With an absurd opening, a comedic second act and a tragic ending, set to a musical soundtrack, the Papermoon 2008 season defies cliche as it really does have something for everyone.

Papermoon – the official theatre company of the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences – is an outlet for the professional practice of the drama department’s staff and students. The 2008 season was launched by the company’s first life member and former Canberra Times arts editor Helen Musa at the ANU Arts Centre.

The season kicked off on 3 April with An Absurd Double Bill, featuring Eugene Ionesco’s The Lesson and The Bald Soprano directed by Bec Clifford and Cathie Clelland. The double bill has been positively received so far according to the Ethel Tory Head of Drama, Tony Turner. The playsrun at the ANU Arts Centre until 12 April.

In August Bec Clifford will direct William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, the company’s sixth play by the Bard in its 18 year history. Before the season closes with the ancient tragedy Medea by Euripides in November, Papermoon will stage two co-produced musicals – Pink Floyd’s The Wall with SUPA Productions and A Chorus Line with Phoenix Players in May and July respectively.

The company will also host the Australian National Theatre Directors Conference in September. This will be the second time the University has hosted the conference which aims to engage professional directors, aspiring directors and academics in dialogue and practical exercises about a range of issue faced in theatre practice.

Alongside the Papermoon mainstage season, the graduate student arm of the company Moonlight, will present a season of 20th century American playwrights including David Mamet’s Oleanna and Edward Albee’s The Goat: or, Who is Sylvia?. The two productions follow a successful run of Sam Shepherd’s True West last month.

“Papermoon has always seen itself as a theatre company that has the ability to provide an intellectual stimulus to the Canberra community,” Tony said. “Other theatre companies find it impossible to present the great classics because there doesn’t seem to be a large enough audience to support them.

“As a university-based company we believe we have a responsibility to provide high-quality classic theatre not just to inform and stimulate the students in the Drama department but in the wider community as well. And so I’m delighted with the 2008 season that includes Shakespeare and a Greek tragedy. Great theatre is food for the soul.”

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