RATTLING THE KEYS
BY ZOE MULLER
Photographer: Becky Matthews
A boy is lying dead next door, a blood stained knife sits in their living room and only one of them knows who did it.
Winner of the 2018 State Theatre Company of South Australia and Flinders University Junior Young Playwright's Award, this suspenseful murder mystery follows five teens living in the small rural town of Coober Pedy. Struggling with isolation and lack of opportunities, they turn to crystal meth and it is under its influence that memories start to become hazy...why were they arguing in the first place? What can they say to the police? Who even was that kid next door?
And more than anything, for each of them, how will the mistakes of last night impact the futures they are chasing?
A New South Wales premiere production of young, feisty Australian work not to be missed.
PRODUCTIONS:
17-20 March 2021
Chippen Street Theatre
Produced as part of the 2021 NO: INTERMISSION Festival
New South Wales Premiere
Reviews
Publicity
Program
The Cast
.png)
AARESH MADON
Aaresh is a Sydney-based creative. This is his second time taking part in the No:Intermission festival, having played ‘Lucas’ in 2019’s production of 'Albumen' by Mishka Lavigne. He has also toured with Shakespeare on the Green’s 'Much Ado About Nothing’ and performed in the inaugural production of ‘Infidelity and Enlightenment’, by Sydney comedian Lauren Bonner.
LACHIE PRINGLE
Born and raised in Sydney, Lachie moved to Melbourne at age 18 to attend the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), where he graduated in 2018 with a BFA in Acting. Shortly after graduating, Lachie performed in Melbourne Theatre Company’s Cybec Electric 2019.
Lachie moved back to Sydney in 2019 and has since appeared in an ad campaign for Lynx Xbox, several sketches on Saturday Night Rove (Network Ten) and in February this year starred in the Australian premiere of Angry Fags at New Theatre.
Lachie is also the lead singer and guitarist for indie rock band, The Tints. Rattling the Keys is Lachie’s NO : INTERMISSION and Theatre Travels debut.
ANIKA BHATIA
Anika Bhatia is a Sydney based actor and theatre maker of Indian heritage. Her theatre credits include: Animal Farm (Ensemble, New Theatre 2020, dir by Saro Lusty-Cavallari); Check Please (Director, SUDS 2019); Intersection: Chrysalis (ATYP/Griffin Theatre, 2018); Every Second (SUDS, 2018); Love and Information (SUDS, 2018); Coram Boy (Ascham School, 2016); Black Sequin Dress (Ascham School, 2016); Into the Woods (Ascham School, 2015); Thursday’s Child (Cranbrook School, 2014). Anika is currently studying Media and Communications at the University of Sydney and holds a Distinction Certificate in her Grade 8 Speech and Drama exam from Trinity College London. She is thrilled to be working with Rosie Niven and Theatre Travels in Rattling the Keys.
.png)
MAGGIE THOMAS
Making the move from country NSW to Sydney in 2018, Maggie has been pursuing her dream in the performing arts.⠀
Maggie is currently in her third year at the Australian Institute of Music (AIM), studying a Bachelor of Performance Dramatic Arts. During her time at AIM she has performed in Tom Wright’s adaptation of ‘Picnic at Hanging Rock’ as Mrs Appleyard, Shakespeare’s ‘As You Like It’ as Celia and ‘After Dinner’ as Monika.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maggie was chosen to perform her HSC Drama group devised work ‘Wahroonga’ at OnStage 2017 and was also given the opportunity to be a compere of her program. Maggie is an honourable Ambassador of the Heart Foundation Australia, being involved as a Guest Speaker since 2014 and is a part of the Real Women Real Stories Campaign.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Maggie is very thrilled to make her debut in Rattling the Keys with such a wonderful cast and creative team and she would love to say a huge thank you to all her family and friends for their constant love and support.
JAMES ONG
James is excited to return for round 2 of the No:Intermission festival! Having had a great time as part of 2019's Infidelity and Enlightenment, James is keen to dive right back into an exciting new Australian work.
After a busy run in the uni society NUTS, where he took on roles as a performer, producer and director, James took a 2 year hiatus from the stage, choosing to explore the world of advertising instead. During this time, James scratched his theatre itch by being a regular reviewer and contributor for Theatre Travels, helping to promoting Sydney's vibrant amateur and professional arts scene.
Creatives
ZOE MULLER: PLAYWRIGHT
Zoe first began acting at age nine and has been hooked ever since. In 2015, at age 15, Zoe was granted the rights by Gabrielle Carey and Kathy Lette, to adapt their iconic novel “Puberty Blues” into the world premier stage show.
In 2017, Zoe co-created Deadset Theatre Company, with the aim to produce shows for young adults aged 15-25. “Puberty Blues”, was their first show, also directed by Zoe. After the success of their first season, “Puberty Blues” was brought back for a return season, performing at the Adelaide Fringe and then touring schools across Adelaide.
After thoroughly enjoying the experience of writing “Puberty Blues”, Zoe decided to give script writing another go. This led to the creation of “Rattling the Keys”. This play went on to win the 2018 State Theatre Company and Flinders University Young Playwrights Award. Deadset Theatre Company workshopped the script, editing it during the rehearsal period, ready for its world premiere in January 2020 at The Mill in Adelaide. Zoe has loved writing “Rattling the Keys”, and is looking forward to writing another play…as soon as an idea for another script comes to her!
Alongside writing, Zoe loves drama teaching and is currently studying secondary education, majoring in drama and criminology. Zoe is thrilled to be chosen as a part of the NO : INTERMISSION festival, and is excited to see her work performed by Theatre Travels.
