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Welcome
to Tempest 

the word tempest means a storm and making waves - a feminist theatre company that explores and empowers female stories and roles. we make raw, visceral and visually arresting work. By women and about women. founded in 2011, tempest has made a dozen works focused on reimagining old stories and centring women in stories we have been excluded from. 

Get in touch if you want to chat about what we do, or if you want a feminist producer or director for a project, or you want to pitch us an idea. 

OUR MISSION

Why We Do What We Do

tempest is best known for producing and directing textural, magnetic and visceral female centric shows. we are drawn to unveiling the domestic spaces that women inhabit. our work is transformative and raw. we are committed to creating spaces for women to grow as well as mentoring the next generation of female artists.

The Maids (2016)

COMING OCTOBER 2024
Subiaco Arts Centre

Three Sisters - An Adaptation

after Anton Chekhov 

A Good Death
by Kim Parkhill

Tempest’s founder and director Susie Conte stages the show gracefully and tenderly with her signature touches throughout: monochromatic tones (costumes in white and props in pink), and subtle moments of physical theatre, such as when Jarzabek repetitively adjusts her skirt in slow motion while seated on stage out of scene. Conte makes use of a hospital bed as the major centrepiece of the set, shifting its position on stage throughout to create fluidity and subtly hint at the changing perspectives in the narrative.Tempest Theatre aims to provoke with its works; here, the provocation is a gentle nudge, an occasional playful poke, and an open-ended question.

Fremantle Arts Centre x Incheon Art Platform Residency

Sept-Nov 2023

GOREUM//TIES

THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA
                      May 2023

Framed in a story challenging gender roles in a patriarchal society, The House of Bernarda Alba saw a talented cast enliven the depths of six individuals and mechanisms of survival. It was a compassionate interrogation of internalised misogyny and classism, and the potential of love. Lust was converted into agency and passion to devotion or passive dreams for change. The scrutiny of layered oppressions was left to the audience to recognise echoes in present day society. The sombre and pensive conversations after an appreciative applause suggested the politically incisive drama struck true.

ArtsHub

PAWA AWARDS 2022

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Monstrous Woman 

November 2021

A radical feminist adaptation of Phaedra

 

“I was a woman, a mark for the world’s contempt”

This performance so delicately rewrites beliefs about what it means to be a woman in a certain role at a certain age engaging in certain types of behaviour and how this role cast upon the gender by outside forces and ideas from within can have such damaging effects upon one’s feelings, future, and fate.

Fourth Wall Media

MONICA
July 2021

The work is sophisticated and sharp. Its script is full of poetic pointers that lead us to question topical societal beliefs which are in need of our urgent attention. As a work borne out of the #MeToo era, it attempts to go deeper than the present moment, and engage with larger and potentially more concerning questions in which we all prove culpable. 

ArtsHub

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A DOLL'S HOUSE
Oct 2020

"Over 140 years after the premiere of A Doll’s House, this feminist examination of a woman’s decision to leave her children to save herself remains shocking and heartbreaking - especially when so movingly portrayed." Stage Whispers

“A magnificent adaptation…once or twice a year you get a play that just grabs you, holding you rigid for the whole performance. This was a prime example.” WA Theatre Reviews

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PAWA AWARDS 2019

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THE COMMUNISTS ARE IN THE FUNHOUSE

July 2019

"The Communists Are In The Funhouse is a well-constructed devised work that explores a delicate subject in a beautiful and intimate way. The ensemble open up and are very giving with their performances, and add new voices that are shining a spotlight on women’s experiences. Not only does it achieve all of this, it might make the women in the crowd realise that their pain is legitimate. That their experiences are shared and the men in the audience to also realise the pain that women undergo is legitimate – and that’s a very commendable message to communicate." Fourth Wall Media

"The cast work very well together and the action is beautifully paced, with a well constructed order and well edited action.

Retro film touches are used to great effect and the red balloon filled set is interesting, and fittingly both annoying and unpredictable

Tempest, which is a consciously feminist company, has once again produced a quality production, that addresses issues important to women, with an all female cast and crew." Stage Whispers

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MELBA

February 2019

"A heartfelt, intimate performance..." Isolated Nation

"...exquisite moments..." Gutter Culture

"A little treasure..." Stage Whispers

"4 STARS" Fourth Wall Media

(Dis)Solution - sisters driving each oth

(DIS)SOLUTION

Oct 2018

"This hour long show tells a compelling story that is a pleasure to watch. An engaging show that is well worth seeing...well written, well directed and well acted little gem of a show" Stage Whispers

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LYSISTRATA

July 2018

"Unapologetically pink and pretty, while the vibe is power" Stage Whispers

“Lysistrata has been confused in its feminist message in the past, but in this production there is no doubt. This is a fierce, fiery, and feminist manifesto that should be seen by everyone.” The Fourth Wall Media

