Beginnings
23rd Productions was established in 2006 with the aim of producing provocative contemporary international works with local artists. Run by Artistic Director Kathryn Fray and Associate Artistic Director Christopher Sommers, 23rd Productions looks to remove the distance between ‘real life’ and theatrical story telling: that is use texts that are relevant to the general public and stage them in an accessible manner. By speaking to current issues 23rd Productions also aims to bring a new audience to the theatre thus increasing the true relevance of theatre for our community and the desire for it.
The company was launched in 2007 with the debute production: Closer by Patrick Marber. It played from the 8th - 18th August 2007, in the Studio Metro Arts. featuring established and emerging creatives, and became a sell out production. It received excellent reviews and great encouragement for the future of 23rd Productions.
In late 2007 the company moved to its own premises at Metro Arts in the heart of the Brisbane CBD, and was announced at Metro Arts Company in Residence 2008.
The vision for the future is that 23rd Productions has great indelible longevity; that it offers extraordinary professional opportunities for local artists, creates new audiences and inspires all elements of our community.
Directors
Kathryn Fray • Artistic Director
Kathryn Fray has been performing for over 20 years begining in the UK, where she won awards for acting, singing and improvisation. Kathryn trained at one of Europe’s most prestigious Drama Schools and has performed in a variety of productions and genre, including in Racine’s Iphigenia, Shakespeare’s Juliet and Mistress Ford, Brecht’s The Good Person of Szechuan as Shen Te/Shui Ta, Sondheim’s Company as Marta , and Chekhov’s The Three Sisters as Natasha . She worked with renowned British director Michael Winterbottom, in his 1997 film I Want You, before completing the 3 Year Acting Diploma at the Arts·Ed School of Acting, London. After graduating she worked in some of London's well known venues, first in the Opera Brundibar, and then as Bobbie Michelle in Last of the Red Hot Lovers. She came to Australia to tour NSW in the award winning Theatre in Education show L’Amour est Bazarre, returning to the UK to perform in a new hit play Revolving Door at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival 2003. After some TV and short film work, Kathryn moved back to Australia where she performed as Snug in The Popular Mechanicals; Emma Goldman in Assassins (Warehaus Theatre, QPAC 2005); Lizzie Phagan/Sally Slaton in Parade (Warehaus Theatre, QPAC 2006), Georgie in The Full Monty (Lickety Split Productions, QPAC 2006), Lady Juanita in The Queensland Shakespeare Ensemble’s reworking of Much Ado about Nothing 2007, and has worked on a locally produced feature film. As well as playing various roles in 23rd Productions' season of staged readings – Cool Britannia, Kathryn appeared as Marley and Helen in the Queensland Premiere of Motortown in August 2008, which received outstanding reviews
Kathryn established 23rd Productions in late 2006, launching with their critically acclaimed production of Closer in August 2007, in which she played Alice. Kathryn teaches for the Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts (Artistic Director Leah Purcell), and the Gallery of Modern Art - GOMA. She is a proud member of Equity and will be a mentor for the Queensland Equity Mentorship Program in 2009.
Christopher Sommers • Associate Artistic Director
Christopher graduated from Queensland University of Technology with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA Acting) in 2002. His Theatre credits include: ANATOMY TITUS: FALL OF ROME (Qtc and Bell Shakespeare Company) HOODS* (Realtv, Sydney Opera House & RAV) BEAUTIFUL. (And moor) Forward Movement and Springboard Theatre Company’s THE LARAMIE PROJECT , 23rd Productions CLOSER. QLD Theatre Company: – The multi award -winning production of PROOF, Premier Drama Awards, The Works Play Readings & Young Playwrights Awards., LA Boite Theatre: National Tour of ZIGZAG STREET. Restaged Histories Project: OMON RA , TRIVIA (Bunker Productions) SLEEPING AROUND (Downstairs Belvoir). Other credits include: THE ORACLE (Osmosis Dance Theatre) and STAINED (Storm the Barricade) His Film credits include: Jucy, Sinngh is King, AFI Award winning Unfinished Sky, All My Friends Are Leaving Brisbane, The Horseman His Television credits include: The Strip, Monarch Cove, The Starter Wife and Love Bytes. In 2006 Christopher was nominated for a Mathilda Award for Best Emerging talent. In 2009 Christopher will attend Masterclasses at The Ivana Chubbuck Studio in Los Angeles, California after receiving a 2008 Lord Mayors Young and Emerging Artists Fellowship. He is also one of Queensland Theatre Company’s Emerging Artists for 2009 and will appear in: Youth & Educations The Exception and the Rule, by Bertolt Brecht, School of Arts, by Bille Brown and finally Arthur Miller’s classic The Crucible.
Christopher teaches for Backbone Youth Arts and Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts and is Associate Artistic Director of 23rd productions, Company in Residence at Metro Arts.. He is a proud member of Equity and will be a mentor for the Queensland Equity Mentorship Program in 2009.
- Hoods received an AWGIE award for Best New Play for Young Audiences-2007 and was nominated for a 2008 Helpmann award for Best Play for Young audiences
