About Us
Brad Jennings and Steven Maxwell started working together as colleagues teaching in Townsville where they started to produce new original work. Their first collaboration was in 2001 when they produced Blowout, written and directed by Jennings, at the Cow Shed, James Cook University.
In 2002 they founded Markwell Presents as a partnership and the first production was a new play called Advanced Screening, written and directed by Jennings. This was the first time they integrated video into the live performance and although it was a small 3m x 2m projection screen, hung above the stage, it worked well. The show premiered in October at The Dance North Theatre, Townsville and was commended as the most outstanding project for 2002 by the Thuringowa RADF committee.
In 2003 they co-wrote, directed and produced Loose Ends, a contemporary drama for adults at The Dance North Theatre. It was during the development of this project that Brad and Steven decided to specialize in integrating visual content and live performance, using the vision to extend the dimension of the stage drama. When discussing how to describe and market the the show, the term Cinematic Theatre was coined as a title for the style of continuous cinematic theatrical experience they wanted to present when writing and producing Loose Ends. The show was an enthralling and emotional experience, with the integration of stage and screen captivating audiences and critics alike.
2004 saw Markwell Presents become a company and move to Brisbane with a new production of Advanced Screening at the Visy Theatre, Brisbane Powerhouse in May. The young audiences were captivated by the energy of the show, creating a concert atmosphere. The season was supported by Arts Queensland. In October they produced another original work, a cinematic concept performance titled 06:27 part 1 at The Loft - QUT, this production informed the writing of What Simon Said.
2004 saw the introduction of the schools program and they facilitated Artist in Residence programs with Villanova College, Somerville House, Bribie Island SHS, Whitsunday Anglican College and presented 6 workshops.
2005 was a very busy year with 4 productions of new original work starting with a new production of Blowout, a commissioned co-production with Villanova College in March, Two Parts at Metro Arts in June, a play about young people dealing with parents separation and supported by Relationships Australia, What Simon Said at The Loft in July, a 3 screen surreal romantic comedy starring David Collins of the Umbilical Brothers, and a new digitally enhanced production of Advanced Screening at the Judith Wright Centre in October.
In the schools program there were Residencies at Villanova College, Somerville House, Balmoral SHS, Whitsunday Anglican College and presented 18 workshops.
In 2006 the 4th production of Advanced Screening was presented out west, at the Ipswich Civic Hall in May, and then the company received their first contract to produce and operate cinematic for professional theatre, the world premiere of David Williamson's Strings Under my Fingers for La Boite Theatre Co at the Noosa Long Weekend in June. Next they designed and operated the cinematic for the futuristic Episodes for Sally McKenzie, at the Brisbane Theatre Fringe in July and at the Melbourne Fringe festival in October. In a big finish to the year produced and operated the cinematic content for sex:cubed for La Boite Theatre in November, it looked fantastic and got great reviews.
In the schools program there were Residencies at Villanova College, Somerville House, Balmoral SHS, Corinda SHS, Hervey Bay SHS, St Mary’s College, Canterbury College, and presented 7 workshops.
2007 saw a rapid growth in services and products for schools and young people and kept the company very busy applying Cinematic Theatre to 12 residency projects. During the year they worked with partner companies; providing video support for La Boite Theatre Company, co-producing an episode of the Online Soap project with Backbone Youth Arts, co-producing the film footage for Hollow Crossing with Pixelframe and Honeydew
Studios.
In the schools program there were Residencies at Villanova College, Somerville House, Balmoral SHS, Corinda SHS, Brisbane Boys College, Centenary SHS, Churchie, Morayfield SHS, St Aidan’s Anglican College, Sunshine Coast Grammar, St Mary’s College, Canterbury College and presented 22 workshops in schools and universities. They presented programs Brisbane City Council’s Central Library and at Brisbane Powerhouse’s Powerkids.
2008 Markwell produced a new original work Hollow Crossing in March as part of the Metro Arts Independents program, then produced and operated the cinematic for Zen Zen Zo's Sub Con Warrior 2 at the Judith Wright Centre in April and produced the cinematic for The August Moon at the Billie Brown Studio in July for the Qld Theatre Co. In November they produced for a new show for young people called Rocks In My Head in association with Villanova College.
In the schools program there were Residencies at Villanova College, Somerville House, All Hallows, Corinda SHS, Bowen SHS, Calvary Christian College, Brisbane Boys College, Ormiston College, Kepnock SHS, St Laurence’s, St Margaret’s Anglican College, Sunshine Coast Grammar, St Mary’s College, Canterbury College and presented 40 workshops in schools and universities. They presented programs at Qld Theatre Company’s Theatre Residency Week and at Brisbane Powerhouse’s Powerkids.
In 2009 they produced and operated the cinematic for La Boite's The White Earth in February and assisted with production of the visuals in La Boite’s Oodgeroo in July. In March they started working for ABC Classics filming and editing Electronic Press Kits and TVCommercials for their album releases.
In the schools program there were Residencies at Villanova College, Somerville House, All Hallows, St Laurence’s, Calamvale Community College, Fraser Coast Anglican College, Sunshine Coast Grammar, St Mary’s College, Canterbury College and presented 30 workshops in schools and universities. They presented programs for The Sunshine Coast Regional Council’s Shout Out Loud Festival, Qld Theatre Company at the Newcastle and Central Coast Drama Festivals, State Library of Qld's Young Writers Day Camp and at Brisbane Powerhouse’s Powerkids.
The People
Brad Jennings is the Artistic Director of Markwell Presents. Brad has been writing, directing and producing live performance with young people since 1998. He has always been excited by the presence of projection in theatre. When teaching in Townsville in 2000, he met Steven Maxwell, and in 2003, began creating work that they now call cinematic theatre. Brad’s vision is to create an engaging theatre experience through the synergy of live performance and cinematic projection. He believes firmly in utilising the best conventions of film, and the most interesting elements of popular design. Brad is a writer, director, producer, artist in residence, camera man and video editor.
Steven Maxwell is the Creative Producer of Markwell Presents. He grew up in western Sydney where he was first drawn to live performance at the Q Theatre and then again in High School by seeing Hamlet and performing in musicals. Since then he has continued to write creatively and play music and when he met Brad he found a creative partner. Steven enjoys the mix of creative output and business enterprise in his roles as writer, production producer, biz and mkting manager, finance officer, workshop facilitator, camera op, editing and design. Most of all he enjoys the positive experience of working as a team to produce something that takes place live and moves and entertains people.
