Company : History

1. THE SCAM

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley, Ian Dunn, Meg Dunn, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn.

Zeal Theatre’s 1st production premiered in February 1989. Dealing with State Government cuts to schools funding and the ramifications on schools, students and families, “THE SCAM” was performed over 50 times throughout Hunter Valley high schools and a public season at the New Lambton Community Centre.

2. SHATTERED PAIRS

Devised and performed by
Rob Dilley, Ian Dunn, Meg Dunn, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Created with the assistance of Parents Without Partners, the Zeal ensemble premiered “SHATTERED PAIRS” as part of a double-bill with “THE SCAM” at New Lambton Community Centre in April,1989. The show also toured Hunter Valley high schools throughout 1989.

3. WORKFORCE

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

1989 Cast: Rob Dilley, Ian Dunn, Meg Dunn, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn
(Paul Makeham also performed in the original season)
1990/’91 Cast: Alan Gannaway, Karen Lantry, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Zeal’s performance style was further developed with this ambitious epic portrayal of the Australian workforce which played public seasons at the Newcastle Workers Club as well as touring Hunter Valley high schools between 1989 and 1991. Stefo Nantsou was awarded a CONDA (City of Newcastle Drama Award) for best director in 1989.

4. SPLIT

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley, Ian Dunn, Meg Dunn, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Premiering at the T.P.I. House in September 1989, “SPLIT” was a semi-autobiographical account of three generations of southern European immigrants and their cultural, political and familial journeys from homeland village to suburban Australia.

5. LUCY’S PROMISE

By Meg Dunn

1989 Cast: Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Vicki Long, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn
1990 Cast: Meg Dunn, Alan Gannaway, Karen Lantry, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Commissioned as part of the Women in Education Conference in Sydney in October, 1989, “LUCY’S PROMISE” also toured Hunter Valley high schools as part of their vocational and career training programs between 1989 and 1990.

6. GHOST PLANET

Devised and performed by Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Alan Gannaway, Karen Lantry, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn (with Ian Dunn co-devisor)

Premiering as Zeal Theatre’s first primary school venture in 1989 and later as a public season at Newcastle’s Fort Scratchley Maritime & Military Museum in January 1990 “GHOST PLANET” was an interplanetary cartoon of big business exploitation and astral traveling. Stefo Nantsou was awarded his second CONDA for best director in 1990.

7. WILD IDEAS

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Meg Dunn, Alan Gannaway, Steve Kelly, Karen Lantry, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn (with special guest Rob Dilley in the second season)

This high school play focused on the history of scientific thought and discovery and took the audience on a wild ride from the creation of the wheel to Oppenheimer’s creation of the atomic bomb.

8. THE FIRST MOVE

Devised and performed by Alan Gannaway, Steve Kelly, Karen Lantry, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Due to the success of “SHATTERED PAIRS” in 1989, Zeal created this 1990 play as a thematic sequel dealing with young people having to cope with parents embarking on new relationships after divorce and separation. Once again created with the assistance of Parents Without Partners.

9. LOST

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Premiering in April 1990, Zeal’s 2nd primary school venture was a comic farce of a father losing himself in a huge shopping mall after his young daughter wonders off into toyshop heaven.

10. LIMEBURNERS

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Meg Dunn, Alan Gannaway, Celia Ireland, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

In 1991, Zeal returned to Fort Scratchley for a public season of this historical comedy/drama about Newcastle’s first 100 years of white settlement, from convict laborers to First World War volunteers.

11. HIT HARD

Devised and performed by Alan Gannaway, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

Created in 1991 with the assistance of students from West Wallsend High School, this powerful production about teenage violence, sexual harassment and suicide solidified the Zeal ‘house-style’ which would become a benchmark for many future high schools/adult productions. “HIT HARD” was the first Zeal show to tour widely around New South Wales gaining the company a higher profile outside Sydney and the Hunter Valley.

12. EMPERORS NEW CLOTHES

Devised and performed by Meg Dunn, Alan Gannaway, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn

This ambitious 1991 reworking of the classic tale was an outdoors primary and high school production using masks, puppets, huge colourful costumes, a naked fat suit, elaborate sets and props and a stage on top of the Zeal van. The production was reworked for a public season at Newcastle’s Fort Scratchley in January 1994 & performed by Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley, Jan Hunt, Karen Lantry & Stefo Nantsou

13. DEBTS

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rod Ansell, Meg Dunn, Alan Gannaway, Stefo Nantsou, Kerry O’Hearn & Kate Sweeny. (also Rob Dilley in 1992 remounted production)
Music by Alan Gannaway

This epic cartoon musical set on a monopoly board about the rise and fall of 80s corporate business identities (and the politicians who supported them) premiered at the Newcastle Community Arts Centre in October 1991. Due to the overwhelming critical and artistic success, “DEBTS” was remounted for a short season at the Civic Playhouse and a two week season at the Tandanya Centre for the Adelaide Fringe Festival in 1992. Meg Dunn was awarded a best actress CONDA in 1991 for her role as Dice. The play was also produced by Griffith University Drama students and directed by Stefo Nantsou in 2004.

