Category: Upcoming

Bookings

‘Piece of Mind’ is written by Melbourne playwright Emma Wood. A quirky comedy, it nevertheless tackles some universal themes: ageing and mortality, financial insecurity, difficult relationships and the vitality of women’s friendships.

Cast: Jan Cook, Laura Elliott, Jane Montgomery Griffiths, Carolyn Palmer, Kate Stones, Michael Uniacke

Synopsis
With not-so-comfortable retirements looming, long suffering nurses Gwen and Allie launch a daring (and maybe-not-entirely-thought-through) business venture — a peaceful parlour featuring a really quite splendid coffin which couples can rent by the hour as means of ‘getting things off their chest’. It’s quick-fix relationship therapy with a bit of funereal cosplay for fun. What could possibly go wrong? Especially when Gwen and Allie leap in with more enthusiasm than business acumen? Throw in some cross-generational confusion, a few less than stable clients, a dynamic, tech-savvy daughter, and a fearsome octogenarian aunt with deep pockets and things quickly get out of hand, threatening Gwen and Allie’s savings, their future and even their friendship.

Playwright
Emma Wood is an award winning, internationally produced playwright. With a determination to write stories both entertaining and thought-provoking, Emma’s plays have been widely acclaimed by audiences and critics around the world. Her ability to create passionate, substantial roles of all ages delights actors and audiences. Emma’s full-length plays are very different but have common threads: engaging characters, sparkling dialogue, and a satisfying story to tell. She has become known for writing plays that feature challenging, dynamic lead roles for middle aged and older women and narratives exploring issues that affect them.

Emma’s work has been produced by professional and community theatre companies in UK, Australia, USA and Asia. Her most recent play, Piece of Mind, premiered in L.A. with Write Act Repertory, receiving rave reviews. Her perfectly pitched prequel to Pride and Prejudice, Mr Bennet’s Bride, has garnered wide acclaim in 10 productions to date. Other producing companies include Newcastle Theatre Company, Malvern Theatre Company, Lilydale Athenaeum, Priory Theatre, Canberra Repertory, Ballarat National Theatre, KrisP Productions, Grassington Players and Elanora Players among others.

Director
Stephen Mitchell is a writer, actor and director. His radio drama ‘Margaret and Mimi’; was produced by ABC Radio National, and he won an Australian Writers’ Guild Award for his SBS teleplay ‘Wee Jimmy’. In 2012, he directed and acted in ‘The Local Stigmatic’ for Castlemaine Theatre Company, going on to appear in productions of ‘The Ghost Train’ and ‘As You Like It’, as well directing the acclaimed ‘Frankenstein’s Children’ in 2019. He has performed in numerous theatre productions and a handful of films since the late 80s, as well as fulfilling many off-stage roles, and is a regular contributor to CTC as designer and photographer.

Photos by Diana Domonkos

Cost: $150

BOOKINGS

• Friday 23 Jan 10am-1pm
• Sat 24 Jan 10am-1pm
• Sun 25 Jan 10am-4pm
• Mon 26 10am-4pm

This workshop is designed for anyone who has every wondered what it’d be like to direct a stage show – or wondered whether they actually want to do it! Over the course of four days, Jane Montgomery Griffiths will guide you through:
• the role of the theatre director
• how to gain confidence and handle ‘imposter syndrome’
• choosing your play
• conceptualising your script
• pitching your project
• working with the design, stage management and technical team
• auditioning your cast
• planning rehearsals
• working with actors
• what happens in the technical rehearsal
• getting ready for opening night and the run

No experience is necessary – this will be a friendly, accessible and gentle introduction to help you plan your first directorial project and build the confidence and skills to make it happen.

Jane Montgomery Griffiths

Jane is an actor, playwright and director, who was also for many years Director of Monash University’s Centre for Theatre and Performance and Professor of Theatre Practice. Prior to that, Jane was Associate Director at Harrogate Theatre in the UK, where she was in charge of new writing and directed several main stage shows. She has also directed the Cambridge Greek play and had freelance directing positions for UpFront Theatre Company and Redstitch.

As an actor she has performed with major theatre companies across the UK, and in Australia, with Bell Shakespeare, Belvoir, Malthouse, MTC, Theatreworks, 45Downstairs and Red Stitch. TV and film includes Ms Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries; The Rings of Power; The Rooster; The Holding’;Five Bedrooms; Casualty; The Bill; Red Dwarf.

Her plays and libretti have been performed at Malthouse, Belvoir, ABC Radio National, NIDA, Victorian Opera and the Vienna Burgstheater and Theatreworks. She’s received or been nominated for several Manchester Evening News, Greenroom, Sydney Theatre, and Helpmann Theatre Awards and two Premiers’ Literary Awards. CTC is very excited to have a creative professional of Jane’s calibre leading this workshop.