“… acclaimed new play… a roller-coaster
ride of surprises… runs the gamut from
powerful drama to side-splitting humour
to compelling intrigue and then back again…”
Theater Miror

“… deftly structured… Ms Groff displays
admirable skill in laying out her far from simple
story…”
New York Times

PLAY 8 AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

By Rinne Groff

By arrangement with Hal Leonard Australia Pty Ltd
on behalf of Dramatists Play Service, Inc New York.

Until 14 November 2009
Cast includes Hollie Andrew, Paul Gleeson, Glenn Hazeldine, Catherine McGraffin, Amanda Muggleton, Jonathan Prescott, Matilda Ridgway
Director Sandra Bates Designer Claire Moloney Lighting Designer Gavan Swift

A dramatic tale of ambition, dreams and the hope of a brand new age of communication.

Who was the real inventor of television, John Logie Baird, Vladimir Zworykin or Philo T. Farnsworth? What if it had been Ruby, a poor, self-educated girl who, in 1927 created the first working photo-cathode tube in her Aunt Lois's barn in Indiana but only her boyfriend Henry knew about it? 

Fast forward to 1952 and a television studio in the grip of the McCarthy-era's censorship and communist witch hunts where talented writer, Tad Rose, is looking for a new and exciting idea for a television play. When he meets script editor and bright spark, Lulu, daughter of Ruby, whose own ambition is to tell her mother's story - whatever it takes - all his dreams seem to have come true.  

Approximate running time 2 hours 30 minutes incl. interval

Performance times vary throughout the week due to the double-up with the production of The Sunset Limited. Please see Calendar for performance dates and times.