fortyfivedownstairs Presents Louris van de Geer's THE LOOKING GLASS

MOTHER, FATHER and CHILD live their lives the way lives are lived, until one day CHILD lies down on his stomach and refuses to get up. Written by Melbourne Writers Festival's '30 Under 30' best young writer in Melbourne, Louris van de Geer, and directed by the revered Susie Dee, Looking Glass is a frightening portrait of a family stuck looking to the 'other' to define its 'self'. Looking Glass premiers at fortyfivedownstairs from 2 August - 13 August 2017.

A tightly wrought, brutal and humorous text, Looking Glass is a theatrical exploration of the "Looking Glass Self" theory; "I am not who I am, nor who you think I am. I am who I think you think I am", (Cooley). This new contemporary theatre work written by Louris van de Geer, who was shortlisted for the 2015 Griffin Award and 2015 Rodney Seaborn Award, is about a family who are in the grips of dealing with their child's 'difficult behaviour'. After an 'episode' with their child the parents try to seek 'help', which comes in the form of a room with a one-way mirror. On the other side of the mirror is a VOICE, who instructs the family, via in-ear microphone, on how to exist.

Louris van de Geer

Louris van de Geer is a playwright and theatre maker from Melbourne, Australia. She has been described by The Age as "a quirky and distinctive new voice", and her work as a "brilliant...study of human existence". Louris holds a Masters of Writing for Performance from the Victorian College of the Arts (Melbourne University), where she studied under Raimondo Cortese from Ranters Theatre. She was mentored by Arena Theatre Company Artistic Director Christian Leavesley through the Australia Council's JUMP program. Louris has interned with writer and director Richard Maxwell from New York City Players, Marius von Mayenburg at the Schaubühne Berlin, and Ivo Van Hove from Toneelgroep Amsterdam. Her work has been a finalist for the 2015 & 2016 Rodney Seaborn Award, the 2015 Griffin Award and the 2014 Edward Albee Scholarship.

Louris was named as one of Melbourne Writers Festival's '30 Under 30' best young writers in Melbourne. Recent projects include The Son (MTC Cybec 2016), Triumph (fortyfivedownstairs 2016), and Hello There, We've Been Waiting For You (Next Wave & ACMI 2014). Her other projects include Tuesday (MKA 2012), which has now been adapted into a radio play for ABC Radio National, Hunny-Bun & Baby Doll (Dixon Place NYC, 2015 & Melbourne Fringe Festival, 2010), Don't Look Now (St Martins, 2010, dir. Susie Dee), and They're All in Their Little Boxes (St Martins, 2008).

Don't miss your opportunity to see one of Australia's best young writers astounding new tale - this is new writing at its best.

Writer: Louris van de Geer, Director Susie Dee, Cast: Daniella Farinacci, Peter Houghton, Josh Price, Daniel O'Neill and Thomas Taylor, Set & Costume Designer: Kate Davis, Lighting Designer: Amelia Lever-Davidson and Sound Designer: Ian Moorehead.

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