Past productions - Sydney Independent Theatre Company

SYNOPSIS 10 year old Joshua, in foster care with Georgie since he was a baby, is acting out in reaction to schoolyard bullies. Georgie hopes to lift Joshua’s spirits by fulfilling his long held dream of voyaging on the Pacific Jewel. Rhonda, Joshua’s burnt out social worker, is trying her best to help, but is starting to crack under the constraints of a slick new management style led by new recruit, Ryan. Meanwhile, Damien, at the tail end of a long prison sentence, is doing everything in his power to get his life back on track. But, when Jonno, his deadbeat father, shows up out of the blue demanding answers concerning a secret from Damien’s past, a series of intertwined events unfolds. Providing topical, entertaining and compelling insights into the workings and machinations of child protection and parental rights, The Complete Package reveals the often dire consequences that occur when both irresponsible and well meaning adults manipulate the truth.

TENNESSEE BAZ-JEFFREY - cast
Tennessee is a drama student at Newtown High School of the Performing Arts (NHSPA). He has studied and performed at PACT Youth Theatre (2008-11), Leg Breakers Drama (2009) and won his school’s dance and drama award (2008). Theatre credits include Unhand Me Squire, NHSPA (2011), Laughing Stock, NHSPA (2011), SUM: Tales from of the Afterlife, Luminous Festival, Sydney Opera House (2009), Macbeth, Sydney Shakespeare Festival (2009) and Two by Jim Cartwright, Go Theatre (2006). Film credits include AFTRS feature, Mort (2010), AFTRS short, New Shoes (2010), Bondi Short Film Festival Finalist, Driven (2008) and Loose Oranges and Aphrodite’s’ Tears for ABC Online (2008).

RICHARD HILLIAR - cast
Originally from Newcastle, Richard is a graduate of the UWS Performance Course (Theatre Nepean). He has performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night, The Merchant of Venice, Macbeth, The Comedy of Errors and Much Ado About Nothing for Sydney Shakespeare Festival. Other recent acting credits include The Footage (Stooged Theatre), Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet (Brave Touch Productions), Hybrid Dream (Eclective Productions), In the Slaughterhouse of Love, As You Like It and A Midsummer Nights Dream (No White Elephant Productions), The Laughter Subsides (Crowd of Three Theatre), Crave (ABitOnTheSide), Mary Rose, Arcadia and Dangerous Liaisons (Factory Space Theatre).

DAVID JEFFREY - cast
David is a graduate of the Actors College of Theatre and Television (ACTT). Originally from New Zealand, he has been acting in Sydney for 17 years. Recent productions include A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo and Juliet, The Merchant of Venice, Twelfth Night and Much Ado About Nothing for Sydney Shakespeare Festival; and Serial Killers by James Griffin, Departures and Arrivals by Carol Shields, The M Word by Alan Ball, Boys Life by Howard Korder, The Dining Room by A. R. Gurney, After Dinner by Andrew Bovell and Two by Jim Cartwright for Go Theatre. Other productions include Mothers and Fathers by Joseph Musaphia at the Stables, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare for Darlinghurst Theatre, One Flesh by Fiona Samuel for More Productions and Lovepuke by Duncan Sarkies at the Harold Park Hotel.

LANA KERSHAW - cast

Lana has performed in numerous independent theatre productions in Sydney, working on both new Australian works and classical texts. Most recently she performed as Ophelia in Hamlet at the Q Theatre. Lana performed in the 2011 Sydney Shakespeare Festival, appearing as Titania and Hippolyta in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lady Montague and Balthasar in Romeo and Juliet. Other credits include various roles in Hi, How Can I Help You (HELP! Productions for the Sydney Fringe, 2010), the role of 3rd Witch in Macbeth (Riverside Lyric Ensemble), Sprite/Narrator in Mary Rose (The Factory Space, 2010) and Jill in Mum's the Word (NTT Productions). Lana is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education, majoring in theatre.

