Archival CV - Richard James Allen
LIVE WORKS: PLAYS AND DANCE PLAYS
Written by Richard James Allen
Directed and Choreographed by
Richard James Allen and Karen Pearlman
(except at noted)
2000 MORE LIES
A Sydney Writers Festival presentation.
A shapeshifting monologue performed by Christopher Snow,
directed and choreographed by Richard James Allen.
Shortlisted for the 2001 Griffin Award for New Australian Playwriting.
1995 THURSDAY'S FICTIONS
A Tasdance Production. Co-Director: Don Mamouney.
A hybrid arts production of an epic poetic script which involved collaborations with five other primary artists, direction of six dancers and one actor (Michael Edgar, formerly a member of Laurence Olivier's company), and overseeing of work by approximately 30 other artistic contributors to the project.
Review
"What a fascinating, challenging, thoughtful, exciting and confrontingly entertaining piece of creativity this unusual presentation is…The story is told through a mind-blowing mix of dance, drama, performance poetry, a radio play and music – all exquisitely dressed, simply but powerfully set, and masterfully lit…Underpinning everything is the rich poetry of Richard James Allen’s text with its storm of ideas...an unforgettable night."
Wal Eastman, The Mercury
1995 SUNDAY AT THE ABORTION STATION
A Tasdance/ABC Radio 7NT Production premiered on City Park Radio, Launceston, and also played at interval during the production of THURSDAY'S FICTIONS in 1995. Co-Director: Don Mamouney.
A radio play for 16 actors about a woman who takes over a radio station in a terrorist style attack.
1993 BLUE CITIES
A That Was Fast Production commissioned by Colloquium Contemporary Dance Company, NYC, and premiered at the Cunningham Studio, 1992. Full production premiered at Sidetrack Theatre, Sydney, in 1993. A Tasdance Production with expanded six performer cast premiered at The Earl Arts Centre, Launceston, Tasmania in 1995.
A murderer meets an angel on the border of heaven in this `dance play' which combines a full play script with a full collaborative choreographic production.
Reviews
"Witty, provocative, accessible."
Jeremy Eccles, The Sydney Review
“This highly literary, stimulating and energetic blend of dance and theatre…communicates in mixed media with unequivocal clarity.”
Larry Ruffell, The Canberra Times
1992 IF WAR WERE A DANCE
A Dance North Commission for a Dance North and Tropic Line Theatre Company Production, premiered at Townsville Civic Theatre, Townsville, Queensland, 1992. A play and a dance for six actors (including Anthony Weigh) and seven dancers commissioned to mark the 50th anniversary of the Battle of the Coral Sea off Northern Queensland.
A woman who returns for the 50th anniversary commemoration of the Battle of the Coral Sea is visited by the spirit of her former lover, a fighter pilot lost at sea.
Reviews
"Immensely moving."
Colin Campbell, Dance Australia
"A North Queensland treasure."
Heather Harvey, The Cairns Post
1991 GRAND ILLUSION JOE
A That Was Fast Production presented off off Broadway by Downtown Art Co., New York City.
A three act play written, directed and choreographed by Richard James Allen, staring Obie-Award winning actor Tom Cayler and the star of The Strange Case of Balthazar Hippolite George McGrath.
A murderous character happens back to the house of his author. Only one of them is going to get out alive.
Director, Choreographer
Review
"Original and compelling...the exciting sense of newness afoot."
Phyllis Fahrie Edelson, Antipodes (USA)
1989 THE CHARLIE STORIES
A That Was Fast Production commissioned by the Whitney Museum of American Art at Equitable Center, New York City.
Reviews
"The Charlie Stories chronicles the life of an individual who searches out sensation through immersion in the lower depths....an existential examination of the fragility of civilization."
Suzanne Carbonneau Levy, The Washington Post
“The Charlie Stories are odd, idiosyncratic and yet spot-on for our times…superb and beautiful dance allied to a restless intellectual poesy.”
Mary Brennan, The Glasgow Herald
1984 HIGH TENSION AND PASSION (HOOGSPANNING EN HARTSTOCHT)
A KISS International Theatre Research Group/De Voorziening Co-Production in Groningen, Holland. Richard James Allen the director and choreographer of two major set piece scenes, and co-writer of complete project.
An enormous production set in and around a moving train over 40 km, with a time travel script, seven or eight stops and 200 participating performers and technicians.
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