Castlemaine actor Rebecca Morton is set to feature in Theatre Works Melbourne’s last production for the year – a Latin-beat inspired bang, Skating in the Clouds.
This brand new work by Melbourne Writers Theatre company manager, Clare Mendes, will be staged from December 4-14 and features a 14-strong, all-women team – some of them on roller skates!
A modern fairytale that begins with salsa and pirouettes into the clouds, Skating in the Clouds is the story of Summer and Autumn, who are in love.
But there’s a problem in their love nest. While Summer plans a spectacular skating party, Autumn roams the house, spanner in hand, looking for a drip she can’t see. With cracks emerging in their relationship, puddles appear on the floor and tough questions need to be asked. What if Julia Gillard doesn’t like the ornamental ice vulture, or Penny Wong can’t skate? And why is ice starting to appear on the floor of their St Kilda living room?
This is the first in a trilogy of adventurous, magic-realist plays by Mendes – each to be created and performed by an all-female cast and crew.
Morton is excited for local audiences to make the trek to Melbourne to catch this innovative and thought-provoking production.
“It is really fast paced, high energy and fun with salsa dancing and skating, but also touches on some deep themes such as climate change,” she says.
The experienced local actor, who in recent years worked with StageArt, Melbourne Writers Theatre, Melbourne Shakespeare Company, La Mama and the Bloomsday group, Gasworks Arts Park and Dirty Pennies Theatre, has enjoyed working alongside the all-female cast to bring this brand new work to life.
She said the production would take audience members on a wild ride.
“It is all a metaphor for love, relationships and will leave you with a lot of questions.
“You’ll laugh, you’ll cry. It’s amazing the power of the arts to open our minds and hearts and make us think. But it also carries a message of hope,” she said.
The production will be a full circle moment for Morton, who performed in her first professional gig at Theatre Works back in 1985.
“It feels like coming home.”
Skating in the Clouds also brings together Melbourne Writers’ Theatre members Emily Farrell and Ellie Nielsen as director and assistant director, respectively.
With a 40-year age gap between them, the abundance of experiences and skill are an exciting addition to the vision of the play.
Writer and director Clare Mendes said she loved superb fairywrens, salsa and skating, so she thought why not combine those passions?
“The salsa and skating may pose a challenge – especially as sometimes they happen at the same time – but that’s the excitement of live theatre, right?
“The women are on their skates and practising as we speak. The show also features some amazing Latin beats that are inspired by my experiences of working and living in South America.
“As this show is Theatre Works’ final production for the year and will be presented in the lead-up to the festive season, we hope audiences will celebrate with us and dance along from their seats!” Mendes said.
To book your tickets for the show at Theatre Works, 14 Acland Street, St Kilda, visit www.theatreworks.org.au/2024/skating-in-the-clouds
