Launch! ’25

A bold showcase of new works by Curtin’s graduating Theatre Arts students
For three nights only at The Blue Room Theatre, experience six original short performances written, directed, designed and performed by emerging artists from Curtin’s Theatre Arts program. From cautionary tales about the rise of AI, to a campy lingerie-clad pickle woman, a flamenco-dancing matador, a queer retelling of the Minotaur and a moving journey through memory — this vibrant season offers something for everyone.

The shows

ANAPOLÓ (Αναπολώ)
Αναπολώ or Anapoló, meaning resilience in Greek, takes the audience on a journey through a young woman’s subconscious as she relives memories of significance to her. Told with fluidity, grace and emotional gravity, Anapoló tells a story of overcoming adversity and how, in persevering through these trials, we gain the strength to persist.

Writer & Director: Alora Taylor
Set Designer: Rain Northey
Sound & Lighting Designer: Alexander Kuncoro
Actor:
Zali Smedley

Content Warning: Mention of surgery/hospital experiences, toxic relationships
Duration: 10 minutes

THE SUN, THE MOON AND THE MINOTAUR
The Minotaur is no beast. No monster. No half-man, half-bull. The Minotaur is a scared boy, locked away by a cruel father and despised by an entire city. All it has is books, a music box and the stars at night to keep it company.

Writer & Director: Jarrad Whitehurst
Lighting Designer: Adah Hill
Sound & AV Designer: Jack Önell
Production Designer: Maia Whitelaw
Actors:
The Minotaur – Sam Nichols
King Minos – Kailem Mollard
Queen Pasiphae – Tiandra Seal
Theseus – Augusta Manowski
The Ferryman – Matt Bilman

Content Warning: Harm of a child, death of a child, parental trauma, violence
Duration: 15 minutes

LOOK AT ME
A woman is confronted by maternal expectations, which ignites a personal conflict between her guilt and desires, as a flamenco dancer takes the form of her subconscious passions.

Writer & Lighting Designer: Charlotte Holly-Little
Directors: Charlotte Holly-Little & Annalisa Cicchini
Co-Director: Sian Griffiths
Choreographer: Annalisa Cicchini
Set Designer: Thomas Cartwright
Actors:
Flamenco Dancer – Annalisa Cicchini
Julie – Charlotte Holly-Little
Musicians: Will Ditcham & Moira Desport

Content Warning: Loud noise, changing lights, mild coarse language
Duration: 20 minutes

JENN.AI
On their expedition through space, the crew of Memory Enterprises find their mission disrupted by the presence of their AI.

Writer & Director: Zoe Garciano
Sound Designer & Operator: Lloyd Blackwell
Script Editor: Eza Garciano
Performers & Co-Devisers:
Tasha Fraser
Eza Garciano
Poppy Marinovich
Harry Spackman
Jesse Vakatini
Promo/Photography/Marketing: Alleyne Aviles

Content Warning: Coarse language, loud noises, flashing lights
Duration: 20 minutes.

ALL GAS NO BREAKS
All Gas No Breaks is set in a one-woman dystopian world where high-impact cycle instructor Amy desperately falls in love with her scheduling AI. This bold new work explores romanticism and sexualisation between human and technology in a world driven by self-optimisation hustle culture.

Writer, Director & Sound Designer: Dakota Gaudio
Lighting Designer: Topaz Knodel
Actor:
Jalena Crooks
Photographer & Videographer: Conor O’Neill
Marketing: Emily Sears & Riley Sheehy

Content Warning: Flashing lights, smoke/haze, loud music, references to body dysmorphia
Duration: 10 minutes

PICKLED!
Pickle is pregnant, and though her spirits are bright, she can’t hide how scared and under prepared she is. Pickle Pickle is her son, a foetus that has been gestating in a large jar and is now fully-grown and ready to enter the world. This surreal, high-energy comedy tackles the complex relationship between mother and foetus as they struggle against each other and the ways we only want the best for each other, even if we do everything wrong.

Writer, Director & Lighting Designer: Isla Simeoni
Production Designer: Daisy Heath
Actors:
Pickle Pickle – James Letch
Pickle – Sarah Patroni

Content Warning: Adult themes, sexual references, loss
Duration: 20 minutes