Overview
That amplified rant at the next table over: bunch of loud jerks or theatre performance? In a bold attempt to blur the lines between reality and fiction, a series of short plays will be performed in Eeny Meeny cafe in Frankston as part of the Anywhere Theatre Festival.
Running August 28-31, To Be Determined is a collection of four short plays written by award-winning playwright Alex Broun and directed by Jessica Moody. The plays all focus on young people and the consequences of relationships, as audience members receive an almost voyeuristic experience in overhearing the actors' louder-than-usual private cafe conversations.
Audience members are invited to take a seat in the cafe, without initially being aware of who the actors are and who else is part of the crowd. The ticket price includes a platter of savoury food from the menu, with full bar service and hot drinks available throughout the performance. Yes, you may be watching experimental theatre, but you can’t forget the cafe latte that goes with it.
Of her choice of setting, Moody explains, "The intimacy of the cafe performance enables the audience to overhear the conversations by young people, providing insight to the labyrinth of youth, while undergoing the Melbourne tradition of keeping company over coffee." The cast includes Melbourne actress and cabaret artist Ilana Charnelle Gelbart, film critic Tom Heath and Lindsay Templeton, who will also be performing in the Melbourne Fringe Festival later this year.
Started in Brisbane in 2011, The Anywhere Theatre Festival is coming to Frankston for the first time from August 22 to September 6. The festival celebrates live performance happening anywhere but a traditional theatre, including a moving vehicle, a bike shop, a skate park, McClelland Sculpture Park, an indoor rock climbing centre and out in the street. For tickets and more information, see the Anywhere Theatre Festival website.