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SPARROW
April 2018

“As playwright, Susie Conte has created a work of strength and sincerity.” LA Review thetvolution.com

“Conte’s adaptation takes in the soaring, almost romantic, style of Skinner’s prose. She delivers the performance with a gravitas that allows the audience to get to know Skinner’s life, her isolation and her musings on memory, sexuality and gender.” West Australian

“A simple story of loss and despair eloquently told. A Must.” San Diego Reader

 

“An enticing monologue” Rotunda Media

“Conte gives an unhistrionic performance that pays respect to her subject and her concerns – the place of women in the world, the nature of love and its lack, the impulse to art. It is well, and sometimes beautifully, supported by a simple, austere design, complementing the narrative without distracting us from it. Sparrow is a well-constructed and enlightening window into people and times that have faded from memory. It’s good to have this chance to see them again.” David Zampatti (SeeSaw Magazine)

The Yellow Wallpaper (2017)

THE YELLOW WALLPAPER

January 2017

Nominated for Best Theatre award

Adapted into short film The Wallpaper

IN THE NEWS

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YIN YANG WEST AUSTRALIAN

Feb 9, 2019

LADY BEAUFORT

Feb 2019

WEST AUSTRALIAN

July 10, 2018

A DOLL'S HOUSE

Oct 2021

TEAM

Jenny Crabb

JENNY CRABB

Audio Visual Lead

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Susie Conte

SUSIE CONTE

Artistic Director

AMY WELSH

Performer

Ticketing Consultant

We are dedicated to writing and producing stories of women who may sit outside the usual discourse in theater - mothers, daughters, writers, poets, victims, survivors, dreamers  - every woman deserves a voice and a place to tell her story.

PHOTO GALLERY

Previous shows

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Rehearsal shots - aren’t they pretty_ Fu

Rehearsal shots - aren’t they pretty_ Fu

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Hell yeah it is! One more performance to

Hell yeah it is! One more performance to

We are up and running and excited the sh

We are up and running and excited the sh

Soon. The Communists are in the Funhouse

Soon. The Communists are in the Funhouse

Back into rehearsals for the new show Th

Back into rehearsals for the new show Th

The Communists are in the Funhouse _subi

The Communists are in the Funhouse _subi

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wits.jpeg

(Dis)Solution - sisters driving each oth

(Dis)Solution - sisters driving each oth

Sparrow

Sparrow

Today is the day! Preview for (dis)Solut

Today is the day! Preview for (dis)Solut

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Acting.jpg

The ever beautiful and talented _immgem as Myrrhine in Lysistrata _subiacoartscentre #pertharts #per

The ever beautiful and talented _immgem as Myrrhine in Lysistrata _subiacoartscentre #pertharts #per

Lysistrata _cruella.de.jpg

Lysistrata _cruella.de.jpg

Check us out in _thewestaustralian today. We preview tonight. Get in quick.jpg

Check us out in _thewestaustralian today. We preview tonight. Get in quick.jpg

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The Yellow Wallpaper (2017)

The Yellow Wallpaper (2017)

Sparrow (2017

Sparrow (2017

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imogen.jpg

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'ana.jpg

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Bash (2016)

Bash (2016)

Macbeth-ish (2014)

Macbeth-ish (2014)

Macbeth-ish (2014)

Macbeth-ish (2014)

The Maids (2016)

The Maids (2016)

The Maids (2016)

The Maids (2016)

The Maids (2016)

The Maids (2016)

Half Hour Hamlet (2013)

Half Hour Hamlet (2013)

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11737862_802016039916394_4023190477080621765_n.jpg

The Yellow Wallpaper (2017)

The Yellow Wallpaper (2017)

Sparrow (2017)

Sparrow (2017)

Sparrow (2017)

Sparrow (2017)

Bash (2016)

Bash (2016)

Bash (2016)

Bash (2016)

Bash (2016)

Bash (2016)

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Insist. Resist. Persist. Lysistrata 2019

Insist. Resist. Persist. Lysistrata 2019

Laughing at all the dick jokes in Lysist

Laughing at all the dick jokes in Lysist

Dream Melba team. I love these two! We’l

Dream Melba team. I love these two! We’l

You DON’T have your tickets__ We are sho

You DON’T have your tickets__ We are sho

These babes!! Lysistrata 7pm _fringe_lad

These babes!! Lysistrata 7pm _fringe_lad

Done! What an experience in such a beaut

Done! What an experience in such a beaut

Check us out in the West today. Andrea a

Check us out in the West today. Andrea a

Yay. But they got the copy wrong....thos

Yay. But they got the copy wrong....thos

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T-3 hours. Join us! _subiacoartscentre.j

T-3 hours. Join us! _subiacoartscentre.j

7.30pm _subiacoartscentre.jpg

7.30pm _subiacoartscentre.jpg

We are open. We had a terrific audience

We are open. We had a terrific audience

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