Observe the Sons of Ulster Marching Towards the Somme by Frank McGuinness.
In late 1989 a random group of actors joined Maeliosa Stafford at The Crossroads Theatre in Darlinghurst to work together on a play. The group had no name and very little money but Frank McGuinness's play and Maeliosa's direction created a powerful energy. The cast and a few friends sourced the uniforms, designed and built the set, designed the program and marketed the show. This was the beginning of a new wave of collective, independent theatre in Sydney.The success of the production and the thrill of the experience formed some creative relationships and real friendships that became the O'Punksky legend. The play became a hit in the Sydney Festival of 1990.
This is a fierce, compelling, and infinitely compassionate play - delivered with incisive clarity by director Maeliosa Stafford and his cast of nine men.... Stafford penetrates the raw heart of this play; exposes its wrath, its wit, (there are some very funny moments), its humanity.... every actor on the stage makes a vigorous, convincing contribution to this fine ensemble production..... Pamela Payne SMH.
This is a fierce, compelling, and infinitely compassionate play - delivered with incisive clarity by director Maeliosa Stafford and his cast of nine men.... Stafford penetrates the raw heart of this play; exposes its wrath, its wit, (there are some very funny moments), its humanity.... every actor on the stage makes a vigorous, convincing contribution to this fine ensemble production..... Pamela Payne SMH.
|
"That night there was a glorious sunset. The guns were silent for a while and I heard someone in the reserve trenches starting to sing 'Abide with me' then slowly, all down the line, the men took up the hymn." Private Robb - Mid Antrim Volunteers. No surrender Billy! |
|
OBSERVE THE SONS OF ULSTER MARCHING TOWARDS THE SOMME .. BY FRANK McGUINNESS
|
Cast:
Kenneth Pyper (old) Robert Davis Kenneth Pyper (young) Sean Scully David Craig Conor McDermottroe William Moore John O'Hare John Millen Jaime Robertson Christopher Roulston Danny Adcock Martin Crawford Marcus O'Loughlin George Anderson Jonathan Sweet Nat McIlwaine Patrick Dickson |
Creatives:
Director Maeliosa Stafford Design Co-ordination Patrick Dickson Design Assistants Robert Davis Jane Hilson Costume Alison Leonard Lighting Deborah Smith Sound Greg Reeves Marcus O'Loughlin Technician Arthur Tsilikas Set build and Stage M Martin Savage Publicity Diana Goulding Photography William Yang |
|
