The Show...
“In the search for connection, when there are no more floors to crash through, I found my way out by going in”.
This dynamic Australian work is a humorous and moving theatrical cycle that explores the painful depths of loneliness, the profound joy of aloneness and the impact of social isolation. a/lone combines physical, absurd and verbatim theatre with an evocative live original score. Written and directed by Janine McKenzie, featuring original music by Seshtin Honey and designed by Alard Pett, a/lone is brought to life by performers Xavier McGettigan, Stacey Carmichael and Emily Jacker- Lawrence.
Following a successful Australian premiere at the Geelong Arts Centre, a/lone graced the Edinburgh Fringe Festival stage in 2023. In 2024 it will tour Victoria, Australia.
Supported by Geelong Arts Centre's Creative Engine.
Running time: 70min
CONTAINS OCCASIONAL COARSE LANGUAGE and ADULT THEMES
This dynamic Australian work is a humorous and moving theatrical cycle that explores the painful depths of loneliness, the profound joy of aloneness and the impact of social isolation. a/lone combines physical, absurd and verbatim theatre with an evocative live original score. Written and directed by Janine McKenzie, featuring original music by Seshtin Honey and designed by Alard Pett, a/lone is brought to life by performers Xavier McGettigan, Stacey Carmichael and Emily Jacker- Lawrence.
Following a successful Australian premiere at the Geelong Arts Centre, a/lone graced the Edinburgh Fringe Festival stage in 2023. In 2024 it will tour Victoria, Australia.
Supported by Geelong Arts Centre's Creative Engine.
Running time: 70min
CONTAINS OCCASIONAL COARSE LANGUAGE and ADULT THEMES
a/lone is realised with warmth and generosity, as it considers whether a greater engagement with the self might be a worthwhile and effective means of combatting loneliness, asking: if you are attending to and investing in your own company, are you ever really alone?
Josephine Balfour-Oatts, The Scotsman
The Team...
Stacey Carmichael (She/Her), Producer & Performer
Stacey is a director, choreographer, actor, dancer and teacher. She has completed short course studies with RADA (London), NIDA (Sydney), Brave Acting Studio (Melbourne), Frantic Assembly (London) and holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts in Dance/ Drama. www.staceyccreative.com
Janine McKenzie (She/Her), Writer & Director
Janine has worked with various theatre companies as both an actor and director. She is an award-winning drama educator, receiving the Drama Victoria Regional Teacher of the Year Award in 2015. Janine was awarded the Geelong Theatre Best Director Award (with Iris Walshe- Howling) for APA’s "The Hope Song".
Sheshtin Honey (She/They), Composer, Musician, Performer, Sound Design
Sheshtin is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, composer and visual artist. Her composition history ranges from Post Rock, Dark Wave, Electronica, Alt Folk and Madrigals. Highlights include working with Back to Back Theatre, Glen Shea, Skin of Our Teeth and Anglesea Performing Arts. They are delighted to be working with Project Connect. www.sheshtin.com
Xavier McGettigan (He/Him), Performer
Xavier is a professional director, choreographer, performer and dance educator. He directs Attitude Dance Company, teaches dance regularly throughout Geelong. Xavier won Best Director, Best Sound and Best Lighting awards for "Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency" at the Victorian Drama League Awards. www.xaviermcgettigan.com
Emily Jacker-Lawrence (She/Her), Performer
Emily Jacker-Lawrence is a singer, dancer and actor, originally from Geelong, she completed a Bachelor of Music Theatre at Federation University in 2018. Most recently she performed in a new work “You’re A Catch; Why Are you Single?”, written and directed by Sarah Wynen (2022) and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Attitude Dance Company's "Perfect Pairing" (2023).
Associate Artists
Alard Pett (He/Him), Designer
Alard has designed multiple theatrical productions over the last 15 years in Geelong and surrounding regions. He has works as a production designer, set designer, lighting designer, set construction, costume design and creation. He has worked on plays in intimate spaces, and musicals in much larger theatrical places as well as working in large arenas.
Iris Walshe-Howling (She/Her), Project Mentor
An original member of La Mama Theatre Melbourne in the 1960's, Iris has gone on to become a multi award winning director/actor. She introduced challenging, cutting edge theatre to the Surf Coast and beyond, forming an ensemble which has become renowned for pushing the envelope in theatre.
Melinda Chapman (She/Her), Projection Design
Melinda began her career in advertising and design before shifting into the computer games industry. The highly creative culture in Geelong and its surrounding regions soon introduced her to theatre-making. She has since ventured into acting and directing for stage and has written three plays.
Stacey is a director, choreographer, actor, dancer and teacher. She has completed short course studies with RADA (London), NIDA (Sydney), Brave Acting Studio (Melbourne), Frantic Assembly (London) and holds a Bachelor of Contemporary Arts in Dance/ Drama. www.staceyccreative.com
Janine McKenzie (She/Her), Writer & Director
Janine has worked with various theatre companies as both an actor and director. She is an award-winning drama educator, receiving the Drama Victoria Regional Teacher of the Year Award in 2015. Janine was awarded the Geelong Theatre Best Director Award (with Iris Walshe- Howling) for APA’s "The Hope Song".
Sheshtin Honey (She/They), Composer, Musician, Performer, Sound Design
Sheshtin is an award winning multi-instrumentalist, composer and visual artist. Her composition history ranges from Post Rock, Dark Wave, Electronica, Alt Folk and Madrigals. Highlights include working with Back to Back Theatre, Glen Shea, Skin of Our Teeth and Anglesea Performing Arts. They are delighted to be working with Project Connect. www.sheshtin.com
Xavier McGettigan (He/Him), Performer
Xavier is a professional director, choreographer, performer and dance educator. He directs Attitude Dance Company, teaches dance regularly throughout Geelong. Xavier won Best Director, Best Sound and Best Lighting awards for "Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency" at the Victorian Drama League Awards. www.xaviermcgettigan.com
Emily Jacker-Lawrence (She/Her), Performer
Emily Jacker-Lawrence is a singer, dancer and actor, originally from Geelong, she completed a Bachelor of Music Theatre at Federation University in 2018. Most recently she performed in a new work “You’re A Catch; Why Are you Single?”, written and directed by Sarah Wynen (2022) and at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Attitude Dance Company's "Perfect Pairing" (2023).
Associate Artists
Alard Pett (He/Him), Designer
Alard has designed multiple theatrical productions over the last 15 years in Geelong and surrounding regions. He has works as a production designer, set designer, lighting designer, set construction, costume design and creation. He has worked on plays in intimate spaces, and musicals in much larger theatrical places as well as working in large arenas.
Iris Walshe-Howling (She/Her), Project Mentor
An original member of La Mama Theatre Melbourne in the 1960's, Iris has gone on to become a multi award winning director/actor. She introduced challenging, cutting edge theatre to the Surf Coast and beyond, forming an ensemble which has become renowned for pushing the envelope in theatre.
Melinda Chapman (She/Her), Projection Design
Melinda began her career in advertising and design before shifting into the computer games industry. The highly creative culture in Geelong and its surrounding regions soon introduced her to theatre-making. She has since ventured into acting and directing for stage and has written three plays.
Research has found that 'people who are disconnected lead sicker, sadder and shorter lives'. We wanted to have a conversation about the epidemic of loneliness. Audiences will see themselves and people they love in the stories we tell. This performance resonates deeply and continues to stay with you long after you leave the theatre.
Janine McKenzie