Bard Wars IV: Hope Renew'dBy Black Fox Theatre

Photo by Matthew Williamson

PRESENTER’S INFORMATION

Contents

COMPANY PROFILE................3ABOUT THE SHOW..................3PERFORMANCE SPECIFICS...4AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT....5MARKETING..............................6PRODUCTION DETAILS.........13CONTACTS................................14

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COMPANY PROFILEBlack Fox Theatre have always had a way with Shakespeare. Debuting in 2010 with a remixing of Twelfth Night: set in a psychiatric hospital; performed in an empty pool.

Since then they have produced original and adapted works in unconventional venues throughout Brisbane: showcasing local poets, performers and playwrights, and engaging with BEMAC, Brisbane City Council, Griffith University, Judith Wright Centre for Contemporary Art andAnywhere Theatre Festival.

Between productions the company's broad repertoire is available for hire. Their shows require only minimal lighting and sound equipment; performances are tailored to the space — keeping production costs low and ensuring all artists are paid fairly.

In 2012 Black Fox Theatre premiered Bard Wars: A Shakespearean Space Opera to sold-out crowds as part of the second Anywhere Theatre Festival.Bard Wars V and VI followed to equal success receiving standing ovations at sell-out shows and very positive reviews.

In the last 5 years Black Fox Theatre has pioneered their own brand of quasi-guerilla theatre: treating Brisbane to performances that are both accessible affordable to the public, and financially viable. All this while providing paid work for emerging actors, musicians, and crew.

With this tour, Black Fox Theatre wish to take their ethos to regional Queensland, with a brand of performance that can be performed anywhere, anytime to anyone.

ABOUT THE SHOWSHOW SYNPOSISThe modern classic sci-fi, Star Wars: A New Hope, is re-imagined in true Shakespearian form: with everything fans love about the original brought to life as if the Bard him self wrote everything — Space ships take to the seas, robots are slaves and sometimes foot soldiers. And there are no aliens – just really hairy dudes.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSWritten by John and Daniel Broderick Grey, Directed by Daniel Broderick Grey. Lighting Design by Tim Gawne.

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PERFORMANCE SPECIFICSDURATION2 acts in 2 hours, neat.Intermission: 20 minuets, approx. half way.

SUITABLE VENUESActual minimum room required: 3x4 metres.

As with all Black Fox Theatre productions, Bard Wars IV: Hope Renew'd is able to be performed in any space available—swordplay permitting. Black Fox Theatre has produced plays anywhere in empty swimming pools, defunct warehouses, art galleries, and a photography studio.

MAXIMUM NUMBER OF PERFORMANCES PER WEEK6 performances

MINIMUM BREAK BETWEEN PERFORMANCES3 Hours

TOURING PERSONNELThe touring party will consist of 14 people. Due to a reshuffling of the original cast, this performance will be re-auditioned in a pre-remount process.The following table is a list of core Black Fox Theatre members who have already committed to a tour of this production.

Name Role

Daniel Grey Touring Manager and/or performer

Derick Smith Actor/Co-Production Manager

PERFORMANCE HISTORY

Year Venue Number of performances

2012 THE SHED (A Jugglers Art Space) 3

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AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENTOVERVIEWA major goal, not only for the project but for Black Fox Theatre itself, is tobreathe new life into the way Australian communities make and appreciateart. As part of this tour we wish to engage with communities by:

• Engaging in post-show Q&A sessions on topics such as:□ Elizabethan Theatre□ Science Fiction's role in modern storytelling□ The making of Bard Wars□ Surviving in Australian independent theatre□ Parody and the art of adaptation

• Workshops: We can host seminars and run workshops on any of the above topics.• Several of our actors are also experienced trainers in:

□ Comedy with Physical Theatre□ Circus□ Writing□ Elizabethan Theatre

Through these Q&A sessions and workshops we hope to:• Empower audiences to make their own art by:

□ Providing continued guidance□ Discounted performance rights to Black Fox Theatre's ever growing repertoire

□ On-line mentorships through Skype, email, etc. for:◊ schools◊ Community Theatre groups◊ Other interested community groups

DESCRIPTION / DETAILS•Q&A will run for up to 30 minutes after the select performances.

• Workshops vary in duration, substance, and are subject to which members are on tour.Please contact Black Fox Theatre for more detailed information.

COSTThere is no cost for the Q&A sessions—to presenter or audience. Black FoxTheatre considers them an extension of the performance.

Workshops will be charged to the presenter for a one-off fee of [???], to allow for open accessibility.

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TARGET AUDIENCE FOR COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT

Q&A sessions are aimed at the entire audience. Marketing material will indicate which performances they are to follow.

Workshops are available for anyone from beginners to those with experience.

MARKETINGMARKETING COPYOne lineBard Wars IV: Hope Renew'd, An Elizabethan Space Opera.

ShortA farm boy, torn from his quiet desert homeland to fight the dark forces ofan evil Empire. Trained in ancient magicks by a mysterious hermit and travelling with a scoundrel pirate, his barbarian companion and two bickering slaves, our hero must brave the unknown, rescue a princess andtake revenge on the Emperor’s right hand: the black knight who killed his father.

Star what? I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is Black Fox Theatre’s Bard Wars: Hope Renew’d!

ExtendedA long time ago in a land far,far away…

Bard Wars: part the fourthHope Renew’d.

Finally, the Black Fox has found it. After years of searching, deep in DaVinci’s own vault, beyond countless locks and traps: the lost manuscriptof Shakepeare’s final masterpiece.

