World Premiere | Winner of the Ensemble Theatre New Writing Commission 2016

Overview

Three years on from the sudden death of her husband, Sue’s future still feels blank. Her three children are distant and distracted. For the first time in her life, she’s alone. Sue decides to take drastic action: to be surrounded by life, even if that life is vegetable. But when you need to talk, plants don’t necessarily make the best conversational partners.

So Sue strikes on a radical solution – one that means her children will have to contend with an unexpected new arrival in the family…

Kit Brookman’s delightfully quirky play, written with a keen and intelligent wit, was the winner of the 2016 Ensemble Theatre New Writing Commission.

PRODUCTION PHOTOS: PRUDENCE UPTON

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM HERE

Reviews

‘’Warm, funny, deeply felt... the work of a brilliant new writing talent who is building a reputation for crafting plays that gently but thoroughly examine the intricacies of how families really interact behind closed doors".  Arts Review (for The Great Fire)

“Kit Brookman... confidently delivers a meaty exploration of the social and cultural changes wrought in Australia over the past 50 years".  Limelight (for The Great Fire)

“Wonderfully assured... beautifully, delicately explored".  The Guardian (for Small and Tired)

Cast & Creatives
Kit Brookman

Kit Brookman

Playwright

Kit is a writer and director. His most recent work THE GREAT FIRE premiered at Belvoir in 2016. In 2013 he wrote and directed SMALL AND TIRED at Belvoir, which was nominated for Best New Work at the Sydney Theatre Awards. The play had its US premiere in 2016. Other plays include A RABBIT FOR KIM JONG-IL (Grif n); NORA, a modern retelling of Ibsen’s A Doll’s House that was co-written with Anne-Louise Sarks for Belvoir in 2014; NIGHT MAYBE (Stuck Pigs Squealing/Theatreworks); and Kit’s rst play, HEAVEN, has been performed in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra. Recent directing work includes IS THIS THING ON? (with Zoe Coombs-Marr) for Belvoir. Kit was the winner of the 2012 Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Fellowship for HEAVEN. His writing has appeared in numerous Australian journals, including HEAT, Southerly, Harvest, and Westerly.

Elsie Edgerton-Till

Elsie Edgerton-Till

Director
Briallen Clarke

Briallen Clarke

Cast - Naomi

Briallen graduated from NIDA with a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Acting) in 2010.

Theatre credits include: for Grif n Theatre Company: A STRATEGIC PLAN, HOLLYWOOD ENDING; for Sydney Theatre Company: HAY FEVER; for Melbourne Arts Centre: DREAMSONG; for Darlinghurst Theatre Company: ALL MY SONS, THE YOUNG TYCOONS, THE LUNCH HOUR; for the Old Fitzroy Theatre: PORK STILETTO; and for Ensemble Theatre: CLYBOURNE PARK. Briallen also co-produced ATYP’s highly acclaimed production of STOP KISS.

Television credits include DOCTOR DOCTOR (Nine Network) and ABC’s FRESHBLOOD – developing young comedic talent in Australia. Briallen was a 2016 recipient of the Gloria Payten Foundation and Gloria Dawn Foundation fellowship. Briallen will next be appearing as Joanie Heslop in the highly anticipated musical adaptation of MURIEL’S WEDDING.

Briallen is a proud member of Equity.

Helen Dallimore

Helen Dallimore

Cast - Erin

Helen is an actress, singer, director and writer. Since graduating from NIDA in 1995, she has enjoyed a successful career in theatre, musical theatre, film and television both in Australia and in the UK.

She created the role of ‘Glinda’ in the West End production of WICKED opposite Idina Menzel, and she won the Helpmann Award for her performance in LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL. She has performed many times with the Sydney Theatre Company as well as Bell Shakespeare, Griffin and The Ensemble Theatre. Her screen credits include MR ACCIDENT, RUSSIAN DOLL, SECRET BRIDESMAID’S BUSINESS, POSTCARD BANDIT, THE DAY OF THE ROSES, THE MOODYS and HOUSE HUSBANDS. Her recent directing credits include A LIFE IN THE THEATRE for Darlinghurst Theatre and HIGH SOCIETY, THE FANTASTICKS, and EVERYBODY LOVES LUCY at Hayes Theatre Company. Helen plays Olivia O’Neill in Jungle/Channel Nine’s HERE COME THE HABIBS, for which she is also a writer.

