(Self confessed super fan.) It wasn't that long ago, in the foyer of the Capitol Theatre, that I nabbed Reg Livermore to get a Facebook photo with him. We were at opening night of the Wizard Of Oz, earlier this year, and Reg dressed smartly, all in black, sported red shoes (sneakers). He was the original Australian Wicked Witch Of The West. Reg Livermore is best remembered however for his show stopping appearances in HAIR, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and as the original Dr Frank’n’furter in the Australian Production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW.
This July, actor, writer and director Reg Livermore returns to the stage at the Ensemble Theatre for his one-man show, THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED. Be still our beating hearts. He is mind-blowingly talented and this is sure to be a one-man show to remember.
Written and performed by Reg Livermore, THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED is an engaging, hilarious, and ultimately very moving solo play showcasing Reg’s singular comic talent.
Ensemble Theatre Artistic Director and Director of this new play, Mark Kilmurry said Reg was one of the founding members of Ensemble Theatre and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have him back to Ensemble 60 years later. This play has everything you’d expect from a Reg Livermore play. It is very, very funny and I have no doubt audiences will love it.
Reg Livermore will play Arthur Kwick which, he says, doesn’t exactly ring any bells. Despite an unexpectedly notable performance at the Tivoli Theatre in 1969, Arthur Kwick’s career ever since has seen him take any role that has come his way even if that’s meant hosting off-the-wall stag nights or working as an all-weather clown at children’s parties. Now he has another job, a job that’ll test his mettle, question his core beliefs and could well be the most challenging of his life adds Reg Livermore.
I can't tell you what the job is because I want it to be a surprise for the audience but it brings new life to a career Arthur Kwick thought was well and truly over said Reg Livermore.
Previews from July 26, opening night Thursday August 2, season to Sat 1 September 2018.
REG LIVERMORE Playwright | Cast - Arthur Kwick
Spanning more than sixty years his theatrical career on stage and in television includes achievements as actor, author, director and designer. In 1958 Reg became a founding member of the Ensemble Theatre; during its 60th Anniversary 2018 Subscription Season Ensemble is staging Reg’s most recently written THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED or AN ACTOR DEPLOYS, the theatre having previously presented his WISH YOU WERE HERE, RED RIDING HOOD THE SPEED HUMP AND THE WOLF, and THE THANK YOU DINNER.
As a performer he is remembered for show stopping appearances in HAIR and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as the original Dr Frank’n’furter in the Australian production of THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, and for his bravura performance in the musical BARNUM. During the 1970’s the major successes of his ground-breaking one-man shows the BETTY BLOKK BUSTER FOLLIES series including WONDER WOMAN and SACRED COW propelled him to the forefront of Australian popular theatre.
In 2004/05 he starred as Max Bialystock in the new Mel Brooks Musical THE PRODUCERS, performed for Opera Australia in numerous Gilbert and Sullivan operas, played Henry Higgins in their 2008 presentation of MY FAIR LADY, and most recently scored as Alfred Doolittle in the Julie Andrews 60th Anniversary production of this most celebrated musical for which he won the Colleen Clifford Memorial Award 2016 and a Green Room Award 2017.
He received the Sydney Critics Lifetime Achievement Award in 2015, and a Helpmann Award the same year for his performance in WICKED. He is also the recipient of The J.C. Williamson Centenary Medal for Lifetime Achievement 2017; The Adelaide Cabaret Festival Icon Award 2013; The Rodney Seaborn Memorial Lifetime Achievement Award 2017; The Colleen Clifford Memorial Award 2005; The Hayes Gordon Memorial Award 2002; The Norman Kessell Memorial Award 1994. Reg was granted an Australian Creative Artists Fellowship in 1994, and received an AO in 1996; his autobiography CHAPTERS AND CHANCES was published in 2004/2005. Later this year his new memoir STAGES will be published.
MARK KILMURRY Director
Mark is the Artistic Director of Ensemble Theatre. Mark recently directed SHIRLEY VALENTINE and TAKING STEPS and will direct REG LIVERMORE’S THE WIDOW UNPLUGGED OR AN ACTOR DEPLOYS and later this year, THE NORMAN CONQUESTS TRILOGY. Recent directing credits include: NEVILLE’S ISLAND, TWO, ODD MAN OUT, RELATIVELY SPEAKING, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, BETRAYAL, GOOD PEOPLE, MY ZINC BED, EDUCATING RITA, ABSENT FRIENDS, OTHER DESERT CITIES, THE ANZAC PROJECT, RICHARD III, THE GLASS MENAGERIE, FRANKENSTEIN, MANAGING CARMEN, RED, THE SPEAR CARRIER and HAMLET.
Mark’s recent acting credits include: Frank in EDUCATING RITA, Richard in RICHARD III, Hamlet in HAMLET, Otto in THE ACT, Angus in THE DRAWER BOY and Serge in ART. Mark’s recent plays and adaptations include; RICHARD III (with Patrick Dickson), HAMLET (with John Trutwin), THE BIG DRY (based on the novel by Tony Davis), CASANOVA (based on the TV series by Russell T Davis), DIARY OF AN OLYMPIC CABBIE (based on the book by Anthony Sharwood), MERCY THIEVES; HAPPY AS LARRY & VIV and ONE SHOT.
Mark is the recipient of two Norman Kessell Memorial Awards for an Outstanding Performance by an Actor for his roles in HAMLET and JAPES and was awarded the 2006 Hayes Gordon Memorial Award for Important Contribution to Theatre.
