The Vegemite Tales
Encyclopedia
The Vegemite Tales is a comedy theatrical production written by Australian playwright Melanie Tait
. The play revolves around the lives of a group of young antipodeans sharing
a flat in London
. It has been described as an Australian stage version of Friends
. The name is taken from the iconic Australian food paste, Vegemite
.
The Vegemite Tales was first staged at The Curtain's Up, a small fringe theatre in west London in 2001. It was an overnight sell-out, finding enormous popularity with London's Australian, New Zealand
and South African communities.
Contemporary themes include living in a shared house, living in a city far away from home, dealing with different cultures and making the difficult decision to stop putting real life on hold and move back home.
In 2005 the show had a 12 week sell-out season at the Riverside Studios
, a London arts venue well known for its international theatre programme.
In 2006 the production made its successful West End
debut at The Venue (now The Leicester Square Theatre)
. That season featured Blair McDonough
(ex Neighbours
and Australian Big Brother).
In 2007 the production had its second West End season at The Venue
from 26 July to 27 October.
Other cast members have included Jonathon Dutton
, Sarah Hadland
, Rebecca Gethings
, Jessica Gerger, Josephine Taylor, Andy Leonard, Patrick Harvey
, Craig Rasmus, Tim Cove, Maxine Morrison, Priscilla Jackman, Sarah McGlade, Anna Skellern
, Dimity Harris, Christa Nicola, Spencer McLaren
, Billy Gentle, Felicity Jurd, Justin Segal, Louis Sanchez, Craig Giovanelli and Andrew William Robb.
The production has been directed by Melanie Tait (2001-2003) and Bill Buckhurst (2004-2007).
Over 60,000 people have seen The Vegemite Tales since it was first staged.
Melanie Tait
Melanie Tait is an Australian radio broadcaster, playwright and author.At 21 years of age she wrote the comedy theatrical production The Vegemite Tales, which has played in London over seven years including two on the West End - the play will be entering its eighth season in late 2010...
. The play revolves around the lives of a group of young antipodeans sharing
Share House
is a 2011 Japanese drama film directed by Ichirō Kita.-Cast:* Kazuko Yoshiyuki* Megumi Saeki* Miyoko Asada* Hana Kino* Tetsuya Makita...
a flat in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. It has been described as an Australian stage version of Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. The name is taken from the iconic Australian food paste, Vegemite
Vegemite
Vegemite is a dark brown Australian food paste made from yeast extract. It is a spread for sandwiches, toast, crumpets and cracker biscuits, and filling for pastries...
.
The Vegemite Tales was first staged at The Curtain's Up, a small fringe theatre in west London in 2001. It was an overnight sell-out, finding enormous popularity with London's Australian, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
and South African communities.
Contemporary themes include living in a shared house, living in a city far away from home, dealing with different cultures and making the difficult decision to stop putting real life on hold and move back home.
In 2005 the show had a 12 week sell-out season at the Riverside Studios
Riverside Studios
Riverside Studios is a production studio, theatre and independent cinema on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, England. It plays host to contemporary and international dramatic and dance performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production.-History:In 1933, the...
, a London arts venue well known for its international theatre programme.
In 2006 the production made its successful West End
West End theatre
West End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
debut at The Venue (now The Leicester Square Theatre)
The Venue Leicester Square
The Leicester Square Theatre , is a 420-seat studio theatre in Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster, London, which opened in 2002 with the premier of Boy George's Taboo. The building originated as the Notre Dame Hall in 1953, replacing an earlier building that had been destroyed by World...
. That season featured Blair McDonough
Blair McDonough
Blair McDonough is an actor who is best known for playing the role of Stuart Parker in the Australian TV soap opera Neighbours. He first shot to fame in 2001, when he finished runner-up in the inaugural season of the reality TV series Big Brother Australia...
(ex Neighbours
Neighbours
Neighbours is an Australian television soap opera first broadcast on the Seven Network on 18 March 1985. It was created by TV executive Reg Watson, who proposed the idea of making a show that focused on realistic stories and portrayed adults and teenagers who talk openly and solve their problems...
and Australian Big Brother).
In 2007 the production had its second West End season at The Venue
The Venue Leicester Square
The Leicester Square Theatre , is a 420-seat studio theatre in Leicester Square, in the City of Westminster, London, which opened in 2002 with the premier of Boy George's Taboo. The building originated as the Notre Dame Hall in 1953, replacing an earlier building that had been destroyed by World...
from 26 July to 27 October.
Other cast members have included Jonathon Dutton
Jonathon Dutton
Jonathon Dutton is an actor who started his career playing the role of Tad Reeves in the Australian soap opera Neighbours....
, Sarah Hadland
Sarah Hadland
Sarah Hadland is an English actress who has a career spanning theatre, film, and television and as a voice-over artist.-Early life and education:...
, Rebecca Gethings
Rebecca Gethings
Rebecca Gethings is an English actress of television, theatre, radio and cinema. She is also a Rebecca Gethings is an [[England|English]] actress of [[television]], [[theatre]], [[radio]] and [[Film|cinema]]. She is also a...
, Jessica Gerger, Josephine Taylor, Andy Leonard, Patrick Harvey
Patrick Harvey
Patrick Harvey is an Irish/Australian actor. He played Northern Irish immigrant Connor O'Neill on the television soap opera Neighbours. His first appearance on the soap was in April 2002...
, Craig Rasmus, Tim Cove, Maxine Morrison, Priscilla Jackman, Sarah McGlade, Anna Skellern
Anna Skellern
Anna Skellern is an actress best known as the first female member of The Chaser's television programme CNNNN.- Early years :...
, Dimity Harris, Christa Nicola, Spencer McLaren
Spencer McLaren
Spencer McLaren is an Australian theatre actor and television actor. The 1999 NIDA graduate is most well known for his starring role on the Australian television drama, The Secret Life Of Us, as Richie Blake; a role he played for 66 episodes.-Theatre:Australian productions of:* Kismet* Cats* West...
, Billy Gentle, Felicity Jurd, Justin Segal, Louis Sanchez, Craig Giovanelli and Andrew William Robb.
The production has been directed by Melanie Tait (2001-2003) and Bill Buckhurst (2004-2007).
Over 60,000 people have seen The Vegemite Tales since it was first staged.
External links
- www.thevegemitetales.com The Vegemite Tales website