THE BOX by Nathan Maynard & Rob Braslin
A Mudlark commission, ‘The Box’ unites the powerhouse voices of acclaimed palawa playwright Nathan Maynard, and murri-born nipaluna-raised artist, Rob Braslin.
Set in a fictional housing commission suburb of Bowendale, the story of The Box draws us into the home and family of a single mother Mandy and her two hardened “Bowey boy” sons.
This story is a relentlessly real, daringly comic and profoundly moving theatre experience, uncovering the painful truths and actions that define one family’s existence inside a government experiment.
A complex and compelling drama, The Box rages at the fragility of our lives, lives balanced on a knife edge, revealing the courage it takes for many to persist and survive, let alone “dream outside the box”.
Set in a fictional housing commission suburb of Bowendale, the story of The Box draws us into the home and family of a single mother Mandy and her two hardened “Bowey boy” sons.
This story is a relentlessly real, daringly comic and profoundly moving theatre experience, uncovering the painful truths and actions that define one family’s existence inside a government experiment.
A complex and compelling drama, The Box rages at the fragility of our lives, lives balanced on a knife edge, revealing the courage it takes for many to persist and survive, let alone “dream outside the box”.
28th June, 2024
And we’re off and running! After 3 years of development it was a beautiful moment to welcome The Box creative team to the Mudlark studio last week to start the next stage of realising this remarkable new Tasmanian theatre work.
The Box is surprising, compelling, must-see theatre.
The show has its premiere at the Earl Arts Centre (Launceston) before touring to Burnie and Hobart.
Book your tickets today. Suitable for ages 16+.
And we’re off and running! After 3 years of development it was a beautiful moment to welcome The Box creative team to the Mudlark studio last week to start the next stage of realising this remarkable new Tasmanian theatre work.
The Box is surprising, compelling, must-see theatre.
The show has its premiere at the Earl Arts Centre (Launceston) before touring to Burnie and Hobart.
Book your tickets today. Suitable for ages 16+.
9th June, 2024
Mudlark is pleased to announce the cast of THE BOX:
Corey Saylor-Brunskill, Nelson Clay, Harrison Collis-Oates and Carrie McLean.
We can’t wait to collaborate with this extraordinary ensemble of actors to bring this significant Tasmanian theatre work to the stage.
Mudlark is pleased to announce the cast of THE BOX:
Corey Saylor-Brunskill, Nelson Clay, Harrison Collis-Oates and Carrie McLean.
We can’t wait to collaborate with this extraordinary ensemble of actors to bring this significant Tasmanian theatre work to the stage.
28th May, 2024
Mudlark Theatre is excited to announce a new partnership with TasNetworks for our 2024 production of The Box.
TasNetworks has joined as Community Partner for the 2024 performance season of The Box, co-written by Nathan Maynard and Rob Braslin .
This partnership with TasNetworks will support up to 100 tickets to be given to members of our community who would otherwise not be able to attend the theatre.
Mudlark thanks and acknowledges the support of TasNetworks in in this partnership, enabling more people to attend theatre in Tasmania.
We are currently the state’s only professional theatre company that prioritises the generation of new Tasmanian theatre. In 2024 we are broadening our reach to serve the whole State, ensuring all Tasmanian artists can access development, employment and support opportunities, and finding new ways to reach audiences across the state.
Mudlark Theatre is excited to announce a new partnership with TasNetworks for our 2024 production of The Box.
TasNetworks has joined as Community Partner for the 2024 performance season of The Box, co-written by Nathan Maynard and Rob Braslin .
This partnership with TasNetworks will support up to 100 tickets to be given to members of our community who would otherwise not be able to attend the theatre.
Mudlark thanks and acknowledges the support of TasNetworks in in this partnership, enabling more people to attend theatre in Tasmania.
We are currently the state’s only professional theatre company that prioritises the generation of new Tasmanian theatre. In 2024 we are broadening our reach to serve the whole State, ensuring all Tasmanian artists can access development, employment and support opportunities, and finding new ways to reach audiences across the state.
Mudlark has nurtured the work through a two-year development with dramaturgs (script editors) Maeve Mhairi MacGregor and Kamarra Bell-Wykes, and designer Laura Watts. It premiered in Launceston this July, then toured to Burnie and Hobart through July and August, 2024.
