STAGE • FILM • TV
Carita recently Directed STRICTLY BALLROOM for Firbank Grammar & Brighton Grammar's senior school musical.
In 2022 Carita appeared in the Australian Premiere of triple Olivier Award winning play EMILIA for Arts Centre Victoria and Canberra Theatre Centre.
Also in 2022 Carita played the role of Mac in Melbourne Theatre Company's critically aclaimed world premiere production of THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR by Aiden Fennessey. This show was filmed for the MTC Digital Theatre program and screened at Cinema Nova, Melbourne.
Carita was most recently seen on our TV screens as Mrs Judd in MS FISHER’S MODERN MURDER MYSTERIES for Channel 7 / Every Cloud Productions and as Barbara Collins in the ABC/Matchbox Pictures 6 part TV series SEVEN TYPES of AMBIGUITY.
Carita was an original cast member of the smash-hit Australian musical LADIES IN BLACK for both the Queensland Theatre and Melbourne Theatre Company seasons as well as the 2017 National Tour which included The Sydney Festival, Canberra and return seasons in Melbourne and Brisbane. The production was directed by Simon Phillips with original music by Tim Finn and was the winner of the 2016 Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work.
Carita’s one-woman cabaret show LARRY & THE DAME (a double bill, with herself), received an Arts Review TOP 10 PICKS at the 2015 Melbourne International Comedy Festival and has since gone on to tour extensively to various venues and festivals: Studio 188; The Judith Wright Centre; Glitter Festival Gold Coast;Woodford Folk Festival; Midsumma Festival; Keppel Bay Arts Centre; Melbourne Fringe Festival; and Festival of Voices, Tasmania. Carita directed this show for Queensland ARTour 2019 starring cabaret performer Alison St Ledger as LARRY & THE DAME
Carita has performed countless time in the WOMEN IN VOICE Cabaret Series between 1995 - 2022 at various QLD venues including QPAC Playhouse; QPAC Concert Hall; Judith Wright Centre; Princess Theatre; and The Brisbane Powerhouse.
Carita has been a long term Director and Coach at the National Institute of Circus Arts - NICA. Together with her husband Hayden, she has produced and directed a number of innovative productions for this institution including: Things Not of This Earth; Alwin in E-minor; The Cardboard Box Show; and PESCADO - a cabaret circus fusion; Flight; and Graduation Showcase performances
PREVIOUS CREDITS
Melbourne Theatre Company: CYRANO DE BERGERAC; and LADIES IN BLACK
Hothouse Theatre Co: THE MESSIAH (National Tour and Helpmann Award nomination); and THE FABULOUS DAME FARRAR’S DAZZLING DISPLAY OF STUPENDOUS ACTS FOR THE STAGE!!! (writer / performer)
Queensland Theatre Company: LADIES IN BLACK; THE VENETIAN TWINS; PROOF; A CONVERSATION; THE AUSTRALIAN SITCOM FESTIVAL; and EX-PLODED
La Boite Theatre: WAY OUT WEST (Qld Gas Co); A PAPER HOUSE; THE POPULAR MECHANICALS; SPEAKING IN TONGUES; and THE JOHN WAYNE PRINCIPLE
Independent Theatre
Grin & Tonic: Monkey (Brisbane Festival); and Seasons (QLD Tour); Schnapperhead Productions: ZOO-ILLOGICAL (Festivals / Tour); Matrix Theatre: Green; The Vagina Monologues; Cheapside; and Jerusalem; La Mama / Metro Arts: Trampoline
Music / Cabaret
Todd McKenney Live Starcity Showroom (Sydney); The Flannelettes AllStar a cappella (2 live albums); The Mint Patties and The Super Supremes (live concept bands)
Writer / Performer
The Butterfly Club Melbourne: CARITA FARRER IS THE MUTHA OF ALL DIVAS; TOO MUCH IS NEVER ENOUGH; THE FABULOUS DAME FARRAR GOES BRAZILIAN NUTS!; and THE FABULOUS DAME FARRAR’S STUPENDOUS ACTS FOR THE STAGE!!!
Hothouse Theatre Company: THE FABULOUS DAME FARRAR’S DAZZLING DISPLAY OF STUPENDOUS ACTS FOR THE STAGE!!!
Queensland Performing Arts Centre / Brisbane Cabaret Festival: THERE WAS AN OLD LADY - A KABARET FOR KIDS (with Composer /MD John Rodgers)
Belvoir St B Sharp / La Boîte Theatre: XCESS BAGGAGE (Co-writer & Performer Sandro Colarelli)
Festival Appearances
Adelaide Fringe / Melbourne Fringe / Woodford Folk Festival / Byron Bay Blues Festival / Ladies Sing the Blues Festival / Brisbane Festival / The Famous Spiegletent / Brisbane Cabaret Festival / Melbourne International Comedy Festival / Festival of Voices Tasmania
Film & Television
Fat Cow Motel; Mortified; Medivac; Various TVC’s; Crime 101 Web Episodes -The University of Queensland’s International Award winning Online Psychology course; Cubby House (feature)
Writer / Director
Metro Arts: LITTLE HITLER’S ODE TO AN AUSTRIAN BENTWOOD (Director)
SBS: AUSTRALIA BY NUMBERS Documentary Series - episode ’Rockhampton 4700’ (Writer/Director)
Jens Altheimer one-man-show: LOOSE ENDS (Co-Director for National Tour)
Recent Hosting / Corporate Entertainment
CIMA Conference Melbourne; Elders Realestate Vic Awards; Haileybury College Mothers Day lunch - Sandringham Yacht Club; Australian Food & Allergy Foundation “Ladies Lunch” - Myer Mural Hall; Brighton Beach Junior Football Club Fundraiser; Firbank Grammar School Mothers Day Luncheon; Delaware North - Melbourne & Olympic Park / Etihad Stadium staff training; Brighton Yacht Club Oaks Day Lunch; Brighton Primary School Annual Luncheon.
Awards
1996 Lord Mayor’s Performing Arts Fellowship - studied singing & theatre in New York & California
2004 Matilda Award for Best Supporting Female Actor ( Proof, The Venetian Twins)