a searing insight into radicalisation, vice and moral panic in modern Australia
because arts
Hilarious, incisive and absurd... Four Stars!
artshub
Conor Gallacher is MESMERISING as Campbell Newman
artshub
Part roman gladiators, part Mad Max, part pineapples, MKA: Bounty is NOT TO BE MISSED!
artshub
MKA returns for another outstanding original production
because arts
FOUR STARS "wittily acted and imaginatively directed"
THE AGE
If you can only see one performance in Fringe, do NOT deny yourself the opportunity to see BOUNTY
because arts
Brisbane, 2013 AD. It’s time to put a premium on freedom. Facing growing public hostility to his anti-bikie legislation, Queensland Premier Campbell Newman decides to raise the stakes, and turn the state’s criminals into gladiators in the ring. But what happens when Campbell’s daughters put on the pink jumpsuits of his Superjail? And where’s my hot tub helicopter and my meth-sprinkled pina colada?
Bounty is an epic, absurd collision between modern Queensland and ancient Rome, brought to you by the company responsible for some of Melbourne’s most confronting political theatre (The Economist, Richard II, sex.violence.blood.gore)
DURATION
Running time 80 minutes, no interval
WARNING
Contains coarse language, simulated violence, adult themes
“Theatre lives at MKA.” (Crikey)
“Completely WTF.” (Timeout)
“Mark Wilson is extraordinary…Stand out show of the festival.” (Concrete Playground)
“For anyone interested in Shakespeare, politics or planning their own political upheaval… Highly entertaining.” (Theatrepress)
“Richard II is a must-see. Clever, humorous, bitter, and adorable. 4 and a half stars.”(Melbartsfash)
“Political, funny, cruel, honest & what-the-fuck-have-we-done brilliant.” (Aussie Theatre)
Written by Eric Gardiner
Directed by Tom Gutteridge
Cast |
Conor Gallagher | Artemis Ionniades | Matilda Reed | Zia Zantis-Vinycomb
Lighting Design | Steve Hendy
Costume+Properties Design+Set Construction | Erin Duyndam
Composition | Robert Villella
Sound Production | Jordan Dempster
Sound Design | Eric Gardiner
Production Management | Emily Edwards
Executive Producer | Tobias Manderson-Galvin
Image by Vikk Shayen
Top Row: Conor Gallacher, Matilda Reed, Zia Zantis-Vinycomb, Artemis Ioannides
Bottom Row: Tom Gutteridge, Eric Gardiner
MKA were supported by
Co-presented with
in association with
you can read about all the cast and crew here
Eric is currently undertaking an undergraduate Honours year in Creative Writing at The University of Melbourne. Since joining MKA at the end of 2013 as the company’s Creative Associate he has assisted on producing projects such as the inaugural HYPRTXT Festival and the premiere of Lachlan Philpott’s The Trouble With Harry at the Melbourne Festival. While studying he co-wrote and composed The Fury (Union House Theatre), was musical director for Don’t Bring Lulu (Union House Theatre), and worked as Artistic Director of MUDFest, Australia’s largest student arts festival, and as Creative Producer at the Emerging Writers Festival. As an actor Eric has performed in the Perth season of Dogmeat (MKA), 1938: An Opera (Union House Theatre), Love. (Platform Youth Theatre), Trans #2.0 (Felix Ching Ching Ho), Blindness (Robert Smith/Justin Nott), as well as Hamlet, Julius Caesar and Much Ado About Nothing (Melbourne University Shakespeare Company). Eric’s writing has been published by Overland, Meanjin and Seizure.
Tom has more than twenty years experience in the performing arts as a director, actor, dramaturg, devisor, composer and teacher. He was Artistic Director at Black Swan Theatre Company, Perth from 2004 to 2008 where he also directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream for WAAPA, staged the world premiere of For Those in Peril on the Sea by Gordon Kerry for the Western Australian Symphony Orchestra, and devised and directed The Dischord Hunter with Iain Grandage for WASO’s Echo Ensemble. Other directing work includes the Australian/NZ production of Yes, Prime Minister, the World Premiere of Birthrights by David Williamson for Melbourne Theatre Company, The Sound Garden for Oz Opera, Opera Queensland and West Australian Opera, Division Street and Company for VCA School of Drama and Charitable Intent by David Williamson for the 2001 Melbourne Festival (Winner: Best New Australian Play, Victorian Green Room Awards). Tom was Artistic Associate at Queensland Theatre Company from 1996 – 2001 and Artistic Co-ordinator at the Melbourne Theatre Company from 1995-1996. Tom is a board member of Playwriting Australia (national peak body for performance writing) and Chair of Polyglot Theatre, (interactive theatre for young audiences, Melbourne).
