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THEATRE WORKS AND PERSONA COLLECTIVE PRESENT

Beasts

BY ROBERT LEWIS

6-16 MAY | EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
About

BY ROBERT LEWIS

A deranged farce where fragile egos descend into a hellish manosphere wrapped in  physical theatre and poetic prose.


A group of dejected young men turn to the dark corners of the internet to restore their self-imposed “virtue”, striking a Faustian deal with the gruesome personification of masculinity: Alpha, to give them back the world they believe they are owed. But, in their quest for the perfect masculine ideal these fragile boys will contend with a gruesome transformation into something else entirely…


Robert Lewis’ wickedly intelligent writing comes to a climax in Beasts, tackling the complex topic of toxic masculinity and its roots in online discourse. Irreverent, experimental and freaky performances directed by emerging artist Callum Bodman bring a chaotic and archaic world to life in all its janky glory.


Laughing or sweating, shrieking or sighing, Beasts has a gift for all who witness its explosive, uncaring, and truly unique presentation. Striking imagery concocted by the brilliant Georgia Mason creates an uncanny and surreal world of decaying Masculine ideals – Picasso meets American Psycho.


The fast paced, grotesque and witty performances by four young emerging actresses Annaliese Cartwright, Chloe McKeon, Geraldine Cutler and Lilly Infantino bring the piece to electrifying life, like Frankenstein’s Monster if he started a podcast.


Taking no prisoners, punching straight through the glass ceiling of masculine fragility, Beasts will give equal parts catharsis and call to action for the state of our men.

VENUE

EXPLOSIVES FACTORY
Rear Laneway, 67 Inkerman Street, St Kilda

DURATION

90 minutes

WARNINGS

Course language, highly stylised simulated violence, themes of sexual violence and misogyny

ACCESSIBILITY

Explosives Factory is accessed via a flight of stairs and is not wheelchair accessible.

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“Marselle Marceau meets Kiss… sort of like if a mime melted a bit”


“A great deal of performative precision… constantly shifting and moving… the mechanics of this work was so impressive” 


“Electric grace… uniquely and intensely cultivated… it’s own kind of monster… so disinterested in approval” 


“It was wonderful, a very confident, strange show… a real foreign creature”


- Praise Dionysus!

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Dates
DATES + TIMES

Wednesday 6 May - 7:30pm (PREVIEW)
Thursday 7 May - 7:30pm (OPENING)
Friday 8 May - 7:30pm
Saturday 9 May - 7:30pm
Tuesday 12 May - 7:30pm
Wednesday 13 May - 7:30pm
Thursday 14 May - 7:30pm
Friday 15 May - 7:30pm
Saturday 16 May - 7:30pm

Theatre Works has a lockout policy for latecomers.  Please arrive at least 15 minutes early to ensure you don't miss out.

Refunds will not be issued to latecomers.

Tickets
TICKETS

FULL PRICE

CONCESSION*

PREVIEW

$48.00

$38.00

$30.00

*Seniors, Student, MEAA, Health Care and Low Income card holders

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Shows in the WITH THEATRE WORKS stream align strongly our values and missions - these works we co-produce and co-present with independent artists and/or companies. Projects within this stream receive significant producing, marketing, PR and production support in addition to free use of the venue and a generous box office split.

Credits
CREDITS

DIRECTOR
Callum Bodman

WRITER
Robert Lewis

PRODUCTION DESIGNER
Georgia Mason

MARKETING
Annaliese Cartwright

CAST
Annaliese Cartwright
Chloe McKeon
Geraldine Cutler
Lily Infantino

Meet the Artist
MEET THE ARTIST
PERSONA COLLECTIVE

Beginning life in regional Australia, Persona Collective is a bold Melbourne-based collective dedicated to creating socially charged, impactful and striking performance experiences. Known for its collaborative approach, the collective brings together performers and creatives to craft work that blurs the line between training, and the performance experience. Persona Collective promotes innovative storytelling that challenges narratives, foregrounds alternate perspectives, and pushes theatrical form into new territories. With a focus on transformation, identity, and the complexity of the modern world, the collective produces work that is ambitious and emotionally resonant, inviting audiences to step inside a story rather than watch it unfold.

Extras
EXTRAS

CHECK BACK SOON FOR BACKSTAGE CONTENT

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