Latest news with #CarlAskew
Perth Now
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Vic Park and Black Swan pool their resources
The Town of Victoria Park has approved providing in-kind support to host the Black Swan State Theatre Company's popular immersive show The Pool at the Aqualife leisure centre for its 2025 summer showing. At the council meeting on Tuesday night, council members voted unanimously in support of the the Town's commitment to provide the funding. Victoria Park chief executive Carl Askew said the town was hopeful that hosting the production would help build a relationship with Black Swan that 'could see more productions brought to the town in the future'. Your local paper, whenever you want it. The town report said that hosting the show would increase attendance at the community leisure facility and provide local community and tourism benefits. 'The production will draw an audience to Victoria Park and be close to our food and beverage areas.' the report says. Written by Steve Rodgers and directed by Kate Champion, the production drew almost 8000 patrons over 15 performances at Bold Park in 2024. 'With the advancement of audio technology, we have the ability to bring theatre to the people, to a place where a wide range of society naturally gathers together in surroundings we are familiar with, and where a sense of egalitarianism is all pervasive - the public swimming pool, our pool, The Pool.' Ms Champion said. Audience members will be given headsets to listen in. Credit: Black Swan Theatre Company Mr Rodgers said that he feels like he has been writing this play his whole life. 'The idea began in earnest; people watching,' Mr Rodgers said. 'Sitting in the stands at my local pool, I was struck by the variety of people sharing the space. Mums and bubs, teenagers flirting, the elderly doing water aerobics, a militant lifeguard, an adult learning to swim. I started to imagine all these people's interactions, glimpsing snatches of their lives, each with their own story to tell.' The cast and crew will be at the popular leisure centre for six to seven days to rehearse and block out their performance site. One main character will be cast from the town, who is a regular at the facility. Rodgers will interview the local cast member and create a monologue that will be pre-recorded for use in the performance. The Pool cast at Bold Park Aquatic Centre. Pictured are back row Edyll Ismail, Tobias Muhafidin, Geoff Kelso and Polly Low, middle row Joel Jackson, Emma Jackson and Julia Moody, front row Anna Gray, Kylie Bracknell and Carys Munks. Credit: The West / Ian Munro The production will result in the early closure of the outdoor 50m pool from 5pm for three days before the performances for rehearsals, and closure from 6pm on the three nights of performances. The in-kind support from the town is estimated to be $3160, which includes free use of the venue and lifeguards for rehearsals, communications and marketing support for community engagement, and management of an on-site box office. The 50m outdoor pool will host the show. Credit: Victoria Park Leisure Centre The Pool is described as an immersive theatrical experience where audiences sit poolside and listen in on personal headsets to conversations of characters while watching 'their world play out'. 'It is an intimate study of the unique, fragile and varied stages of our lives, and a celebration of the public spaces that create community,' the town report says. 'The production explores themes such as parenting, ageing, disability, physical and emotional intimacy, addiction, and touch. 'This communal celebration allows the community to engage directly with the performance and promotes active participation.' The Pool will run over the week of December 7 for three nights.
Perth Now
29-05-2025
- General
- Perth Now
CEO apologises for waste build-up
Town of Victoria Park CEO Carl Askew has taken to social media to publicly apologise to residents as their streets continue to pile up with rubbish after issues with its bulk waste collection service. He said a 'few challenges' had affected the service's schedule, especially in Lathlain and Carlisle. These included unexpected volumes of waste, along with unapproved items being put out and incidents of illegal dumping. Your local paper, whenever you want it. 'We are working closely with our contractor to get things back on track,' Mr Askew told residents in a Facebook post. 'Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to restore the level of service you expect and deserve.' His post received more than 140 comments, with residents not holding back in showing their frustration and disappointment about the situation. Commentators described the rubbish as an 'eyesore' and complained it looked like they lived in the 'ghetto'. 'This response is insulting,' one commentator said. 'A weak apology buried under a list of excuses? You blame residents for putting the 'wrong' waste as if it justifies the town's failure to do its job.' 'Why wasn't this apology done four weeks ago?' another said. 'It's embarrassing that a town like Victoria Park has the same issue every year,' another added. Some commentators said people need to take a bit of responsibility about how they packed and placed their items for collection. 'It is meant to be bulk rubbish — bigger items, not lots of bits and pieces thrown onto huge piles. This is what has held up things all over!' one resident said. Mr Askew said the town would provide daily updates via Facebook and the town's news channel. It is anticipated that most of the collection should be completed by this Saturday.
