Writing For Performance
In 2017 I adapted my novel The Incredible Here and Now for stage with the guidance and support of Riverside’s National Theatre of Parramatta where it premiered. I’ve done a lot of writing for dance performances since then, primarily in collaboration with Emma Saunders, Form Dance Theatre and We Are Here Company. I wrote the words for the incredibly joyous and fierce work, Encounter which premiered at The Four Winds Festival in 2019, then travelled to The Sydney Festival in 2020 , onto The Opera House in 2022 and then to The Open Fields Festival in Berry and The Bleach Festival on The Gold Coast in 2023. I’ve written text that accompanied pieces by We Are Here Company for The Parramatta Lanes Festival and Radical Transparency for The Riverside Theatres.
I’ve recently finished writing What is the City But The People for The Sydney Opera House’s 50th birthday. This work involved me interviewing over 100 people and weaving their stories into a piece that tells the story of our complex, joyous, heartbreaking city. You can watch a recording of the show here.
I’ve also written radio scripts for The ABC..
I didn’t write the stage version of Girls In Boys’ Cars but I loved the adaptation by Priscilla Jackman.
images on this page are by Heidrun Lohr
videography on this page is by Dominic O’Donnell
What Is The City But The People?
Sydney Opera House (2023)
A unique portrait of Sydney created by its people, showcasing the story, sentiments and soul of the city. Raised above the forecourt, citizens walk a 60 metre catwalk backed by live music, projected photographs and text. Read more about it here. Read a review here.
Encounter
Sydney Opera House (2022), The Sydney Festival (2020), The Four Winds Festival (2019). Read more about it here. Read a review here.
“ENCOUNTER demonstrated the best of humanity. The whole experience was a huge achievement and added to the notion that art can change the world, lift us up and give us a positive view of the community we inhabit.”
Wesley Enoch, Sydney Festival, Artistic Director, (2017-2021)
We Are Here Company
I wrote the text that appeared on a series of videos choreographed by Emma Saunders and produced for The Parramatta Laneways Festival 2020. The text is based on interviews I did with the dancers about their interiror and extertiror lives. These were played on larger screens all around The City of Parramatta. I also wrote the accompanying text for their show Radical Transparency which you can read more about HERE.
The Incredible Here and Now
In 2017 I worked with The National Theatre of Parramatta to adapt my novel The Incredible Here and Now to stage. It was directed by Jeneffa Soldatic and Wayne Harrison. You can buy the script from Currency Press.
Reviews:
If you wish to stage this play the theatrical rights are agented by David Spicer Productions
Girls In Boys’ Cars
I didn’t write this one!
Priscilla Jackman did and it was amazing and beautiful and all the right things. The stage adaptation was commissioned by The National Theatre of Parramatta, Riverside.
CAST
Ziggy Resnick, Nikita Waldron, Suz Mawer, Ella Prince, Alex Stamell
CREDITS
Writer Felicity Castagna
Director & Adapter Priscilla Jackman
Associate Director Lucy Clements
Production Designer Melanie Liertz
Sound Designer Zac Saric
Lighting Designer Morgan Moroney
Multimedia Designer Mark Bolotin
Dramaturg Brittanie Shipway
Production Associate Hannah Crane
Stage Manager Jaime Petersen
Fight Choreographer Tim Dashwood
Intimacy Coordinator Bayley Turner
