JUTE Theatre Company is thrilled to announce that Director of The Cairns Institute, Professor Stewart Lockie, will act as Special Guest Speaker at the Opening night of Delirium, Amy Bell’s darkly funny treatise on the dangers humans face if our connection with the natural world is lost.

Professor Lockie, whose research focuses on critical issues associated with global social and environmental change, is the ideal speaker to provide entrée to Amy’s world.

The play will star stunningly versatile New Zealand actress Veronica Brady and film and television veteran Ryan Gibson, and promises an intoxicating experience for audiences with this intimate, adults-only show.

Professor Lockie began his research career investigating the evolution and impacts of environmental policy in agriculture.

This has since been extended to studies of biodiversity conservation, environmental standards, markets in ecosystem services, food security, coastal management, resource development, and management of natural and industrial hazards.

Bell takes these very real environmental concerns and envisions the impact on the human psyche if these issues are ignored.

The play explores a knife-edge between a gritty, almost surreal darkness and a sharp-witted humour rendered with often quite beautiful language. We are encouraged to laugh at our shortcomings via a kind of gloriously gory slapstick, while an undeniable foreboding licks up our spines, a heady mix for the adventurous theatre-goer.

Director Suellen Maunder describes the show as a very unique experience for JUTE audiences, ‘We’re challenging them to follow the performers through the space; they’ll see the actors transform from one character to another, they’ll see the worlds unfold before their eyes, they will actually be a part of that journey, a fly on the wall in these people’s lives. What Amy has done so beautifully, is take these characters to the extreme but with the most delicious language.’

Bringing these worlds to life will be actors Veronica Brady and Ryan Gibson. Veronica is a formally trained actor, having graduated from Toi Whakaari New Zealand Drama School in 2009.

She has toured extensively with NZ’s leading image-based devising company Red Leap Theatre and has numerous television appearances under her belt. Ryan is NIDA trained, and will be familiar to audiences from his appearances on hit shows Home and Away and Wonderland, as well as films Kangaroo Jack and Felony.

Delirium will run for one week only, with a limit of 80 tickets per night. The show is adults only. For those theatre goers who enjoy the occasional chilling lick up the spine with their laughs; come if you dare.

Delirium opens on 26 September and will run until 4 October.

Tickets may be purchased online at www.jute.com.au or by phone on 4050 9444 or in person between 10am and 5pm Monday to Saturday from the Centre of Contemporary Arts, 96 Abbott St Cairns.