PRESS RELEASE
13 February 2008 – for immediate release

'T h e S i n g u l a r i t y'
By Afterburner

Concert Pianist Masters Singularity Theory

Catherine McKay is more accustomed to mastering Chopin and arpeggios, than taking on acting roles. McKay is looking forward to the challenge of delving into the acting sphere, since her experience is foremost as a pianist. She will play a piano teacher in a new play, The Singularity which opens for a limited preview season at the Stone Street Film Studios in Miramar, (29th March – 5th April), and premieres at BATS from the 10th April – 19th April.

She will join an acclaimed cast starring Danny Mulheron (writer and director of 'Seven Periods with Mr Gormsby'), and Jason Whyte (Shining City) in an intensive rehearsal period and limited preview season at the Stone Street Film Studios, Miramar.

'The initial challenge, I suppose, is to analyse and understand the character from the text,' says McKay, 'which is not so unlike taking a composer's score, then understanding and expressing it beyond the notes on the printed page.'

McKay, however, is no stranger to the stage, most recently having performed in Sara Brodie's The Kreutzer. She has played all over the world, from London to Montreal to Munich. She was an artist in residence at both the Banff Centre for the Arts in Canada and the University of Waikato, has toured New Zealand as a soloist, and accompanied Dame Malvina Major and Helen Medlyn in concert.

Writer/director Miranda Manasiadis says it was a coup to find a pianist of McKay's class to play Iris, and audiences expecting to hear McKay play will not be disappointed.

Manasiadis has no doubts McKay will give a great performance. 'Catherine has a stunning stage presence. When I saw her perform in The Kreutzer I felt very excited about asking her to be Iris.'

The Singularity is the final part in Afterburner's critically acclaimed Cell Trilogy.

'The Singularity', by Afterburner
Stone St Studios 29th March – 5th April (limited preview season)
BATS Theatre 10th April – 19th April ($20/$13)

ENDS