The Green Room online brings the curtain up on SMS Mess in March edition
Chris Thomas
For immediate release
March 22, 2009
The Green Room online brings the curtain up on SMS Mess in March edition
FOLLOWING its world debut on stage last year, SMS Mess is being featured in
the March edition of The Green Room online.
Written and directed by Chris Thomas, SMS Mess explored the trials and
tribulations of text messaging in a one-woman show mixing comedy with a
pointed look at the perils of modern technology.
It premiered as part of the annual Putting on an Act short-performance
festival at the Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts and also had a season
at KADS Theatre in Kalamunda.
"The theme for SMS Mess came from observations of people who seemingly live
and breathe their life via text messages, almost having entire relationships
that way," Thomas said.
"We keep finding ways of isolating ourselves further from actually talking
to people, whether it's via e-mail, text messages, Facebook or MySpace."
The Green Room originally screened on Access 31 before it closed down - but
it's found another audience in 2009 with a new online version, embracing
multimedia and the immediacy of the internet, to deliver a range of
interviews, news and views on local theatre in Western Australia
Producer Louis Shepherd was adamant the show could continue, given the
previous support for The Green Room - it was nominated for a 2008 Antenna
Award - and the fact many people now went online for news and entertainment.
"You just need to look at the popularity of YouTube and Facebook to realise
that people view computers as entertainment packages just as much as their
TVs, if not more so," he said.
"There was so much passion and drive behind The Green Room, thanks to the
dedicated group of individuals who helped put it together, that I knew we
could find another forum for the program.
"Across Perth and Western Australia, there is a plethora of people taking to
the stage in a variety of productions and they need a voice to help promote
what's happening and educate the wider community about just how many great
theatres are out there."
Each edition of The Green Room showcases local theatres and the range of
talent on offer, both on and off the stage, along with reviews and other
behind-the-scenes information.
In addition to SMS Mess, the March edition has features on the KADS Theatre
awards night, playwright Noel O'Neill and what's on with Melanie DeCull.
"Every edition has a focus on a particular local theatre, productions
currently in rehearsals, up-and-coming performances and the various talents
of individuals involved in the WA acting world," Mr Shepherd said.
"I'm pleased we've been able to continue with The Green Room in 2009 - it
just goes to show that nature really does abhor a vacuum, as the saying
goes."
Go to www.greenroomtv.info and click on the links to view the March edition.
Ends
* For more information, contact Melanie DeCull at TAZ Entertainment on (08)
9255 3336 or email thegre...@tazentertainment.com.au
The direct link to The Green Room is available here:
http://www.bjmp.com.au/greenroom/online_eph2_mar2009.htm