Ensemble Theatre Presents a Reading of THE FEVER AND THE FRET

Ensemble Theatre will stage a play reading of THE FEVER AND THE FRET, the incredibly moving story from Nyul Nyul/Yawuru award-winning playwright, actor and television director Jub Clerc. THE FEVER AND THE FRET is Jub Clerc's first play.

The play is a letter of love to Jub's grandparents. It follows three characters living in a mining town, grandparents Iggy and Ruby and granddaughter, Lizzy. It's a reminder that something good can always be found amongst all that is lost.

Our play readings give theatregoers the chance to be part of a creative discussion with the actors, director and in the case of new work, the writer said Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director, Mark Kilmurry.

Director Ursula Yovich brings this powerful tale of strength and resilience to the Ensemble Theatre stage. Somewhere in outback Australia, in a mining town of red dust, Lizzy dreams of being reunited with her mysterious and ethereal mother. Her ambitious grandfather Iggy wants to look to a more prosperous future, but her wise grandmother Ruby wants to keep all the broken pieces close to her chest. Steeped with memory and spanning more than a decade of their lives, their story tells of loss, celebration, longing and new beginnings. THE FEVER AND THE FRET examines one family's tale of resilience as they reconcile small town life with a new, ever-changing world.

Jub Clerc is from the Kimberley in Western Australia. Graduating from WAAPA, Jub has spent many years performing for numerous companies. In film and TV, Jub has worked as director, writer, casting/extras coordinator, dramaturg and associate producer on productions including The Circuit 1 & 2, Bran Nue Dae, Mad Bastards, Satellite Boy, Jandamarra's War and Jasper Jones.

The play premiered in 2015 at Yirra Yaakin in Perth and went on to win the Kate Challis Award in 2017.

The Ensemble Theatre play reading series, which began 5 years ago, is an opportunity for audiences to experience readings of new plays and classics being considered for production in future seasons.

The play readings, part of Ensemble's Boatshed Development, supports emerging writers and directors with exclusive behind-the-scenes events.

The play reading series is proudly supported by George and Diana Shirling 'Supporting the next generation in theatre'.

CAST:
IGNATIUS (FREDERICK COPPERWAITE)
RUBY (MARLENE CUMMINS)
LIZZY (SHARNI McDERMOTT)

Frederick Copperwaite is a Bunuba man from the South-West Kimberley, Western Australia. He has been active in the theatre since 1978. He graduated as an actor from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has extensive experience working in the Australian theatre, film and television industry. His most recent appearance was in The Gods of Wheat Street for ABC TV. Frederick has taught acting to children, young people, acting students and professional actors in a variety of training environments throughout Australia and Europe for over 35 years. He was an arts educator for the Bell Shakespeare Company from 2007 to 2016. He was Head of Theatre and Screen Performance Studies at Eora College of Aboriginal Studies: Centre for Visual and Performing Arts from 2011 to 2015.

Marlene Cummins was born in the southwest town of Cunnamulla, her traditional homelands are Laura up Cape York way on her Father's side (Guguyelandji), and Keppel Island (Woppaburra) on her Mother's side. Marlene is Australia's foremost Indigenous female blues writer and performer. A regular broadcaster on Koori Radio. Marlene won Broadcaster of the Year at the 2009 Deadly Awards and Gadigal Information Broadcaster of the Year 2015. In 2018 Marlene represented Koori Radio at the 2018 Byron Bay Bluesfest as a roving reporter. In 2014 Marlene released her first full-length album, Koori Woman Blues to coincide with the premiere of her SBS film Black Panther Woman. Recently Marlene has performed with her band all around Australia. Marlene's acting credits include a playreading of The Other Side of the Lake for STC, Gwanyi- Stories of Redfern for The Museum of Sydney, Wild Cat Falling for Belvoir, Shark Island Stories for Sydney Festival, Fresh Start for Street Arts Community Theatre in Brisbane, performing as a guest artist for Bangarra Dance Theatre, and roles in many short films and tv documentaries, as well as the feature films The Matrix, Kangaroo Dreaming and Salute To The Jugger.

Sharni McDermott is an actor, dancer and singer. Her training has been with the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art and The Aboriginal Centre for the Performing Arts. Her stage credits are numerous including more recently the 2018 Narrator Saltbush - China Tour Insite Arts, Jason Cross and the 2017 Narrator Saltbush - Brazil Tour Insite Arts. She also appeared in Stolen for Sydney Theatre Company, The Maids for Q Theatre and Parramatta Girls for Riverside Theatre. For television she appeared in Dead Lucky.