By Jana Vass
Bachelor of Communications (Theatre / Media) student
Madness, burning cats, Mozart and a play within a play. What could possibly go wrong? Everything, but no matter what the show must go on!
It is 1971. Lewis (Gareth Thompson), a university graduate, is directing his first production at a mental institution in Melbourne. Faced with the challenge of bringing Mozart’s Opera Cosi Fan Tutte to life, he must work with a group of extraordinary characters, under unexpected circumstances. Through all this, Lewis must navigate the boundaries between love, loyalty and trust to get this show on the road.
Madeline Whittaker, Assistant Director for Cosi and third-year Theatre Media student, recently sat down to give her experiences of the production and why aspiring theatre artists should come and study Theatre Media at Charles Sturt University.
Describe Cosi in five words.
Touching portrayal of human relationships.
What is it like being an Assistant Director for Cycle Productions’ Cosi?
It’s a fast-paced environment that makes you think of so many things at once, but you have to concentrate on them all at all times. It’s a great learning environment and experience. The success (or failure), and it’s never a failure you experience in the role as an Assistant Director, is often directly related to how involved you are in the pre-production, production and post-production phases of the performance.
As an Assistant Director overseeing everything creatively, you are expected to know what’s going on every step of the way. You’d be flat out wrong to believe you could get away without putting your time in hard work and passion.
What is your favourite scene in Cosi? Why?
My favourite scene in Cosi would be the opening scene; We see the relationships between each character and little glimpses of who they are and why they are there. It’s important because every play has a beginning and this is one scene that makes you laugh and question what is happening and what in hell is this play about and who are these poor people?
How did you find out about Bachelor of Communication (Theatre Media)?
Adam Deusien (Theatre / Media alumni and lecturer, and graduate of NIDA’s inaugural Master of Cultural Leadership) performed many workshops during my time in high school and from there I knew where I wanted to go and what I wanted to learn. Theatre Media was the perfect course for me.
What made you want to audition and study Theatre Media?
Theatre Media is an experience in itself. We rise to any challenge and overcome complications if they arise. At the end of our degree we are all qualified to do multiple skills like Design (Lighting, Set, Sound, AV/Film, Costume), Stage Management, Production Management, Directing, Circus and more. It’s a degree for those who love creativity and have a passion for theatre and media.
Cosi will be performed at the Ponton Theatre, CSU Bathurst from 22-26 May 2018. Tickets are $10 for Students or Concession, and $15 for Adults.
For more information, access the Facebook Event.
Come and join the madness!
