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Award-winning Novocastrian playwright showcases his Creativity

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Award-winning Novocastrian playwright Carl Caulfield examines the existential threat facing the Humanities in our universities in his latest work premiering at The Playhouse in Newcastle this month.

Creativity, which opens on Friday 8 July, is a wickedly funny satire for the zeitgeist.

The play, with music from the company which brought us Being Sellers, Dali: Hallucinogenic Toreador, Human Resources and Shakespeare’s Fools, explores not just the crisis in the Humanities in our universities but the existential threat facing the Arts in general.

“It is a timely celebration of the transformative power of music,” explains director Caulfield.

“On one level the work is a homage to the passion of truly great teachers who are fighting for the survival of their subjects in the face of unrelenting, bloody-minded management in the tertiary sector.

“On another, it’s about the fragility of the Arts and Humanities – particularly in the digital age where technology both enhances and threatens one of the things that brings humans the most joy – the act of creating.

“Setting it in a Conservatorium of Music serves as a metaphor for the battle for survival of all live performance arts because of the lack of value placed on the Arts by neoliberal governments, particularly at a federal level in Australia.”

It’s a serious subject, but the philosophical debates about the worth of the arts to humanity and the relationship between technology and creativity are delivered through satire, comedy, music and theatrical surprises.

Creativity is a co-production between Civic Theatre Newcastle and Stray Dogs Theatre Company, which has assembled a top-notch ensemble of actors and musicians, including Mick Byrne, Khalil Khay, Lou Chapman, Nola Wallace and Melinda Smith.

Others joining the cast include Anne Hartsuyker as Vanessa, Jeffrey Cutts (Ron Walters), Claire Conry (Marion Pearce) and Fiona Collins (Abigail Freal).

The cast of Carl Caulfield’s latest play, Creativity. Photo: Elena Gan

Civic Theatre manager Leonie Wallace admitted it was always a joy to have a Caulfield play premiere at the Playhouse Theatre.

“Carl does not disappoint with Creativity,” she said.

“The story is a play for our time.

“Anyone who enjoys theatre and the arts know it is the very thing that nurtures us during periods of adversity.

“The play allows the audience to laugh and feel a sense of impending loss and trepidation simultaneously.

“It is these emotive components that make Creativity a must-see in our Civic Theatre Season 2022.”

Stray Dogs producer Felicity Biggins said it was one of the company’s most ambitious productions, with a large cast, live music and the use of audio, video and graphics.

“Our main mission is to provoke and engage audiences with new work, but our priority is to entertain,” she explained.

“It is not about deriding universities.

“Carl wrote this play so he could be an advocate for those dedicated, passionate educators in universities battling to save their jobs and disciplines for themselves and their students.”

Creativity’s season will continue until 16 July with performances on Friday 8 July (8pm); Saturday 9 July (2pm and 8pm); Tuesday 12 July (8pm); Wednesday 13 July (8pm); Thursday 14 July (8pm); Friday 15 July (8pm); and Saturday 16 July (2pm and 8pm).

Tickets are available through the Civic Theatre Ticket Office at https://civictheatrenewcastle.com.au/season-2022/season-2022-shows/creativity

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