14. QUEST FOR GRENDEL

Devised and performed by Rod Ansell, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn & Kerry O’Hearn
Co-devised with Alan Gannaway and Stefo Nantsou

In January 1992, Zeal returned to Fort Scratchley for their 3rd School holiday family show, based on the ancient Norse tale.

15. JOYRIDE

Written, devised and performed by Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley & Stefo Nantsou

Researched with streetkids, Woromi Detention Centre inmates, social workers and NSW police officers and rehearsed at the Newcastle Police Citizens Youth Club, “JOYRIDE” premiered in April 1992 and subsequently opened numerous national touring opportunities for Zeal…over 600 performances throughout Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia between ’92-’96, as well as two tours of New Zealand. In 1996, with assistance from the NSW Arts Ministry, a concert version of the play was produced which played a stadium season around the Hunter Valley. Produced as a CD by Dean Parker in 1993, over 200 copies have been sold.

16. THE CIRCUS OF DR.MOREAU

By Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Stefo Nantsou & Kerry O’Hearn
Directed by Kingston Anderson

A comic twisting of HG Welles’ classic tale premiered as Zeal’s 5th school holiday production at Fort Scratchley, co-produced with the Hunter Valley Theatre Company and directed by Kingston Anderson.

17. THE MAYHEM ZONE

Devised and performed by Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Jan Hunt & Karen Lantry.

This Commedia dell’arte romp for high schools premiered in June 1993. Utilizing traditional Commedia mask/movement techniques in a contemporary narrative setting, “THE MAYHEM ZONE” began Zeal’s interest in the use of masks and the emergence of mask-making specialist Karen Lantry.

18. ENERGY

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn & Stefo Nantsou

Commissioned by the Workers Cultural Action Committee in Newcastle with an Australia Council Literature Board grant for writer Stefo Nantsou, “ENERGY” was created by interviews and research with workers and unionists of the C.F.M.E.U. and Greenpeace activists. The play premiered at the Newcastle Rugby League Club in May 1994 and was also performed in Wellington, New Zealand.

19. GOSSIPS FROM HELL

Devised and performed by Meg Dunn, Jan Hunt and Karen Lantry.
Co-devised and directed by Stefo Nantsou

What began as an outdoor performance art piece for MayFest in Newcastle in 1994 became a hugely successful high schools touring play about malicious gossip. “GOSSIPS FROM HELL” was performed over 150 times throughout N.S.W. & Victoria as well as a public season at St. Stephens Church in Sydney.

20. THE HUNCHBACK

By Victor Hugo Adapted & directed by Stefo Nantsou

1995 Cast: Carl Caulfield, Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Karen Lantry & Stefo Nantsou. (Publicity & production by Dean Parker)
1996 Cast: Louise Chapman, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Adam Hatzimanolis, Karen Lantry, Stefo Nantsou & Dean Parker.
Costumes by Trish Flanagan. Masks by Karen Lantry.

This lavish gothic drama was staged as a public season at Newcastle’s Christ Church Cathedral and Taree Christ Church Cathedral in 1994 and played to capacity audiences. In 1995 the production was reworked and remounted, and played a season at Christ Church Cathedral, South Yarra, Melbourne.

21. THE VICTIMS

Written and performed by Stefo Nantsou

Commissioned by the NSW Law Society in November 1994, “THE VICTIMS” is Zeal’s first one-man show, performed by Zeal director Stefo Nantsou. The play was researched and developed with men who have had experience with the Family Law Courts of New South Wales.

22. THE BUTCHER BOAT RACE

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Ella Lantry, Karen Lantry, Lily Nantsou, Stefo Nantsou & Tim Richards
Costumes by Trish Flanagan

Zeal’s final Fort Scratchley family show was a rollicking yarn based on true accounts of Newcastle’s 19th century port history. A season was also performed at Tanilba House in Tanilba Bay, Port Stephens.

23. JULIUS CAESAR

By William Shakespeare and Adapted by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley, Adam Hatzimanolis, Stefo Nantsou & Bill Rough

Zeal’s only Shakespeare retells Caesar’s story in the battleground of the Super League War of 1995. It was performed as a public season at Newcastle’s Mission Theatre.

