Perth’s Black Swan State Theatre Company 2024 season is here.
Artistic Director Kate Champion believes it’s a fascinating array of different ways to see the world, through the lives of others.
“For me, theatre is an extraordinary opportunity to experience the world through a perspective other than my own; how someone lives, the concerns they have, the hopes they harbour,” Kate says. “Each of these stories and every one of these characters has a unique reality to share with you – up close and personal, intriguing, and insightful.”
Black Swan hits the pool in its continuing relationship with Perth Festival as it deep dives into the heart of community life and explores the intimate, intersecting stories between a diverse group of attendees. In the world premiere of ‘The Pool’ by Steve Rodgers and directed by Kate Champion, the audience is invited to be seated around a local pool with headsets to hear authentic conversations and observe the everyday. It’s outdoor theatre under the Perth sunset.
‘Barracking For The Umpire’ is back by popular demand, from local actor/comedienne Andrea Gibbs. It tackles the fragility of the human body, and the impacts of the great game in our players, family, and community.
Oliver Award-winning playwright Suzie Miller’s legal works ‘RBG: Of Many, One’ and ‘Prima Facie’ will be presented back-to-back – ‘RGB: Of Many, One’ sees Heather Mitchell as the indomitable Ruth Bader Ginsburg; and ‘Prima Facie’, directed by Kate Champion, is the story of defence barrister Tessa Ensler who is shifted to the other side of the witness stand.
‘The Children’ by Lucy Kirkwood won Best Play at the 2018 UK Writer’s Guild Awards. It’s an atomic drama about the responsibility of generations to those that follow, as two nuclear scientists Robin and Hazel are presented with a frightening challenge for their future.
The year continues with ‘The Seed’, from WA’s own Kate Mulvany. It’s the semi-autobiographical play which shot her to national prominence, and brims with comedy and tension as three family members navigate finding new life among the rubble of old wars.
Adding to Black Swan’s commitment of nurturing Western Australian talents, ‘Pickle Jam’ brings together eight of Perth’s hottest writers, who have been commissioned to explore fresh takes on the gems of great writing, to find the seeds of future plays.
The 2024 season of Perth’s Black Swan State Theatre Company begins with ‘The Pool’.