It is the tale of a young farm boy, torn from his quiet desert homeland to fight the dark forces of the evil Empire. Trained in ancient magicks by a mysterious hermit and travelling with a scoundrel pirate, his barbarian companion and two bickering slaves, our hero must brave the unknown, rescue a princess and take revenge on the Emperor’s right hand: the blackknight who killed his father.

Star what? I don’t know what you’re talking about. This is Black Fox Theatre’s Bard Wars: Hope Renew’d!

A re-imagining of the Sci-Fi classic in true Shakespearian form: with everything fans love about the original brought to life as if the Bard him self wrote everything — Space ships take to the seas, robots are slaves and sometimes foot soldiers. And there are no aliens – just really hairy dudes.

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Come with us (after sold out venues and rave reviews) to a world of tyranny, rebellion, and desert wastelands. Of dreaded siege machines, valiant knights and daring swashbucklers. Romance, less unwittingly incestuous romance and really, quite, hairy gentlemen in Black Fox Theatre’s Bard Wars!

MARKETING SUMMARYBlack Fox Theatre already have a dedicated social media audience.Collateral in the form of posters and flyers is also available.

MEDIA QUOTES

“There are a lot of Star Wars adaptations out there. [Bard Wars] is something unique and puts a different spin on the tale, and it works so very well.”—Brice Fallon, CriticalMassBlog.net [no longer operating] reviewer, Bard Wars IV: Hope Renew'd, 2012

“This hilarious adaptation... strips a modern tale down to its universal bones.”“The audience goes wild for it.”“I thoroughly enjoyed this play. It was raucous, funny, packed with action and cleverly staged…”“I get the impression that writers John Grey and Daniel Broderick Grey arefully conversant in the Star Wars universe, olde English and the work of Shakespeare. Massaging them into this wonderful mashup is truly a work of art.”—Nerissa Rowan, Anywherefest, 2013 (Bard Wars V: The Empire Striketh Back)

“...Monty Pythonesque… with an incredibly creative use of scenery, props and ninjas.”“The audience was in stitches throughout… with the speeder chase and the revelation of Luke’s sibling earning knee-slaps around the room.”“Black Fox Theatre company [have] outdone themselves with the final instalment of ‘Bard Wars’.”—Daniel Conaghan, Scene Magazine, 2014 (Bard Wars VI: The Jedi Returneth)

AUDIENCE REVIEWS

“You should go see Bard Wars. It was clever, funny and simply delightful.”—Tim Smith

“...It all just works. I have attended all three of the Bard Wars shows… and the audiences pack the venues prepared to enjoy themselves — and they do.”—Bonnie O’Connor

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"I thought it was hilarious and clever and extremely well done. I made a sad face when I realised I had missed the first two. So if the whole thing came on again, I would gladly spend lots of money to go see it. Just, like, copious amounts."—Illyana Marriott

"I saw The Jedi Returneth and found it to be a thrilling, hilarious, and faithful reportrayal/parody/reinterpretation of The Jedi Returns. If it weren't sold out, I would have gone to the following night's show to watchit again."—Mitchell James O'Connor

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IMAGES

DW Photo

DW Photo

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Meredith Yardley & Meredian Matthew Williamson

DW Photo

Matthew Williamson

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Mathew Williamson

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Matthew Williamson

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DW Photo

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MARKETING MATERIALSWe have interviews, posters, fliers, and production stills.

CONTENT WARNINGS / AUDIENCES TO AVOIDPerformances contain low to moderate adult themes and infrequent courselanguage, which can be omitted if required.

Some pantomime violence — true to the Elizabethan style, all blood is symbolised by red cloth.

SPONSOR OR OTHER ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

TEACHER’S RESOURCESTeacher's notes are available for Middle and Senior school English, and Drama faculties.

PRODUCTION DETAILS

TECHNICAL SUMMARYThe performance is, as with all Black Fox Theatre productions, a great example of minimalist aesthetics—which is also in keeping with the touring repertory companies of the Renaissance.We require a basic lighting (a wash, or two) — and we count sound equipment as a luxury.

EXAMPLE SCHEDULEProvide an example bump in schedule.

CREW REQUIRED FROM VENUE1 x Lighting Technician 1 x Venue Manager

STAGEThe performance is, as with all Black Fox Theatre productions, a great example of minimalist aesthetics — which is also in keeping with the touring repertory companies of the Renaissance.

Black Fox Theatre to supply1 x 'throne'1 x table3x rugs.

Venue to supply• A space for performance• stage curtains• Rostrum (1x2 200/300 high — can be done without)

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LIGHTING

Lighting for Bard Wars shows usually consists of simple washes. As a touring performance, we intend to use a single state to fade up and down in the beginning and end of each act.

Venue to supplyLighting equipment capable of providing a basic wash across the entire stage.

SOUNDWe require a GPO for our minstrels. The company provide all sound effects, live.

Black Fox Theatre to supplyVarious noise making contraptions

Venue to supply1 x GPO

WARDROBEAll costume and make-up requirements are supplied by Black Fox Theatre.

Black Fox Theatre to supplyAll costume and make-up requirements

Venue to supplyA dressing room/ green room with mirror space.

FREIGHT NOTESAll touring elements are able to be walked in the front door (or back, if you require). No loading dock is necessary.

CONTACTSDaniel Broderick Grey:Title.....Managing DirectorPh........0434 637 094E-mail..whoistheblackfox@gmail.com

Derick SmithTitle….. Co-Production ManagerPh........0434 637 094E-mail..hola@dericksmith.com

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