Di Smith "Peeled"

PEELED reviewed Adelaide 2010. Now for 2011...

2011-02-13T19:25:00.000-08:00

In 2010 “PEELED” played Adelaide, Moruya ( NSW) and Darwin .

We're up for more ...

Reviewed in the Sunday Mail , Adelaide 28/02/10

Di Smith delivers three contrasting ladies from three different walks of life in this solo triple threat.

Anyone who comes for steaming flesh with discover assured acting as Smith reminds us what a versatile performer she is.

Cathy Strickland has created a coarse carny lady called irene, well worded former English Department head called Maureen and a defensive netball coach called Alsion who looks to score on dating sites.

Smith peels back their fading lives and reveals their inner battles for respect .redemption and a better future, with good humour and some harsh home truths.

Matt Byrne

NT News Talks "Peeled"

2010-10-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

Undressed to impress

NADJA HAINKE

September 24th, 2010

THE audience is advised to wear its best underwear for this show - it may just be Peeled.

The makers of the psychological burlesque promise the performance is full of black comedy, deftly delivered one-liners, songs and some "punch in the guts twists".

"You too will be peeled," they say.

Peeled tells the story of three women from three different walks of life - Irene has been travelling with a circus for years; school teacher Maureen has become hooked on dating sites and Alison suffers from Alzheimer's.

Solo artist Di Smith has taken on the challenging task of playing all three "larger-than-life characters".

She says the women are in their 50s but aren't what they seem to be.

"The audience is not expecting what it gets," she says.

Smith never leaves the stage to get changed.

The successful actress, who has performed for theatre powerhouses including the Sydney Theatre Company, MTC Malthouse, State Theatre Company of South Australia and Royal Queensland Theatre Company, undresses from the inside out in a bid to peel back the fading lives of the three characters.

The veils keep on dropping.

But Smith says: "It's not a strip show. I'm not a spring chicken any more. I still wear a slip."

Smith is best known as Alex Fraser in A Country Practice and as a presenter for The Great Outdoors on Channel Seven.

Film credits include Muriel's Wedding, Emoh Ruo and Charlie and Boots, and she was Anna in the Darlinghurst Theatre production Boston Marriage, performed at the Mardi Grass Festival in 2007.

Psychological burlesque is a new genre for the versatile actress, and it's a challenging one to play, she says.

"It's quite an undertaking, but it's fantastic," she says.

"There is a real dialogue with the audience. It's not like I'm talking to another actor."

Peeled, directed by Drew Fairley and written by Cathy Strickland, will run at Brown's Mart Theatre from September 30 until October 2 at 7pm. Entry costs $20 for adults and $15 for concession.

Peeled for Brown's Mart ,4 performances only, Darwin Sept 30-Oct 2 2010

2010-07-18T02:42:00.000-07:00

PRESS PLAY to VIEW TRAILER>

Tickets on sale now at

www.brownsmart.com.au

2010-06-07T17:00:00.000-07:00

The night was cold but the audience was warm and the laughter was long. The new joke was that the event was made carbon neutral by Eurobodalla Shire Council neglecting to check the gas heating before the festival began......

It didn't matter - 'Peeled' was apparently the talk of the town .

2010-05-13T18:12:00.000-07:00

"Peeled" to open River of Art Festival May 22 2010

2010-02-27T16:08:00.000-08:00

After a warm response to the showcase season at the Adelaide FRINGE , "Peeled" has been invited to open the "River of Art" Festival in Moruya, NSW .

The production will perform on the first Saturday evening of the festival in a 400 seat auditorium.

The company is planning several regional dates later in 2010/2011.

Adelaide FRINGE Season Extended

2010-02-15T16:23:00.000-08:00

SEASON EXTENDED

extra performance SUNDAY 28Feb @ 4.30 pm

"PEELED" at APAM

2010-02-09T15:29:00.000-08:00

Frantically FRINGE and GO for APAM...

We will be attending the Australian Performing Arts Market in Adelaide in conjunction with our season at the The Arch, Holden Street Theatres, 34 Holden St , Hindmarsh.

With this gem of a production in our pocket ( and the outline of the full length version of the work which will include musicians) we hope to excite more than a few venue managers, promoters and possible co producers .

2011 should see "PEELED" playing in several venues. With the compact nature of the production , along with Di Smith's profile among Australian audiences , we believe we have an attractive business proposition for regional and urban promoters.

More soon.......

Writer- Cathryn Strickland

2010-02-07T18:40:00.000-08:00

Cathryn Strickland- writer "PEELED"

Cathy has worked for over fifteen years in television as a researcher, script editor and writer. Her credits include G.P., Pacific Drive, Medivac, Children’s Hospital, House Gang, Murder Call, All Saints and McLeod’s Daughters.

More recently Cathy co- wrote and produced with her husband, Tim Pye, the film “Emerald Falls” for the Ten Network .

