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Cosmic Players Information
1996 First launch
Launching our first production in 1996 with the full-length play, The Meeting Place, Cosmic Players Theatre is a professionally run, indie theatre and has gone on to produce many one-act and full-length plays. Generous support from many fellow artisans has assisted the growth and success of Cosmic Players Theatre, winning awards, and gaining friends and audience supporters since 1996.
Brealey's debut launch into writing and producing for the theatre came in the guise of his first full-length play, The Meeting Place as part of the 1996 Melbourne Fringe Festival. New York Broadway choreographer and actor, Matt West was the sole financial supporter.
The Meeting Place was a critical and public success with Ralph McLean from radio station 3RRR critiquing the play as: “The Meeting Place was a simple even old-fashioned story of family and loss. I rarely cry in the theatre - at least for emotional reasons - but there I was enjoying some new talent. And I was bawling, with the joy of it and of the magic of a good yarn well put, the tears running down my cheeks like a bloody baby.” The play was selected by the Board and Staff of the Melbourne Fringe and Awards Judges, awarding it a Special Recommendation Award.
Next came, Three Shorts produced at Melbourne’s Workhouse Theatre. Three Shorts comprised of three self-contained plays: ‘Disturbing Mavis’, ‘The Stair’ and ‘Champagne Ladies’. Once again, critical and public reaction to the work was favourable, with ‘Champagne Ladies’ singled out for particular praise: “With Three Shorts, Darren Brealey has written an eclectic mixture of observations that manage, somehow, to connect … with the satirical ‘Champagne Ladies’ definitely my favourite” (Stage Whispers Magazine).
Disturbing Mavis and The Mechanics were produced in Singapore as part of the Short+Sweet Singapore Festival; Disturbing Mavis winning the People’s Choice Award in the Top 30 Week 1 section. Spring was produced in Malaysia as part of the Short+Sweet Malaysia Festival.
The staged production of Performing The Goat containing four one-act plays: 'Country Relations', 'A Couple Of S.N.A.Gs.', 'The Mechanics' and 'The Chicks' was performed at the Melbourne Fringe Festival. The production was strong and gained positive audience reactions and critical comments: “Darren Brealey delivers four humorous and often terrifyingly accurate portrayals … four short plays that capture colloquial Aussie stereotypes and presents them with hilarious accuracy” (Buzz Cuts).
Shattered Reflection, a full-length play opened at the Guild Theatre. Shattered Reflection, is a most confronting and controversial piece of theatre tackling the serious problem of white-collar addiction to alcohol and drugs. Zachary Lurje, Arts Journalist wrote: “Writer, Darren Brealey, is to be commended for such well-drawn and developed characters. The strength of Shattered Reflection comes in these interesting characters that you can relate to” (Buzz Cuts).
Comfort Zone followed, co-written with playwright and friend, Stuart Pursell, its comical and diverse theatrical topics had strong audience appreciation, and the production received rave critical acclaim: “Comfort Zone has delivered a rare piece of new theatre that is hilariously self-referential and thematically bold” (BNews).
Separating The Dust, a poignant and controversial 45-minute one-act play competed in the Victorian Drama League One Act Play festivals causing the play to be banned from two festivals, receiving three radio interviews (one with Fiona Banks on ABC Country Radio), three front page news articles, a swag of nominations at most festivals and winning three awards; Best Production at the 16th Dandenong Ranges One Act Play Festival and Best Male Actor at the Anglesea One Act Play Festival.
Live Performances
An eccentric and surreal comedy of impeccable manners and good taste. Ms Wilma Cruikshank, Mrs Carshalton and Mrs Zizou are Victorian ladies who lunch. Their menus have included the most exotic dishes from around the globe; however, their next culinary extravagance may prove a step too far…
This eccentric comedy about rather outstanding (if not dangerous) Victorian ladies is both a situational comedy and a biting social commentary. This play is unlike anything else seen before, despite the certain flavour of Oscar Wilde and the lighthearted lunacy that is reminiscent of writings by Lewis Carroll.
Based on the life of Wilma Cruikshank – an alumnus of Oxford University and a contemporary of Charles Darwin – she is remembered for being the first woman to pen a complete description of a fossilised dinosaur. This achievement is however over shadowed by accounts of her having eaten the shrunken heart of King Louis XII.
This footage contains a performance of No White Mongoose For Wilma as performed in the 2015 Black Box Festival, at Etcetera Theatre Camden, London with Helen Minassian, Angus Chisholm, Grace Cookey-Gam, Miranda Harrison and Daniel Osgood.
Day three of Lord Florien Thrust’s house party, thrown in honour of Fergus, his valium medicated dog, Lord Florien Thrust laments the death of his father via his dog, Fergus and loss of his one true love, Titiana during a hunting accident on the moor in pursuit of a particularly belligerent mallard. Disguised by a wig and suffering from narcolepsy, Titiana’s only wish is to escape from Gertrude, a misguided do-gooder for the lost and lonely whilst Lucinda Undercarriage schemes her plan to ensnarl Lord Thrust’s heart and fortune.
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Titiana can't find an unlocked door as she attempts her escape when she wakes up. Florien falls smitten for Titiana when she says she likes Fergus. Yet, there is a mystery to be unravelled, before Titiana falls victim to her Narcolepsy.
This footage contains a performance of Disturbing Mavis as performed in the 2004 Twenty-Four Hours, at the Monash Secondary College Theatre, Clayton North, Australia with Ross Ditcham, Chris Davis, Olivia Hogan and Juliet Hayday.
Set in a nursing home, this is a practical look at the subject of growing old and the not-so-attractive consequences. Mavis is a lonely soul who finds solidarity in comforting her husband, Alfred. She fills the boredom of her days by reading and engaging in one-sided arguments with an inert Alfred. When the Ambulance Officers arrive to take Alfred away, we discover the reason for Alfred’s inertia and witness Mavis’ frustration and helplessness.
Mavis and Alfred’s bedroom; in it is a chair and small table that sits down stage right. A two-seater settee and coffee table sit centre stage and another chair sit centre stage left, in front of an open fire. A small fire burns in the fireplace. Double doors to a hallway up centre stage and a window over looking the street, stage left. Alfred sits in front of the fireplace with his back facing the audience; a blanket covers his legs. A newspaper is draped over the arm of the chair. A red ambulance light reflects into the room, similar of that to a flashing sign or billboard.
This footage contains a performance of Disturbing Mavis as performed in the 2008 Short+Sweet Singapore Festival, at Esplanade Theatre Studio, Esplanade - Theatres on the Bay, Singapore with Loretta Chen.
