NIDA acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands on which we learn and tell stories, the Bidjigal, Gadigal, Dharawal and Dharug peoples, and we pay our respects to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Elders past and present.

ENTER

Splendour

Written by
Abi Morgan

Directed by
Nat Randall and Anna Beckon

Splendour

About the show

I select the best shot.’

An opulent drawing room in the Presidential Palace. Outside: civil war. A Western photojournalist awaits the return of the dictator. She is here to take his portrait. The dictator’s wife, her best friend and an interpreter wait with her. Prada shoes, vodka glasses and light fingers tap out the time. He is late, very late.

All four women harbour secrets and suspicions. All four are in danger. This is the day.

This riveting play by Abi Morgan (Iron Lady, The Split) is given a fresh take by Nat Randall and Anna Breckon (The Second Woman, Set Piece), who have been carving out an international career at the intersection of live performance, contemporary art and film.

Content Notice:  Adult themes, flashing lights and loud noises with sounds of bombing, and graphic descriptions of war.

Anna Breckon

Anna Breckon is an independent artist, filmmaker, film studies scholar and critic. She has a PhD in English in queer and feminist film theory from The University of Sydney. Her thesis considers queer politics of happiness in a selection of contemporary auteur films.

Anna has published on John Waters (2013) and Todd Solondz (2018) in Screen (Oxford University Press). Anna has worked as a director and writer for projects presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Performance Space, Dark Mofo, Rising Festival, Perth Festival, Adelaide Festival, Weiwuying: National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Taiwan), Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), BAM (New York) and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art.

Nat Randall 

Nat Randall is an artist working at the intersection of performance, video and film. Randall has presented work at major institutions, galleries and festivals nationally and internationally. Randall has presented work at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Performance Space, Dark Mofo, Rising Festival, Perth Festival, Adelaide Festival, Weiwuying: National Kaohsiung Center for the Arts (Taiwan), Harbourfront Centre (Toronto), BAM (New York) and the Australian Centre for Contemporary Art. Randall and her collaborator Breckon are currently undertaking a Theatre Fellowship from the Australia Council of the Arts.

Randall studied at the University of Wollongong where she developed a breadth of performance practice including devised work, site-specific practice and participatory work. Randall is currently on the Artistic Directorate at PACT Centre for Emerging Artists.

Performance Dates

Friday 27 October 2023, 7:45pm
Saturday 28 October 2023, 1:00pm, 7:45pm
Monday 30 October 2023, 7:45pm
Tuesday 31 October 2023, 7:45pm
Wednesday 1 November 2023, 1:00pm, 7:45pm
Thursday 2 November 2023, 7:45pm

Runtime: 75 mins – no interval

Cast

In order of appearance

Genevieve
Yasna Delo

Gilma
Evie Korver

Micheleine
Lillianne Lord

Kathryn
Tessa Olsson

Understudies
Tiahna McBride
Al Taylor

Creative Team

Directors
Anna Breckon*
Nat Randall*

Set/Props/Costume Designer
Madaleine Cooper

Lighting Designer
Julianna Stankiewicz

Sound Designer
Sherydan Simson

Video Designer
Lucy Parakhina*

Voice Coach
Eleanor Stankiewicz*

Production Stage Manager/ Video Systems Designer
Cameron Russell

Deputy Stage Manager
Topaz Marlay-Cole

Assistant Stage Managers
Thomas Howieson
Amelie McCarthy

Head Electrician
Naomi O’Connor

Construction Manager
Eryn Douglas

Costume Supervisor
Delan Woods

Properties Supervisor
Jess McIntosh

Video System Supervisor
Ross Turley*

Costume Maker
Maverick Durkin
Sam Hernandez

Set/Props Design Assistant/Camera Operator
Bronte Hunt

Costume Design Assistant
Adelie Gahan-Hannibal

Costume Assistant
Katrina Mark

Properties Assistant
Lauren Ward

Camera Operator
Chaii Ki Chapman
Taylah Crouch
Harry Smyth

Technical Assistants
Archer Dametto
Jasmine Power
Niamh Nolland
Thomas Hamilton

Sustainability Coordinator
Imogen Ross**

Pre-recorded Video Producer
Madaleine Cooper

Cinematographer
Ross Turley*

Fashion Model
Janita Barber
Jasmine Phipps

Costume
Madaleine Cooper

Hair and Make-up
Abbey Hardwick
Freya Wilkinson

Special thanks to Sun Studios and Technical Direction Company (TDC)

* Guest  ** Staff

* Guest  ** Staff

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