Helen is a proud member of Equity.

Sandy Gore

Sandy Gore

Cast - Sue

Sandy is a graduate of NIDA.

Her extensive stage credits include WIT, RETREAT FROM MOSCOW and BECKY SHAW (Ensemble Theatre); HAKAWATI National Theatre of Parramatta; RICHARD 3, THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (Bell Shakespeare); SHELLSHOCK: GALLIPOLI TORTOISE, PARRAMATTA GIRLS (Riverside Theatres); THE GREAT FIRE, SMALL AND TIRED (Belvoir); CALPURNIA DESCENDING, UNDER MILK WOOD, UNCLE VANYA (including US tour: Lincoln Center, New York and The Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, Washington), LOVE LIES BLEEDING, SCENES FROM A SEPARATION, MORNING SACRIFICE, AMY’S VIEW, MEDEA, LES PARENTS TERRIBLE, GIFT OF THE GORGON, ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, A HAPPY AND HOLY OCCASION (STC); AS YOU LIKE IT, THE RIVALS, ELECTRA, THE ALCHEMIST, OTHER TIMES, SUMMER OF THE SEVENTEENTH DOLL, UNCLE VANYA, PYGMALION, MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING, CORALIE LANSDOWNE SAYS NO (MTC); Sandy  originated roles in classic Australian works, including JUGGLERS THREE, SONS OF CAIN, KID STAKES, OTHER TIMES, MAKASSAR REEF, ROOTED, BIG RIVER, DAYLIGHT SAVING AND CHASING THE DRAGON.

Sandy’s most recent screen credits include Channel 9’s HERE COME THE HABIBS! and the feature lm NOW ADD HONEY. Other lm work includes: AUSTRALIA, LORENZO’S OIL, EVIL ANGELS and OUTBACK. On television Sandy has appeared in RAKE, MURDER CALL, FARSCAPE, BRIDES OF CHRIST, GRASS ROOTS, A COUNTRY PRACTICE and THE FLYING DOCTORS.

Sandy is a proud member of Equity.

Garth Holcombe

Garth Holcombe

Cast - Daniel

Theatre credits include TRIBES: Ensemble Theatre, ORLANDO: Sydney Theatre Company, SONGS FOR THE FALLEN: New York/ New Zealand/ Sydney Festival & more, BENT: Company B Belvoir, THE PIGEONS: Griffin Theatre Company, AS BEE’S IN HONEY DROWN: Darlinghurst Theatre Sydney, MAMMON INC: Action Theatre Singapore, AN ITALIAN STRAW HAT: East Coast Theatre Company, THE BALD SOPRANO: NIDA Theatres, DON JOHN OF AUSTRIA: Sydney Symphony Orchestra, MR KOLPERT: PantsGuys. Other theatre credits include: THE LONDON CUCKOLDS, THE ATTIC, CLOSER, DON’S PARTY & Shakespeare’s CYMBELINE. National tours include ACTORS AT WORK for the Bell Shakespeare Company, and both RAINBOW’S END and ROMEO AND JULIET for Parramatta Riverside Theatres.

Screen credits include HOME & AWAY: Network 7, ALL SAINTS: Network 7, HEAD START: ABC and more.

Garth is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA 2006). Garth is a proud member of Equity.

Michelle Lim Davidson

Michelle Lim Davidson

Cast - Clare

Michelle is a graduate of the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA).

Directly after graduation Michelle was cast in the Ben Elton television show LIVE FROM PLANET EARTH (Nine Network). Other television credits include two seasons of the award-winning series UTOPIA (ABC), TOP OF THE LAKE: CHINA DOLL (BBC Two/ABC), GET KRACK!N (ABC), DOCTOR DOCTOR (Nine Network), PLAY SCHOOL (ABC), BIG TED’S BIG ADVENTURES (ABC) & JAY’S JUNGLE (7TWO). Michelle is a regular presenter on PLAY SCHOOL and tours nationally in the Play School Live concerts.

