Amanda Muggleton: The Mentor
The Mentor
By Joshua White
Directed by Christian Cavallo
Starring Amanda Muggleton
Produced by Bravo Arts
A one-time Hollywood star, Amanda Redfern has spiraled in her later years. When twenty-something actor, Jordan Ridley, turns up at her doorstep to be coached by the veteran, the up-and-comer gets more than he bargained for. The unlikely pair discover a vastly different set of perceptions across themes of sexism, ageism, respect, consent and mental health. They find their methodologies as actors are fueled by vastly different lived experience.
Does Jordan have the resolution to endure Amanda’s eccentric methods? This play is for the students who have had teachers push them too far and for teachers who continue to give everything they have.
ABOUT THE MENTOR
This play is driven by a mature female voice, juxtaposed against a young male perspective. It highlights that equality and equity are still values that haven’t been achieved, socially. It demands that we consider – in 2021 – how we treat the most vulnerable, and how we examine our own privilege.
A two-hander, set in a messy apartment flat, The Mentor uniquely puts 70-year-old Amanda Redfern in the driver’s seat and pairs her with a character that embodies everything she isn’t. This play features a series of intimate encounters, and although the characters are actors exploring their craft, it is very much about the highs and lows of the human experience.
Joshua White — Artistic Statement
“I am fascinated by the generational gaps that exist in our society and the way we are constantly attacking each other – “okay, boomer”, “snowflakes” etc. Our perceptions of life develop as we mature, but at the end of the day we all just want to be understood. Why do we always think we know best? Old or young. Right or wrong. We have the capabilities to learn from each other, so mutual respect should be fundamental.”
Incorporating experienced talents of Amanda Muggleton, the team behind The Mentor focuses on collaboration between emerging artists.
THE TEAM
Amanda Muggleton as Amanda Redfern
The role of Jordan Ridley is yet to be cast from an audition process.
Playwright: Joshua White
Director: Christian Cavallo
Stage Manager: Ashleigh Walwyn
Set & Costume Design: Thomas Bevans
Lighting Design: Harrie Hogan
Sound Designer: TBA
Joshua White
Playwright
Joshua White (he/him) has spent almost all of his life performing. Since falling in love with singing in his school’s ‘Bumblebee’ Choir Joshua has steadily learnt the craft through various institutions around the country. First studying at ‘Showfit’ Musical Theatre Program run through Centrestage, Joshua subsequently honed his craft at 16th Street Actors Studio and Industry Dance before finally graduating from WAAPA. In subsequent years Joshua has originated the roles of Ben in Waiting on You (Majella Productions) and most recently Angelo in Eyes Wide Woke (Bitten By Productions) as part of the 2019 Melbourne Fringe Festival.
Joshua began writing The Mentor in 2019 whilst performing as Frank in Priscilla Queen of the Desert onboard the Norwegian Epic, and was excited to develop the play through Hope New Works in 2020. As a writer, The Mentor is Joshua’s first play.
Joshua has also written for film and TV production.
Christian Cavallo
Director
Christian (he/him) is a graduate of the Masters in Directing for Performance at the Victorian College of the Arts. He has directed numerous theatre productions around the Geelong and Melbourne regions including H#SHED OUT, The Eight Reindeer Monologues, Kinky Boots, Heathers The Musical, Dusty The Original Pop Diva and more. In 2019, he took part in an international devised work AMOK>>>>HALT which was presented at the Asia Pacific Bond in Vietnam. He is currently Resident Director for Class Act’s Theatre in Education touring shows.
In response to COVID-19, Christian was one the Creative Directors who delivered Hope. New Works, producing, directing and facilitating developments for theatrical work. He is also currently developing The Rubble through Geelong Arts Centre’s Creative Engine.
He has a theatrical background encompassing musical theatre, plays, immersive performance, theme-park work, concert and cabaret, devised works, film & TV and more. With working relationships across regional and metro Victoria, Christian is Artistic Director of emerging company Bravo Arts. He also works as a freelance graphic designer, specialising in entertainment marketing.
