'Bunghole' star Simon Laherty.
Victoria’s Back to Back Theatre, which employs a company of actors with disabilities, has teamed with Matchbox Pictures to produce its first venture into the film world, Bunghole.
Shooting will start next week in and around Geelong on the 30 minute feature, written and directed by Bruce Gladwin. Matchbox’s Warren Clarke is the script editor.
Lead actors from the Back to Back ensemble, Simon Laherty and Sonia Teuben, will lead the cast as members of a clean-up crew in a strange toxic wasteland who come across someone who may be the area's last human survivor. Bunghole also stars Jacek Koman (Jack Irish, The Warriors), Brian Tilley and Robin Ramsay.
Bunghole received seed funding from Adelaide Film Festival’s HIVE initiative last year, which Back to Back’s executive producer Alice Nash credits with allowing the company to expand into new territory.
“By bringing our work to screen, we are part of sweeping changes to national and international screen landscapes, presenting actors of difference in high profile contexts with broad audience appeal.”
Matchbox Pictures producer Stephen Corvini said Matchox was excited to partner with Back to Back Theatre to produce "what is bound to be a stunning and powerful piece of television drama.”
The project has received funding from Film Victoria as well as the Thyne Reid Foundation, A & M Costa Foundation and the City of Greater Geelong.
Bunghole will make its premiere at Adelaide Film Festival later this year before screening on ABCTV.