Angels with Dirty Faces

“The authenticity of the language is achieved effortlessly… the story is engrossing… particularly strong performances…” Anna Lozynski, Australian Stage Online

“Thoroughly entertaining… outstanding performances… a realism often not seen…” Chris Lilley, ABC TV

Directed by NIDA graduate Morgan Dowsett, and featuring Australian stars Andre Devanny, Deniz Akdeniz and Benjamin Schmideg Angels with Dirty Faces was captured live during the George Fairfax Studio season on high definition film.  

Edited excerpts of the compelling play will be broadcast as projection theatre, internationally for the first time, during the 2010 Fringe Festival Praha.  The projected video presentation will give the audience a sense for the work in an Australian mainstage production.

Speaking directly to adolescent and young adult audiences, Angels with Dirty Faces deals with issues of isolation and alienation felt by young people for diverse reasons, including sexuality and ethnicity, peer, family, and personal pressure.  The themes are explored through the story of six students from an elite Australian private school, as they celebrate a birthday at the famed Australian beach resort of Portsea.

Nominated for a Louis Esson Prize for Drama, Angels with Dirty Faces was the first main stage production by 9minds.  Recognised in their home country for producing gritty new Australian work, 9minds aim is to bring their productions to an international audience through projection theatre at performing arts venues around the world.

9minds´ projection theatre pilot season began in 2010 with broadcasts in Melbourne.  The 2010 Fringe Festival Praha will be 9minds and Angels with Dirty Faces´ international debut.  

“We are incredibly excited by the opportunity Steven Gove, Carole Wears, Giles Burton and the 2010 Fringe Festival Praha team have given us,” says 9minds director Daniel Goodfellow.  “Projection theatre has brought our work to wider and more varied audiences than we could ever have imagined when we started our company, giving a sense for the work in a mainstage production.   It has been invaluable in developing our theatre work and reputation.”