Straight-talking Joanne and perennially optimistic Felicity are back and STILL UNQUALIFIED in this sequel to 2018’s hilarious hit comedy. The fabulous all-female cast and creative team reunite for another joyous celebration of friendship against the odds – they’re (still) hanging in there!
Overview
World Premiere
They might be carrying briefcases and commanding bigger paycheques, but straight-talking Joanne and perennially optimistic Felicity are back and STILL UNQUALIFIED in this sequel to 2018’s hilarious hit comedy.
It’s been a year since we left Joanne and Felicity singing at a karaoke bar. They now live together, work out of their home office and tackle jobs that require a far greater degree of expertise — which neither of them have. From birth doulas to truck drivers, wedding planners to paralegals, the two women stretch the truth but never risk stretching their friendship beyond repair.
The inimitable Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore reunite once more with director Janine Watson for this madcap comedy about (still) hanging in there.
Ticket Prices
For group bookings of 10+, please call Box office on (02 8918 3460) or email groups@ensemble.com.au
Single tickets are now on sale.
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.
| 2024 SINGLE TICKETS | PREVIEWS | IN SEASON |
|---|---|---|
| FULL PRICE | $83 | $88 |
| SENIOR CARD | $80 | $85 |
| PENSIONER | $76 | $81 |
| GROUP 10 - 19 | $76 | $81 |
| GROUP 20+ | $71 | $76 |
| 30 OR UNDER | $40 | $43 |
| FULL-TIME STUDENT | $40 | $43 |
| MEAA/AWG | $40 | $43 |
| SCHOOL GROUPS | $25 | $25 |
Reviews
"The strong chemistry between the pair makes this a joy to watch" Sydney Morning Herald
★★★★ "Not only effervescent – and brilliantly silly – but also touching and insightful" Limelight
"Watching Hegney and Moore on stage, is an absolute treat... The chemistry between these two powerhouses, is a rare gift" Suzy Goes See
"I urge you to see UNQUALIFIED 2: STILL UNQUALIFIED for its sheer ingenuity and ability to make us laugh and laugh constantly" Sydney Arts Guide
"Excellent comic timing and unexpected silliness" Night Writes
Cast & Creatives
Genevieve Hegney
Genevieve Hegney is a graduate of NIDA and also holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia. During her career Genevieve has performed extensively in theatre, film and television.
Her theatre credits include INFLUENCE and TOT MUM (directed by Steven Soderbergh) for Sydney Theatre Company, PARRAMATTA GIRLS for Belvoir, TWELFTH NIGHT, ANTONY & CLEOPATRA, JULIUS CAESAR and MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING for the Bell Shakespeare Company, SOME EXPLICIT POLAROIDS for Darlinghurst Theatre and LOVE for Downstairs Belvoir, both nominated for ‘Best Independent Production’ at the Sydney Theatre Awards.
Her television credits include JANET KING (Series 2), THE KETTERING INCIDENT, HERE COME THE HABIBS! (Series 1-2), READY FOR THIS, THE MOODYS, CAMP, BEDHEAD, DEVIL’S DUST, RAKE, SPIRITED, ALL SAINTS, HOME AND AWAY, THE ALICE, OUT THERE (Series 1 & 2) which received an AFI award for ‘Best Children’s TV Series’.
Film roles include RIP TIDE, THE LITTLE DEATH directed by Josh Lawson, BURNING MAN directed by Jonathan Teplitzky, PRESERVATION, and HAPPY FEET. Short films include OUTBREAK GENERATION, RED INK and DESIRABLE for which she won Best Actress at the Kaleidoscope Film Festival.
Genevieve co-wrote, co-produced and acted in short film, THE AMBER AMULET which won numerous awards worldwide, including the 2013 Crystal Bear Award at the Berlin International Film Festival & won her an AWGIE for ‘Best Screenplay in a Short Film’.
Genevieve has written a six-part TV comedy series, UNQUALIFIED with Catherine Moore.
Catherine Moore
Catherine graduated from VCA, where she received the Irene Mitchell Award for Most Outstanding Actor.
Theatre credits include, BECKY SHAW, CASANOVA, AND THE COW JUMPED OVER THE MOON, YOU TALKIN’ TO ME? THE DIARY OF AN OLYMPIC CABBIE for Ensemble Theatre, FAR AWAY for Black Swan Theatre Company, CHARCOAL CREEK for Merrigong Theatre Co., MOTORTOWN and THE SEVEN NEEDS for Griffin, THE MEMORY OF WATER for Darlinghurst Theatre, BRECHT IN PERFORMANCE for Sydney Theatre Company, THE CAT LADY OF BEXLEY for Australian Theatre of the Deaf, AS YOU LIKE IT and THE COMEDY OF ERRORS for Bell Shakespeare Company and A MOMENT ON THE LIPS and SOLD at the Old Fitz.
Her Film and TV credits include the Feature Film BEING GAVIN, directed by Mark Kilmurry, JANEY KING, THE KETTERING INCIDENT, HOME AND AWAY, A MOODY CHRISTMAS, CROWNINES, RAKE, SPIRITED, CHANDON PICTURES, the telemovie BIG REEF and the award winning short films JULIAN and CELESTIAL AVENUE. Catherine is an accomplished Cabaret performer. Her works include THE HYMN THAT WE SHOUT, A JAQUES BREL CABARET and WEILL WOMEN – A KURT WEILL CABARET, which won ‘Best Cabaret’ at the 2004 Melbourne Fringe Festival and earned a Green Room nomination.
