Latest News
FATHER AND SON PERFORM ON STAGE IN ROALD DAHL CLASSIC
MEDIA RELEASE, 9 DECEMBER 2019
This summer, Honest Puck Theatre presents the Roald Dahl classic, Danny The Champion Of The World, with a father-and-son duo in the leading roles.
James Scott, the artistic director of Honest Puck and long-time member of Canberra’s theatre scene, will play ‘Dad’ while his son, Leo Scott, will make his professional debut in the role of ‘Danny’.
“We are thrilled to be working together as a team,” James said. “Leo shows a lot of promise as a young performer and is itching to get onto the stage in Danny The Champion Of The World.”
The play, adapted for the stage by David Wood, is based on the novel of the same name. It tells the story of Danny and his dad, William, who live in a gypsy caravan behind the service station they own.
One night, Danny wakes to find his father isn’t home, only to discover his dad’s been poaching pheasants from a nearby landowner, the nasty Victor Hazell. Trouble ensues when his dad has an accident while out hunting.
With a bundle of lovable characters, from the vicar’s wife, Mrs Clipstone, to local medico Doc Spencer, and members of the local constabulary, Danny The Champion of the World explores who are the real “goodies” and “baddies” when poverty and injustice are involved.
“It’s the biggest role I’ve had to play, apart from performances in school,” said Leo.
Leo recently completed Year 7 with an innovative program at local drama school Perform Australia, called the Thrive Program, which involves a combination of distance education and intensive daily study of performing arts at the campus in Fyshwick.
“What I like about playing Danny is that he’s sincere and has strong convictions,” Leo said.
“But he also doesn’t want to miss out on anything his dad is doing, and he’ll do anything for his father – including driving a car when he’s really too young!”
James Scott is also directing the play, leading a team of fine local actors, including some regular performers with Honest Puck – Brendan Kelly, Katherine Berry and Monica Engels.
“This show is perfect summer fun for families,” said James.
“Guaranteed laughs, great storytelling, and a wonderful way to encourage children to read the book after the show, if they haven’t already,” he said.
Henry Five: a new twist on a classic Shakespearean work
Media release, 27 September 2016
Canberra’s Honest Puck theatre company will soon open Henry Five – delivering a new twist on the famous Shakespearean history play, Henry V. Honest Puck, a local theatre company which showcases graduates of Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art (CADA), has devised a piece of theatre to bookend the Shakespearean tale, in order to lead the audience from our time into the medieval world of kings and queens – and back again. The story is this: it’s been five years since theatre practitioners Peter Figg and Nick Topp performed their worst show ever at the local Shakespeare Festival. But this year, they’re staging a comeback - with a performance of Shakespeare’s Henry V. To pull it off, they’ve found themselves a disparate band of actors: Hermione, who’s on temporary release from juvie, Paris, a diplomat’s kid who did a little theatre in Germany once, and Tom, an exile from the rival theatre group, The Vagabonds. The goal is to win the judges’ hearts (and restore the pride and status of the Figg and Topp Theatre Co.) as winners of the ‘Best Play’ accolade. From there, the audience sees the actors move into a more serious, albeit abridged, version of Henry V, referencing the antics of the first half. Director, James Scott, said he is pleased to introduce a number of CADA’s graduates in this work. “We’ve workshopped characters for the fictional ‘Figg and Topp Theatre Company’ which are appealing to the actors,” Scott said. “So Henry Five allows our ensemble to develop a modern character as well as stretch themselves with challenges presented by the Bard – an actor’s delight!” Five actors play all the parts – hence the play’s name. Henry Five follows hot on the tails of Honest Puck’s successful production last year of The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged). “As Artistic Director of Honest Puck, I can confidently say that we will continue to explore Shakespeare. “It’s not all we do, of course, but our fans do enjoy the fresh and funny ways we work with these classic texts.” Henry Five is showing at the CADA Theatre from 7 October to 16 October. Cast: James Scott, Katherine Berry, Scott Bowcher, Brendan Kelly, Annie Liana Scott. Bookings at www.honestpuck.com.au. Tickets $25 Adult/$20 Concession. Released 27 September 2016 |
Recent media coverage