"A Change of Routine" was commissioned for The Kangaroo Valley, Arts in the Valley Festival. This work, also performed by Di Smith, was the beginning of the development of "Peeled"

Cathy is currently working on an original drama ideas for the South Australian Film Corporation, and will be attending the premiere of 'Peeled' at the Adelaide FRINGE 2010

2010-02-03T21:32:00.000-08:00

DREW FAIRLEY -DIRECTOR

"Peeled"by Cathy Strickland

Drew has spent the last fifteen years working as an actor, writer, singer, director and puppeteer both in Australia and abroad. He was the artistic Director of THROTTLE Theatre Company. Whilst in THROTTLE drew co-wrote and performed in several physical theatre pieces including Mongrel- The Prince of Denmark, which received the New York International Fringe Festival Award for excellence in both Comedy and Drama.

He has worked for Wee Stories and The Edinburgh Puppet Company (UK) La Boite Noir (France). And in Australia, REM theatre Co (The Mystery of the Horned Dog), Theatre Kantanka (The Eye), Nerve Shell (White Collar Project), White Rhino (Madem Moiselle Fi Fi), Whoosh (A Day in the Death of Joe Egg) as well as touring and performing with Kate Smith in Bangers and Mash and The No Chance in Hell Hotel. Drew and Kate are completed the third of their comedies called The Itch for Merrigong Theatre Company.

Beyond his writing relationship with Kate Smith Drew has also written The Golden Mullet (Philadelphia USA, Melbourne, Sydney) and The Stallion of Death (Darlinghurst Theatre Company). He has also written three short films and has completed a first draft TV Series.

2010-02-02T02:03:00.000-08:00

photo by Gigson Nolte www.gibsonnolte.com

DI SMITH appearing in "PEELED"

ADELAIDE FRINGE FESTIVAL, SA, AUSTRALIA

Well known from TV’s The Great Outdoors and the long running series ‘A Country Practice” , Di Smith is looking forward to spending time in Adelaide again with “Peeled “ at the Holden St Theateres for this years FRINGE Fesival. Apart from the many trips down to SA over recent years filming stories for Great Outdoors, Di has a long theatrical history with our city. She first toured here in 1980 with the David Holman play “No Worries” and toured it with Magpie Theatre down the The York Peninsula , where the story of the play was based. It then went on to Melbourne and Sydney and eventually was made into a feature film. Di also played the Festival Centre with productions such as “A Month of Sundays” with Ron Hadrick , “Two Weeks with the Queen” and David Williamson’s “Money and Friends” . Always a big fan of Adelaide ( and the restaurants ) she is keen to visit old and new favourite places here over Festival time and will be catching up with old friends over some fine SA wines.

2010-02-02T01:44:00.000-08:00

photo by Hugh Stewart

"PEELED"

by Cathy Strickland

@ The Arch , Holden St Theatres,

Adelaide FRINGE Festival

Feb 21-27 2010

Book through FringeTIX 1300FRINGE (1300 374 643)

www.adelaidefringe.com.au

(Booking Fees Apply)

Holden Street Theatres 34 Holden Street Hindmarsh

NEXT TO SOCCER STADIUM (Free Parking)

Written with Di Smith in mind , part of this production was very successfully performed for Arts in the Valley Festival 2009 (Kangaroo Valley NSW)

Di is well known from a successful and varied acting career in Australian theatre with The Sydney Theatre Company, MTC Malthouse, State Theatre Company of South Australia, Royal Queensland Theatre Company, musical theatre and commercial productions.

On the small screen she is best known and much loved as Alex Fraser in A Country Practice and as presenter on The Great Outdoors on Network Seven. Film credits include "Muriel's Wedding", “ Emoh Ruo " and " Charlie and Boots “ For the Darlinghurst Theatre she was Anna in “Boston Marriage” for the Mardi Gras Festival 2007 , was extremely naughty as the Widow in Drew Fairley's "Stallion of Death"( 2008) and last year played Joan in “Love Song” by American playwright John Kolvenbach.

This premiere showcase season of "Peeled " returns her to Adelaide with this black comedy by Cathy Strickland , written specifically for her, an enviable position for any actor.

Cabaret and theatre performer, writer and director Drew Fairley is familiar to lovers of comedy bizarre -most recently the national tours of “Last Chance in Hell Hotel”. “Bangers and Mash” and “The Stallion of Death” at Darlinghurst Theatre, Sydney.

Cathy Strickland is a successful screen writer who has had a long association with , and a great love of, the theatre . Credits include Emerald Falls,G.P., Pacific Drive, Medivac, Children’s Hospital, House Gang, Murder Call, All Saints and McLeod’s Daughters.

The characters of "Peeled" create the genre of 'psychological burlesque' with style , gusto and some shocking detail.

Di Smith in "Peeled" by Cathy Strickland. Holden St Theatres, Adelaide FRINGE Festival Feb 21-27 2010

2009-12-28T17:51:00.000-08:00

"PEELED"

by Cathy Strickland.

Directed by

Drew Fairley

Feeling

naked isn’t

necessarily

about

clothes....

photo by Gibson Nolte
www.gibsonnolte.com