by Lorraine Thompson
StageFlight Drama School presents
ARLECCHINO and the CITY OF LOVE
2.00pm Saturday 6 December 2025
The Twyford – Theatre Venue
A comedy play about love, set in 16th century Venice during Carnivale, directed by Lis Shelley & Karl Auer and performed by the students of StageFlight Drama School. Featuring Dean Gray on mandolin.
SHOW DETAILS
- Starts: 2.00pm Ends: 3.10pm (no interval)
- Foyer Cafe open for refreshments from 1 hour before the show.
- Suitable for ages 8+ Some comedic violence
- Any remaining tickets not sold online will be available from the Box Office in the Foyer 1 hour before the show
- Twyford Subscribers – check your e-news for your discount promo code
- Twyford Gift Certificates valid for this event
ABOUT
Arlecchino and the City of Love is based on Commedia dell-arte, an early form of professional Italian theatre popular in Europe in the 16th to the 18th centuries.
Shakespearean characters (Falstaff), the French Harlequin, traditional English puppet characters (Punch & Judy) and even modern film characters (Harley Quin and the Joker) trace their evolution back to these early archetypes.
Commedia has various masked archetypes (Pantalone, Capitano) as well as unmasked lovers (though our play’s lovers also wear masks when they need to hide!). Venice to this day sees its inhabitants and visitors wearing elaborate costumes and masks during Carnivale in the lead-up to Lent.
The students in this performance attend StageFlight Drama School, established on the Sapphire Coast in 2012 to offer young people classes in acting, directing. film making and more through after-school and holiday workshops. Many of our students have gone on to tertiary theatre studies or to appear in other live theatre and film productions. It’s also an opportunity for students to find their “tribe” outside of the school context.
CAST in order of appearance
- ARLECCHINO Servant to anyone who will hire him. Loves Columbina – Lani Ruth
- PAOLO Mute servant to Arlecchino. Loves Spinetta – Ivy Quinlivan
- SIGNORE GIUSEPPE PANTALONE Miser. Father to Georgina, uncle to Isabella – Victoria Hutchinson
- ISABELLA Niece to Pantalone and cousin to Georgina. Loves Orazio – Macey Woodhouse
- GEORGINA Spoiled fickle daughter of Pantalone. Sometimes loves Lelio – Kai Bergersen
- LELIO CARNOUCHE Foolish young man. Loves Georgina – Jonah Stewart
- IL CAPITANO GIOVANNI SPAVENTO MATAMOROS Arrogant buffoon. Seeks to marry Georgina – Ryan Denaro
- LA BELLA GIULIA PREZIOSO Stunningly beautiful courtesan – Elise Brodie
- SPINETTA Maid to La Bella Giulia Prezioso – Victoria Hutchinson
- ORAZIO GARAVINI Loves Isabella. Brother to Vittoria – Ryan Denaro
- FLORINDO CAVECCHI Friend of Orazio. Loves Vittoria – Jonah Stewart
- VITTORIA GARAVINI Sister of Orazio, disguised as a male messenger. Loves Florindo – Elise Brodie
- CORINE Married friend of Vittoria, disguised as a shepherdess – Macey Woodhouse
- COLUMBINA Sassy maid to Isabella. Loves Arlecchino – Sienna Irwin
MUSIC
- Dean Gray – mandolin
CREW
- Director / Stage Manager / Costumes / Sets – Lis Shelley
- Director – Karl Auer
- Lighting – Gerry Corcoran
- Costume Assistant – Kathleen Brewster