Henry VI part 1 - October & November 2023 - Theatre at Dairy Road

Rockspeare 1H6

Mill Theatre’s Rockspeare Henry Sixth Part One, or 1H6, is bold, cheeky and fun. In this new universe the music inherent in Shakespeare’s poetry is amplified with an original soundscape by Canberra composer Andre Pinzon. The result is not a musical but Shakespeare as you've never seen it, or heard it. Here, the history plays are recast as political dramas in a rock, steampunk world.

The emphasis is on the “bandying” of factional warlords and scheming duchesses who dominate young Henry VI’s reign and see in the start of the Wars of the Roses, the two century struggle that ended with the rise of the Tudors, paving the way for the Elizabethan era of Shakespeare’s time. In IH6’s famous rose garden scene we see how it all began.  As well, swallowed up by intrigue and thanks to the fascinating character of Joan of Arc, depicted variously by Shakespeare as witch, whore and patron saint, England loses most of her French possessions. IH6 shows that factional power and intrigue have a long and bloody history. 

This production is the first of four in the Henry VI-Richard III tetralogy to be presented over four years. Long form programming will be a unique feature of Mill Theatre, in the interests of developing a new type of relationship with our audience.  Mill Theatre philosophy also includes building the capacity of Canberra’s creative industries. The non-binary and female cast of 1H6 are fresh out of Shakespeare school with rehearsals concentrated on intense verse training and storytelling to produce a clarity of story and language, courageous acting and bold interpretation. Now, 10 promising emerging actors have teamed up with 8 of our highly experienced production team to produce a show that, well, rocks!

Whether you were a star pupil or failed Shakespeare in your English class, you will love this IH6.

Duration: 100 minutes approximately with one interval

Audience suitability: all ages welcome, especially anyone who failed English class in school

Haze and strobe lighting are used in this show. 

Season Dates

730pm Wednesday 11 October PREVIEW

730pm Thursday 12 October PREVIEW

730pm Friday 13 October PREVIEW

730pm Saturday 14 October PREVIEW

730pm Wednesday 18 October OPENING NIGHT 

730pm Thursday 19 October

730pm Friday 20 October

230pm Saturday 21 October

730pm Saturday 21 October

230pm Sunday 22 October

730pm Wednesday 25 October 

730pm Thursday 26 October

730pm Friday 27 October

230pm Saturday 28 October

730pm Saturday 28 October

230pm Sunday 29 October

230pm Saturday 4 November

730pm Saturday 4 November

The Mill Theatre at Dairy Road

This 67 seat, intimate theatre opened in November 2022. It was built by the Molonglo Group and technically fit out by Elite Event Technology. The technical fit out is what turned a cool room into an actual theatre and Elite Event Technology is the ongoing and major partner. It is the first private enterprise theatre in the ACT. 1H6 is the fifth production for this independently run venue. Independent theatre means professional theatre where cast and creatives are paid but without subsidy payment is not equivalent to full time salaries. Some creatives are fully trained, some have a lot of experience and are doing their first paid gig and some members are part of the shadow-emerge-mentoree program which provides training for time. We don't yet know what this space will be, but we can promise that it ain't like Netflix. 

