GOLF COURSE. DUCKS. LIVE CINEMA.
On the putting green at the edge of a regional town, a group of young people have been recruited for a highly confidential and, it turns out, highly dull job: to keep tabs on a grounded UFO.
Sitting still and silent for weeks, the workers are about to call it quits when…
Using an innovative blend of science fiction tropes, live cinema and exquisitely detailed 1:8 miniatures, UFO is a funny, freaky encounter of the third kind from re:group performance collective’s Kirby Medway & Solomon Thomas that we promise you’ve never experienced before.
★★★★ ‘A near perfect mix of format and function’—Time Out Sydney (for re:group performance collective and Coil)
Want to go deeper? View the online program
With an eye on the future, Griffin Lookout champions works by the next generation of exceptional theatre makers.
Artists are given a stipend toward the development and production of their work, a generous split of their show’s Box Office takings, as well as in-kind artistic and producing support by the Griffin team.
Kirby Medway & Solomon Thomas‘ UFO is one of 2023’s Griffin Lookout productions, alongside Graham Simm aka Nana Miss Koori‘s Gadigal Gal.
Writer Kirby Medway
Director & Video Designer Solomon Thomas
Sound Designer Tom Hogan
UFO Design Dylan Tonkin
Puppet Design Chris Howell & Solomon Thomas
Puppet Painting Miri Badger
Set Designer Angus Callander
Creative Consultants Hannah Goodwin, Tessa Leong, Jenni Medway, Mark Rogers
Stage Management & Technical Assistance Annika Bertinat, Jessica Henley-Sadgrove
Accessibility Services Steve Wilson-Alexander
Creative Producer Malcolm Whittaker
Administration Intimate Spectacle
With Matt Abotomey, James Harding, Angela Johnston, Tahlee Leeson
Previews 18 & 19 April
Season 20 – 29 April
Performance Times
Monday – Friday 7pm
Saturday 1pm & 7pm
Matinée & Post-Show Q&A
Saturday 22 April 1pm
Auslan Interpreted Performance (delivered by Jennifer Maclaughlan)
Saturday 29 April 7pm
Run Time
60 minutes (no interval)
Latecomers
Please note, there is a complete lock-out on all performances and latecomers won’t be admitted, so make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get to us, grab a drink, and get settled.
2023 Griffin Lookout Tickets Pricing
| All | $40 |
2023 Season Subscription Pricing
| 4 Play | 3 Play | 2 Play | |||
| Full | $216 | Full | $168 | Full | $116 |
| Senior, Preview |
$176 | Senior, Preview | $138 | Senior, Preview | $98 |
| Concession | $156 | Concession | $123 | Concession | $86 |
| Under 35 | $140 | Under 35 | $108 | Under 35 | $74 |
| Griffin Lookout | |
| Single | $35 |
| Two Pack | $64 |
Production Images
By Lucy Parakhina
“The experimental use of play in both theatrical and multimedia aspects has always been at the heart of what re:group does, and UFO continues this … you would be doing yourself a disservice by not letting yourself escape into a sense of childlike wonder.” ★★★★—Justin Clarke, Theatre Thoughts
“Thoroughly whimsical, UFO is directed by Solomon Thomas, who infuses a gentle humour, that crescendos to a satisfying comedic peak at its penultimate moments.”—Suzy Wrong, Suzy Goes See
“Re:group have taken new technology to the stage that has in the past been seen in larger scale and bigger budget events such as North by Northwest and The Picture of Dorian Gray and made it more accessible and intimate, while pointing the way that future theatre can interact with technology, opening up endless possibilities.”—John Moyle, City Hub
“UFO is WTF. Winding theatre and film. Or wrapping theatre with film. It’s theatre, Jim, but not as we know it.”—Richard Cotter, Sydney Arts Guide
“The dryly funny script, clever photography, excellent low-fi effects and Tom Hogan’s sound design frequently delight and often impress.”—Jason Blake, Limelight
“What we were perceiving was the undeniable potential of a cast and crew of young creative minds, who are already capable of pushing the boundaries of theatrical form to ingenious comic effect.”—Hamish Lewis, Honi Soit
“While there is both bite and charm in the story, the main intent of UFO is to visually immerse the audience in the performance. In this aim it is entirely successful.”—Catherine Skipper, South Sydney Herald
UFO has been developed with the support of Australia Council for the Arts, Brand X, Erth Visual & Physical Inc, HotHouse Theatre, Malcolm Robertson Foundation, Merrigong Theatre Company and Playking Foundation.
Transportively technical theatre treats!
- Pleasuredome by Harriet Gillies & Xanthe Dobbie
- Green Park by Elias Jamieson Brown
- Batch Festival
@griffintheatre