Loot
BY JOE ORTON
Directed by Jennifer Flowers
4th April - 27th April, 2024
About the Play
Loot is the most famous of the farces of Joe Orton and was written in 1966 at the height of the Swinging Sixties. Orton's main objective was to blow apart societal shibboleths by exposing the hypocrisies and corruption of contemporary Britain. He'd already been to jail for six months for applying his wit and mischief to library books and had attracted the ire of the Lord Chamberlain who demanded cuts and changes to the first production, which outraged - but eventually won over- a new and appreciative audience.
Even 50 years later, it still has the ability to shock, with its plot centering around an imminent funeral, an audacious bank robbery, a predatory nurse and a bent copper. But hypocrisy and corruption are still with us and many of our institutions, which is why it's still relevant today.
Like all farce, it's fast-paced, preposterous, funny and savage, and within Orton's exquisite turn of phrase, we can hear the ghosts of Wilde, Shaw and Pinter. And see that it is one of the precursors of Monty Python and Fawlty Towers.
Unfortunately for Joe Orton, just as he was hitting his stride as a playwright, he was brutally murdered- in a scene reminiscent of one of his plays- by his jealous and deranged lover, Kenneth Halliwell. But his plays remain and their absurdity and fun are his great gift to the dramatic canon.
Content warning : this play contains adult themes, sexual references and is recommended for ages 14+.
CAST
Iain Gardiner | Mr McLeavey
Fiona Kennedy | Fay
Jett Robson | Hal
Lisa Hickey | Mrs McLeavey
Steven Grives | Truscott
James Enwright | Meadows
Liam Hartley | Dennis
CREW AND CREATIVES
Jennifer Flowers | Director
Liam Wallis | Assistant Director & Production Manager
Bill Haycock | Production Design
Daniel Hallen | Stage Manager
Reviews
Overall, Ad Astra's production of Loot is a testament to their dedication to the craft, ensuring an enjoyable experience for theatregoers.
Kitty Goodall | Read Review Here
The dedicated cast of this Ad Astra production find a beautiful balance between the play’s biting critiques and its outrageous, many-layered comedy.
Backstreet Brisbane | Read Review Here
The Ad Astra creative team has done a fabulous job with Loot. Not only is it an excellent choice given its continued relevance, but it also works extremely well in the charming Ad Astra venue. The intimate venue perfectly accommodated the ‘one-room’ play, highlighting the pace of the play, with the audience proximity really emphasising the underlying physicality .
David Wilson - Absolute Theatre | Read Review Here
Not seen in Brisbane for many years, Joe Orton’s Loot is a cleverly-crafted, absurdist play that deserves this well-timed revival.
Suzannah Conway - ArtsHub | Read Review Here
Loot is a delightfully morbid romp and Ad Astra are to be congratulated for bringing Joe Orton’s most famous work to a Brisbane audience.
Sarah Skubala - Theatre Travels | Read Review Here
I strongly encourage you to get tickets ASAP, as this show only runs until the 27th of April if you haven’t already. It’s absolutely worth watching, especially for those who want to feast their eyes on a clever, ridiculous, and dark extravaganza.
Noah Cotgrove - Whats The Show | Read Review Here
