Once Were Pirates
Premiered at Melbourne Fringe Festival 2014
Presented by Darebin Arts Speakeasy
Shane and Gareth used to be pirates. Now they are stuck in the real world, trying to figure out how to live. A tale of two bad men trying to make good.
Audience Quotes:
'Just wanted to drop you all a note saying thank you and congratulations for last night. I thoroughly enjoyed it and loved the fresh, Beckett-esque interpretations of swashbuckling anti-heroes. '
'Hey me hearties...Loved your show! ... it evoked in me the early days of Carlton. The days of Pram and Dickens. Beautiful.'
'Thoroughly enjoyed this clever 2 hander. Recommended.'
'Congratulations on your amazing play. I absolutely loved Once Were Pirates. It is still under my skin.'
AWARDS
Highly Commended: Best Emerging Writer Award Melbourne Fringe Festival 2014
Shortlisted: EdFringe'17 'Derek Award - BEST INTERNATIONAL ACT
Written by Emilie Collyer
Premiere Season 2014
Darebin Arts Speakeasy and Melbourne Fringe, 2014
Actors: Ben Clements and James Cook
Director: Daniel Czech
Dramaturgy: Bridget Balodis
Set design: Alexandra Hiller
Costume design: Rebecca Dunn
Lighting design: Steve Hendy
Sound design: Nick McCorriston
Image: Lachlan Woods
Design: Lliam Amor
OTHER SEASONS
Th'Unguarded Duncan, Prague Fringe, 2024
Th'Unguarded Duncan, Bard’s Apothecary (Melbourne), 2024
Reviews and Media
Watch Trailer
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“Once Were Pirates is a unique exploration of societal norms where the darkly comic humour is set against complex, serious, matters.” - Tulpa Magazine
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“This is a rollicking, swashbuckling, thought-provoking story of survival, strength, and grace.” - Barry Lenny, Broadway World
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“This well written black comedy offers a bit of everything, from poetry to music to sea shanties and around it is wrapped a layer of social comment.” - Andrew O’Grady, The Advertiser
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“This is not belly laugh comedy. More a smile on the face as little rewards lurking below the surface of the surreal script float to the top” - Adrian Millar, The Clothesline
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“It's a genuinely laugh-out-loud funny performance.”
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- Tim Ferguson
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“Emilie Collyer's script is wonderful. The set design is clever, the costuming spot-on. There is nothing letting the team down here. Every aspect of this show works together to create something special. Once Were Pirates is a terrific piece of theatre that will leave you thinking about it long after you leave your seat.” - Elyce Phillips, Squirrel Comedy
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“The show is very entertaining, funny in its dark comedy ... leaves the audience with questions of humanity and the makeup of our divided society.” - Melbourne. Arts. Fashion.
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“A genuinely interesting take on modern life, and what it means for work, humanity and pirates” - TheatrePress
Images: Sarah Walker