Venue and dates to be announced shortly.
To enquire about how GREEN TEA can come to you, please contact Luke:
e: luke.townson@gmail.com
m: 0438 421 554
In this intriguing one-man show, Luke Townson plays the ‘philosophic physician’ Dr. Martin Hesselius, as well as a number other characters.
This is a story about Dr. Hesselius dealing with a case of an evil spirit tormenting a kind and respected English church Reverend (Jennings). The influence of the works of Swedish philosopher and ‘spiritualist’, Emanuel Swedenborg, play a significant role in this 19th Century ‘gothic’ tale. Swedenborg believed that we have with us at all times two demons whose ultimate goal is to destroy us.
Whether or not you actually believe this is irrelevant as this is the ‘artistic truth’ in this show. In dealing with any form of ‘gothic’ drama, including Shakespeare’s Hamlet as well as Stephen Mallatratt’s The Woman in Black it is necessary to suspend belief, or disbelief, in the spiritual world, in order to enjoy the show.
In this story there is only one demon from hell – ‘a black monkey’. This demon haunts the Reverend and is always visible to him no matter what time of the day or night. Even when the Reverend is in the supposed sanctuary of his church and private residence this ‘black monkey’ menaces him, urging him to destroy himself. Eventually, he appeals to Dr. Hesselius who as a ‘philosophical physician’ is an expert in these matters.
Can the good doctor save this man of God in time? That is the drama of this rather suspenseful and chilling story.
-Tony Knight
After graduating from QUT’s Fine Arts Acting degree, Luke found vocation as a theatrical writer’s apprentice, to the late Bille Brown AM. Assisting as a writer on Brown’s last performed production for QTC “School of Arts”, Luke and Brown then co-wrote Brown’s last and still unperformed work, Mr W.H. - adapted as a sequel to The portrait of Mr W.H. by Oscar Wilde.
Luke has worked in theatre, TV and on film all over Australia. This is Luke’s second One Man Show, Performing in The Surfer and the Mermaid for Bleach Festival.
Luke is an award-winning actor in film, as well as taking out the Sydney Fringe Festival ‘Stand out Actor Award’ for his performance in this show, GREEN TEA.
“Luke Townson is absolutely terrific. No wonder he was the winner of the ‘2018 Standout Actor Award’ at the 2018 Sydney Fringe Festival. His command of the stage and respective characterisations are simply marvelous. It is not difficult to suspend belief when such an actor is in complete control of everything he is doing, making it feel like it is all being experienced in the immediate present.
Luke Townson is a graduate of the Acting course at QUT in Brisbane. He is a credit to his teachers and to the course at QUT. It was whilst he was a student at QUT that he met and began working with the late, great Bille Brown in adapting works for the stage. Green Tea is dedicated to Billie Brown, and this show and Luke Townson’s performance is a completely worthy and honourable dedication to this great Australian actor. Thoroughly recommended.”
-Tony Knight (read the full review here…)
“When I find myself immersed in a very high quality piece of work, I suspend myself for a very brief moment and make a quick list of all the brilliant people I know who I wish were in the audience experiencing the art. Then I swiftly pop back in and I barely miss a beat. Tonight I saw an exceptionally talented man take to the stage armed with some spectacles, a few old books and the depths of his mind and spirit. And how I wish you were there. He met us in the most casual setting but within a few words, there we were, picking up the clues, intrigued by the carefully presented pieces of ourselves. Bravo Luke Townson. Incredible work. Phenomenonally talented. Bravo.”
-Julienne Bergmann
“Green Tea is a phenomenal piece of theatre. A tightly wound script delivers a creeping, inexorable sense of dread. Each character is masterfully realised with lightening fast swaps by the highly talented and rightfully acclaimed Luke Townson. Don't miss this highly unique piece of theatre.”
-David Knox
“Luke Townson is absolutely terrific. No wonder he was the winner of the ‘Standout Actor Award’ at the 2018 Sydney Fringe Festival. His command of the stage and respective characterisations are simply marvelous.
- Tony Knight
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Thank you for your interest in GREEN TEA. We’d love to hear from you…
You can contact us on -
email: luke.townson@gmail.com
phone: 0438 421 554
Or please leave a message below.
Thank you to the following people who assisted in the production of GREEN TEA.
Sam Haft is an actor and writer, known for Nobody's Perfect (2016), Peter Rabbit (2018) and Rake (2010). Sam grew up in London and graduated from NIDA’s Acting Course in 2002.
Tama Matheson is a director, actor, and writer based in London. He studied English at Oxford University, and Drama and History at the University of Queensland. Tama is currently Artistic Director of The Brisbane Shakespeare Festival, and works as a freelance director in both theatre and opera.