24. TATAU:RITES OF PASSAGE

Devised and performed by Anton Carter, Rob Dilley, Meg Dunn, Erolia Ifopo, Oscar Kightley, Karen Lantry, Shimpal Lelisi, Mishelle Muagututi’a, Stefo Nantsou & Joy Vaele

Tattooist: Su’a Paulo Suluape III
Tattooist assistants: Moe Siaosi & Laga Suluape
Body Canvas (Aukland): Vic Tamati Body Canvas (Sydney): Fa’amoana Ioane
Directed by Stefo Nantsou

In 1995 Zeal was invited to New Zealand to co-produce a new work with Christchurch-based Samoan theatre company PACIFIC UNDERGROUND. Based on the ancient tradition of the tatau (tattoo) and following the stories of post-war Polynesian migration to New Zealand, “TATAU:RITES OF PASSAGE” played a sold-out season at the Aotea Centre in Auckland in March, 1996. The production was remounted (with assistance from the Australia Council Theatre Fund) for a season at the Bondi Pavilion in Sydney in November ’96 as part of the Pacific Wave Festival.

25. THE STONES

Written and performed by Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou
Queensland Cast: Sam Foster and Adam Drake

In April 1996, Zeal relocated to Melbourne where Zeal founder Stefo Nantsou teamed with fellow ex-Sidetrack Theatre member Tom Lycos to produce Zeal’s biggest national and international success. Based on a true story of two boys killing a motorist after throwing rocks from a freeway overpass, “THE STONES” premiered in June 1996 and has since been performed over 1100 times throughout Australia, Europe, North America and Asia, including seasons at the Royal National Theatre, London, The Duke on 42nd St, New York, The Esplanade, Singapore, Comedie Theater, Zagreb & Sydney’s Wharf Theatre. “THE STONES” has also been translated and performed in over 25 countries, Stefo & Tom having directed the play in Canada, Holland, Wales, Germany, Denmark, Norway & Hungary, & two oz versions for Barking Gecko Theatre in Perth and for the Queensland Arts Council. “THE STONES” has received a NSW Frater Award (’98), a Victorian Arts Council Award (’99), a Deutch Theater award for Best New Work (’02), and the Critics Choice Award in Budapest, Hungary (’04).

26. TRIPPERS

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Meg Dunn, Hugh Gordon, Jan Hunt & Karen Lantry

Commissioned by The Push, a youth music organization in Melbourne, “TRIPPERS” was a rock musical about starting a band in a remote country town. The show toured high schools for Regional Arts Victoria in 1997.

27. EN GARDE

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Meg Dunn, Izabella Nantsou, Lily Nantsou & Stefo Nantsou

This gypsy tale for all ages contrasted contemporary family upheavals with true accounts of war-torn refugees. Part of Zeal’s primary repertoire between ’97-’00.

28. A SECRET PLACE
(FIXIN BART & MAGGIE)

Written and directed by Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Peta Brady, Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou
1999 Cast: Meg Dunn, David Pidd & Aaron Ward

After researching for over a year with drug users, dealers and welfare workers, Zeal premiered ”FIXIN BART & MAGGIE” in April 1998 as a high schools touring show. Since then the play has been performed over 200 times throughout Victorian schools and universities and most recently a season at the Wharf Theatre for the Sydney Theatre Company where the name of the play was changed to “A SECRET PLACE”.

29. MOUSE

Written and directed by Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou

2000 cast: Meg Dunn, Kyong Nam Lin, Tom Lycos, Genevieve Morris, Mark Peglar & Stefo Nantsou
2001 Cast: Peta Brady, Francis Greenslade, Jules Hutchins, Kyong Nam Lin, Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou
2002-’03 Cast: Jigzie Campbell, Kaarin Fairfax, Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou
2004 Cast: Jigzie Campbell, Jane & Guy Hooper & Tom Lycos

Zeal were commissioned by the Victorian Arts Centre ArtEd program to create a new work which premiered at the Fairfax Studio in July 2000. “MOUSE” was then invited to play a season at the 2001 Come Out Festival in Adelaide. In 2002-03 the play toured Victorian high schools and in 2004 was co-produced with Hothouse Theatre for a public season in Albury.

30. SIDE EFFECTS

Written & performed by Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou

About the use and abuse of medication for young people with A.D.D. & A.D.H.D., “SIDE EFFECTS” premiered at the David Williamson Theatre in Melbourne in March 2002 and has since been performed in Amsterdam, Frankfurt, London, a touring season throughout Victoria, and a season at the Wharf Theatre for the STC.

31. THE FIFTH FLOOR

Written by Tom Lycos, Peta Brady & Stefo Nantsou

Commissioned by Melbourne Workers Theatre

Not produced.

32. THE FORWARDS

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley, Angela Frost and Dave Houston
Queensland Cast: Sandy Greenwood, Adam Drake, Sam Foster & Christina Atkins

Originally commissioned by Regional Arts Victoria, “THE FORWARDS” deals with football culture, alcohol abuse and reckless behavior in small country communities. The play premiered in June 2004 and has toured extensively throughout Australia. The play was produced in Hungary for Kolibri Theatre’s production of “CSATAROK” in 2006. The play has also been produced by the Queensland Arts Council, and was published by Playlab Press in 2009.