Catherine has been involved in numerous creative developments across Australia and has written a six-part TV comedy series UNQUALIFIED with Genevieve Hegney, to be produced by Jungle.
Janine Watson
Janine was a recipient of the inaugural Sandra Bates Directing Award. For Ensemble Theatre she was Assistant Director on Nina Rayne’s TRIBES and Alan Ayckbourn’s RELATIVELY SPEAKING. She also directed a rehearsed reading of Michael Gow’s AWAY. Janine will direct Bell Shakespeare’s 2018 In-Theatres education production of ROMEO AND JULIET which will be performed at the Sydney Opera House and Vic Arts Centre. She has been a director for Bell’s ACTORS AT WORK program from 2014-2017. She has directed abridged versions of ROMEO AND JULIET, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, HAMLET and MACBETH. For The Old Fitz Janine has directed CRIMES OF THE HEART (2017), DOLORES (2015 co-directed with Kate Box) and INFINITY TASTER (2015). For Melbourne Fringe she directed AGATHA (2010).
Janine is a graduate from the National Theatre Drama School. Her most recent acting credits include, for Television: THE CODE (Shawn Seet). Feature Film: THAT’S NOT ME (Gregory Erdstein). Theatre: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (Iain Sinclair); ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, THE DREAM (Peter Evans) ANTIGONE (Damien Ryan), THREE SISTERS (Kevin Jackson); THE HAPPY PRINCE, DRACULA, DANGEROUS LIAISONS (Stephen Nicolazzo); Janine won the GLUG Award for Best Supporting Actress for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, and was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award for the same show. She was nominated for a Green Room award for Best Actress for her work in MKA’s TRIANGLE.
Hugh O’Connor
Set & Costume Designer
Kelsey Lee
Lighting Designer
Daryl Wallis
Composer & Sound Designer
Morgan Moroney
Video Designer
Erin Shaw
Graduating from the Technical Theatre and Stage Management course at NIDA in 2016, Erin has previously worked in the industry as a dresser on GIRL ASLEEP (Belvoir, 2016); stage manager on LITTLE BORDERS (The 505, 2017), MOTH (ATYP, 2017), and LOVE, ME (The 505, 2018); and assistant stage manager on DIPLOMACY (Ensemble Theatre, 2018) and BLISS (Belvoir, 2018).
Erin feels privileged to have worked with such an incredible team on this production and looks forward to the season.
Sara Kolijn
Costume SupervisorWriter's Note
One day after an 11am performance of UNQUALIFIED, Mark Kilmurry asked 2 very weary women if they’d be interested in writing a sequel to their play and they said, “You’re out of your mind! We’re tired mums, we haven’t slept for 5 years! We may have a drinking problem! “ 3 minutes later, they had a synopsis. And so STILL UNQUALIFIED was conceived. Then, half the writing team moved to Perth, the world was struck down with the plague and Perth became an impenetrable fortress. So the play was born despite the playwrights never being in the same room together… and theatre being dead. The idea that one day, people would come back to the theatre and laugh at their jokes again gave them the inspiration to keep writing. So to everyone who has come back to the theatre, they thank you.
– Cath & Gen (who only talk about themselves in 3rd person now)
Director's Note
Sometimes people come into your life and it seems preordained. A ripple of déjà vu passes through you. There’s an intersection and you cross paths at exactly the right moment. Catherine Moore and Genevieve Hegney are two such people for me. One show with them was a gift I couldn’t have dreamt up. But two…. I’m so very lucky. Their gifts individually are manifold. Their power together as writers and performers is nothing short of profound. But what brings the most immense joy is their openness and honesty – it is unavoidable and unwavering – and it makes everyone in the room a part of their creative family. They leave no one behind. They want everyone to shine. I feel my most intuitive as a director in their presence. The work makes me laugh often and loudly and, thus distracted, is free to quietly tug at my heartstrings – before I know it I’m immeasurably moved. Thank you to Mark, Claire, Loretta and the whole Ensemble team, to our creative team, to box office and bar staff, and to our Stage Manager Erin who will steer the work through its season. Enjoy UNQUALIFIED 2: STILL UNQUALIFIED. My personal belief is that Cath and Gen’s sequel does what the best sequels do – it equals and betters the first.
– Janine Watson
Audience Reactions
“Absolutely brilliant … those two girls brought the house down and really made me giggle.”
Jan Barr (19 May 2022)
“Genevieve and Catherine were superb and unquestionably possess a spectrum of artistic talents with their powerful singing voices … engaging the whole way through.”
Eve Reddy (2 May 2022)
“Just want to let you know how brilliant we thought this production was. Probably our favourite ever at Ensemble.”
Duncan (1 May 2022)
Photo Gallery
Photography by Prudence Upton
Download your program
Discover more about STILL UNQUALIFIED with our digital program. It’s packed full of info about the show including notes from Playwrights Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore, and Director Janine Watson, plus photos and more!
Special Performance Dates
Audio Described
- Thu 26 May 11am
- Sat 28 May 4:30pm
Tactile Tours are available 1 hour prior to Audio Described performances, please contact the Box Office to book.
Q&A Session
- Sat 7 May 8:15pm
- Tue 17 May 11am
Free Teen
- Wed 1 Jun 6:15pm
WATCH THE TRAILER
COVID SAFETY MEASURES
We will be reviewing our COVID Safe plan for 2022 performances, in accordance with the NSW Government’s health advice. For performances of UNQUALIFIED 2: STILL UNQUALIFIED, patrons must be vaccinated and the wearing of masks is compulsory in the theatre until at least Saturday, 4 June 2022.