A NOTE FROM THE DIRECTOR
I was first drawn to the scrip because of title, wild swimming or ocean swimming is one of my favourite things to do.
Why?
Because it’s invigorating and leaves you in complete surrender to mother nature – and for me this is the best way to escape the realities of our modern, sometimes stressful world.
This act of surrender is true vulnerability and when it comes down to it, this is what makes an authentic life.
Wild Swimming is a beautiful parallel to life, and what we (Grace, Chris and me) are bringing to stage is the journey of two individuals simply trying live their truth, find their purpose and to fit into the world they find themselves in – this is the true challenge. We explore themes of desire, class, feminism, masculinity and vulnerability in an action-packed hour!
The dialogue is witty, the breaks in story are abrupt – but all this will create an amazingly theatrical experience for audiences.
The best bit about this process has been working with the wonderful team at IO Performance and continuing my development as a director. I believe the rehearsal room is one of the greatest places in the world, as we reflect, play and explore what it means to be humans and how we interact, love, care, challenge and grow with other humans.
I hope you can enjoy and reflect on life through the theatrical journey that is Wild Swimming.
ZOE VANDERVELDE
CAST
Multidisciplinary artist Grace Roberts finds her passion in the world of theatre and performance. Past graduate of the University of Tasmania theatre course and having completed her Master of Fine Arts in post-dramatic theatrical design and scenography, Grace spends her time as Co-Artistic Director and Producer of her multi-award-winning Theatre and Performance Company, IO Performance with Chris Jackson. Previously employed as a lecturer at the University of Tasmania and Charles Sturt University, Grace’s passion comes from imparting knowledge and providing opportunities to emerging artists in the community. Grace has been involved in many theatrical productions in different capacities, from Lighting Designing, Set Designing, Acting, Projection Design, Production Managing and Stage Managing, as well as working as the makeup artist on several productions. Grace has worked with such theatre companies as: Three River Theatre, Relevant Theatre, Launceston Players, Mudlark Theatre and Blue Cow Theatre. Grace takes pride in her abilities to adapt and learn new skills to make her a better practitioner in the arts.
GRACE ROBERTS
Chris is Co-Artistic Director and cofounder of IO Performance, a multi/interdisciplinary artist with over 16 years of professional experience, holding a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts, Master of Contemporary Arts and Master of Fine Arts. He has worked in various capacities across the arts sector including: Directing, Writing, Acting, Performance Art, Production, Music and Design and his work has seen local, state, national and international stages and exhibitions. He has worked at several institutions as a lecturer in performing arts whilst maintaining an active presence in the rich cultural fabric of lutriwita. He is interested in intermediality in performance, how the entire assemblance of ‘things’ create the art. Actor, Dancing Back Home (JUTE/Mudlark); Performer, Borders (Ihos Opera/JAF); Assistant Director, Barbarians (Ihos Opera/MONA FOMA); Actor, Savages (Persona Collective/JAF); Composer/Sound Designer, I Am A Lake (Mudlark); Performer/ Assistant Director, Backwards From Winter (Ihos Opera/ DARK MOFO); Vision/Sound Design & Music, WILD (Relevant/IO/JAF); Writer/Director, White Dark (Ten Days on the Island); Director, Let The Right One In (IO); Director, Blank (IO); Lighting Design, tuylupa (pakana kanaplila/soma lumia/tasdance); Lighting Design, Dissolving Labels (DRILL); Lighting Design, First Floor (Tasdance); Actor/director/designer, A Poster of the Cosmos (IO); Director, Anatomy of a Suicide (IO); Sound Design & Music Garden on the Moon (Mudlark).
CHRIS JACKSON
LIZ PENFOLD
HOVER FOR WARNINGS:
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Adult Themes
Sexual References
Coarse Language
Partial Nudity​
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CREATIVES:
SET DESIGN: CHRIS JACKSON & ZOE VANDERVELDE
LIGHTING DESIGN: GRACE ROBERTS
SOUND DESIGN: CHRIS JACKSON & ZOE VANDERVELDE
COSTUME DESIGN: ZOE VANDERVELDE
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STAGE MANAGER: PETA DOWE
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MECHS: LILLY AMOS
SPECIAL THANK YOU TO
MIKE AND DEB ROBERTS
MANDY AND GERALD JACKSON​
TANIA AND ANDREW MATTHEWS
BUTTONS BREWING
UP NEXT
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