Riverside Theatre Presents
The Last Great Hunt’s
NEW OWNER
By Arielle Gray and Tim Watts
From the creators of international smash hits The Adventures of Alvin Sputnik: Deep Sea Explorer and It’s Dark Outside comes a sensitive new show for all ages about loss, friendship and new beginnings.
Bart is a boisterous puppy waiting to be chosen from the animal shelter. Mabel is a lonely widow, trying to fill the hole in her heart. The day they find each other is the beginning of a profound friendship – but Mabel is old, and Bart is young – and suddenly alone.
With a stunning and evocative original musical score by composer Rachael Dease this sensational production is sure to win your heart, combining puppetry, live action and animation, New Owner takes us on a world of adventure through a dog’s eyes.
Nominated for Best Presentation for Children at the 2017 Helpmann Awards (Australia).
Winner of 2019 Dora Award in the division of Theatre For Young Audiences – Outstanding Production (Canada).
★★★★ “Watts and Gray’s storytelling art is deceptively simple but executed with considerable sophistication… New Owner sits perfectly in the timeless tradition of storytelling for children, and the child in all of us” – The West Australian
Please note: This production contains scenes of sadness and loss. Please consider the age of your children when deciding to attend.
Age Recommendation:7+
*Contact Box Office directly for group bookings of 8 or more, email boxoffice_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au or call 8839 3399.
Please Note:
Tickets to this event are sold to 100% of capacity. All Riverside patrons will be seated in line with current NSW Public Health guidelines, allowing patrons to be seated alongside each other. NSW Health strongly recommends you wear a mask when you are inside places where it is difficult to keep 1.5 metres distance from other people.
Please note that NSW Health regularly updates areas where there may be concerns regarding potential case transmission of COVID-19. Prior to attending your performance, we suggest patrons check the latest Case Alert Updates from Health NSW and follow the instructions regarding Close Contacts and requirements for self-isolation and/or COVID testing as stipulated by Health NSW and the current NSW Public Health Orders. Please note that patrons who have visited any identified alert area must NOT attend public performances or gatherings of any type. If you have any questions and would like to discuss this with a member of our team, please contact our Box Office staff on 02 8839 3399 or email BoxOffice_Riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
Riverside Theatres is registered with the NSW Government as a COVID Safe venue. Our COVID Safe plan was developed in line with federal and state government health guidelines, and following consultation with Live Performance Australia, other NSW venues, and various government bodies, on enhanced health, hygiene and safety measures. These measures include: defined audience capacity; social distancing; wearing face masks; mandatory Service NSW QR code registration check in; extra cleaning; increased sanitisation of high-touch surfaces; the provision of hand sanitiser, anti-bacterial wipes and hand washing facilities throughout the venue; traffic management plans to alleviate congestion in public spaces.
Please review our Patron Safety Information before you visit us at Riverside.
It is also important that if you are unwell you stay at home. We have updated our ticket conditions and our Box Office team are available to talk through possible exchange and refund options. You can contact the Box Office on 02 8839 3399 or email BoxOffice_Riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au
Thank you for keeping our community safe.
CREDITS
Created by – Arielle Gray and Tim Watts
Performed by – Rachael Woodward and Chloe Flockart
Creators – Arielle Gray & Tim Watts
Performers – Rachel Woodward & Chloe Flockart
Design & Gadgets – Anthony Watts
Original Music Composition – Rachael Dease
Puppet Design & Construction – Chloe Flockart
International Creative Intern – Soren Hojgaard
Produced by -The Last Great Hunt
REVIEWS
Gray and Watts’s story offers something a little bit more sophisticated for kids than the brightly-coloured fare that they usually get served. – Perth Arts Live
★★★★
Watts and Gray’s storytelling art is deceptively simple but executed with considerable sophistication… New Owner sits perfectly in the timeless tradition of storytelling for children, and the child in all of us –The West Australian
A wordless production, this deeply moving tale of loss and new hope is loaded with magical moments. Watts and Gray are superb observers, and whether the dogs are snuffling for food or getting ready for bed, their movements are uncannily true-to-life. – Pelican Magazine
Treat yourself to this year’s best COMPLETE production and catch this magnificent show. – Independent Theatre Association
This very sensitively told story will charm audiences of all ages. – Stage Whispers.
