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Scones with Nana

Scones with Nanna 2022

The play starts when two sisters arrive at the front of Nana’s house. Well, no, the story starts nearly 200 years before hand. The sisters believe that they have brought disgrace upon the family, that is until they hear Nanna’s story. 

It is designed to be a site-specific work for 3 to five actors for an audience of 20 about people maximum, to be performed in a workers cottage, set in Fremantle WA over nearly 200 years. It will be a combination of multi-media, live performance, scone making and scone eating. It is an honest and humorous look at a family’s secrets. Secrets of prostitution, venereal disease, poverty, domestic violence, stolen generation, and hidden Aboriginal heritage. While it is set mostly in the 70’s when people were still getting their head around effective birth control and women’s growing independence, it refers back to the time when the swan River Colony was a few years old.

Worn Art

Worn Art poster

The 14 years that were Worn Art.

Gwen was approached by a friend who came from Nelson New Zealand who had a great idea. To do a costume event that would rival the New Zealand World of Wearable Art event. The idea was just too big to take on board. She managed to avoid the subject for another two years until the friend Barbara Richards, caught her at a weak moment in 1989 and she agreed to give it a go. The event grew into an extravaganza that had enormous support from the community and around Australia. It was decided to discontinue the event after 2011 as it had become too big and unsustainable. 
Some people went into mourning. Gwen met a 13 year old skate boarder who told her “Ï think it really sucks that there’s no more Worn Art!”

Worn Art has been rebranded to Worn Art Revamped. It can be found at Theatre Kimberley Worn Art Revamped.

Staircase to the Moon

Staircase to the Moon Poster

Based on the children’s book of the same name by Indigenous local author Bronwyn Houston, Gwen Knox is writer director of the play. The story is inspired by the natural phenomenon of the staircase to the moon where the moon reflects on the mudflats at low tide on Roebuck Bay, Broome.

The great music written by local, famous Indigenous musician Lorrae Coffin

The play features articulated boab and frangipani costumes by the very clever puppeteer Karen Hethey. There are a large number of puppets that have been developed in workshops with the amazing Sandy McKendrick and the in workshops with young performers who make up the large ensemble of puppeteers and dancers. Gwen Knox created the three main characters puppets.

  • 2012 performers Jub Clerc, Neil Turner, Tahya Jamieson, Maeve Driffle, Musical Director and composer Lorrae Coffin, band members 
    Ralph Bermann, Toby Prewitt , Steve Angoorly.
  • 2014 performers: Ninian Donald, Susie Quicke, Wenonah Cardenas, Dale Kelly. Musical accompanist Rob Pascoe. 
  • Artists working on the project: puppets by Sandra McKendrick, Karen Hethey, Gwen Knox , Choreography by Claudia Alessi, Design and construction Chris Hill, Lighting Andrew Chambers and Rick Turner

A Ship of Dreams

A Ship of Dreams

A Musical Drama for Children

Written by by Mary Durack, With Music by June Fitzgerald, Adapted by Gwen Knox 2008, musical director Damion Watkiss. 
Gwen performed in the original production in 1968. She was thrilled to be able to adapt and direct the 2008 production.

When this play was first performed in 1968 it was a major event in the town. Civic fathers decided it would be good to have a regular event to help create a tourist industry. And Shinju Matsuri was born. 
Many of the original cast went on to pursue and have very successful careers in the arts.

Photos by Leon Meade Photography 

Starring: Stephen Baamba Albert, Rohanna Angas, Mark Cole-Smith, Craig Marvel, Lesley Marsh.