No doubt you can remember the effect that Clockwork Orange had on you the first time you saw it, I certainly can. So it was with some trepidation that I went to hear about the latest production currently playing at Subiaco Arts Centre. While I enjoyed hearing director Alex Spencer-Jones explain her interpretation of Anthony Burgess’s novel, I was even more intrigued by how she formed her own theatre company, and how it came to be that we get to see the London production right here in Perth. Alex is a wonderful example of … if you want to do something, don’t sit around waiting for others to hand it to you … go out and make it happen for yourself.
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| Martin McCreadie in Clockwork Organge |
With a hankering to start her own theatre company, Alex began by inviting a few Cambridge University graduates to join her on her quest. She located a site and set about staging her site specific version of Romeo and Juliet.
‘It was the oldest industrial site in London.’ Alex laughed.
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© The Ponder Room Alex Spencer-Jones & Martin McCreadie
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The auditions for Romeo and Juliet were not conducted in your usual studio space, they were held at the London Eye. It was there that she met Martin McCreadie, who would go on to star in her other productions, including this production of Clockwork Orange.
‘I obtained free space, free actors and I was free,’ explained Alex.
After this experience she staged a play at a Camden art gallery, with the actors rehearsing at night because they had work commitments during the day.
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| Martin McCreadie in Clockwork Orange |
As luck would have it an accountant, who ‘just happened to be interested in theatre’, saw what was going on and decided to help them get to The Edinburgh Festival. At the Festival they met up with the producers of Stomp who also became interested in what she was doing.
And so we come to their Australian tour.
The Australian Tour
So far they’ve been to Melbourne, where Alex said she was ‘cultured out’, and Sydney which ‘relaxed me’ and now Perth. I caught up with them on their first night in Perth, so I didn’t ask the inevitable ‘what do you think of the joint?’ question. While some of the all male ensemble spent their first day at Rottnest, Alex and Mark hit the promotion trail.
Anthony Burgess
Alex’s knowledge of Clockwork Orange author Anthony Bergess was extremely impressive, explaining that he was ‘a genius mind … wrote 11 hours a day … thought he was going to die any day … was resentful of the novels success … and disliked the movie version’. Consequently he ‘ended up writing his own play text’, insisting the play be performed his way.
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| Clockwork Orange |
All male cast
Regardless of this Alex decided to change the text in her adaptation. She explained that using an all male cast made it easier for the audience to watch some of the more challenging physical scenes in the play.
‘Seeing a female being thrown around the stage is harder for people to watch.’
She went on to add that while it was originally written in the ‘60’s ‘it’s still relevant for today … a person who is turned into a machine.’
Leading Man Martin McCreadie
Leading man Martin McCreadie, began his acting career in school plays ‘to take a break from the playground’ and because ‘there are more girls than boys in plays’. After years spent studying to complete a Masters degree he found himself on his first long-haul flight to Australia. Martin was suffering from a bad cold and strained voice on the night we met but still put up a gallant effort to explain his part in the play, answer numerous questions and smile for photos. Being on stage for most of the play you’d forgive him for hunkering down in bed during his time off. Not so from his questions about what Perth had to offer … look out Perth!
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| Martin McCreadie Clockwork Orange |
The music
According to the producer, the music is also an integral part of the play … he often gets asked for copies of the soundtrack. He also let on that he spent considerable timing ‘arguing with Equity’ to be able to bring the London team out to Perth. His argument was that ‘it’s not the kind of show you can rehearse for four weeks and put on.’
Given the work behind the scenes to get the play made and to Perth, the least I can do is take some time out to see it … though for a couple of scenes I may still keep my eyes closed.
For more information go to Subiaco Arts Centre http://www.subiacoartscentre.com.au/
On until Sunday 19th May.
Hoping the guys have a great time in Perth, thankfully the weather has cleared so they can get around without risking another cold.
