03.06.2011 13:22:49

Ben Cornfoot

Courtesy of my Mum, who shall henceforth be known as 'Lightwire's personal philanthropist', I am now in the possession of two new leather masks. Made in Florence by Agostino Dessi, they are a long-nosed Pantalone and a very striking Il Capitano. Looking forward to trying them on and seeing who comes out!

See below - some of his Commedia masks.

Completely unable to decide which ones to pick, I rang da Boss Tony and had him on one phone and Mum and the mask maker on the other. Maybe I should have got the Doctor, I don't know...

In other news, Italian Week is now over and there are plenty of photos capturing the fun we had roving and performing at the various events in Brisbane and surrounds.

Commedia | Lightwire | Masks | Italian Week

17.05.2011 03:25:31

Anna Sweeny

"Dear Tony ,

A big Thank you from all of us for your class on Thursday .

It was very much enjoyed by all. Very Liberating.

It all connected so well with our course and demonstrated the specialist element so very well.
This has thrown up inspiration to the few who want to know a lot more.

As for me, it confirmed my knowledge of the subject from my training at Central School all those years ago, and all the subsequent years of using it as one approach in Acting/Opera  performance.
There are so many ways to approach character and I was lucky enough to be taught this so I am determined to get our students past the one chapter of Stanislavsky on Inner Man.

I have encouraged the few to contact you for the future after degrees have finished.

Cheers Anna Sweeny Hon . R.A.M
Senior Lecturer Theatre Practices."

Commedia teaching

17.05.2011 00:08:44

Ben Cornfoot

I woke up this morning, walked outside and took this photo. The Big Barra!

Then after a great show this morning, for the P-6 kids at Normanton State School, we headed off to Karumba - the warnings about crocs and definitely NOT swimming ringing in our ears. And the insistence that we eat some barramundi, which I was more than happy to do...

I'm starting to think we're a bit lucky, being on this tour. It is a whole other world up here in the Gulf. The size of the landscape is awesome. It makes me want to travel Australia. What a place!

Hopefully we'll get some show photos to post but for now here's some nature shots... which just reveals how much time we have on our hands! Thanks QAC.

Sunrise over Normanton ...and sunset at Karumba

The Deep North QAC Remote Tour

14.05.2011 04:18:01

Tony Kishawi

I was invited by Anna Coghill to pass on my Commedia knowledge to the Vocal students at The Conservatorium of music South Bank Qld. 12th May 2011. I was very impressed with the their talent as actors that matched their very well trained voices.

Thank you to all, I am looking forward to your performance.

Commedia Performance | Theatre | Commedia teaching

13.05.2011 22:01:42

Ben Cornfoot

Only one test post and I've already been criticised/flamed/trolled - yes that's right - by my own boss, for not mentioning what the heck we're doing.

Well -  we are doing a QLD Arts Council Tour of our primary show Thoughts Have Feelings Too! to the Gulf region of QLD! The what region? You didn't even know there was a gulf in QLD did you? Touring the Gulf sounds like we're off to Iraq - but no, it's almost as far, and almost as hot but it's much friendlier. Surely. It's a ten day tour that sees us drive out to Burketown, fly to Mornington Island and then we drive back to Cairns. A rare opportunity to go to some isolated communities and dress up as clowns for them. Aren't they lucky!

The Journey...

The Airport

What do actors eat to stay in peak performance condition? That's right, coffee and butter-soaked banana bread.

The Aeroplane

The water bottle spurted. An omen? I see a giant crocodile devouring a station wagon... damn.

The Rental Company

Brin guards our gear as we wait for them to remember who we are.

Yes! On the way. Stay tuned to find out what happens next? Will I spill my water again? Will Brin drink yet more coffee? Will there be ANY gluten free food in Croydon?? (I seriously, seriously doubt it, and I'm not about to ask.)

The Deep North QAC Remote Tour

13.05.2011 19:12:53

Ben Cornfoot

This is a test post!

After a restful flight where I didn't know where to put my elbows in relation the guy on my right's elbows and where Brin fell asleep and I spilled water on myself courtesy of an exploding water bottle, we arrived in Cairns! And the weather is better than in Brisbane - just by the way. It's barmy, it's pleasant, and the people wear less clothes, which is... distracting.

Hardly any issues. And Brin and I still love each other. In a manly way.

Here's the show we're doing - and the set which we only have 1/3 of for reasons of ease...

Anyway - more photos, video and blogging to come! At the moment Brin and I are sitting in a hippy cafe in Kuranda eating our last meal before heading into the wilderness. Brin has kindly agreed to let me eat him if we break down a hundred miles from a town without food.

bye for now!

