Written by
Xavier Hazard
Directed by
Jo Bradley
Download the Festival of Emerging Artists Program Here
About the show
SEEN is a platonic love story that stages the digital.
It’s 2017. Year 11. New friends Andrew and Asha arrange their first kiss over Messenger. And promptly realise they’re gay.
As they come of age, their unconventional friendship plays out over six years of text messages.
Written for the festival, SEEN is a new work about gen z friendships and internet culture.
Director's note
When developing SEEN with playwright Xavier Hazard, my intention was to depict authentically the way young people talk to one another on the internet. In my directing, I’ve sought to capture how it feels to communicate via texts (the intimacy, immediacy, the perceived privacy to speak your innermost thoughts), rather than how it looks (two people holding phones).
Jo is a director, critic and dramaturg who is passionate about new and contemporary playwriting. While at NIDA, Jo has directed the music video for Angela Rose’s Late Bloomer, and worked with Imara Savage as her Assistant Director in the NIDA June Season production of Miriam Battye’s Scenes with Girls.
Jo is passionate about collaborating with young playwrights as both a director and a dramaturg. In 2022, Jo directed the world premiere of Young Bodies / Somebody’s by Miranda Michalowski at Flight Path Theatre. For KXT Storyteller’s Festival, she has directed readings of two new works: That’s What She Said, by Josephine Gazard (2022), and California Orange Stellar by Grace Wilson (2023).
Jo studied Theatre at UNSW, and graduated with First Class Honours for her thesis on Female Artistic Directors at Australia’s major theatre companies. Since 2014, Jo has run her own website, Scribbles of Stage and Screen where she reviews Sydney theatre.
Performance Dates
Wednesday 6 December, 7:00pm
Thursday 7 December, 7:00pm
Friday 8 December, 7:00pm
Saturday 9 December, 12:00pm and 7:00pm
Runtime: 40min
Venue: NIDA Theatres, Space, 215 Anzac Parade , Kensington NSW 2033
Pricing: NIDA is offering a Pay What You Want option for this event. We are grateful for your support, no matter the amount. Please note that this payment option is non-refundable.
Content Notice: Mentions of suicide and abuse.
NIDA's Festival of Emerging Artists consists of 7 shows performed across 3 of NIDA's venues, the Reg Grundy Studio, the Studio Theatre and The Space. It is possible (and encouraged) for patrons to attend multiple shows consecutively, whether in the same venue or across multiple venues. The shows have been scheduled accordingly to accommodate for multiple viewings, e.g. 7:00pm, 8:00pm and 9:00pm shows in the evening, and 12:00pm, 1:00pm and 2:00pm shows for matinees. Please ensure you do not book more than one show at the same timeslot.
Cast
Andrew
Faisal Hamza
Asha
Lilian Valverde
Bryn
Thomas Russell
Voice of Judy
Frankie McNair*
Corey
Ashan Kumar*
Creative / Production Team
Director and Dramaturg
Jo Bradley
Jo Bradley
Set and Costume Designer
Elle Fitzgerald
Elle Fitzgerald
Lighting Designer
Chris Milburn
Chris Milburn
Sound Designer
Carol Gonzales
Carol Gonzales
Video Designer
Adetokunbo (TK) Abioye
Adetokunbo (TK) Abioye
Associate Lighting Designer
Harry Smyth
Harry Smyth
Production Stage Manager
Sherydan Simson
Sherydan Simson
Stage Manager
Thomas Shepherd
Thomas Shepherd
Construction Manager
Nick Day **
Costume Supervisor
Giulia Zanardo
Video System Supervisor
Thomas Howieson
Head Electrician
Yasmin Breeze
Properties Maker
Grace McCann
Technical Assistant(s)
Holly Nesbitt
Justin Boerst
Thomas O'Brien
Note: **Staff