Local actor plays villain in Shakespeare production

When you watch Lachlan Kann disappear into the misogynistic character of Paris in the University of Southern Queensland's (USQ) upcoming Shakespeare in the Park production of Romeo and Juliet later this month, the actor asks you bear in mind that Paris is only a ‘circumstantial' bad guy.

Lachlan, a local who grew up in Moorooka and attended John Paul College said he tapped into his own ‘inner' bad guy while building the persona of Paris - a part of his nature that sometimes puts his girlfriend off.

'Paris is the villain in Romeo and Juliet; he is Romeo's main rival for Juliet's hand, but for Paris the marriage isn't about love, it is about lust and power," Lachlan said.

'He is a chauvinist, dominating character who believes that women don't have a say in their futures. Rather than trying to woo Juliet himself, he goes directly to her father, Lord Capulet to ask for her hand as if making a business deal.

'But for Paris there is eventual redemption when he realises his mistakes before being killed by Romeo.'
 
Lachlan said one of the main challenges he and his fellow cast faced when preparing for Romeo and Juliet was interpreting and understanding the text and then taking this knowledge to present the story in a way which is appealing and relevant to a modern-day audience.

'We spent six weeks in rehearsals, starting in January and by the time we reach Springfield at the end of March, we will have performed nine shows in Toowoomba and four in Hervey Bay.'

'It has been an incredibly challenging and rewarding experience but we are all especially looking forward to our three final performances in Springfield.'

No stranger to the stage, Lachlan began his acting career at the age of 7, playing the character ‘Tamino' in the 1995 production of The Magic Flute at QPAC.

'My mother supported me in my first audition in an attempt to bring me out of my shell and improve my social skills, as I was quite a shy kid.'

'I remember enjoying performing, but I don't remember much more than that. I certainly didn't decide that acting was going to be part of my future until high school.'

Lachlan studied at the Australian Acting Academy for eight years as a hobby until commencing school at John Paul College and began to take things a little more seriously.

'Eventually I realised that a career in the performing arts was for me.'

Now in the final year of a Bachelor of Theatre Arts majoring in Acting at USQ, Lachlan has plans to pursue work in film, television and stage in Australia before travelling to Europe on a working holiday.

Romeo and Juliet opens on Thursday 27 March and runs until Saturday 29 March 2008, with nightly performances at 7pm on the Education City Mini Oval at USQ Springfield.

Audiences are reminded to bring a blanket or chair to sit on and encouraged to pack a picnic and a bottle of wine to enjoy during the show.

Tickets cost $25 adult, $20 concession, $10 child and $65 family and can be purchased from the Ipswich Civic Hall by phone (07) 3810 6100 or online at www.ipswichcivichall.com.au

Tickets can also be purchased on-site at the Festival Box Office open from 6pm each night.
For further details about the Festival, visit www.usq.edu.au/shakespeare

The USQ Shakespeare in the Park Festival gratefully acknowledges the support of its 2008 sponsors:  Toowoomba Chronicle, WIN Television, Symphony Hill Wines, Toowoomba City Council, Hervey Bay City Council, the Fraser Coast Chronicle, Queensland Events, the Queensland Times, Dornbusch Partners, Channel 7- Queensland, Ipswich City Council, Bell Dixon Butler Lawyers, Education City, Civil Mining & Construction Pty Ltd, Cardno, La Mer Luxury Apartments, USQ Faculty of Education and the Myer Foundation.

Media Contact:  Jo-Ann Sparrow, USQ Media, +61 7 3470 4119 or 0428 102 979