“Virsik’s play is impressive and grim…superb acting…brilliant set design…the most heartbreaking expression you are likely to see on stage for some time”
TIMEOUT MELBOURNE DANIEL NICHOLLS
“masterpiece…outstanding show.. see this play; it is really, really good.”
RHUM.ORG.AU LIAM PIEPER
“Excellent cast…Powerful, dark story.”
MELBOURNE OBSERVER CHERYL THREADGOLD
“The drama is carefully ravelled and the tone is even throughout; the pace is measured and the delivery uncluttered.”
CRIKEY ONLINE ANDREW FUHRMANN

MKA PRESENTS

SLEEPYHEAD

MAY10-MAY28
Level 1, 211 Chapel Street Prahran

PLAYWRIGHT NATHANIEL MONCRIEFF
DIRECTOR YVONNE VIRSIK
SET AND LIGHTING DESIGNER DAVID SAMUEL

FEATURING…
Kiloran Hiscock / Daniel Frederiksen / Emily Wheaton / Chris Broadstock / Kaitlyn Clare /Hannah Camilleri

SEE THE CAST IN REHEARSAL

ABOUT THE PLAY

“DOLL HOUSES BURN DOWN TOO”

Sleepyhead is a gothic tale of isolation and innocence.

Recognisable as a family despite themselves; burnt; crippled; hideously drunk. Dead.

On a remote rural property live a father and his two daughters. Strange phone calls in the night, the spectre of their dead mother, and then, one night, a visitor.

Developed with the support of ATYP’s Fresh Ink program, Sleepyhead won the Fellowship of Australian Writers’ Di Cranston Award in their 2009 Literary Awards and was shortlisted for the 2010 Griffin Award. The play has a distinctly mid-20th Century aesthetic, the result, the playwright says, of living in Perth and reading way too much Southern Gothic Fiction.

“Sleepyhead is thrilling. I believe we may have hit upon a very important new voice in Australian theatre.” – Adam Mitchell, Black Swan Theatre Company

“Sleepyhead is a play that utilizes dramatic devices along the Pinter and Brechtian theatre, but reinvents them into a compelling, character driven thriller with elusive qualities.” – Peter Krausz, Fellowship of Australian Writers

 

ABOUT THE TEAM

Yvonne Virsik has worked as a director with companies including Theatre in Decay, Theatre @ Risk, MTC, Malthouse Theatre, Red Stitch, St. Martins Youth Theatre and La Mama. She is a graduate of Directing at VCA where she was awarded the Yvonne Taylor Scholarship. Virsik is currently the Artistic Director of Monash University Student Theatre, where she has mentored hundreds of young theatre makers.

“It seems that nearly every time I’m astounded by a new script, Yvonne Virsik is directing it” – aussietheatre.com.au

PLAYWRIGHT NATHANIEL MONCREIFF DIRECTOR YVONNE VIRSIK SET & LIGHTING DESIGNER DAVID SAMUEL FEATURING Kiloran Hiscock / Daniel Frederiksen / Emily Wheaton / Chris Broadstock / Kaitlyn Clare /Hannah Camilleri PHOTOGRAPHER SARAH WALKER FEATURED KILORAN HISCOCK STAGE MANAGEMENT STEPHEN MOYLAN PRODUCER GLYN ROBERTS

ABOUT BEING THERE

PREVIEWS MAY10+MAY11

SEASON MAY12-MAY28 TUES-SAT 8pm

DURATION 1H15M

TICKETS PREVIEWS+TUESDAYS $15 SEASON C$20/F$25

BE THERE
BOOK NOW

GOOD NIGHT SLEEPYHEAD

XX
MKA