The Team

Cast

Suffolk: Sarah Nathan-Trusdale

Gloucester: Kate Blackhurst

Warwick/Basset: Maxine Beaumont

York: Heidi Silberman

Dauphin (Queen): Rachel Howard

Joan: Alana Denham-Preston

King Henry VI/Young Talbot/Warder: Chips Jin

Talbot/Margaret: Stefanie Lekkas

Reignier/Burgundy/Vernon: Emily O'Mahoney

Mortimer: Sarah Carroll

Contingencies: Elaine Noon, Tracy Noble

Production Team

Director and Verse Nurse: Lexi Sekuless

Sound Designer: Andre Pinzon

Costume Designer: Tania Jobson

Assistant to Costume Designer and specialised props: Zelda Trichard

Set Designer: Kathleen Kershaw

Movement Directors: Annette Sharpe and Timmy Sekuless

Lighting Designer: Stefan Wronski

Stage Manager: Jess Morris 

Program Design: Dark Cave Press

Front of House Manager: Lexi Sekuless

Photographer: Daniel Abroguena

Producer: Lexi Sekuless Productions 

Major partner: Elite Event Technology

Event supporter: Events ACT

Photos by PassOut Media from Rockspeare Richard III Events ACT & Lakespeare live streamed 2020 production, produced by Lexi Sekuless.

TICKETS 

General admission tickets are $50 inclusive of GST but exclusive of Humanitix booking fees. Concession tickets for Full-Time Students, Health Care or Pension Card holders are $40 inclusive of GST but exclusive of Humanitix booking fees.

Tickets are fully refundable and transferable for all COVID related issues. 

Tickets are for entry only and are available online until one hour before the show. From that point, box office tickets in person are available for purchase. 

SEATING

• All tickets are general admission and no seats are reserved so the earlier you arrive, the better position you will have.
• Seating is in an L-shape to create a dynamic and intimate playing space. 
• The venue is fully accessible for wheelchairs with a ramp from the P3 parking spot and same level access from entry into building 3.3 into the theatre all the way to the accessible seating positions inside the Mill. We have two wheelchair seating positions both with very different views. Please contact us at hello@milltheatreatdairyroad.com so we can talk through the options. One option is on the short side, the other option is on the long side. All accessible bookings will be reserved.
• Every seat in the house has a great view, and a different view. Patrons walk through the set to find your seats, adding to the intimacy of the space. This means, late arrivals or patrons who leave the theatre before intermission or the end will NOT BE ADMITTED TO THE THEATRE.
  

ARRIVAL & PROTOCOLS

ENTERING

• Please head to the Box Office on arrival. If you have already purchased a ticket, the Front of House team checks off the name of every booked attendee. If you haven’t purchased a ticket, you can get one onsite an hour before show time. 
• The doors open approximately 15 minutes before show time. The Front of House team will let you know when you can enter.
• You may be temperature checked before being allowed into the venue. Your temperature needs to be below 37.5.
• Please do not attend if you are experiencing any of the following: fever; flu-like symptoms such as coughing, sore throat and fatigue; shortness of breath or have been in contact with a person with a confirmed case of coronavirus.

LOCK OUT

• Due to the unique layout of the venue, the audience walks through the stage to take their seats. This means we cannot accommodate anyone slipping in late for the beginning of the show or for the return after intermission.
• The Front of House team rings a bell and counts the audience to ensure you won’t miss out but please don’t tempt fate otherwise you will be locked out and we cannot let you in.

CAST AND CREW

We have two COVID-contingency cast members. This process means that should any cast or crew be unwell, our contingency cast will step in to ensure the safest environment for the company and audience. The Front of House team will ensure audiences are alerted to any changes before each show. 

LOCATION

The Mill Theatre is in Building 3.3, the Screencraft and KeepCo building which is a short walk from Capital Brewing. There are two easy ways to approach the Theatre:

PARK in P3 at the back of the precinct. From there you will see building 3.3 which has a large Screencraft sign. The public entrance is just up from that sign (not underneath it!). Once inside, walk about 5 metres and the theatre is to the right, next to Mojo Guitars.

WALK from Capital Brewing or the Less sculpture into the KeepCo building, pass Ramen Daddy and at the end of the corridor we are on the left. 

PARKING

All parking in the precinct is free with several accessible parking spots in all the parking locations. The best spot to park is P3 at the back of the precinct. If you park elsewhere please be warned that signage and way-finding around the precinct is extremely difficult. Arrive in plenty of time to possibly get lost, possibly be in a bad mood, and remedy that with a drink at Vertikal or Ramen Daddy before enjoying a smashing show!