THE NIGHT GUARDIAN

“With great power comes great responsibility”– The ethos of Spider-Man.

Your city has been plunged into a dark, broken, post-war world. The government employs The Night Guardian to protect you. Dr Chaos, a renegade journalist, is the voice that will not be silenced who believes he brings the darkness into the light.

Is the safety of a weapon truly determined by who controls it? Is the Night Guardian blind to a dystopian world? Is Dr Chaos just a madman in a mask?

“…There are so many deserving of retribution and there is so little time”. – The words of Rorschach the anti-hero.

The Night Guardian is a unique play about superheroes, politics and love. Written by award-winning playwright Jessica Messenger. The play was developed with support from Stages WA and ReGen WA. Read for the 2013 Australian National Playwriting Festival and Pop-Up Play Readings produced by Perth Theatre Company.

Partners and Support

Guardian Partner Logos

03 September 2013: Pop-Up Play Readings – Perth Theatre Company.
04 – 08 February 2014: Perth Intstitue of Contemporary Art (PICA) and The Blue Room Theatre.
17 – 20 June 2015: Subiaco Arts Centre, Independent Theatre Festival.

Creative team

Written by:		Jessica Messenger
Direction:		Lawrie Cullen-Tait
Fight Direction & Stage Combat:		Andy Fraser
Production Design:		Sara Chirichilli
Lighting Design:		Chris Donnolly
Composition & Sound Design:		The Men From Another Place
Production Management:		Emma Caitlin Brown
Graphic Design:		Jeffrey Phillips
Images and Media:		Joel Crane
		Esther Longhurst

Cast

Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, 2014

Girl / The Night Guardian:		Ellen O’Connor
Boy / Dr Chaos:		Nick Maclaine
Handler:		Rhoda Lopez
Informant:		Maitland Schnaars

Subiaco Arts Centre, 2015

Girl / The Night Guardian:		Jessica Messenger
Boy / Dr Chaos:		Nick Maclaine
Handler:		Gemma Sharpe
Informant:		Craig Williams

Reviews

“A near-future superhero showdown demonstrates sophisticated understanding of the nuances of good and evil […] The Night Guardian tackles big themes on a grand scale.” – ArtsHub Australia

“… sharply written quips, romantic developments, coming of age realisations, commentary on social justice and deftly manoeuvred combat scenes.” – Australian Stage

“The Night Guardian was a delightfully sharp piece of neo-political writing.”
– The Tangible Blog