  
Tropic Sun Theatre Company Shakespeare Newsletter June 2007
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“Shakespeare Under the Stars”
OTHELLO in Queens Gardens
Wed 20 th – Sat 30 th June
The Old Magistrates Court Theatre is filled with the sounds of meetings of state, languid love and clashes of titans as fifteen actors come together for the rehearsals of Shakespeare’s OTHELLO.
In Venice, the young Desdemona falls deeply in love with a famous army general, the Moor, Othello and travels with him to the island of Cyprus continue an idyllic time together. Jealous eyes and sick minds follow them and. Before too long the ugliest of whispers echo in Othello’s ears like approaching thunder…. When the storm breaks over their Island of dreams, nothing will stand it its path .
Nobody falls like a great man in love…
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Meet TOM E. LEWIS who plays OTHELLO |
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He is such a dynamic and charming personality, Tom E. Lewis, and strikingly young for his years; he will admit he’s been looking forward to the role of Othello since he was 22 – must be, what, about 20 years ago? But what gives particular freshness to his interpretation is that he is an accomplished practitioner in other art forms; in music including classical (from Bach through Chopin to Japanese and even the most ‘difficult’ - Chinese music). At the same time Tom’s active participation in film, both as performer and writer, as well as in puppetry, keep his creativity bubbling away on a front burner. ‘It is all really medicine’, says Tom, ‘and by working a lot it keeps the medicine going’.
Tom was born in Ngukurr in the Roper Valley; eventually a series of jobs took him to Melbourne where he became an apprentice motor mechanic. Then one day film-maker, Fred Schepisi, happened to pass by, spotted Tom, and managed to persuade him to start in the title role of The Chant Of Jimmy Blacksmith.
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Tom is widely traveled but perhaps spending longer in France than anywhere, he learned to speak French and, incidentally, was taught the guitar by no less than Francois Bernard, the renowned composer of modern music. ‘I’ve been a lone wolf all my life, but I am fortunate in having met good people and that’s what’s guided me’.
For his part, Tom likes to help out kids from remote areas. Currently he is busy writing a couple of films one is musical and based on stories of the Rainbow, the other is a feature film on Palm Island – with all the local stories.
As we parted, Tom left me with this image:
‘A blue turtle swims in the water and on its back is the reflection of a thousand stars’
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Hear Tom on Radio National…
Tom E.Lewis (our Othello) and Wayne Blair, (the actor Playing Othello for Bell Shakespeare Company in Melbourne, right now) are being interviewed “on playing the character of Othello” on Artworks on Radio National on Sunday (17th June) at 10.00am (repeated Tuesday 10am or Wednesday 1am – for the insomniacs!) – hear Amanda Smith’s interview on ABC RN on 104.7
Read about Tom - next Wednesday Townsville EYE supplement in the Townsville Bulletin.
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Performances will be “under the stars” (we sincerely hope that this lovely rain will have left us by the time!!) in Queens Gardens, North Ward. Use the lower entrance gate in Gregory Street. As always with outdoor performances we have an earlier start time, and a ½ hour dinner interval – dinner can be pre-booked, or you will be able to buy light foods from the bar.
As the last two years, the Townsville City Council is presenting an Elizabethan Fair in the middle of the run on Sunday, 24 th June, the Fair runs from 12 noon to 4pm, then our show will start at 5pm
Much fun and revelry during the afternoon, and “period” foods and drinks too! |
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Tues |
19-Jun |
11.00am |
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Wed |
20-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Thurs |
21-Jun |
11.00am |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Fri |
22-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Sat |
23-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Elizabethan Fair Queens Gardens Sunday 24 June 12.00pm - 4.00pm
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Sun |
24-Jun |
5.00pm |
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Dinner * |
Wed |
27-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Thurs |
28-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Fri |
29-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
Sat |
30-Jun |
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6.30pm |
Dinner * |
(Dinner interval of ½ hour book dinner in advance* or buy light food and drinks on sale at the bar)
* Optional Dinner: $28 for 2 course meal & bottled wine
Menu: Desdemona’s Delight – chicken tagine with steamed vegetables & creamy kumera mash followed by
Death by chocolate rich chocolate mud cake w. fresh berries & cream
Ticket Prices and Booking Details
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Adult |
$32 |
Old Magistrates' Court
Cnr Sturt and Stokes Streets, Townsville City
Tropic Sun Box Office side door in Stokes St.
Phone (07) 4721 5433
24 hr.answering service
Email: info@tropicsun.com.au
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Parties 10+ |
$24 |
Concession & Pensioner |
$24 |
School Student |
$9 |
Dress Circle |
$20 |
Dinner Price |
$28 |
This production is, a co-production with Darwin Theatre Company; many readers will know their Artistic Director, John du Feu from the many years he spent in Townsville, as Director of the Civic Theatre, as well as director and actor for Tropic Sun productions. John first did this production in Darwin last year, and now in Townsville he is recreating the show with the same Othello and Iago while the rest of the cast you will recognise as Tropic Sun actors. Dominie Hooper the costume designer, also did the designs for the NT production.
You be the judge – look forward to seeing you in Queens Gardens!
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