‘Uncover, dogs, and Lap’
In 2013 I directed the Sydney Premier of Timon of Athens at the Old 505 Theatre exploring smalls ways to invite the audience into the performance. In 2018 I adapted the text to explore full acts of participation by the audience into Timon’s demise into misanthropy called ‘Uncover Dogs’. This work still in development is called “Uncover Dogs - A Witch Play.” Read more about the process here.
Timon of Athens @ Old 505 (April 2013)
Hedonism reigns in the beautiful city of Athens. Its citizens flock to the genuinely empathetic and loving Timon. Timon is a creature whose affection is bestowed upon friends through the medium of seemingly unending wealth. But when Athens and its citizens thrust Timon into the harsh dog-eat-dog reality of a society run by gold there is no way to avoid a slippery decent in to misanthropy and its tragic consequences.
An experiment in completing one of Shakespeare’s little performed and ‘unfinished’ plays. Presented by collaborative partnership This Hour and The Old 505 Theatre.
With: David Buckley, Robert J Edwards, Charlie Hanson, Julia Kennedy Scott, Brendan Layton, Felicity Nicol, Pollyanna Nowicki, Rachel Roberts, Camilla Turnbull, Claire Wall.
Production Design: Lucy Watson | Direction: Erica J Brennan | Dramaturge: Heath Ivey-Law | Lighting Design: Amber Silk | Graphic Design: Sarah McInnes.
“This is the debut feature from Brennan and Watson’s endeavour, under their name of ‘This Hour,’ although they have worked together for over 18 months. This experience, together with the excellent support team they secured for ‘Timon of Athens’ has served to produce a play which is refreshing, thought-provoking and quirky; an excellent modern re-telling of a little-known Shakespeare play.”
Uncover Dogs @ Glebe Town Hall (2018)
A story of betrayal and spiritual transmutation set against a backdrop of cynicism and capitalism. Hedonism reigns in the beautiful city of Athens. Its citizens flock to the generous, empathetic and loving Timon: a creature whose affection is bestowed upon friends through seemingly unending wealth. But when Athens and its citizens thrust Timon into the harsh dog-eat-dog reality of a society run by gold there is no way to avoid a slippery decent in to misanthropy. Timon is the young phoenix on the cusp of regeneration that is unable to rise from the ashes of her own making.
Performers and Development Cast: Julia Kennedy Scott, Simon Thompson, Emily Elise, Luke Holmes Cam Turnbull, Jane Grimley, Carolyn Eccels, Victoria Griener, Cat Martin, Gideon Payten Griffith,
“Uncover Dogs reduces the action of Shakespeare's Timon of Athens to focus exclusively on Timon. Re-imagined as a young woman whose fragile idealism crumbles under humanities imperfection. The performance is an intimate, adaptable piece of work that uses participatory and immersive theatre devices to create a lived experience of a story, without dependence on complicated environment design.”