'Shellshock is a love story. Granted, an unusual love story… between an Australian teenager and his mate Herman, a tortoise – the oldest living survivor of the Gallipoli campaign.
'When a newspaper article reveals the surprising identity of this last survivor, a mysterious woman from Turkey arrives at the Lindsay farm. Fourteen year old Tom, his father Jack, and feisty grandmother June, become embroiled in a drama that takes them to the other side of the world, in search of answers, and the true origin of Herman.
'Justin Fleming’s heartfelt and quirky new play features Turkish shadow puppets and a brilliant cast. Shellshock will be a highly entertaining and uplifting experience for young and not-so-young audiences, in the spirit of War Horse.
'Shellshock is a new play commissioned by Riverside Theatres.' (Production summary)
Presented by Riverside Theatres, Parramatta : 30 July - 8 August 2015
CAST
Yalin Ozucelik – Kazan/ Narrator/ Security Guard
Jack Finsterer – Matthew Lindsay/ Jack Lindsay
Francesca Savige – Nurse/ Adile Goymen/ Soldier
Benson Jack Anthony – Tom Lindsay
Sandy Gore – June Lindsay/ Old Soldier
Herman – Himself
CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Justin Fleming
Director – Wayne Harrison
Lighting Design – Matt Marshall
Sound Design – Nate Edmondson
Set and Costume Design – Anna Gardiner
Projection Design – Martin Kinnane
Puppet Creation and Performance – Sue Wallace
Model Maker – Hannah Crosby
Animatronic Tortoise – Creative NFX Workshop
Original Music by Joseph Tawadros
Played by Joseph Tawadros – Oud, James Tawadros – Req and Bendir, James Crabb – Accordian, James Grenning – Trombone, Matt McMahon – Piano, Dimitri Vouros – Clarinet, Ben Rodgers – Electric Bass
Producer – Camilla Rountree
Stage Manager – Alison Hepburn-Brown
Assistant Stage Manager – Shannyn Miller
Production Photography – Heidrun Löhr
Set Construction – Thomas Creative
Scenic Art – Pier Productions
Operations Manager – Linda Taylor
Technical Coordinator – Sean Clarke
Show Technician – Brooke Shelton