Pop-Up Collingwood, SecondStory
Melbourne, 2013
MKA Pop-Up Adelaide, Producers Hotel
Adelaide, 2013

Venue Partners