MERCY THIEVES by Mark Kilmurray

A furiously dark physical comedy of death, loyalty and friendship.

Part homage to the gangster movie, part Shakespearian tragedy, this blunt and blackly funny play melds cinematic and theatrical traditions in a wild road trip tale complete with a Tarantino-esque sound-track. Two hired killers - silent, collected DJ and amiable, chatty Mike, who are sent by Stan on one final mission. To find Harry.

They meet up with old friends and colleagues, have a few drinks, reminisce and shoot them. But one figure from the past proves a tough nut to crack. Harry's mum.

Along the way, Mike finally learns the secret in DJ's dark past. And DJ learns more than he ever wanted to about Mike's wife, kids and experiences in the Scouts.

Mercy Thieves is an Australian play, originally produced in Sydney and remounted for the first time in ten years at the Gold Coast. It boasts a stellar cast including Sandro Collareli and Elise Greig.

‘This is a very funny play, it’s funny in the way Reservoir Dogs is humorous – you laugh and then afterwards wonder if you should’ve.." Director Sean Dennehy Cast: Sandro Colarelli, Sean Dennehy, Elise Greig, Tony Nixon

Venue Format
Theatre, Hall, Black Box Venue
Technical Rating
The production can be modified to suit most venues
Touring Party
Five (4 artists and 1 crew)
Considerations

A five person touring show with a set that can pack into the back of a station wagon.

Warnings: simulated violence coarse language strobe lighting mild sexual images shown

Technical Requirements: Projector ( we provide screen) LX is from a standard theatre rig plus strobe and cross lights Bump in and out should take only 1 hour maximum

Sean Dennehy is Executive Producer of Short+Sweet QLD, producing 16 QLD Festivals over six years. BCC commissioned four shows over 3 years on Road Safety and Active Travel. Produced and directed : shows for Workshops Rail Museum, Mercy Thieves at ACGC, Planets for Taiwan Festival 2012, Lighting of Christmas Tree. Produces for MAPS at Metro Arts. Actor. TV shows : Secrets and Lies, White Collar Blue (Ch10) Gods of Wheat Street, Mabo (ABC) Crime 101 (Faraway) : All Saints, Home & Away (Ch7) plus countless TV commercials. Director of Theatre, Opera, Circus, Kids shows and the odd tiger, Sean has a vast range of experience. Opera Q, OperaWorks LA , Wilde Applause Circus, Dreamworld , Metro Arts

Jo Thomas is a performance-maker, producer and collaborator focused on developing concepts and ideas; forming strategic partnerships; and creating great accessible art. She is a graduate of USQ in Toowoomba and QUT. Jo has produced for CIRCA, Brisbane Festival, QMF, Actors Centre , MAPS for Artists, Metro Arts and Empire Theatres. Some highlights include: Produced seven new independent theatre works; two mini-festivals and the Brisbane Festival Theatre Fringe with 65 performances over 13 nights, Often I find that I am Naked (national tour), a void, Songs of Social Justice, Floating World and Mercy Thieves.

Company Website
dennehyproductions.com

Unique Selling Point

Mercy Thieves is a dark mix of comedy and cringe worthy violence that will keep audiences baying for more. A furiously funny night out, this show will have audiences laughing, thinking about why they are laughing, crying and singing along to a fabulous soundtrack. Physical in nature the production shows the dexterity of the actors involved. Four actors play eleven characters and all props are mimed. A distinct lack of set allows the actors to create their own reality and the innovative audio visual fills in the blanks.

Marketing Materials

Mercy Thieves is a published play through Currency Press. There is marketing collateral available in the form of EDM, poster and DL flyer. The actors and director involved are happy to offer acting workshops for emerging artists and Q+A sessions There will be merchandise available in the form of witty, show-specific t shirts.

Community Engagement

Producers Sean Dennehy and Jo Thomas have a long history of creating and touring works and community engagement activities in regional and remote Queensland. Jo was the force behind "Often I find that I am Naked" and is currently leading the New ERA Project in partnership with Mount Isa, Hughenden, Charters Towers, Townsville and Cairns.

Sean Dennehy has wide experience in regional centres as a teacher, director and actor. As a director and teacher, he has visited most Qld centres and outlying towns with Opera Q and has recently directed a musical for the Longreach School of Distance Education http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-03/queensland-school-of-the-air-kids-stage-end-of-year-musical/5936712 He is also directing Mary Poppins for the Brolga Theatre in Maryborough in 2015. As Sean is Executive Producer of Short+Sweet Qld Inc he is always looking for talent in regional centres.

The creative team will engage directly with each community who comes on board for the tour to give them the community engagement activities they believe will work with their unique area. Such activities may include: auditioning and rehearsing in a member of the local community to play a small part in the Mercy Thieves production; acting and physical theatre/movement workshops; voice masterclasses.