Finally, I return to a recurring line from the play, ‘wonder how I’ll remember this’. Whether it be through pop songs, items of clothing, smells, books, a look or even a tattoo, the characters in Silent Disco let us know that regardless of the boredom, they understand the importance of this time in their lives, and that they will always remember it. This gently-woven theme of memory elevates the drama and invites us all to consider the course of our own lives. What more could one ask of any play?

Noel Jordan

February 2011

Noel Jordan has extensive experience as an educator, director and producer utilising his particular area of expertise in theatre for children and young people.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Silent Disco has been developed with the support of The Aurora Theatre Company, Australian Theatre for Young People (atyp), Griffin Theatre Company and Playwriting Australia. Thanks to each of these companies and to the artists who to have contributed to the development of this play. I would also like to make special acknowledgement to Alastair McKinnon for his encouragement, belief and support.

THANKS

Mark Adnum, Joshua Barnes, Jane Bodie, Wendy Buswell, Alyson Campbell, Elena Carapetis, Fraser Corfield, Katrina Douglas, Susannah Dowling, Eamon Farren, Kate Gaul, Tanika Gupta, Josh Hecht, Laura Hopkinson, Adele Jeffreys, Gary Jones and David Smith from Smith and Jones Management, Noel Jordan, Belinda Kelly, Ian Lawson, Lee Lewis, Nick Marchand, Michael Minten, Chris Mead, Luke Mullins, Penny Philpott, Jenny Rohr, Graham Matthew Smith, Jonathon Spector, Sam Strong, Elizabeth Surbey and Ben White.

FIRST PRODUCTION

Silent Disco was first produced by Griffin Theatre Company, atyp and HotHouse Theatre at the SBW Stables Theatre, Sydney, on 27 April 2011 with the following cast:

Director, Lee Lewis

Designer, Justin Nardella

Lighting Designer, Ross Graham

Sound Designer / Composer, Stefan Gregory

Production Manager, Glenn Dulihanty

CHARACTERS

TAMARA BREWSTER

JASYN (SQUID) DONOVAN

DANE DONOVAN

HELEN PETCHALL

LAURENCE BREWSTER

TEACHER

DEZZIE

LEANNE

AUNTY

CASTING NOTE

The actor who plays Dane can also play Laurence and Teacher.

The actor who plays Helen can also play Dezzie, Leanne and Aunty.

If actors double in this manner they will render the voice of these extra roles rather than attempting to embody them.

TEXT NOTE

/ indicates a point of interruption and/or overlap

SQUID/TAMARA indicates lines to be said simultaneously, with

assignment of lines to correspond to placement of character’s name

… indicates an unfinished sentence

[ ] bracketed words for actor’s information, not delivery

STAGING NOTE: SOUND

Audience to be provided with earphones which deliver a soundtrack more bearable than traffic, planes and school bells as well as the perfect song for dancing—so perfect it annihilates anything else you can hear, making you, even for the shortest time, dance with love in your head and your heart and your eyes. And in your pants.

ACT ONE