Beauty, Truth, Horror...reborn.

Atrocity - Cabaret & Burlesque du Grand Guignol presents a return to the theatrical values of old. Contemporary, thought-provoking and visceral, it combines shock performance with music, song, dance and the art of wicked tease - providing a 21st century sadistic soap opera of sex, violence, beauty, horror, audience participation and psychological play designed to entrance, enrage, entice and entertain. But be warned...it is not for the faint of heart... An already established Melbourne icon, ATROCITY is kicking off it's 2011 season with a call for new blood! After a successful 2010 run (4 shows and a lascivious foray into the Melbourne Fringe Festival) that had audiences laughing, crying and fainting (!), the Cabaret du Grand Guignol is set to delve deeper into the dark mind of man once more...with a host of new character joining familiar faces on the path of Beauty, Truth and Horror. "It's been a whirlwind experience so far...5 shows back to back from mid-April to November in 2010," says writer/director Paul Moder, "We blazed onto the scene and shattered quite a few sensibilities...2 people fainted in the audience on opening night of our first show! And it's only going to get worse..." Joining Paul Moder and co-creator Natalia Ristovska on the Atrocity journey this year will be old faces Sheree Matthews (Forma-Beauty), Fiona Hamilton (Sybella) and Nicole Casati (Atrocitas- Horror). They will be flanked by newcomers Andrew Armani and Tom Swords...making up two of the violent trio known as 'Il Forte Fratelli' (The Bang Brothers), a vicious band of murdering, rapist, cannibal clowns who operate under the creed 'Desire, Destroy, Devour.' Not returning for 2011 is Craig Delaland, who won (and chilled) hearts as the foppish trickster Helliquin Guignol in Atrocity's 2010 shows. One of the original three members of Atrocity, Craig will be taking time off in 2011 to pursue his own creative endeavors and stage some one-man and collaborative shows around the Melbourne and International Cabaret/Theatre scene. "It's sad to see him go," says Natalia, "When you all work so closely together on this kind of thing it becomes almost like family...but what can you do? Your kids eventually grow up and go have lives of their own...we're looking forward to seeing where his talents take him..." What this means for Atrocity fans, of course, is that the much coveted role of Guignol- said to play quite a pivotal part in some of the upcoming Atrocity shows- is up for grabs. But it's not going to be an easy win, according to both Paul and Natalia. "It's the role from hell," Natalia says with an evil chuckle, "Especially this year...not only do we need someone who looks a certain way, but they need to be proficient in piano, be able to master a number of different accents, have a good level of physical fitness and dexterity, sing like an angel..and then of course there's the psychological demand- this is not the kind of guy you want to take home to your mother, we're looking for someone who can play the Devil Incarnate...someone with the face of a cherub and a soul of bitter, twisted evil. It's going to be a hell of a lot of fun...but a damn dark ride..." That said, there has been no shortage of interest in the role...with performers from all over the country vying for a chance to be the new 'face' of the Atrocity philosophy. Auditions will take place in the first two weeks of March, and applications close February 28th...not long enough for Natalia. "I'd travel the world to find the right person for the job," she says, "But our fans are waiting and the demons in our minds are screaming to be let onto the stage again. Time is of the essence...and waits for no man, woman...or clown." Atrocity- Cabaret & Burlesque du Grand Guignol will be playing in various venues across Melbourne and Australia in 2011. For more information visit http://www.atrocity.com.au. For audition information, email natalia@burlesquebar.com.au