THIS JUST IN…
A game of online authenticity played with guest performers,
co-created with acclaimed Australian playwright Maxine Mellor
Catch BREAKING in an all-new version for Melbourne Fringe, with an international cast of guest performers from around Australia and the globe.
18-22 Oct 2023, Online Only
Melbourne Fringe Pulse Program
Tickets are free, but limited.
More Info
In this livestream performance, a series of grim news bulletins are delivered by unrehearsed guest performers reading from an automated teleprompter. Each is an interruption from the previous broadcast, solemnly delivering new rounds of bad news, rapidly evolving in intensity and absurdity.
An animal has been declared extinct.
A bomb blast in a distant and hard-to-pronounce country.
A beloved morning TV show host has been fired for misconduct.
The bulletins play on the performance of impersonal empathy, attempted composure, the futility of calming a nation, the unbelievability of apology, and the familiarity of incomprehensible bad news. The unrehearsed and unprepared nature of the delivery creates an authentic challenge for performers that is compelling in its struggle - finding playfulness by teasing cracks in the facade of broadcast media.
The bulletins are scripted with the game of performance in mind. Laced with dark comedy, they toy with the impossibility of authenticity, but also glimpse notes of inexpressible pain. The irredeemable darkness of our times is touched on, but only to be mishandled in the most human of manners.
BREAKING is designed for online delivery, with remote guest performers recruited fresh for each performance.
Reviews
"‘Breaking’ is unapologetically authentic, absolutely riveting and unashamedly dark."
- Nothing Ever Happens in Brisbane
Credits
Created by Counterpilot
Director & Co-writer Nathan Sibthorpe
Co-writer Maxine Mellor
Sound Designer & Composer Mike Willmett
Video Systems Designer Freddy Komp
Video Designer, Programmer & Stage Manager Jeremy Gordon
Assistant Director Maddy Border
Associate Creatives Christine Felmingham & Sarah Winter
Presented by Metro Arts
With Development Support by Critical Stages Touring
Produced by Danielle Carney & Meg Hamilton
Special Thanks to Jo Thomas, Teegan Kranenburg, Nicholas Southey
Rehearsal Performers: Byron Lankester Howells, Chelsea Burton, Sebastien Skubala, Megan Dale, Zoe Schramm, Georgina Sawyer, Cale Dennis, Morgan Francis, Bryce Hudson, Stephen Geronimos, Maddi Römcke, Lauren Hale, Chris Paton, Indiah Morris, Meg Hamilton, Chiara Osborn, Emily Skye, Michael Mandalios, and Egan Sun-bin.
Generously Supported by Arts Queensland, The Australia Council for the Arts, Critical Stages Touring and Metro Arts
2023 Melbourne Cast
WEDNESDAY 18 OCT 1pm AEDT
Emily Burton | Riley Nottingham | Jon Haynes
THURSDAY 19 OCT 1pm AEDT
Kyle Walmsley | Annie Louey | Claire Woolner
FRIDAY 20 OCT 1pm AEDT
Merlynn Tong | Rupert Bevan | David Woods
SATURDAY 21 OCT 11am AEDT
Ashley Apap | Alistair Baldwin | Griffin Kelly
SUNDAY 22 OCT 1pm AEDT
Hannah Belanszky | Bron Batten | Stuart Daulman
2022 Brisbane Cast
WEDNESDAY 14 DECEMBER 7pm
Nikhil Singh | Steven Rooke | Jo Thomas
THURSDAY 15 DECEMBER 7PM
Jackson McGovern | Damien Warren Smith | Sophia Emberson-Bain
FRIDAY 16 DECEMBER 7PM
Patrick Jhanur | Billy Fogarty | Kate Wilson
SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 3PM
Daphne Chen | Anna McGahan | Lucas Stibbard
SATURDAY 17 DECEMBER 7PM
Steve Pirie | Elise Greig | Todd MacDonald
Seasons
World Premier [Online]
14 - 17 DEC, 2022
Metro Arts, Brisbane
Melbourne Fringe [Online]
18-22 OCT, 2023
Co-presented with Metro Arts
& the Melbourne Fringe Pulse Program
Development History
Development 1
Staged through Counterpilot’s Incubator Program, 2020-21.
Supported by Metro Arts, Darwin Festival, Arts Queensland, and the Australia Council.
Development 2
Supported by Metro Arts, Critical Stages Touring, Arts Queensland and the Australia Council, 2021-22.
Pitch
Breaking was pitched at APAM in 2022.
Premiere
Breaking premiered online as part of Metro Arts’ season in December 2022.
Snapshot for Presenters
Breaking is available for remote presentation anywhere in the world.
Get in touch to discuss the unique presentation opportunities afforded by this project.
Metro Arts and Breaking are supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body. Metro Arts and Breaking are supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland, part of the Department of Environment and Science. Metro Arts' Work-In-Residence program is supported by Lynn Rainbow Reid AM and John B Reid AO.
For Melbourne Fringe’s Pulse Program, this project received Cash to Create through the Fringe Fund, with thanks to Ricci Swart and the Pulse Giving Circle.
