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• Written By Matthew De Haas
• Directed by Jade Alex
• Choreographed by Vanessa Morrison
• Set Design by Matthew De Haas & Mariya Tkachenko
• Costume Designer Julia Gorman
• Lighting Design by Jessica Lowe
• Sound Design by Vanessa Morrison

Cast:

• Kevin Clayette
• Demitra Alexandria
• Clancy Carraway
• Chanelle Freeland
• Chris Fung
• Ashleigh Lindsay
• Aaron Sweeten
• Ellie Stewart
• Khanh Trieu

Join Akio on an epic adventure!
A shy young boy who is bullied at school, he spends his waking hours immersed in his video games – the ONLY thing that can draw his attention away is Harumi, the girl of his dreams. One day, his adventure begins, a strange chain of events find Akio and Harumi sucked into his video game world, but Harumi is then kidnapped by a powerful, villainous creature! Akio has to save her… but where will he get his strength? Where will he find his bravery? How will he stand up and face fear head on? in his quest to rescue Harumi, Akio will meet wise friends and terrifying monsters, all the while learning what makes a hero, what defines a villain; and perhaps how the two are not so different after all. Through power of will and strength of heart, Akio learns the most powerful weapon of all…

Akio! is a physical theatre piece, which combines the crafts of acting, dance, choreography, movement, sound and audio-visual design, to tell a universal coming-of-age tale. Inspired by Japanese theatre-maker, Tadashi Suzuki and his philosophies of theatre performance and culture, Akio! is a marriage of cultures into one uplifting story of love, bravery, courage and discipline. Theatrically, it explores the beauty of the human body, as it weaves Japanese mythology and gaming culture into an advetnure to be enjoyed by all ages.
Akio! is a celebration of childhood, of growth, love and learning to understand and accept your enemy in the face of viloence.

PERFORMANCES: SATURDAY 4 JULY – SUNDAY 12 JULY

Performance times 11.00am, 2.30pm, 7.00pm (check website calendar for daily sessions)
Latecomers will not be admitted until a suitable break in the performance.

The Blue theatre Company offers self-growth and education to audiences. Our performances will be food for the heart and soul, working to reduce the impact of anxiety, depression and suicide in the community by raising awareness and empowering people to seek help.

Blue Theatre Company respects that these issues are sensitive; though statistics show high levels of our population suffering from one or more symptoms of mental illness in every day life. Blue Theatre’s angle is to approach these sensitive subjects with hope, humour, education, and positive enlightenment.

Our aim is to offer new, creative and positive ways to approach the subject of mental illness. We want to help people turn fear into new possibilities and passion.

Here begins the Journey of Blue Theatre Company with the Launch of Akio! Our very first performance targeted to kids, schools and education environments, ages 8-13, parents and the young at heart.

Akio! is an original Australian Collaborative piece, performed for the first time in conjunction with Hayes Theatre Co.

Akio! is a physical theatre piece, which combines the crafts of acting, dance, choreography, movement, sound and audio-visual design, to tell a universal coming of age tale. Inspired by Japanese theatre maker Tadashi Suzuki and his philosophies of theatre performance and culture, Akio! is a marriage of cultures into one uplifting story of love, bravery, courage and discipline. Theatrically, it explores the beauty of the human body, as it weaves Japanese mythology and gaming culture into an adventure to be enjoyed by all ages.

Akio! is a celebration of childhood, of growth, love and learning to understand and accept your enemy in the face of fear!.

What is Akio About?

Akio is a shy young boy, who is bullied at school. He spends his waking hours immersed in his video games – the ONLY thing that can draw his attention away is Harumi, the girl of his dreams!

Suddenly, through a strange chain of events, Akio and Harumi are sucked into the videogame world! Harumi is then kidnapped by a powerful, villainous creature! Only Akio can save her… but where will he get his strength? Where will he find his bravery? How will he stand up and face fear head on? In his quest to rescue Harumi, Akio will meet wise friends and terrifying monsters, all the while learning what makes a hero, what defines a villain; and perhaps how the two are not so different after all. Through power of will and strength of heart, Akio learns the most powerful weapon of all…

How was Akio! born?

Akio! began as a twenty minute project at The Australian Academy of Dramatic Art, in conjunction with the ‘Drama Bites’ season in 2013, directed by Sascha Hall.

In May 2014 Akio! was given the opportunity to resurface when the idea was pitched at the ‘Stand Up and Stand Out’ Vivid event, Sydney at the Museum of Contemporary Art. From here, we began raising funds to be able to produce a ‘new’ Akio! bigger and better and more exciting than ever. Thanks to The Hayes Theatre Company more doors opened for this little production and now Akio! will be placed in history as the Hayes Theatre Company’s first ever children’s production.

Akio!, with the help of friends and theatre lovers alike has morphed into a being all of its own – with a new director, Jade Alex and new members added to the original creative team – Akio! is a new kind of adventure, whilst still keeping the humble spirit of the original work.

• Strength:              8/10
• Agility:                  9/10
• Intelligence:        4/10

Half demon, half cat and all nightmare, the Bakeneko has slashed his way into the history of the August Isles as the protégé of the Jorogumo. Found as a kitten on the streets of Solairea, the Bakeneko was raised in secret, taught to attack without mercy or question and, when the Jorogumo unleashed her evil upon the world, personally defeated many gods and kings in service of his master. As feared as he may be, however, this creature has been rumoured to have a single weakness…