CHERILYN PRICE - cast
Cherilyn has been acting for over 15 years. For Sydney Shakespeare Festival she has performed the role of Maria in Twelfth Night, 1st Witch in Macbeth, Emila (Abbess) and Doctor Pinch in The Comedy of Errors and Ursula in Much Ado About Nothing. Other recent productions include Two by Jim Cartwright and Serial Killers by James Griffin for Go Theatre. In 2002 she appeared in a US version of Short and Sweet called Short Shorts, Wasatch Theatre. In 1999, Cherilyn performed in Love Puke by Duncan Sarkies for Exordium at the Harold Park Hotel. For Darlinghurst Theatre from 1996 to 1999 she featured in La Voix Humaine by Jean Cocteau, The Next Big Thing by Jeff Nolan, Late Arrivals by Pamela Van Amstel and Death Comes to Us All, Mary Agnes, by Christopher Durang.

ROGER ADAM SMITH - cast
Roger played Peter Quince and Egeus in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Prince Escalus and Apothecary in Romeo and Juliet, Sir Toby Belch in Twelfth Night, Antonio in The Merchant of Venice, Duncan and the Porter in Macbeth, Balthazar and the Jailer in The Comedy of Errors and Dogberry and Antonio in Much Ado About Nothing for Sydney Shakespeare Festival. Other credits include Sam Shepherd’s Icarus’ Mother (Bondi Pavilion), Inek (The Cow) (Sidetrack) and John Power’s classic Last of the Knucklemen (Bondi Pavilion) in the role of Methuselah. Roger has also appeared in several feature films including the AFI Award-winning Beneath Clouds, Roseberry 7470 (Sydney Underground Film Fest), A Perfect Life, Slaughtered (Aust Film Fest) and Beyond The Realm (Int Film Festival, South Africa).

JULIE BAZ - director and artistic director of SITCO
Co-founder and Artistic Director of SITCO, Julie is also co-founder and artistic director of Sydney Shakespeare Festival (est. 2007). Julie produced and directed A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet for the 2011 festival, Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice for the 2010 festival, Macbeth and The Comedy of Errors for the 2009 festival and Much Ado About Nothing for the 2008 festival. Julie established Glebe’s only currently operating theatre at The Roxbury Hotel with co-founder David Jeffrey where she staged six productions including the Australian premiere of Serial Killers by James Griffin (2005). Julie also co-founded and directed the The Actors Factory, an acting school from 2001 to 2004. She has a BA Comms (Film and Media) and has directed several short films including the award winning That Was… (1997).

DAVID JEFFREY - designer and technical director of SITCO
David is co-founder and Technical Director of SITCO. He has a diploma in film and television production and direction (1992). Recent theatre design credits include A Midsummer Night’s Dream (2011), Romeo and Juliet (2011), Twelfth Night (2010), The Merchant of Venice (2010), Macbeth (2009), The Comedy of Errors (2009) and Much Ado About Nothing (2008) for Sydney Shakespeare Festival which he co-founded with Julie Baz in 2007; Two by Jim Cartwright (2006), After Dinner by Andrew Bovell (2006), The Dining Room by A R Gurney (2006), Foreplay, four short plays culminating in Boys Life by Howard Korder (2005), Departures and Arrivals by Carol Shields (2005) and the Australian premiere of Serial Killers by James Griffin (2005) for Go Theatre which he also co-founded; and Lovepuke by Duncan Sarkies (2003) for The Actors Factory.

ROBERT ALLAN - writer and playwright in residence at SITCO
The Complete Package is Robert’s first full-length play. He has a degree in Theatre Studies and Psychology (UNSW) and has completed playwriting courses and workshops at Griffin Theatre and Short & Sweet. In his earlier years Robert studied acting (Ensemble Studios) and dance. He appeared in a number of plays and musicals for The Independent Theatre, State Youth Theatre, Ensemble Studios and Opera Australia in the 1980’s. Robert began playwriting in 2009 and has had two short plays staged: Something to do with Toads (Short & Sweet) and Serenity (Short & Sweet).

CHRISTINA FALSONE - assistant director
Christina recently completed The Director part-time program at NIDA. As an assistant director, collaborator and theatre maker, her work includes The Housewife's Guide to Shakespeare/ Shakespeare in Full Colour, The Cronulla Project and Memento Mori. Christina is also an experienced actor, having performed in many roles in theatre and on TV. She holds an Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts and a Certificate IV in Theatre Performance and Practices.