Black Swan State Theatre Company formally known as The Black Swan Theatre Company is the state theatre company of Western Australia, running an annual subscription season in Perth.
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Since its inception in 1991, Black Swan State Theatre Company (“Black Swan”) has developed a reputation for innovation and the nurturing of new work, and in particular the telling of uniquely Western Australian stories. Its contribution to the cultural and social fabric of Western Australia was recognised in 2004 by the decision of both State and Federal Governments that Black Swan would be the State’s Flagship Theatre Company. Black Swan has also been confirmed as the resident company in Perth’s new Performing Arts Venue, to open in 2010. Artistic Director, Kate Cherry, joined Black Swan in March 2008 and presented her first season program – Black Swan’s Year of Magical Thinking 2009 – in October 2008. The Company’s status has been reflected in the rebranding and renaming from Black Swan Theatre Company to Black Swan State Theatre Company, which also took effect in October 2008.
Over the past 17 years Black Swan has produced a string of critically acclaimed landmark productions including several national and international tours. Productions such as 'Bran Nue Dae', 'Sisitergirl', 'Tourmaline', 'Dead Heart', 'Corrugation Road' (which won the prestigious The Age Critics’ Award at the Melbourne International Festival and performed two national tours), 'The Merry-Go-Round in the Sea', 'Plainsong' and 'Cloudstreet' have upheld a standard of rare excellence as well as pursuing a commitment to the creative talents of Western Australia. The production of 'Cloudstreet' created a sensation, performing to sell-out audiences at the 1998 Festival of Perth and the 1999 London and Dublin arts festivals as did the 2002 production of 'The Career Highlights of the Mamu', hailed as a highlight of the Laokoon International Festival in Hamburg, Germany
Black Swan State Theatre Company is one of Australia’s foremost not-for-profit theatre companies with a reputation for distinctive interpretations of international classics and world-premier productions infused with the culture of Western Australia
In 2011, Black Swan State Theatre Company moved into the new State Theatre Centre of Western Australia in Perth as the Resident Company. All of Black Swan's productions in 2011 and beyond will be performed in the State Theatre Centre of WA, in the Heath Ledger Theatre or the Studio Underground.
Black Swan's office and rehearsal room used to be located at the Old Masonic Hall in Nedlands, with productions being performed in various theatres around Perth.
Black Swan’s artistic director is a critically acclaimed theatre director and a committed performing arts educator. Kate Cherry has worked in every capital city in Australia, New York City, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Colorado, Massachusetts and Hong Kong. As Associate Director for MTC, Kate directed over twenty productions. She has also staged work for Playbox Theatre (where she was Artistic Associate), Sydney Theatre Company, Adelaide Festival, Brisbane Festival, Glenn Street Theatre, Oz Opera, Hit Productions, Ensemble Theatre NYC, Shakespeare and Company, (Massachusetts), American Conservatory Theatre and California Shakespeare Festival, (San Francisco).
Kate’s critical successes have included Helpmann and Green Room Nominations and Awards and a Gielgud Award for Best Emerging Director of the Classics in the USA. She has been the recipient of an NYC Drama League Fellowship and a Williamson Leadership Program Fellowship.
As both Director and Educator, Kate Cherry has had a longstanding commitment to the theatre industry in Perth, having taught and directed for the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts on an ongoing basis for the past nine years. She has also provided her skills as a dramaturg and conducted master classes for WA Stages and the WA Writers Guild.
Black Swan’s inaugural Artistic Director was Andrew Ross (1991 – 2003), now the Director of Brisbane Powerhouse Arts. Under Ross’ direction, the company produced such iconic Australian works as works as ‘Bran Nue Day’, ‘Corrugation Road’, ‘Sistergirl’ and ‘The Merry Go Round in the Sea.’ Following Ross’ departure in 2003, Peter Kingston was engaged as acting Artistic Director, until the appointment of Tom Gutteridge in February 2004.
Under the leadership of previous Artistic Director Tom Gutteridge, Black Swan maintained a strong commitment to commissioning new work and in recent years past has premiered exciting contemporary plays such as Ian Wilding’s 'The Carnivores' and Neil Gladwin’s 'Red Dog'.
The HotBed Ensemble is Black Swan’s professional development program for emerging Western Australian artists. The HotBed aims to nurture, stimulate and showcase a selection of Perth's most imaginative and talented theatre-makers.
The program includes exclusive skills development and workshop opportunities with international visiting artists, close contact with Black Swan staff, and the opportunity to create original, edgy and contemporary work.
The HotBed Ensemble has enjoyed critical and popular success since its inception in 2006. It has produced classic texts, contemporary work and new plays; in 2006 it presented 'Falling Petals' and 'Woyzeck'. 2007 saw The HotBed stage the acclaimed 'Laramie Project' (Perth season and regional tour), and 2008 produced the award winning 'Caucasian Chalk Circle' and the world premiere of 'Portraits of Modern Evil'.
In 2009 the HotBed Ensemble will produce the world premiere of a new Australian work 'The Dark Room' by Angela Betzien and a daring play by controversial playwright Mark Ravenhill (author of Shopping and F***ing) entitled 'pool [no water]'.
In addition to skills development and networking opportunities more than a third of our HotBed artists have gone on to work in our mainstage program, which is one of the core objectives for the ensemble.
Adam Mitchell was the Associate Director for Black Swan Theatre Company and Director of The HotBed Ensemble 2007-2010. For Black Swan State Theatre Company’s HotBed Ensemble he directed: 'The Shape of Things', 'Yellow Moon - The Ballad of Leila and Lee', 'Portraits of Modern Evil', 'The Caucasian Chalk Circle', 'The Laramie Project', 'Falling Petals', 'Heart’s Desire' and was Assistant Director for 'Uncle Vanya'. Other Theatre: As Director: For Sydney Theatre Company 'True West' (Assistant Director), For Melbourne Theatre Company 'The Pillowman' (Assistant Director), For DAMAGE Theatre: 'The Brick and the Rose', 'Kitchen' and 'A Change in the Weather'. For ARTRAGE: 'Loving the Alien'. For Lyons Productions: 'The Messenger'. For The Cabaret Soiree series Downstairs at the Maj: 'Damaged and Ramblings of a Random Redhead'. For The Hayman Theatre: 'Away'. As Performer: For The Cabaret Soiree Series Downstairs at the Maj: 'You Oughta Know' DAMAGE Theatre: 'From Sondheim to Sinatra' (2002 Edinburgh Festival, one man cabaret). West Australian Symphony Orchestra: 'Great Composer Challenges'. Chaplins: 'Dick Whittington', U.K. national tour. ARTRAGE: 'Lost Hellfire'. For Entrophy/Deckchair Theatre Co: 'Under Milk Wood'. Awards: Best Director and Best Production 'The Shape of Things', WA Equity Awards 2010, Best Director, WA Equity Guild Awards 2008, 'Caucasian Chalk Circle'. Best Independent Production, Blue Room Awards 2003, 'The Brick And The Rose'. In 2011, Adam Mitchell direct 'When The Rain Stops Falling' by Andrew Bovell.
Black Swan’s vision is to engage, challenge and entertain through theatre. This interaction with theatre allows communities to sustain cultural heritage, create social bonds and open forums for dialogue.