Black Swan takes a different approach for casting ‘Our Town’

Black Swan State Theatre Company have taken a different approach with the casting of their production, Thornton Wilder’s classic play Our Town.

The pulitzer prize winning play which was first performed in 1938 tells the story of the fictional town of Grover’s Corners between 1901 and 1913, through the everyday lives of its citizens.

For their production that is being presented in the courtyard of the State Theatre Centre, Black Swan have opted to cast three professional actors and 95 members of the local community.

Abbie-lee Lewis, Ian Michael and Shari Sebbens are the professional actors in the show. To play the policeman, they’ve opted for an actual policeman, the part of the undertaker is being performed by a local undertaker…and the editor of the town newspaper is being played by some editors of local newspapers.

Our Town is one of Black Swan’s Artistic Director Clare Watson’s favourite plays, she says she loves its celebration of everyday life.

“It gives us an opportunity to look at the beauty of the ordinariness of life. In a world where we’re plagued by status anxiety and a need to constantly self-improve, this play is a moment of acknowledging the beauty of being part of a community, and acknowledging the profound beauty of the simple everyday moments and connections.” Watson said.

“This is one of my all-time favourite plays but to make it relevant and meaningful here and now, from an artistic perspective, this is the best way to share this play with local audiences. It is a play about community and citizenship so to incorporate members of our own community, fellow citizens, is the most meaningful and exciting version of this work.”

The idea of casting community members in a production is one that Watson says she wishes she could claim credit for, but it’s been a growing trend in some acclaimed productions from around the world.

Watson cites recent productions by The Lyceum in Edinburgh who engaged this model for The Suppliant Woman by David Greig, and Britain’s National Theatre production of Pericles that featured 200 Londoners.

‘Our Town’ is on from 8-23 February. tickets are available via Perth Festival

OIP Staff, Image: Actor Ian Michael photographed by Richard Jefferson. 


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