CREATIVE TEAM
ARIELLE GRAY – CO-CREATOR, ORIGINAL PERFORMER
Arielle is a performer, theatre-maker, puppeteer, voice-over artist & improviser. She’s a founding member of The Last Great Hunt and loves creating and performing in inventive, original and engaging theatre. Roles include – As performer: CLOUDSTREET (Malthouse/Black Swan), PICNIC AT HANGING ROCK (Malthouse/Black Swan), including at The Barbican Centre, London, MY ROBOT (Barking Gecko Theatre Co.), LAIKA: A STAGED RADIO PLAY (Second Chance Theatre – Blue Room Theatre Award Winner). For The Last Great Hunt – As co-creator and Director: STAY WITH US. As co-creator and performer: LÉ NØR [THE RAIN] for Perth Festival, Helpmann nominated NEW OWNER, THE ADVISORS, ALL THAT GLITTERS, FALLING THROUGH CLOUDS for Sydney Festival and Helpmann nominated IT’S DARK OUTSIDE (Artshub critics choice ‘innovation’ award). As performer: MONROE & ASSOCIATES at Sydney Festival, PERPETUAL WAKE, IMPROVEMENT CLUB and MINNE AND MONA PLAY DEAD (Brisbane Festival, Fringe World Martin Sims Best New WA Work).
TIM WATTS – CO-CREATOR, ORIGINAL PERFORMER
Tim is a performer, deviser, director, puppeteer, improviser and animator from Perth, Western Australia. He is a founding member of The Last Great Hunt and a Sidney Myer Fellowship recipient. He has a passion for creating and performing original, imaginatively engaging theatrical experiences born from improvisation and experimentation. Since graduating from Notre Dame University, Fremantle with a Bachelor of Performing Arts in 2005, he has participated in international workshops, including studying clown and physical comedy with Dell’Arte International in Blue Lake California, as well as Puppetry workshops with Spare Parts Puppet Theatre in Fremantle, Western Australia, and Blind Summit in the UK. He has co-created a plethora of shows, some of which won awards and continue to tour all over the world. These include: THE ADVENTURES OF ALVIN SPUTNIK: DEEP SEA EXPLORER (2009), It’s Dark Outside, BRUCE, MONROE AND ASSOCIATES, BAMBERT’S BOOK OF LOST STORIES, NEW OWNER THE IRRESISITIBLE, STAY WITH US, and LÉ NØR [THE RAIN].
RACHAEL WOODWARD – TOURING PERFORMER|
Rachel is a theatre maker, performer, puppeteer and teaching artist who is passionate about making work with and for young people. Her work is often visually based, working with images to explore a story. She developed her own show Valentine which combines clowning and shadow puppetry. As well as creating work for ASSITEJ Next Generation Asia, Melbourne’s Festival of Puppetry, and ATYP’s Fresh Ink Program she has worked with companies such as The Last Great Hunt, Spare Parts Puppet Theatre, and Sensorium Theatre. Rachael aims to ignite an audience’s creativity, and imagination by empowering youthful curiosity and playfulness.
CHLOE FLOCKART – TOURING PERFORMER
Chloe is a theatre practitioner from regional Western Australia. Specialising in puppetry and community engagement Chloe has had the pleasure of working with companies such as Spare Parts Puppet theatre (co-devisor, performer and puppet builder for their 6 PAWA award nominated show Farm), Barking Gecko (Puppet mentor for both critically acclaimed works Bambert Book of Lost Stories and In a Dark Dark Wood), PVI collective and even doing a pop-up engagement activity for Cirque Du Soleil! Multi-skilled and passionate about arts education, Chloe has performed, mentored, designed, and built puppets and shows across Australia and the UK. Currently she is writing online training for remote and regional artists interested in pursuing theatre.