Amanda Muggleton
Amanda Redfern
Amanda Muggleton (she/her) has worked for every major theatre company in Australia and for most of the commercial producers. Her career spans forty years in TV, film, theatre (drama, comedy and musical theatre).
Theatre.
Masterclass, Shirley Valentine, Annie, HMS Pinafore, Book Club, Hairspray, Steaming, Private Lives etc
On TV.
Prisoner, Richmond Hill, City Homicide,Hollyoaks, Home and Away etc
Film.
Fatal Honeymoon , Idiot Box, Mad Max 1 etc
She is the recipient of two Helpmann awards for Maria Callas and Eureka, a Greenroom award for Maria Callas. Three Glug awards for Annie, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice and Shirley Valentine and a Walklie award for the radio play City Life.
Cabaret.
Darling it’s Noel, A Naughty Christmas!
The Men that Got Away thank God!
Thomas Beans
Costume & Set Design
Thomas Bevans (they/them) is an emerging set, lighting and costume designer. He is currently undertaking a Masters of Design for Live Performance at the Victorian College of The Arts. Thomas approaches design as a mode of visual dramaturgy. His credits include set design for Twelve Angry Men produced by Camberwell Grammar School in 2019 and Birdoir as part of the Theatreworks 2020 Midsumma season. He was nominated for Best Set Design at the 2019 Lyrebird Youth Awards for his work on Twelve Angry Men.
Harrie Hogan
Lighting Design
Harrie Hogan (she/her) is a Melbourne based lighting designer. Her design credits at the Victorian College of the Arts include A Chorus Line (Tyran Park), Fucking A (Candy Bowers), Mad Forest (Sean Mee) and Swim Between the Flags (Company ’19). Since graduating she has designed Queen Bette (Peter Mountford, G.bod Theatre), Leopard Print Loincloth (Dominic Weintraub, Kissing Booth Productions), The Hitmen (Blake Bernard, Bakers Dozen Theatre), Kerosene (Benjamin Nichol), Very Nice Pot Plants (Zachary Sheridan and Karla Livingstone-Pardy) and Music of the Night (Theresa Borg, Spears Entertainment). Harrie is a keen collaborator and proud to be counted amongst the growing number of women in her field.
Ashleigh Walwyn
Stage Manager
Originally from the UK, Ashleigh Walwyn (she/her) grew up in Malaysia, finding her love for theatre in school/community productions. A graduate from VCA with a BA in Fine Arts (Stage Management) in 2018 her credits include Melbourne International Comedy Festival, Mr Burns: a post-electric play; The Return Season (Lightning Jar Theatre Inc.), Bright Star (Pursued By Bear) and Punk Rock (Patalog Theatre). Ashleigh is also the Senior Stage Manager/Back of House Caller for The Victorian State Schools Spectacular [VSSS] for which she created the online 2020 show.
TBA
Sound Design
Our sound designer recently joined a national tour and we are currently in the process of talking to a new designer.
TBA
Jordan Ridley
Actor to be cast from an audition process.
Produced by Bravo Arts.
STAGES OF DEVELOPMENT…
Stage 1: Creative Development 1. (Completed)
A working draft of the script has been completed.
This development period was facilitated by Hope New Works and involved collaboration across text and dramaturgy.
It received dramaturgical and directorial input from Jacinta John, Christian Cavallo and James Millar, and was performed by Amanda Muggleton and Joshua James with voice recording contributions by Troy Sussman, Will Conyers and Zach Goldfinch.
Stage 2: Workshop, August 2021. (One week, full time)
Stage two requires a workshop period to build upon the creative development of the piece, working with actors in a space and creatives in the room to further inform the physicality of the work. This stage will also consider what design and physical elements are required within the piece and will be facilitated by Geelong Arts Centre in 2022.
Stage 3: Rehearsal, September 2021. (Two weeks, Full time)
The piece requires a three week rehearsal period before being mounted.
Live Performance Outcome, November 2022. — A fully staged theatrical play at Theatre Works in St Kilda
Touring work, 2023. — This work will tour through Victoria in 2023.