Meet the cast: A LETTER FOR MOLLY
Hitting our stage from Monday, Gumbaynggirr playwright and actor Brittanie Shipway’s new play A LETTER FOR MOLLY is a beautiful celebration of culture that explores the importance of identity and the emotional power of a mother-daughter relationship.
Directed by Ursula Yovich, recipient of the 2021 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award, and with a brilliant team of actors and creatives to bring this vibrant story to the stage, we can’t wait for the world premiere!
With some wonderful new faces at Ensemble, get to know the cast of A LETTER FOR MOLLY!
In respect of Gumbayngirr culture, cast are listed in order of elder status.
Lisa Maza | MIIMI
Lisa Maza (Mer/Yidinji/Dutch) has been acting and singing professionally for twenty something years. She received Best Supporting Performance (Female) for THE SEASON at Tasmania Theatre Awards 2018. Stage performances include: BLACK TIES (ILBIJERRI Theatre/Te Rehia, 2020) FROM DARKNESS (La Boite Theatre, 2019), THE SEASON (Tasmania Performs, 2017), THE RABBITS (Opera Australia /Barking Gecko, 2016 & 2015), GOING THROUGH (CSF, 2015), THINGS THAT FALL OVER (2014), THE SAPPHIRES (Company B, 2011), SISTERS OF GELAM (2009), GRONKS (STC/Zeal, 2008 & 2006), STOLEN (2005, 2002, 1999), YANAGAI YANAGAI!!! (2003), ENUFF (2002), CORRUGATION ROAD (Black Swan, 1998), RADIANCE (QTC/Kooemba Jdarra, 1997).
Paula Nazarski | DARLENE
Paula is a Ngugi woman from Minjerribah (North Stradbroke Island) located
in Quandamooka Country (Moreton Bay Queensland). Paula recently appeared in TO KILL A CASSOWARY at Jute Theatre. For QTC, Paula has appeared in, HEAD FULL OF LOVE (National Tour for QT) MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN (co-production with QPAC), CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF (coproduction with Black Swan State Theatre Company), AN OAK TREE, THE CRUCIBLE, THE SCHOOL OF ARTS (co-production with QPAC). Other Credits: Queensland Arts Council/Artslink: MY STORY, YOUR STORY, TALES MY MOTHER TOLD ME, BLOW ‘EM; State Library of Queensland: A NIGHT WITH PAULA NAZARSKI, YARNIN TIME, YULETIDE CELEBRATIONS; QUT: BOX THE PONY; NAIDOC Week: THIS WOMAN’S JOURNEY; Kooemba Jdarra: THE MACK, BITIN’ BACK, TRUE; Canto Choir: 1975; Aboriginal Centre for Performing Arts: UP THE ROAD; Brisbane Festival: ARE WE THERE YET? Film: AUSTRALIA DAY, THE BUTTERFLY TREE. Television: UPRIGHT 2, DARBY & JOAN, WAKE IN FRIGHT, HOGES, DEADLINE, THE BUREAU OF MAGICAL THINGS. Positions: Emerging Artist 2011 – Queensland Theatre Company, Australia Council for the Arts – Indigenous Artist Mentorship 2011. Training: Advanced Diploma in Performing Arts, ACPA; Cert IV in Training and Assessment. Play – CARPENTARIA Indidj Youths Arts for Brisbane Winters Festival 2019-2021.
Nazaree Dickerson | LINDA/RECEPTIONIST
Nazaree Dickerson (she/her/ they) is a Wardandi Bibbulman Noongar/Burmese person from Boorloo (Perth), W.A. Currently based on Gunditjmara country
in regional Victoria Naz is an actor, writer and director who champions First Nations and LGBTIQ voices. For the past few years Naz has worked as a Creative Associate at Ilbijerri Theatre Company. With a career spanning over 26 years, she has worked with numerous theatre companies including Yirra Yaakin, JUTE theatre in Cairns and No Strings Attached. Naz started writing in 2020 with two commissioned works CRUMBS and NGARNGK; GIVER OF LIFE which debuted at Yirramboi Festival 2021.
Brittanie Shipway | RENEE
A graduate from NIDA, Brittanie is a singer, actor, and storyteller. After studying acting in New York, Brittanie returned home to pursue her passion for new Australian work. This has seen her workshop many original theatre projects, most notably MURIEL’S WEDDING and EVIE MAY. Some acting credits include the Arbiter in CHESS, Kay in THE SAPPHIRES, Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL, and various roles in Sport For Jove’s OTHELLO and ROSE RIOT. As a creative, Brittanie has written for ABC Radio National’s short stories, Little Yarns and articles for SBS. A resident writer for Theatre Works, her play SENSER will debut later in 2022. Currently, Brittanie is developing her Gumbaynggirr musical YELLOW ROCK which has already received the APRA AMCOS Award of the year, as well as the Koori Grant from Create NSW.
Joel Granger | NICK
Joel Granger most notably appeared in the Australian/ NZ tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON as Elder McKinley, for which he received a Helpmann Award nomination. Other theatre credits include Pippin/Charlemagne understudy in PIPPIN for GFO, Arpad in SHE LOVES ME (Sydney Theatre Award nomination) and Baldwin in CRY-BABY for Hayes Theatre Co., Harry Beaton in The Production Company’s BRIGADOON, Tobias in SWEENEY TODD for NZ Opera, Warren in ORDINARY DAYS for Pursued by Bear (Green Room Award nomination), Zacky Price in BIG FISH: THE MUSICAL, Tom in THE GATHERING for VTC, and Bride in TITANIC for StageArt. Television credits include TRUE STORY WITH HAMISH AND ANDY and PLEASE LIKE ME for ABC. Joel is a 2015 WAAPA graduate and was a 2018 finalist for the Rob Guest Endowment.
Playing 9 May – 4 Jun, don’t miss this vibrant celebration of culture.