Frank McKone review http://frankmckone2.blogspot.com.au/2016_10_01_archive.html City News: High Five, low five, Henry Five http://citynews.com.au/2016/review-high-five-low-five-henry-five/ Canberra Times: Honest Puck's plucky five present Henry V http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberra-life/honest-pucks-plucky-five-present-henry-v-20160928-grqzso.html Foyer Talk: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare Abridged) https://chilver.net.au/tag/complete-works-of-william-shakespeare-abridged/ Canberra Critics Circle: The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (Abridged) http://ccc-canberracriticscircle.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-complete-works-of-william.html Canberra Times: Honest Puck Productions presents Underneath the Lintel, April 12, 2015 http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/theatre/honest-puck-productions-presents-underneath-the-lintel-20150410-1mf6jh.html City News: Puck the new role model for new theatre company, April 2, 2015 http://citynews.com.au/2015/puck-role-model-new-canberra-theatre-company/ |
Theatre company debuts with play about missing trousers
Media release, 2 April 2015
A lost library book, a stub from a laundromat, and a pair of trousers trigger a man’s journey into self-discovery in a play produced by the new theatre company, Honest Puck, opening on April 17.
Underneath the Lintel – An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences by Glen Berger is a one-man show in which a librarian, played by local actor James Scott, receives a book that is 113 years overdue.
The mystery around this book piques the librarian’s curiosity - and for the first time in years he steps out of the hallowed halls of the library to travel the world in search of the book’s origins.
Directed by John Concannon, himself an actor, writer and producer of some 30 years standing in the Australian entertainment industry – and recently seen on ABCTV in The Boffin, The Builder and The Bombardier – the play is a wonderful way for Honest Puck to unite local talent and debut its work in the Canberra community.
“Underneath the Lintel is a vibrant, funny, and stirring play which showcases the ethos of our new company,” says the play’s producer, Elizabeth Scott.
“Honest Puck seeks to create profound theatrical experiences for its artists and audiences,” she said.
“Underneath the Lintel will do just that.”
The company, Honest Puck, has been launched by the founders of local drama school, Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, James and Elizabeth Scott. It draws its name from a fairy from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“Puck is a cheeky elf who weaves his magic across the characters in the play,” Ms Scott says.
“We hope to do the same for our audiences.”
Underneath the Lintel has been called “an astonishingly beautiful piece of writing” (Seattle Times) and will appeal to theatre lovers who appreciate language and powerful storytelling – as well as the ‘mystery’ genre.
It opens on April 16 at CADA Theatre, 1/9 Lithgow St, Fyshwick.
Tickets are $38 for adults and $25 concession and can be booked online at www.honestpuck.com.au.
A lost library book, a stub from a laundromat, and a pair of trousers trigger a man’s journey into self-discovery in a play produced by the new theatre company, Honest Puck, opening on April 17.
Underneath the Lintel – An Impressive Presentation of Lovely Evidences by Glen Berger is a one-man show in which a librarian, played by local actor James Scott, receives a book that is 113 years overdue.
The mystery around this book piques the librarian’s curiosity - and for the first time in years he steps out of the hallowed halls of the library to travel the world in search of the book’s origins.
Directed by John Concannon, himself an actor, writer and producer of some 30 years standing in the Australian entertainment industry – and recently seen on ABCTV in The Boffin, The Builder and The Bombardier – the play is a wonderful way for Honest Puck to unite local talent and debut its work in the Canberra community.
“Underneath the Lintel is a vibrant, funny, and stirring play which showcases the ethos of our new company,” says the play’s producer, Elizabeth Scott.
“Honest Puck seeks to create profound theatrical experiences for its artists and audiences,” she said.
“Underneath the Lintel will do just that.”
The company, Honest Puck, has been launched by the founders of local drama school, Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, James and Elizabeth Scott. It draws its name from a fairy from Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
“Puck is a cheeky elf who weaves his magic across the characters in the play,” Ms Scott says.