33. THE APOLOGY

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley & Stefo Nantsou
Queensland Cast: Adam Drake, Sam Foster & Brad McDonald

Premiering at the Newcastle Showroom in February 2005, this award-winning production brings together two Zeal founding fathers in another powerful study of teenage violence and the effects of long term bullying. The Queensland Arts Council commissioned a ‘Queensland version’ in 2007. The play was produced in Denmark by Theatre Neo in 2006, also directed by Stefo Nantsou, and was published by Playlab Press in 2009.

34. GRONKS

Written and directed by Tom Lycos and Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Rob Dilley, Karen Lantry, Lisa Maza, Tom Lycos, Billy McPherson & Stefo Nantsou

Commissioned by the Sydney Theatre Company in 2005 and premiered in 2006. This powerful play deals with domestic and community violence, loosely based on the MacQuarie Fields and Redfern riots of 2004. The play has been performed at the Wharf Theatre, Sydney and the Victorian Arts Centre, Melbourne and is currently touring NSW and Victorian schools.

35. THE 50-50 MEN

Written & performed by Stefo Nantsou

A sequel of the highly successful “THE VICTIMS” in 1994, this performance was commissioned for the Hunter Region Family Law Conference in September 2006.

36. THE BEST LITTLE TOWN IN THE WORLD

Written and directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Angela Frost, Dave Houston & Jilli Romanis

Commissioned by Regional Arts Victoria, this primary school play is a comedy about a family’s school holiday trip to the country’s heart (Uluru) and the adventures they encounter along the way. The play premiered in May, 2007, and is currently available for touring in 2008 and beyond.

37. AUSTRALIA V SOUTH AFRICA

By Tom Lycos and Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Ellis Pearson, Bheki Mkhwane, Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou

Commissioned by the Sydney Theatre Company, this international collaboration with South African performing duo Ellis and Bheki premiered at the Wharf Theatre in Sydney in July 2007. It has been produced by Barking Gecko Theatre in Perth for the 2008 Perth Festival, and also performed at the ASSITEJ World Congress in Adelaide and The Grahamstown Festival, South Africa in 2008.

38. TABOO

Written and directed by Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Sandy Greenwood, Tom Lycos, Stefo Nantsou & Lindy Sardelic

The 3rd play commission by the Sydney Theatre Company was workshopped with students around Sydney’s outer West and deals with date rape, internet dating, and the ripple effects of sexual assault. The play premiered in December 2007, toured high schools in 2008 as well as playing seasons at the STC Wharf 2 Theatre and the Fairfax Studio at the Victorian Arts Centre. The play has been produced by Theater Grimsborken in Norway and TheatreHaus Frankfurt in Germany, both productions directed by Tom Lycos.

39.    THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS

Adapted & directed by Stefo Nantsou

Based on the book by Robert Munsch & Michael Martchenko
Cast: Rob Dilley, Maree Freeman, Karen Lantry & Stefo Nantsou

Produced and presented at Sydney’s Powerhouse Museum in January 2008, this production marked the return to school-holiday family shows by the Zeals. To add to the nostalgia, a full Novocastrian cast was assembled to bring to life the popular children’s book.

40. WHAT’S COOKIN’ ZOE?

Written & directed by Stefo Nantsou

Cast: Angie Diaz & Richie Hallal

Zeal’s 2nd show produced and presented at the Powerhouse Museum in October 2008, this production was created as a school holiday show for families about the marvels of science in the kitchen and the mayhem between a chef and members of the audience during the baking of a cake.

41. BURNT

Written by Tom Lycos & Stefo Nantsou

Directed by Stefo Nantsou Music by Tom Lycos
Cast: Tom Lycos, Stefo Nantsou & Lindy Sardelic

The 4th commission by the Sydney Theatre Company premiered in June 2009. This production was created with the assistance of regional communities about the impacts on families of prolonged drought. The production toured in regional centres to high schools and clubs as well as playing a season at the Richard Wherrett Studio in the Sydney Theatre.

42. THE FIRM

Written & performed by Stefo Nantsou

The third in the series of one man shows for the legal fraternity, this time commissioned by the Newcastle Law Association, performed at the Newcastle Club in November 2010.

43. CAIN & TAYLA

Written & performed by Lindy Sardelic, Tom Lycos and Stefo Nantsou

This play tells the story of a young boy pursuing his dreams of playing in a rock band while caring for his ailing grandfather, his erratic girlfriend and his new born son. Premiering in March 2011, CAIN & TAYLA is a slice of youth culture continuing the Zeal tradition of writing plays for teenage audiences.

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