Free theatre: Wanneroo

The City of Wanneroo, Class Act Theatre Inc and Bare Naked Theatre Company are presenting a free adaptation of Chaucer’s The Canterbury Tales into modern English by Stephen Quinn. There are three separate performances over three nights.

The Canterbury Tales is a hilarious fast-paced modern adaptation of Chaucer’s original medieval poem. Thirty pilgrims set off for Canterbury to visit the shrine of Thomas Becket. To while away the journey they tell each other stories: stories of love and lust, stupidity and passion, chivalry and greed.

Performances start at 7pm; you can buy food there. Tickets are free but to confirm numbers you’ll have to book: see details below.

The Canterbury Tales

Where: Jacaranda Amphitheatre, City of Wanneroo Civic Centre, 23 Dundebar Rd, Wanneroo
Map: View Map or View Perth Map
Date: 14, 15, 16 Feb 2008 (Thu-Sat)
Cost: Free
Transport information: Down the freeway, turn off on Ocean Reef Rd, left onto Wanneroo Rd, right onto Dundebar. Alternatively, go down Charles St from the city until it becomes Wanneroo Rd.
You could also go by train and catch a bus from Joondalup station, or take #346 from town.
Enquiries & tickets: Cultural Development (08) 9405 5645

The Lady Aoi

As part of the 2007 UWA Perth International Arts Festival, the Black Swan Theatre Company is presenting The Lady Aoi, an adaptation of a work by famed Japanese post-war writer Mishima Yukio.

Mishima is perhaps best known for his novels, such as the prize-winning reflection on purity and true love The Sound of Waves and the confronting, psycho-sexual Confessions of a Mask, but he also wrote extensively for classical Noh and Kabuki theatre. All his work hints at the tension within his own life, which ultimately ended in 1970 when he tried to lead a coup d’etat to reinstate the Emperor as the effective ruler of Japan and then committed hara-kiri upon its failure.

The official promo for Matthew Lutton’s adaptation of Mishima’s play reads:

Suspended in a restless sleep, the Lady Aoi lies on the brink of death in hospital. Disturbed by her mysterious illness, her young husband discovers that he is not her only visitor. His jealous ex-lover Yasuko has become a late-night regular at Aoi’s bedside.

You can catch this modern interpretation of a history-rich Noh piece until February 17 at the Playhouse Theatre – 3 Pier St, Perth. For more info and ticketing, check out the promo site.