Silver Lake by Simone Page Jones

Presented as part of the VCA Master of Theatre (Writing) Festival 2024

When ex actress of yesteryear's silver screen Elouise La Monte attends an artist's residency set on the edges of Lake Louise, Banff... she finds herself unexpectedly swept up into a psychological storm that sees her questioning her own sanity as the lines between reality, fantasy and fiction become dangerously blurred.

Content Warnings: adult themes, coarse language, sexual references

Credits

Director: Fengyi Liu
Dramaturg: James Burchett

About the writer

Simone Page Jones is an Australian playwright, singer, actor and theatre-maker working across stage, film, music and live performance art. Her work is mostly sensual, playful, romantic and comedic with a beating heart at its core that is both relatable and tender. Her thematic concerns often revolve around the plight of artists and the art making process whilst uncovering and exploring moments of vulnerability and intimacy within the hyper fabulous and the ridiculous. She has previously been nominated for a Helpmann Award, had her work listed as one of the top ten national theatre experiences by The Guardian and has been commissioned by Melbourne International Arts Festival, Darwin Festival, MONA, Rising Festival and Dark Mofo.

Acknowledgements

To my dearest friends and creative colleagues, thank you for all of your love and support over the last 20yrs. In particular, I would like to thank Hannah Fox, Will Huxley, Garrett Huxley, Robert Macfarlane, Christine Webber, Simon Fisher, Lillian O'Neil and Camilla McQueen - I couldn't have dreamt this year possible without you!

Thank you to VCA and the amazing minds of Chris Mead, Kat Henry, Alyson Campbell, Emily Sheehan and Michelle Lee. Thank you for all of your mentoring and teachings through out the year that have deeply inspired, challenged and encouraged.

Thank you to my dearest family, both human and hound, to those here on earth and to those now in the stars xx

Thank you to my fellow cohort of talented writers - your friendship, encouragement, ideas and provocations have been invaluable.

Thank you to the creative team who have brought this play to life - the wonderful actors, exceptional director Fini (Fengyi) Liu and talented dramaturg James Burchett.

And... hugest of THANK YOUS to brilliant Raimondo Cortese - none of this would have been possible without you! Forever grateful to you for your guidance, your honesty in telling me when things were great and when things were less great haha, your generous sharing of ideas, your boundless creativity and immense knowledge of all things writing and theatre! Thank you.

__________

Ticket Prices

Free, registrations required on Humanitix

Run time

This reading will run for approximately 75 minutes.

Venue

This reading takes place in Studio 4, located in the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building which is accessible via paths in the new Dodds Street Linear Park.
Please meet Front of House in the foyer on the ground floor of the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building, Studio 4 is then accessible via the stairs or lift.

Parking

The City of Melbourne has recently changed the parking restrictions around the Southbank Campus. Parking control hours are now expanded to 7am–10pm, seven days per week, and are capped at three hours. A $2-per-hour fee after 7pm is also now in place. There is no change to the $4-per-hour peak rate between 7am–7pm. Parking inspectors are regularly in the area fining drivers who overstay their meter, so we encourage everyone to be aware and avoid an expensive fine. More information.

Accessibility

Click on the accessibility button at the top of this page for detailed information on accessibility in the venue. Please note any requirements that you and your guests may have when prompted at checkout. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.

Important Information

As this is a new devised work, content warnings may be updated closer to the performances. Audiences will be made aware of updated warnings in their event reminder.
Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.
In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.
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Banner: Image by Zayn Ulfan, 2024.