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kate Mclennan

About Me

Kate will debut her hew show "Dead River" for the 2009 Melbourne Fringe Festival at the Storeroom from September 29th.

Press info:
Pregnant Goldfish Productions presents
Dead River
Written by Kate McLennan
In 2006 Kate McLennan won the Melbourne Fringe Best Comedy Award and the Most Outstanding Newcomer for her critically acclaimed one-woman show “The Debutante Diaries.” She returns with her new ensemble play “Dead River” for this year’s Melbourne Fringe.
Dead River tells the tale of Janie and Rachel, two young girls growing up in a small country town. Life in Dead River is typified by freedom, innocence and one Enid Blyton-esque adventure after another. But when the girls stumble upon the body of a dead man in their ‘magical forest,’ their idyllic life takes a darker turn. Their Mum and Dad keep arguing and when Mum threatens to leave Dead River for good, the girls put themselves in un-for-told danger to change their Mum’s mind.
Dead River is a little story about a little family told by a little girl, where the realities of a big bad world are always knocking at the door. We can’t always protect our children, but sometimes a fish stick dinner and a bedtime story can do the world of good.
This is a semi-autobiographical work by writer Kate McLennan, inspired by her time growing up in a small country town in Victoria’s western district, but also her recent stint touring to small regional areas with her one-woman show “The Debutante Diaries.” Dead River may seem like a departure into darker territory for Kate, but as always, she manages to invest her characters with joy, humour and tragedy in equal measure.
Dead River will be performed as part of the Melbourne Fringe Festival at The Storeroom. The cast includes Brett Swain (Dirtgame, Underbelly, Neighbours, Shane Warne: The Musical,) Emma Leonard (Very Small Business, Wicked Science,) Helen McFarlane and Kate McLennan. The show will be directed by Fiona Harris (Comedy Inc & Skithouse)
Listing Information
Dead River by Kate McLennan
The Storeroom – Corner St Georges Rd & Scotchmer St, North Fitzroy
Sep 29th – October 10th 8.15 (no show Mondays)
Tickets: $21 Full / $18 Conc. / Tuesday & Preview $15 / $18 Group
Bookings through www.melbournefringe.com.au or phone (03) 9660 9666
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2009 Logies - Road to Gold &035;1 (ABC)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dghC9I15Z4


2009 Logies - Road to Gold &035;2 (Seven)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QpE6wj0YdLc
2009 Logies: Road to Gold &035;4 (Ten)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YWxIssDRxY

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Information on The Debutante Diaries
The Debutante Diaries takes audiences back to their High School days, where the scent of Impulse deodorant and decomposing sandwiches still linger in the air; as Kate plays a range of debzillas hilariously navigating their way through adolescence. Experience first love, first kisses and first boob jobs all over again - you’ll cringe and cry at the gut wrenching honesty but ultimately laugh because it’s not happening to you! A “Mean Girls” meets “Carrie” comedy from this critically acclaimed actress.
Firmly rooted in Australian Suburbia; The Debutante Diaries hilariously and at times poignantly, depicts the stories of 9 characters, as Kate slips effortlessly between roles. The audience are introduced to the dubious Deb organiser, Mr. “Call me Guy” Gerrity, who is trying to top last year's controversially themed 'Burlesque Deb'. They meet the manic perfectionist, Chrystelle with her ‘Fairytale Deb’ scrap book and the school Bitch & Beauty Queen, Stacey, kindly takes us through her beauty regime…“Monday is hair straightening, Tuesday tanning, Wednesday waxing and then on Thursday Mum and I get colonically instigated.” But it's the character of Sophie, with her painfully honest and touching diary entries, who takes us back to our own High School days where we were all just kids trying desperately to find our place.
Kate McLennan made her stage debut as a flower girl in the 1984 Mortlake Rotary Club Debutante Ball, since then she has worked consistently within the Melbourne fringe theatre and comedy scenes, performing her trademark characters to critical acclaim. Kate appeared on Let Loose Live (Seven Network) and as a regular sketch performer on Vulture (ABC TV.)
The Debutante Diaries is directed by Fiona Harris, cast member of long running sketch comedy Skithouse. Fiona is currently filming the 5th series of Comedy Inc. Kate will be staging The Debutante Diaries in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival at the Gilded Balloon - see this link for show details and bookings http://www.gildedballoon.co.uk/2007/fringe_show_details.php? show_ID=553
“A winner…A very big talent” The Age
* * * * “Warm, funny, and surprisingly moving, McLennan’s show is a definite winner.” THE SKINNY FEST - Edinburgh
"Her comic timing is spot on...McLennan gives each of her characters a zinging personality” The Stage - UK
“really hysterical…I’m still laughing... McLennan has it totally under control” BEAT Magazine
“had me absolutely howling with laughter... McLennan is a master at transformation” Aussietheatre.com
“This is a great show which goes from gut wrenchingly funny to sweetly sad” The Groggy Squirrel
“Kate McLennan is simply hilarious. This show is an absolute gem, and not to be missed.” SA Theatre Guide
“The script was incredible... make time to check out her show. You won't regret it.” Adelaide Advertiser
The Debutante Diaries is currently being produced by Blackbird Productions. If you would like to know more information about booking the show for your venue or festival please email [email protected] Team behind The Debutante Diaries...
Written and performed by Kate McLennan.
Thankyou to the following people who have helped on the Deb Diaries journey so far...
Directed - Fiona Harris
Melbourne Fringe and Comedy Festival season produced by - Amanda Mannion (The Six & Pregnant Goldfish Productions) Edinburgh Fringe season produced by The Gilded Balloon.
Sound Production - Myles Mumford
Hair and Make-up - Hilary Finch
Poster and Flyer Design - Josh Cameron
Photographer - James Penlidis Adelaide remount feedback friend - the amazing Dan Tobias
DVD produced and edited by Katrina Mathers (Longshot TV)
2007 Melbourne Comedy Festival season filmed by Richard Di Gregorio
Thankyou to Leila for her wonderful lighting and sound operating in Adelaide (whose lovely notes have made it easy for every-one else to follow so far)
And a special thank-you to Wes Snelling, Casey Bennetto, Mike McLeish and the Drowsies for performing at 'Kate's Demolition Deb Fundraiser'. A loving thank-you to Ben Hendry - who has been part of the process from the beginning when I decided to write the show to impress the socks off him.

My Blog

Speak Woman Carlton Mid Ad - full length

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_RqrdRqAr1Q
Posted by on Mon, 29 Sep 2008 20:54:00 GMT

The Enthusiasts and The Laugh-a-Long

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Posted by on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 21:18:00 GMT

The year is winding up....

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Rollercoaster

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Posted by on Mon, 23 Apr 2007 03:24:00 GMT

DOWN THE GARDEN PATH WITH DEB DIARIES

Hello Myspace land! So I am over here in Adelaide with The Debutante Diaries having a lovely time. The show is going really well - blessed to have some great people who have helped me along the way - ...
Posted by on Sun, 25 Mar 2007 22:00:00 GMT

Adelaide Season

So after a false start on the Adelaide front I can now confirm that I will be performing "The Debutante Diaries" in the Adelaide Fringe in Strut 'n' Fret's venue The Garden Shed in the fabulous Garden...
Posted by on Tue, 06 Feb 2007 16:52:00 GMT