10.11.2010 02:41:51

Tony Kishawi

Tony,
I would like to congratulate you and the team on a fantastic weekend of Commedia.
In my mind it was a great success and that was heralded even more by the ability to have Antonio there, as well as such an amazing group of presenters from all over the country, including yourself.  The few people I knew who also attended the weekend have all walked away raving about it and already discussing what might be possible for next years festival, not to mention the wonderful networking opportunity it presented for delegates from around the country.
I think the seeds have been sown for something truly spectacular for the future.  It is not every festival, run from a small-ish country town, that can attract a national attendance in its first year.  You should all be proud of the results.
It is fantastic that Italian week was willing to absorb the festival as part of its own and hopefully that will assist in marketing opportunities in years to come.

I wait with baited breath for the dates of next years festival program.

many thanks
Paul Adams

Commedia Performance | Commedia festival | Commedia teaching

23.10.2010 03:09:02

Tony Kishawi

Chris and Tammy were absolutely hilarious, we all so enjoyed them being here, please advise us when they do another show as we would love for them to come again.

I have attached some of the photos as promised. I have more but these were the best of them.

Please advise if you would like me to send the rest on a disk.

Kind regards


Jane Allen
Performing Arts Department
Emmanuel College
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
07 5561 4088

Commedia teaching | Commedia Performance

15.09.2010 03:36:07

Tony Kishawi

Spirit of the Mask

LightWire is celebrating the completion of their Spirit of the Mask production’s highly successful, 2010 touring season of schools on the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, under the auspices of the Queensland Arts Council.  In this interactive workshop/show our team of experienced, professional actors, Tammy Weller and Chris Vernon (both graduates of the University of Southern Queensland) teach improvisation in performance through that most ancient of theatrical traditions: the mask.

This is no ordinary workshop or performance.  The only predictable thing about it is the way children’s intuitive grasp of theatre is invoked in a journey of revelation.  Tammy and Chris engage their students by degrees, first with an invitation to participate through experiencing the power of wearing a mask, then in learning how to embody their mask’s character. The actors then cleverly work with these characters, and before they know it the volunteers are improvising within a well-planned skit and have become part of the show.

The Spirit of the Mask was received enthusiastically wherever they went and is sure of a welcome on return for their 2011 season.  Book early and make sure your school doesn’t miss out on this joyous journey of the mask and it’s learning potential.

Commedia teaching | Commedia Performance

13.09.2009 20:36:51

Tony Kishawi

Company Director Tony Kishawi was invited to attend the National Drama Conference in Queensland held at the end of November, 2009 at Queensland University. Tony presented a Master Class which focused and demonstrated his teaching techniques and Commedia dell ‘Arte as outlined in his recently launched and very successful book 'Teaching Commedia dell'Arte. The conference was also attended by regular Lightwire contributors Ben Cornfoot & Clint Bolster.

Commedia teaching

13.09.2009 19:57:22

Tony Kishawi

Taking the Production International

Development and promotion of the Wun Pela Music & Lightwire Theatrical Productions production 2 Pela Island continues with interest from both local and international schools, universities and community groups.

Our aim is to have 2 Pela Island touring throughout Papua New Guinea’s Independance Day celebrations 2010 as well as during Australia Week. The possibility that this show could influence the furthering of relations between the two countries and the acknowledgement of the entwined history of the peoples is causing us all great excitement.

We have made contact with University of Goroka lecturer Dr. Michael Mel and University of Papua New Guinea based artist Daniel Waswas. The development of these relationships will be instrumental in us achieving our goals for the show in 2010.

If you are interested in booking 2 Pela Island for your school or community group in Australia or overseas please contact us or use the booking/expression of interest form on this site by clicking here.

Want more?

Additional Articles about 2 Pela Island;

• Production Requirments - Schoool Based Production CLICK HERE
• Development of 2 Pela Island - The Making Of CLICK HERE

Drama | Theatre

04.01.2009 14:00:00

Tony Kishawi

10,000 Reasons Why I love Christmas!

"The Aussie Xmas Panto Strikes again – Where is Santa? – which debuted at the South Bank Xmas Celebrations in 2007, was brought to life again this year on the Sunshine Coast: Over two nights, at Cotton tree Park and King’s Beach Caloundra, an audience of over 10,000 people gathered to celebrate the season and enjoy a night of Carols, featuring Grace Knight and various community and school groups.

The crowd was treated to the unfolding tale of Mistletoe, Solly the Seagull, Rudolph the Kangaroo, Cranky Pete and of course, the ‘real’ Santa - interspersed throughout the carols. The packed outdoor audience smiled and laughed, booed and hissed (in all the right moments) and stayed right to the end to make sure the real Santa turned up, which he did of course – capping the night off with a rocking rendition of ‘Aussie Jingle Bells’ and a group finale with all the songsters of the evening. In all the Panto was hailed a great success and a fantastic addition to the Carols".

Article by Ben Cornfoot

Theatre