Toy Symphony (play)
Encyclopedia
Toy Symphony is a two-act play written by Australian playwright
Michael Gow
. It is Gow’s first full length play in over a decade since Sweet Phoebe and won several awards at its 2007 premiere production at Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney.
Toy Symphony is the story of writer Roland Henning, a character who has appeared in one of Gow’s earlier plays, Furious. The play tells the story of the turmoil Henning faces as a result of his writer's block, as he tries to explain his past to his therapist in order to grasp some understanding of his current situation. It is considered to be at least partially autobiographical.
. When he tries to explain the situation to a therapist, his story begins to tumble back and forth between his childhood in The Shire and his work as a playwright. At the root of it all is that extraordinary day in primary school which shattered his boyhood and plunged him headlong into the dizzy circus of life and art.
.
Playwright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
Michael Gow
Michael Gow
Michael Gow is an Australian playwright and director most famed for his 1986 work Away.As a student at Sydney University, Gow acted and directed with the Dramatic Society from 1973-1976. After graduation, Gow went on to act with Nimrod, Thalia and Sydney theatre companies.He has been the Artist...
. It is Gow’s first full length play in over a decade since Sweet Phoebe and won several awards at its 2007 premiere production at Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney.
Toy Symphony is the story of writer Roland Henning, a character who has appeared in one of Gow’s earlier plays, Furious. The play tells the story of the turmoil Henning faces as a result of his writer's block, as he tries to explain his past to his therapist in order to grasp some understanding of his current situation. It is considered to be at least partially autobiographical.
Characters
- Roland Henning
- Nina (a therapist)
- Lawyer
- Mrs Walkham (a primary school teacher)
- Julie Pearson (a schoolgirl)
- Mr Delvin, Headmaster
- Alexander the Great
- Dr Maybloom, a specialist
- Executioner
- Nicolaijs Eglitis, a schoolboy
- Titus Oates
- Steven Gooding, a school bully
- Miss Beverly, a school teacher
- Nurse
- Daniel, a Drama student
- Tom, a drug dealer
Plot summary
Roland Henning has writer's blockWriter's block
Writer's block is a condition, primarily associated with writing as a profession, in which an author loses the ability to produce new work. The condition varies widely in intensity. It can be trivial, a temporary difficulty in dealing with the task at hand. At the other extreme, some "blocked"...
. When he tries to explain the situation to a therapist, his story begins to tumble back and forth between his childhood in The Shire and his work as a playwright. At the root of it all is that extraordinary day in primary school which shattered his boyhood and plunged him headlong into the dizzy circus of life and art.
Awards
- 2008 Helpmann Awards: Best New Australian Work
- 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards: “Best Main stage Production”
- 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards: “Best Supporting Actress” – Monica MaughanMonica MaughanMonica Maughan was an Australian actor with notable and well-known roles in film, theatre, radio and television.-Early life and education:...
- 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards: “Best New Work”
- 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards: “Best Director” – Neil ArmfieldNeil ArmfieldNeil Geoffrey Armfield AO is an Australian director of theatre, film and opera.Born in Sydney, Armfield was the youngest of three boys. The son of a factory worker at the nearby Arnott's biscuit factory he was brought up in the suburb of Concord adjacent to Exile Bay...
- 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards: “Best Actor” – Richard RoxburghRichard RoxburghRichard Roxburgh is an Australian actor who has starred in many Australian films and has appeared in supporting roles in a number of Hollywood productions, usually as villains.-Early life:...
Original Production
Toy Symphony was first produced by Company B, a theatre company based at Belvoir St Theatre in Sydney. The production received rave reviews and won several awards including Best Director and Best ActorActor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
- Season 10 November 2007 – 22 December 2007 at Belvoir St Theatre, Sydney, Australia.
- Cast – Richard RoxburghRichard RoxburghRichard Roxburgh is an Australian actor who has starred in many Australian films and has appeared in supporting roles in a number of Hollywood productions, usually as villains.-Early life:...
, Justine ClarkeJustine ClarkeJustine Clarke is an Australian actor and singer. She has been acting since the age of seven and has appeared in some of Australia's best-known TV shows...
, Russell Dykstra, Guy Edmonds and Monica MaughanMonica MaughanMonica Maughan was an Australian actor with notable and well-known roles in film, theatre, radio and television.-Early life and education:...
. - Director – Neil ArmfieldNeil ArmfieldNeil Geoffrey Armfield AO is an Australian director of theatre, film and opera.Born in Sydney, Armfield was the youngest of three boys. The son of a factory worker at the nearby Arnott's biscuit factory he was brought up in the suburb of Concord adjacent to Exile Bay...
- Set - Ralph Myers.
- Costumes - Tess Schofield.
- Lighting - Damien Cooper.
- Original music and sound - Paul CharlierPaul CharlierPaul Charlier is an Australian composer and sound designer who works primarily in theatre and film. He has also worked in radio and was a founding member of the Sydney post-punk band SoliPsiK...
. - Production stage manager - Kylie Mascord.