CONNECTED - Creative Team
Craig Christie - Author, Composer, Lyricist
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Why CONNECTED? It crept up on me. I had heard stories, read some in the papers or circulated online and then there was an incident involving the daughter of a friend of mine. Even so I was unprepared for how profound and serious the problem of cyber bullying was until I decided to explore the issue to prepare writing a short show to tour into schools. I was horrified as incident after incident outlined the pain inflicted on the helpless, the misery caused by the cruelty of faceless cowards, the thoughtlessness and ignorance of those who ought to be caring and protecting and the tragic consequences. And all this was occurring constantly, insidiously as people young and old struggled along day after day in fear of what might be said or circulated about them.
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I chose the form of a musical to tell the story as songs have the ability to distil moments, express eloquently the inarticulate speech of the heart and to grab attention and engage the audience.
Finally, despite the headlines that occur and the stories that are circulated, the reality and occurrence of cyber bullying has not diminished. The script and the story it presents remains frighteningly relevant. Hopefully it will engage readers, performers and audiences in the characters and the situations that unfold in the narrative and in doing so will make some impact in teaching people everywhere to be kinder and more responsible cyber citizens.
Finally, despite the headlines that occur and the stories that are circulated, the reality and occurrence of cyber bullying has not diminished. The script and the story it presents remains frighteningly relevant. Hopefully it will engage readers, performers and audiences in the characters and the situations that unfold in the narrative and in doing so will make some impact in teaching people everywhere to be kinder and more responsible cyber citizens.
About Craig
Craig Christie has worked for twenty five years as the principal of No Mates Productions, creating original musicals in educational, community and commercial settings. His annual Children’s Book tours which include the acclaimed Jungle Bungle and Rev It Up have been seen by over 2 million school children internationally and currently tour Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Craig’s musical theatre works include Crusade and Eurobeat. After winning Best New Musical and breaking box office records at the Edinburgh Festival 2007, Eurobeat went on to tour the UK culminating in an acclaimed West End season in 2008. His musical Hey Florence has had a series of standing ovation performances in Nashville, New York and Singapore.
Craig Christie has worked for twenty five years as the principal of No Mates Productions, creating original musicals in educational, community and commercial settings. His annual Children’s Book tours which include the acclaimed Jungle Bungle and Rev It Up have been seen by over 2 million school children internationally and currently tour Australia, New Zealand and the UK.
Craig’s musical theatre works include Crusade and Eurobeat. After winning Best New Musical and breaking box office records at the Edinburgh Festival 2007, Eurobeat went on to tour the UK culminating in an acclaimed West End season in 2008. His musical Hey Florence has had a series of standing ovation performances in Nashville, New York and Singapore.
Craig spent ten years as a secondary school teacher which he acknowledges has informed his professional writing career since it began. In Connected his investment in the subject matter and the characters is apparent and he is excited that this project brings together his teaching and theatrical experience.
Lana Nesnas - Resident Director / Vocal Coach
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Lana has been involved in the entertainment industry in many and varying capacities, from technical to production, performance to coaching. Lana performs in some of Sydney's premier covers and tribute bands, including Hipnosis, MO award nominated Family Von Trapp and international ABBA tribute, ABBASBACK, and her own jazz/covers band Sydney Groove. A WAAPA music theatre graduate, Lana's performing credits also include South Pacific (Theatre Royal Sydney), the original tour of Dirty Dancing (Aus/NZ), Berlin - Cabaret of Desire (Silo Theatre, Auckland), Cinderella and Friends (DSF Dubai), Arabesque of Love (Sydney Opera House), and most recently, new Australian musical Atomic (NIDA Playhouse). Her film and TV credits include All Saints and short films Squalor (Dogfight, IFSS)and Vafadar (AFTRS).
Lana is proud to be working with an amazing young cast to perform an inspiring show raising awareness of the dangers of cyber bullying. |