“We hope to do the same for our audiences.”
Underneath the Lintel has been called “an astonishingly beautiful piece of writing” (Seattle Times) and will appeal to theatre lovers who appreciate language and powerful storytelling – as well as the ‘mystery’ genre.
It opens on April 16 at CADA Theatre, 1/9 Lithgow St, Fyshwick.
Tickets are $38 for adults and $25 concession and can be booked online at www.honestpuck.com.au.
New theatre company bursts into Canberra's arts scene
Media Release
1 April, 2015
The founders of Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, James and Elizabeth Scott, are pleased to announce the launch of their new professional theatre company, Honest Puck.
"Honest Puck takes its name from Shakespeare's famous play, A Midsummer Night's Dream," says Artistic Director, James Scott.
"Puck is a clever elf who weaves his mischievous magic throughout the play, and at the end, asks his audience for both forgiveness and applause," he said.
"Puck tries to portray himself as ‘honest’ in the final lines of the play - but we all know that's tongue-in-cheek."
The theatre company will also take a leaf out of Puck’s book. Honest Puck's mission is ‘to create profound theatrical experiences for its artists and audiences’.
"The works we produce may be comedic or tragic or both, but whichever genre they fall into, they'll be substantial works which are meaningful to audiences, and have great roles for actors to sink their teeth into," said James.
Having spent a number of years developing their drama school and training others for professional practice, the company is not only a vehicle for the creative talents of its directors, but also for the new graduates who have emerged from their school.
"We have some wonderful peers teaching in our accredited training programs, as well as some great talent coming through the school," James explains.
"We have access to some exceptional talent and now we want to put it to work!"
Honest Puck is not government funded, and the intention is that it will be self-sustaining.
"Sustainability is important to us - artistically, environmentally and financially," says Elizabeth Scott, co-founder and producer of Honest Puck.
"We are aiming to create a company that pays its way.”
Elizabeth Scott was a finalist in the ACT Telstra Businesswomen's Awards in 2013 for her work with the drama school, which now has over 400 students participating in its weekly drama classes.
Honest Puck's first production, Underneath The Lintel, written by Glen Berger and directed by John Concannon, opens on April 16 at the CADA Theatre in Fyshwick.
1 April, 2015
The founders of Canberra Academy of Dramatic Art, James and Elizabeth Scott, are pleased to announce the launch of their new professional theatre company, Honest Puck.
"Honest Puck takes its name from Shakespeare's famous play, A Midsummer Night's Dream," says Artistic Director, James Scott.
"Puck is a clever elf who weaves his mischievous magic throughout the play, and at the end, asks his audience for both forgiveness and applause," he said.
"Puck tries to portray himself as ‘honest’ in the final lines of the play - but we all know that's tongue-in-cheek."
The theatre company will also take a leaf out of Puck’s book. Honest Puck's mission is ‘to create profound theatrical experiences for its artists and audiences’.
"The works we produce may be comedic or tragic or both, but whichever genre they fall into, they'll be substantial works which are meaningful to audiences, and have great roles for actors to sink their teeth into," said James.
Having spent a number of years developing their drama school and training others for professional practice, the company is not only a vehicle for the creative talents of its directors, but also for the new graduates who have emerged from their school.
"We have some wonderful peers teaching in our accredited training programs, as well as some great talent coming through the school," James explains.
"We have access to some exceptional talent and now we want to put it to work!"
Honest Puck is not government funded, and the intention is that it will be self-sustaining.
"Sustainability is important to us - artistically, environmentally and financially," says Elizabeth Scott, co-founder and producer of Honest Puck.
"We are aiming to create a company that pays its way.”
Elizabeth Scott was a finalist in the ACT Telstra Businesswomen's Awards in 2013 for her work with the drama school, which now has over 400 students participating in its weekly drama classes.
Honest Puck's first production, Underneath The Lintel, written by Glen Berger and directed by John Concannon, opens on April 16 at the CADA Theatre in Fyshwick.
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