In partnership with the Helpmann Academy, the Adelaide Festival are providing an exclusive, free masterclass for emerging theatre and drama creatives, with Sydney based theatre company, Soft Tread.

Maureen: Harbinger of Death Masterclass is available for final year students and graduates (up to five years from final year of study) from our partner institutions.

“Concession, consensus, compromise, and champion”: Nell Ranney (Co-conceiver & Director) and Jonny Hawkins (Writer & Performer) will discuss the nature of collaboration and offer their findings on the difficulties and benefits of working together, the importance of respect and relationship and the joy of discovery in shared storytelling.

This 90-minute masterclass will offer a practical insight into their creation process and navigating the relationship between a director and solo performer/writer. Starting with stories inspired by memory and personal experience and exploring how they can transform with exposure to external references and perspectives.

About Jonny Hawkins, Writer & Performer
Jonny Hawkins is an actor, writer, and DJ. They studied Acting at WAAPA, where they won the Burton Award for outstanding Shakespearian Performance, and they have subsequently won awards including the Sydney Theatre Critic’s Best Newcomer Award. Their appearances across film and TV include Mr Inbetween, Stan’s The Other Guy, Les Norton, the ABC’s award-winning RIOT and the mini-series Peter Allen: Not the Boy Next Door. As a writer, their short film Joy Boy won Best Film at Melbourne’s Queer Film Festival and Best Screenplay at Vivid’s Fresh Flix. Maureen is Jonny’s first full- length play. Jonny is also one of Sydney’s best loved DJs and founder of The Dollar Bin Darlings, preaching disco and love all over Australia.

About Nell Ranney, Co-conceiver & Director
Nell Ranney is a director and producer of original and multi- disciplinary theatre work. Her credits include the Sydney premiers of TUESDAY by Louris van de Geer (Belvoir) and She Rode Horses Like the Stock Exchange by Amelia Roper (KXT), and she is currently leading creative development of GRLZ by Victoria Haralabidou (supported by Australia Council of the Arts). Nell was Associate Director for Debra Oswald’s solo performance Is There Something Wrong With That Lady? (Griffin Theatre), and in 2018 she was appointed the Baylis Assistant Director at the Old Vic in London for SYLVIA (Old Vic/ ZooNation) by Kate Prince. Her previous roles in artistic programming include Program Manager of The Garden of Unearthly Delights from 2018- 2020 and Artistic Associate of Belvoir from 2016-2017.

Places for this exclusive masterclass are strictly limited. Bookings essential.

This masterclass is free for final year students and graduates (up to five years from final year of study) from our partner institutions. Check your eligibility here.

Please note that you will be asked at the checkout to upload a copy (JPG file only) of your official academic transcript.

Image: Jonny Hawkins in production by Clare Hawley.

Contact the host of Helpmann Academy Masterclass - Maureen: Harbinger of Death

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