History of White Whale Theatre
White Whale Theatre was formed in 2004 at the University of Melbourne by then Arts/Law students David Mence and Kelly Farrow. Founded on solid theatrical principles of passion, creativity, scholarship and debauchery, the fledging company with its dedicated cast and crew went on to win Union House Theatre’s ‘Best Production of the Year’ with David’s new work, Macbeth Re-Arisen.
In 2006 the Whale departed for foreign shores with a cast and crew of 23 young Melburnians when it boldly took Macbeth Re-Arisen to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The Edinburgh Fringe punters gleefully embraced our hilarious schlock-horror sequel to Shakespeare’s Scottish Play. Macbeth Re-Arisen had a fabulous international premiere season, with 4 & 5 Star reviews in major British press outlets, an industry award for the producer Kelly Farrow, rapt audiences and a cult following.
After a brief hiatus (while our Whales travelled the far climes of the Orient and other remote regions) the company reformed and, armed with experience, exuberance and new ideas, formally incorporated as a Not For Profit Association. A diversely skilled Board of Directors was joyfully appointed by Dave and Kel in early 2007 and in Sept-Dec the Whale will be launching its exciting Spring Season of Theatre.
White Whale Theatre will make its Melbourne Fringe debut David’s most recent full-length play, Convict 002 at the Northcote Town Hall, before opening with its star-studded new work Melburnalia at Forty Five Downstairs in November.
In the coming years White Whale will seek to enrich and challenge Melbourne’s theatrical scene by producing intelligent, enthralling and subversive works while it continues to build its national and international standing with a return to the Edinburgh Fringe planned for 2008.
Local Industry Support for the Whale
‘White Whale Theatre is an exciting and energetic company and I look forward to observing its continued development’
John Bell AM OBE, Artistic Director, Bell Shakespeare, 2007
‘A promising and professional theatre group that has the potential to become an established entity in Melbourne’s Arts Industry’
Andrew Blackman, Artistic Director, Complete Works Theatre, 2007
'Everything from publicity, production, graphics, sound design and final product is to be applauded…WWT succeeds with vision, passion and commitment’
Susie Dee, Director, Union House Theatre, 2007
Praise for Macbeth Re-Arisen
“5 Stars!”
“Immensely funny and keeps the audience tied to their seats’
“An adventurous production pulled off perfectly by an enthusiastic and talented cast”
“William is probably turning in his grave…but only because he wishes he had written it himself”
Three Weeks, August 2006
“Macbeth meets Shaun of the Dead in B-movie schlock-horror splendour!”
The Scotsman, August 2006
“The writing is simply astounding”
The Edinburgh Guide
“4 Stars!”
“Writing an entire play in Elizabethan pentameter is a risky task but David Mence’s script seamlessly leads on from the first instalment”
“This chainsaw wielding Macbeth is worth seeing”
The List, August 2006
The Board
Artistic Director: David Mence
Founding Director David Mence has recently been granted 1 of 8 annual State Library of Victoria Creative Fellowships. In early 2007 he also spent 6 weeks in Sydney working as assistant to renowned director Marion Potts on the Bell Shakespeare production of Othello. David was the writer/director of WWT’s Edinburgh Fringe Festival hit production, Macbeth Re-Arisen (2006). In 2007 David participated in the ‘24-Hour Play Generator’ for the Emerging Writers Festival and will be a panellist and presenter in the Young Writer’s Festival in Newcastle. David has also worked extensively with Fancy Fish Theatre, Platform Youth Theatre and Union House Theatre.
Managing Director: Kelly Farrow
Founding Director Kelly Farrow has been Producer and Managing Director of WWT since 2004. She is also currently a Judge’s Associate at the Supreme Court of Victoria and in 2008 will become a legal aid lawyer. Kelly gained the top Political Science Honours result at the ANU in 2005 while studying there on an ANU Honours Scholarship and has been involved in community projects and not-for-profit organisations around Melbourne for the past 5 years. Kelly has been involved at a production level with numerous Melbourne theatre projects and in 2006 she won the Universal Arts award for ‘Best Producer’ at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Financial Manager: Jules Malseed-Harris
Commerce/Economics Honours graduate Jules is currently an analyst working in the Capital Markets and Alternative Investments divisions of MFS Ltd. He also tutors a few evening classes in commerce at The University of Melbourne; is an Executive Member of the Debater's Association of Victoria; is the Treasurer of the Melbourne University Water Polo Club; and is an active volunteer with the State Emergency Services of Victoria.
Publicity Manager: Peter Van Der Merwe
Peter is currently a Cultural Studies Masters scholar at the University of Melbourne. He is an experienced actor, photographer, graphic designer and publicist. In late 2006 he single-handedly created and publicised the critically acclaimed photographic exhibition ‘Mangina’ (Brunswick Street Gallery). Peter has also published scholarly articles in a number of academic journals and cultural studies publications. Peter has been involved in WWT since 2004.
Web Manager: Richard Pettifer
Richard is a filmmaker, writer, website manager, actor and director. He is heavily involved in Melbourne’s theatre and film scene, recently acting in plays such as Europe (Sit Up Front, 2007), Working (Union House Theatre, 2006), and The Fire Raisers (UHT 2007). He is currently writing and directing a short film called The Lan Party and SparkleMotion’s L’Australie cabaret in the 2007 Melbourne Fringe Festival, and will be Assistant Director to Susie Dee for UHT’s upcoming production White With Wire Wheels. Richard was integral part of the Macbeth Re-Arisen team, acting and filming a short promotional trailer.
Production Manager: Brooke Antulov
Brooke is a VCA trained actor and filmmaker who performs regularly in Melbourne theatre productions. In her spare time, she works as a children’s talent recruiter for Bambini Talent, a division of the Artist and Entertainment Group. She is Secretary and Producer of Tangible Productions and served as publicist of various Melbourne Comedy Festival events in 2007. Brooke was crucial to the Edinburgh success of Macbeth Re-Arisen, acting and supporting the cast and crew.
General Managers: Adelle Lin & Michelle Edwards
Michelle is a costumer, seamstress and veterinary nurse. She is an experienced stagehand, performer and production crew member and has worked with WWT since its inception in a supportive role.
Adelle is a Mining and Resources Market Analyst in Credit Suisse Investments. She completed Masters of Commerce and Economics at the University of Melbourne where she also trained as an Actuary. Adelle has for many years been President of the Melbourne University Taikwondo Club.