Highlights of Black Swan State Theatre Company’s (BSSTC) 2010 season include the Motown musical The Sapphires by Tony Briggs that will be presented as part of the Perth International Arts Festival as a co-production with Company B Belvoir. Hannie Rayson’s new play The Swimming Club, a co-production with Melbourne Theatre Company, is a play about baby boomers and all those who love them. The Clean House, a fantastical comedy by Sarah Ruhl about clean homes and messy lives, is a co-production with Queensland Theatre Company. After the success with of Much Ado About Nothing, Black Swan will present another Shakespeare comedy, Twelfth Night. Madagascar, by J.T. Rogers, is a haunting story of a mysterious disappearance that changes three lives forever. The HotBed Ensemble will present The Shape of Things by Neil LaBute and Yellow Moon – The Ballad of Leila and Lee by UK playwright David Greig.

Black Swan State Theatre Company’s Curriculum Council Endorsed Theatre Thrills & Skills Courses are back for 2010.
Term 1: Monologue Mayhem & Audition Techniques with Adam Mitchell
Date: Thursday 4 February - Thursday 1 April

Term: 2: Improvisation with Sam Longley
Date: Thursday 22 April - Thursday 1 July

Term 3: Voice Care & Control with Kathryn Hanlon
Date: Thursday 22 July - Thursday 23 September

Term 4: Movement for Theatre with Claudia Alessi
Date: Thursday 14 October - Thursday 16 December

Each workshop runs over a ten week period, with weekly evening classes led by some of Perth’s most experienced professional practising artists. Open to any member of the community aged 16 and over, and endorsed by the Curriculum Council to contribute points towards WACE (WA Certificate of Education).


Black Swan has two new workshops for 2010, Arts Marketing and Production & Design for Dance. For information on all Black Swan’s workshops, pre-performance talks and post-performance Q&A’s contact alena@bsstc.com.au.

Black Swan has also created a Young Writers’ programme with nine writers who are in their first five years of professional practice. The group, working with Associate Director Adam Mitchell, will build on skills and play development, and will also contribute to Black Swan’s literary department by reading and analysing work for the Company.