Theatre credits include POWER PLAYS (STC), THE LYSICRATES PRIZE (Griffin), PLAY SCHOOL LIVE (ABC), THE LARAMIE PROJECT (STC Education), SEMINAR (Ensemble Theatre) & FAR AWAY (Black Swan TC). Michelle guest starred alongside John Cleese in the JUST FOR LAUGHS COMEDY FESTIVAL.

Michelle’s film credits include the AACTA Best Picture nominated GOLDSTONE, directed by Ivan Sen, and THE WIGGLES: PANDEMONIUM directed by Ben Elton and short film BEYOND THE BUBBLE selected for the Sydney Film Festival 2017.

Before attending WAAPA, Michelle completed a Certificate IV in Music Theatre. She was a member of the Talent Development Project & danced in the Opening Ceremony of the Olympic Games. Michelle has participated in numerous creative developments, workshops and play readings for Sydney Theatre Company, Griffin, Belvoir, Black Swan, Ensemble Theatre and many others.

Michelle was the recipient of the 2013 Mike Walsh Fellowship and the 2016 Equity Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for UTOPIA. Michelle is a proud member of Equity.

Isabel Hudson

Isabel Hudson

Designer
Ben Brockman

Ben Brockman

Lighting Designer

Ben’s Lighting Design Credits Include; BENGAL TIGER AT BAGHDAD ZOO (Mad March Hare), THE LADEN TABLE (Kxt Theatre), BROKEN (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), TRIBES (Ensemble Theatre), THE BIG DRY (Ensemble Theatre), STRAIGHT (Kings Cross Theatre), REPLAY (Griffin Theatre), AWAY (Sport for Jove), MACBETH (Sport for Jove), CHERRY ORCHARD (New Theatre), BELLEVILLE (Mad March Hare), THROUGH A DISTANT LENS (Performance 4a Riverside), SPACE CATS (Brevity Theatre Company), THAT EYE THE SKY (New Theatre), NSW SENIOR CITIZENS REGIONAL CONCERT (Venarubles), GREY GARDENS THE MUSICAL (Squabbalogic), THE ALIENS (Outhouse Theatre Company), SPACE CATS (Brevity Theatre Company), DETROIT (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) ANIMAL/PEOPLE (TRS), SHIVERED (Mad March Hare), WHEN THE RAIN STOPS FALLING (New Theatre), MAN OF LA MANCHA (Squabbalogic), VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM (Brevity Theatre), SMURFS LIVE ON STAGE WORLD TOUR (MEI Entertainment). Ben’s website with his portfolio and upcoming productions can be found at: www.benbrockman.com

Daryl Wallis

Daryl Wallis

Sound Designer
Lauren Tulloh

Lauren Tulloh

Stage Manager
Alana Canceri

Alana Canceri

Wardrobe Coordinator

Alana is a Sydney-based costume designer, maker and supervisor. She trained at Ultimo TAFE where she received Diplomas in Costume for Performance, Fashion Design & Technology and Printing & Graphic Arts.

Theatre credits for Ensemble Theatre: NEVILLE’S, ISLAND, THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, TWO, e-baby, THE BIG DRY, TRIBES, GOOD PEOPLE, JACK OF HEARTS, BLOOD BANK, MY ZINC BED, THE BOOK CLUB, MOTHERS AND SONS and THE ANZAC PROJECT. Other credits: CHINESE NEW YEAR FESTIVAL (City of Sydney, assistant supervisor, maker), THAT EYE, THE SKY (New Theatre, costume designer), 8TH WONDER- SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE THE OPERA (Opera Australia, dresser), MY FAIR LADY (Opera Australia, maker), PUMPED UP (web-series, designer), SKINFORD (web-series, standby) and GODS OF EGYPT (feature film, maker). Alana has also worked as a stylist for Ensemble Theatre 2016, 2017 & 2018 Season Brochure.