Between 2009-2014, Tom was Artistic Director of Union House Theatre at the University of Melbourne where he commissioned and directed works from emerging writers including Chris Summers, Fregmonto Stokes and Kerith Manderson-Galvin. He completed a Masters of Arts at La Trobe University in 2014 researching the training of theatre directors and is currently teaching and researching at the Victorian College of the Arts while completing a PhD.
Conor Gallacher is a Melbourne based actor, writer, voice over artist, and musician. He has appeared in touring and locally staged productions by MTC, sample theatre, theatre in bars, MKA, family of strangers, and many others. He has recently appeared in the popular web series We Are Not Real People by Express Post Productions, in which he was also a writer. He is one third of the production team The Dark Times.
Matilda graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2011. She most recently appeared in Killer Joe (Black Water Theatre) and the remount of award winning 2013 Melbourne Fringe Festival play Dropped (La Mama Courthouse). Matilda’s other credits include Before I Fell Asleep (Arena Theatre Company). Matilda also works as a narrator at Bolinda Publishing for the Australian, USA and British markets. Matilda’s TV credits include Little Acorns (Pilot) Winners and Losers (network 7) and Kinne (network 7)
Whilst at the VCA, Matilda performed in productions including The Winter’s Tale, Fool for Love, The Seagull and St. Kilda Tales.
Zia is a graduate of the VCA. Her roles have included Irena in the Three Sisters, Electra in The Greeks, and multiple roles in Red Black and Ignorant. Zia co-created Notes from Zombieland which after performances at the 2014 Melbourne Fringe Festival and regional touring was remounted for a 2015 True North Festival season. She has also worked in Theatre in Education, short films, commercials, and in performance with children. She recently had a role in the independent feature film ‘Watch the Sunset’ directed by Tristan Barr and Michael Gosden, and in Meet Me For Meaning at La Mama Theatre. Zia is currently working on a funded community arts event for the Nati Frinj Biennale in November.
Artemis graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2013. Since then she has been consistently working in theatre, film and television in Melbourne and overseas. In 2015 she was nominated for the Green Room Award for Best Female Performer in Independent Theatre for her performance in Angry Sexx by Rachel Perks.
Recently she toured Greece and performed at the Melbourne Arts Centre with an international cast for the contemporary opera Women in War by composer Tassos Ioannides and librettist Deborah Parsons. She also completed filming for the upcoming ABC mini series “The Beautiful Lie” for Endemol Productions.
Steve is a Melbourne based lighting designer. He has worked across drama, dance, musical theatre and architectural lighting. Steve is excited to make his MKA design premiere with Eric Gardiner’s ‘Bounty’. He is thrilled to collaborate with director Tom Gutteridge having previously designed Union House Theatre’s production of ‘don’t bring lulu’ in 2014. Steve has recently designed ‘Cloudstreet’ directed by Julián Fuentes Reta (2015) and ‘Parade’ at The Cooper’s Malthouse (2015)
Erin Duyndam is an Australian theatre designer and stage manager. She studied Design for Theatre and Television at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga, graduating in 2014. This year Erin has designed and made costumes for Dora, written by Wendy Woodson. In 2014 she was stage manager and lighting designer for Shakespeare and the Dark Lady Sonnets by Enzo Condello, Costume designer for Le mari confondu with the Melbourne French Theatre Company, Lighting Operator for Mr. D Theatre Company’s Kingdom of Earth on its Australian leg and Stage Manager for The Importance of Being Earnest at the Guild theatre. In 2013 Erin was Stage Manager for Holy Ship The Stageshow, Written by Andy Balloch; and in 2012 as a Lighting Designer for Elephant people, written by Daniel Keene.
Robert is studying Media and Communications at The University of Melbourne. Previously he has worked extensively in music sound design and composition for performance, most recently performing music in shows such as Don’t Bring Lulu and The Fury (Union House Theatre). He is an accomplished musician and recording artist, currently playing lead guitar in Melbourne band John Citizen, who released their debut self-titled EP in 2014. Beyond their collaboration on sound design for performance and the critically acclaimed live art installation Behind the Ping Pong, Robert and Eric Gardiner have previously worked together on two albums with their band The Call Up – Badlands (2011) and Reptile (2014).
http://www.vikkshayen.com/
Premiere Season
MelbFringe / DarebinArts Speakeasy
Northcote Town Hall, Studio 1
Sept 2015