The Colours by Peter Houghton - Melbourne Online - Arts Business & Entertainment Guide

THE COLOURS

written and performed

From the brilliant mind of Peter Houghton, Melbourne Theatre

Company is pleased to present

The Colours

a one man show

by Peter Houghton

presented in the MTC Theatre,Lawler Studio

as part of MTC’s new Lawler Studio Program from

Wednesday 26 August until

Saturday 12 September.

It’s 1946 in the British colony of Batundi. Colour Sergeant Atkins of

the British Army has been left to guard the flag (The Colours) and

await further orders. But in the excitement of the post war world

the colony and Atkins have been forgotten. It’s time to pull down

the flag and say goodbye to the past.... but Atkins has other ideas.

A comedy about hanging on... and letting go.

The Colours

is the third in the trilogy of solo performances

conceived by Peter Houghton and Anne Browning including

The Pitch and The China Incident.

With a theatre career as an actor, director and writer, Peter

Houghton has appeared in MTC’s

The Female of the Species,Birthrights,Laughter on the 23rd Floor andSweet Bird of Youth.

Peter has directed Hinterland,The Recruit, and Explorations:Macbeth,

in which he also performed. His other MTC work includes

a Green Room award nominated performance in Misalliance and the co-direction of Artand Soul The Pitch

premiered at La Mama, before transferring to MalthouseTheatre,

winning Green Room awards for best new writing and

best performance and has to date played more than three hundred

performances in Australiaand the UKincluding sell out seasons at

Malthouse Theatre, Black Swan, Assembly Rooms Edinburghand Carpenters Gallery London.

The China Incident also enjoyed an extended season at Malthouse Theatre and hastoured extensively.

The Colours: Wed 26 Aug – Sat 12 Sep 2009

“... When a show really grabs me my mouth drops open and I don’t

scribble any notes... my mouth gaped, my eyes widened, I laughed

Tickets $30 - $35 (Under 30s $20)

out loud... This really is a marriage made in heaven.”

Kate Herbert, Herald Sun (The China Incident)

TICKETS ON SALE from Wed 10 Jun on

8688 0800 or at mtc.com.au

We asked Peter Houghton what it meant to be a part of the Lawler Studio’s first season:

“The Colours is certainly funny. It’s also touching as we see a man grapple withchange and loss. In the Lawler Studio it will have an intimacy and immediacy that will give MTC audiences a whole new experience. I’m thrilled that MTC is producing it in this season alongside some of Australia’smost

exciting theatrical voices.”

Peter Houghton

Director:

Anne Browning,

Set & Costume Designer:

Shaun Gurton,

Lighting Designer:

Richard Vabre,

Composer:

David Chesworth

For more information on MTC’s Lawler Studio Program call the

MTC on (03) 9684 4500 or visit mtc.com.au