KAREN COOK – TOUR MANAGER/OPERATOR
Karen is a tour manager, lighting designer, stage manager and technician. Karen has toured Australia as a tour/stage manager, working in venues ranging from regional town halls and primary schools to major performing arts centres. She has previously lit THE TALK and THE ADVISORS for The Last Great Hunt. She has also designed lighting for companies such as Lost & Found (ACTÉON), Spare Parts Puppet Theatre (THE LITTLE PRINCE, HACHIKO, TALES FROM OUTER SUBURBIA, MISS LILY’S FABULOUS FEATHER BOA), Yirra Yaakin (MOTHER’S TONGUE, WINDMILL BABY), Barking Gecko (AESOP AND HIS FABLES), and a host of independent theatre companies. Several of her lighting designs have been part of award winning productions at the Blue Room Theatre, including GROUNDED, JOEY: THE MECHANICAL BOY, MOTORTOWN, and QUEST: A TELL-TALE OF THE HEART.
PRODUCERS & ARTS ADMINISTRATORS
SIÂN ROBERTS
Siân is Executive Producer of The Last Great Hunt. Siân has worked in Perth, London and Edinburgh in the arts and not-for-profit sectors in marketing and communications capacities. Over 20 years Siân has built up a portfolio of super skills like strategic planning, branding, project management, fundraising, crisis communications, and relationship management. Siân’s good at bringing beautiful people together to create beautiful theatre experiences, and has a passion for getting new theatre to the people and new people to the theatre. Siân also has a Masters degree in Politics.
REBECCA CONDON
Rebecca is Business Manager for The Last Great Hunt. She has over 10 years experience as a creative producer & director bringing projects to life across a diverse set of mediums from events & festivals to theatre to film to program development to extended reality (XR). She has produced projects for the private sector with a variety business’ specialising in automobiles, telecommunications, retail and marketing. She has also produced projects for the government sector in council training and school education programs. Most recently Rebecca been working as an associate director for a creative tech agency specialising in work on the fringes of future technology.
ALEXANDER EGLOFF
Alexander is Marketing and Development Manager for The Last Great Hunt and an emerging producer in Perth. His professional work history has seen him work in Perth, Zurich and Melbourne for various organisations that include HBF, Pigeonhole, Fringe World Festival, Detail PR, Breast Cancer WA & Telstra Perth Fashion Festival; where he was responsible for managing marketing campaigns, media and brand development. His recent show credits as publicist and producer include: COURT MY CROTCH, POORLY DRAWN SHARK (Blaz Award Winner 2019), the multi-award winning FEMINAH (Melbourne and Sydney Tour Ready Awards 2019, ECU Performing Arts Award 2019) and THE BIG CITY.
Suitable for years: Years 3-8
(Stage 2-4)
According to the exemption under the public health order (COVID 19 Restrictions on Gathering and Movement) Order (No 7) 2020 (NSW) under the Public Health Act 2010 (NSW), issued on February 1 2021, organised groups who enter a premises as part of a school, child care, aged care or disability group are not required to provide the premises with contact details of every person in their group. This is subject to the following conditions:
- It is duty of the group organiser (teacher or carer) to keep an electronic record of the entire group and their contact details for 28 days after the event.
- The group organiser must provide the premises (Riverside Theatres) with at least two contacts to make available to NSW Health.
Curriculum Links and Resources
Download the Curriculum Links here: New Owner Curriculum Links
Schools Bookings
For further information and to book please contact our Education Booking Coordinator on 8839 3308 or email education_riverside@cityofparramatta.nsw.gov.au, or fill in our Schools Bookings Form here.
1 free teacher per 20 students on education bookings.
Riverside’s Risk Assessment & Covid Safe Plan
Download our Risk Assessment
Take a look at our Patron Safety Information and Download our Covid Safe Plan
Accessibility
Download information about access at Riverside here: Access at Riverside
Language: None
No text or dialogue is used in this performance.
Music
This production has a strong music focus.
Visual Cues
This production has strong visual cues giving students a different reference point for comprehension of the narrative or subject matter.
Photos
