Two Blue Cherries

‘Jill goes missing.

Zach needs to find her.

But how do you find someone when you’re becoming just another rat?

Blistering, poetic and bleakly hilarious, Rat is a play about being yourself against the grain of expectation.

Winner of the 2008 St Martins National Playwriting Award, ‘Rat’ has been supported by St Martins Youth Theatre and the City of Melbourne.'

Written by Chris Summers

Directed by Petra Kalive

Cast: Nikki Coghill (McClouds Daughters, City Homicide, Playing Beattie Bow) Hannah Roe (Hollow Bones, Satisfaction) Josh Lynzaat (Melbourne Model the Musical) Patrick Moonie (Theatre of the Dead).

Crew: Lighting Design: Lisa Mibus (Green Room Award Winner Best Lighting Design 2011). Set Design: Bridie Wilkinson Sound Design: Nick McCorriston Stage Manager: Nick Wollan

Rat - La Mama Theatre from storybottle on Vimeo.

(Please note that parking can be difficult (try Safeway or Carlton Clocktower, both off Drummond Street, or City of Melbourne parking in Elgin Street near Lygon).

Short walk from Melbourne University tram stop at Faraday & Swanston Street

Please pick up your tickets 15 minutes prior to the starting time of the performance.

Chris Summers is an Australian playwright. He has won the Sydney Theatre Company Young Playwright’s Award, the St. Martin’s National Playwriting Award, the Union House Theatre Script Development Award and been shortlisted for the R.E. Ross Trust Award. His commission from Union House Theatre, ‘No Place Like’, had a sell-out season in the Guild Theatre, May 2011. His commission from Platform Youth Theatre, ‘Crossed’, was featured in PlayWriting Australia’s National Play Festival 2011 and produced at La Mama Courthouse in June 2011. Works in development include ‘Rat’ (La Mama, March 2012), ‘Roots’ and a mentorship with Arena Theatre Company’s Chris Kohn, ‘Ghost Train’. Chris completed his Bachelor of Creative Arts (Honours) / Bachelor of Law at the University of Melbourne in December 2011 after studies on exchange in Austin, Texas. In 2012, Chris will study for a Graduate Diploma in Playwriting at NIDA and undertake a JUMP Mentorship, administered through CarriageWorks and the Australia Council, with Tom Holloway."

Petra Kalive trained at WAAPA (acting) 2004 where she developed a love of comedy, character and good storytelling. She is a passionate advocate of new Australian work. Her production company, Two Blue Cherries debut production, Three Dog Night has toured nationally. Her most recent screen credits include a lead-supporting role in Underbelly, City Homicide and Satisfaction. Recent theatre credits include; Adelaide Festival Centre, Melbourne Playback Theatre Company, Real TV and Complete Works Theatre Company. She was appointed dramaturge at Red Stitch in 2009, was assistant dramaturg at the Malthouse in 2010 and will be travelling to Washington in 2012 for the New Visions / New Voices Festival at the Kennedy Centre. Her directing credits include; Melbourne Theatre Company PreTexts Program, National Trust of Western Australia, Complete Works Theatre Company, Monash University, Apollo Productions, Verve Studios and St Martins Youth Arts Centre.