‘The Box’ is a relentlessly real, daringly comic, and profoundly moving script which draws us into the home of a single mother, living in a housing commission community on the eve of her eldest son’s prison release; and uncovers the painful truths of poverty and intergen erational trauma. The work explores the monumental role of mothers to hold their families together, revealing the courage it takes for many to persist and survive, let alone have the luxury to think ‘outside the box’.
“This story needs to be told because theatre is not a safe space for people from housing commission areas. It’s never going to be a safe space until we see ourselves onstage.” - Nathan Maynard.
‘The Box’ explores growing up on the fringes by people who did and has the potential to reach those who are justifiably suspicious that theatre doesn’t speak for them.
Led through Mudlark’s partnership with Launceston’s Northern Suburbs Community Centre, and working closely with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, we provided opportunities for people to engage with the work within the safe space of their community, and address barriers individuals may face in accessing theatre by providing free tickets and transport to shows.
‘The Box’ marks Nathan’s first mainstage project as Director and Rob’s first full-length theatrical work. The partnership with Nathan is a priceless development opportunity, opening real pathways to writing for mainstage theatre. The creative team features artists of First Nations and European descent; a rich opportunity for deep learning and skills exchange, manifesting a robust, and meaningful theatre-making process that aims to deepen theatrical form and impact.
CREATIVE TEAM:
PLAYWRIGHTS: Nathan Maynard, Rob Braslin
DIRECTOR: Nathan Maynard
DESIGNERS: Laura Watts (Set), Chris Jackson (Lighting), Grace Roberts (Sound)
PERFORMERS: Carrie McLean, Corey Saylor-Brunskill, Harrison Collis Oates, Nelson Clay.
PRODUCTION: Clare Spillman (Production/Tour Manager), Daniel Story (Stage Manager), Darren Willmott (Set Coordinator)
PRODUCER: Jane Johnson (Artistic Director)
DIRECTOR FOR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT 1: Maeve McGregror
DRAMATURG FOR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT 2: Kamarra Bell-Wykes.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT PERFORMERS: Jane Johnson, Corey Saylor-Brunskill, Nelson Clay, Dylan Hesp & Oliver Johns.
‘The Box’ is a relentlessly real, daringly comic, and profoundly moving script which draws us into the home of a single mother, living in a housing commission community on the eve of her eldest son’s prison release; and uncovers the painful truths of poverty and intergen erational trauma. The work explores the monumental role of mothers to hold their families together, revealing the courage it takes for many to persist and survive, let alone have the luxury to think ‘outside the box’.
“This story needs to be told because theatre is not a safe space for people from housing commission areas. It’s never going to be a safe space until we see ourselves onstage.” - Nathan Maynard.
‘The Box’ explores growing up on the fringes by people who did and has the potential to reach those who are justifiably suspicious that theatre doesn’t speak for them.
Led through Mudlark’s partnership with Launceston’s Northern Suburbs Community Centre, and working closely with the Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre, we provided opportunities for people to engage with the work within the safe space of their community, and address barriers individuals may face in accessing theatre by providing free tickets and transport to shows.
‘The Box’ marks Nathan’s first mainstage project as Director and Rob’s first full-length theatrical work. The partnership with Nathan is a priceless development opportunity, opening real pathways to writing for mainstage theatre. The creative team features artists of First Nations and European descent; a rich opportunity for deep learning and skills exchange, manifesting a robust, and meaningful theatre-making process that aims to deepen theatrical form and impact.
CREATIVE TEAM:
PLAYWRIGHTS: Nathan Maynard, Rob Braslin
DIRECTOR: Nathan Maynard
DESIGNERS: Laura Watts (Set), Chris Jackson (Lighting), Grace Roberts (Sound)
PERFORMERS: Carrie McLean, Corey Saylor-Brunskill, Harrison Collis Oates, Nelson Clay.
PRODUCTION: Clare Spillman (Production/Tour Manager), Daniel Story (Stage Manager), Darren Willmott (Set Coordinator)
PRODUCER: Jane Johnson (Artistic Director)
DIRECTOR FOR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT 1: Maeve McGregror
DRAMATURG FOR CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT 2: Kamarra Bell-Wykes.
CREATIVE DEVELOPMENT PERFORMERS: Jane Johnson, Corey Saylor-Brunskill, Nelson Clay, Dylan Hesp & Oliver Johns.
This project was made possible by Arts Tasmania, Creative Australia, the Australian Government’s Regional Arts Fund, which supports the arts in regional and remote Australia, and WD Booth Estate.