ROSIE NIVEN: DIRECTOR
Rosie is a Sydney-based Director with a portfolio that focuses on LGBT and female-driven works. She is passionate about working with young people and emerging artists to create greater access for everyone in the Australian theatre community, and currently sits as the Marketing Manager for Theatre Travels.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Rosie graduated from the University of New South Wales with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre and Performance Studies. During this time, Rosie worked with the New South Wales University Theatrical Society (NUTS) to Direct/Assistant Direct a number of shows, including Angela Betzien's War Crimes (2016), for which she was awarded Best Direction.⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Rosie has Directed a number of works in Sydney, including Oleanna in conjunction with Maltman Lab and White Ribbon (2016), Deadline for Sydney Fringe (2017), The Laramie Project and The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later at the Seymour Centre (2018), and Preserving Jars as part of Mardi Gras’ PLAYLIST (2019). Last year Rosie co-curated Theatre Travels' inaugural one-act play festival NO : INTERMISSION, choosing eight works that celebrate emerging artists and groundbreaking work across the globe. Within that festival, she Directed the Australian Premiere of Bleach (also coming to Adelaide Fringe in 2020) and the World Premiere of Queenslander. Most recently she Directed Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again. for Sydney Fringe, which was nominated for an Emerging Artist Award.⠀
ISABEL ZAKHAROVA: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Isabel is a theatre-maker and writer based in Sydney. She discovered her passion for theatre at a young age, starting with acting and later moving into behind-the-scenes roles. Isabel believes that theatre is a unique art form which has the power to incite change and create meaningful dialogue. She is very excited to take on the role of Assistant Director for Rattling the Keys at the NO: INTERMISSIONS festival. In 2018, she made her directorial debut at the Short and Sweet Festival in Sydney, directing ‘Scripted’, which placed third in her show.
Isabel is also passionate about filmmaking. In 2021, she wrote and directed her first film 'Strangers', a short realist drama. She has also crewed on a variety of other projects, including short films, music videos and documentaries. Completing her studies this year, Isabel is looking forward to continuing her exploration of the creative arts, across both theatre and film.
The Crew
MADDIE HODGES
After studying Theatre and Live events in high school Maddie graduated with strong passion for theatre but with no real direction on how to be involved. After many years working in the corporate world she finally took the leap to begin studying theatre production and has recently graduated from the Academy of Film, Theatre & Television (AFTT) and is beyond excited to be working on her first professional production!
While at AFTT, Maddie was the Assistant Stage Manager in Dino Dimitriadis’s production of Clinchfield at Downstairs Belvoir and the ASM on Anthony Skuse’s production of Yerma on the Belvoir main stage. She was also the Stage Manger on Sean O’Riordon’s production of Henry V and Andrew Lindsay’s physical theatre production.
Maddie is excited to expand on her knowledge and passion in 2021as her career continues.
.png)
JAMES BURCHETT
James is a sydney-based actor, designer, and dramaturge with a passion for new and reimagined works.
James graduated Design Centre Enmore with an Advanced Diploma of Live Performance Design and Sydney Theatre School with an Advanced Diploma of Acting. He has also been studying classical voice for the past 10 years.
No:Intermission marks James' first design work in the industry and he can't wait for everyone to see the incredible stories borne of this collaboration.
CARPI HARRIS
Capri Harris is an emerging lighting designer.
Still in the process of graduating with a Bachelor of Performance - Dramatic Arts from the Australian Institute of Music she is eager to begin her professional career. This will be Capri’s official theatre lighting debut having designed, assisted and operated for university shows; ‘How To Disappear’ (LA/OP, 2018), ‘As You Like it’ (LD/OP 2019) and ‘Love and Information’ (LD/OP 2020) as well as lighting for musicians such as Ali Barter, Alex Lahey, The Kava Kings, The Moving Stills and Nathan Cavaleri as part of Australian Music Week (LD/OP 2019). Capri is passionate about making theatre easily accessible so it can be enjoyed by all.
ISABEL ZAKHAROVA
Isabel is a theatre-maker and writer based in Sydney. She discovered her passion for theatre at a young age, starting with acting and later moving into behind-the-scenes roles. Isabel believes that theatre is a unique art form which has the power to incite change and create meaningful dialogue. She is very excited to take on the role of Assistant Director for Rattling the Keys at the NO: INTERMISSIONS festival. In 2018, she made her directorial debut at the Short and Sweet Festival in Sydney, directing ‘Scripted’, which placed third in her show.
Isabel is also passionate about filmmaking. In 2021, she wrote and directed her first film 'Strangers', a short realist drama. She has also crewed on a variety of other projects, including short films, music videos and documentaries. Completing her studies this year, Isabel is looking forward to continuing her exploration of the creative arts, across both theatre and film.
ROBERT MEEK
Rob is a singer, musician, director and sound designer with a Bachelor of Sound and Music Design from UTS. He found his start in performance through university theatre with his debut role as Princeton in Intercol Musical's 'Avenue Q', and would go on to be heavily involved in uni theatre through Intercol and MUSE over the course of his degree in the role of performer, music director, producer, instrumentalist and graphic designer.
His most recent project was directing 'Reefer Madness' with MUSE, which closed in October of 2019 to rave reviews and a completely sold out run. Rob was also one half of Happy Rainbow Friends Productions, a charity side project that facilitates queer theatre and performance fundraisers. He produced and performed as Hunter in 2019's production of [title of show] and later produced 'Flamin: A Queer Vaudeville' at the Red Rattler, raising money for Twenty10 and FIRE respectively.
You'll also see Rob hanging around the local comedy scene, where he's performed and designed for various Sydney Fringe shows (1980s Depression: The Musical, Farewell Tour, Open Dyke Night) and you can catch him at The Chippo once a month accompanying The Laugh Tub, an improvised character talk-show.
When he's not providing creative and emotional support for other artists, Rob enjoys songwriting, whisky and photomanipulation.
