The thrill of suburbia's dark side

Published by: Christina Costigan | 30-Jun-2019
Two new Australian one-act plays put the spine-tingling chills (and laughs) into Winter at The MC Showroom @baggageensemble @themcshowroom
Venue: The MC Showroom
Address: 48 Clifton St, Prahran VIC 3181
Date: 17-27 July 2019
Time: Tue-Sat @ 7.30pm; Sun 21 July @ 3pm
Ticket: Full $38, Concession and groups 8+ $28
Buy / Ticket: https://www.trybooking.com/book/event?eid=504921
Web: http://www.themcshowroom.com/event/thrills-chills-mystery/
: https://www.facebook.com/events/304038533807673/
: https://www.facebook.com/baggageproductions/
: https://www.instagram.com/baggageensemble/
EMail: info@baggageproductions.com
Call: 61435875815
Melbourne-based independent theatre company Baggage Productions' latest show Thrills! Chills! Mystery! is a double-bill of one-act plays written by local playwrights Cerise de Gelder and Hayley Lawson-Smith.

The two plays are different in style but both take a sharp-eyed look at the dark, stubborn self-interest under the surface of polite society. De Gelder's Our Haunting Ghosts is a delicious black comedy of neighbourly jealousy, death and duplicity; while Lawson-Smith's Absorption is an astutely observed social commentary on competitive parenting set within a horror/thriller framework.

"It's Housewives of Brighton meets Blair Witch," jokes producer Bridgette Burton.

Baggage, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, has a long history of producing original scripts and nurturing female writing talent.

"When we started out, the vast majority of scripts being produced - on the main stages as well as independent theatre - were written by men and directed by men. We were struggling actors who decided to take some control of our destiny by creating our own work. Over the years, that focus shifted from ourselves to wanting to encourage and support other women artists - especially writers - to put their work out there and that's how the Madwomen Monologues was born," said Burton.

"Madwomen has been a fantastic showcase for some of the best writing we've encountered. Every year we get these amazing scripts which is thrilling and humbling. We're just so pleased to be able to shine a light on this work and give these writers an audience."

De Gelder and Lawson-Smith have been regular contributors to the Madwomen Monologues since the annual show's inception in 2011.

"Hayley and Cerise are masters of character and dialogue," said Burton. "Their scripts are always so witty and shrewdly observed. We're really proud to be presenting these two new plays - we think it's some of their best work."

Our Haunting Ghosts and Absorption are playing as the double-bill Thrills! Chills! Mystery! at The MC Showroom, Prahran, from 17-27 July 2019.

About Baggage Productions

Baggage Productions was established in 1999 by Bridgette Burton, Christina Costigan, Steve Gome and Amanda Musicka-Williams. Over the last 20 years, Baggage has consistently produced shows"”from sketch comedy to short and full-length plays"”that have delighted audiences and critics alike. In 2009, Beaten Hearts enjoyed a sell-out season at the Dog Theatre, reprised in Los Angeles in 2010, followed by The Subconscious Cometh (Trades Hall, 2011), Rhonda is in Therapy (fortyfivedownstairs, 2012),

The Okinawa Hymen Repair Kit Factory (Bluestone, 2013), Ambition (Bluestone, 2014), Anno Zombie (Chapel off Chapel, 2017) and the annual Madwomen Monologues (2011-).

www.baggageproductions.com

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