Challenged is a trilogy of short plays, Bonnie, Kaaris and Tapestries, with a focus on disability. Bonnie has been the mother and full-time carer of her now 43 year old brain-damaged daughter for more that three decades; Kaaris is an imaginative, middle-aged woman who, at 150kgs, seeks release from the virtual prison of her own flesh; Suzy and Rita, long-time residents of a community house for the disabled, discover, when all else fails the need for faith in each other.
Writer/director Ian Nash has an interest in giving voice to characters who are in some way marginalised. His recent works make a study of women who do not conform to traditional expectations of stereotypical female behaviour. A graduate of Stanford University Creative Writing Centre, Ian is the author of many plays including A Boy For Me, A Girl For You (Melbourne Theatre Company), Burnout (The Open Stage, Melbourne University), Little Eva (Carlton Courthouse), Show of Strength, Stone Talk and Horse Talk (La Mama). In 2010 Ian directed Tapestries for the Castlemaine Theatre Company.
In 2010 Tapestries, part of the Challenged trilogy, toured the One-Act Play Festivals in Regional Victoria, where it enjoyed considerable success. Tapestries gained nominations in the Best Original Play, Best Director and Best Overall Production categories, whilst its performers, Anna Davies and Bev Geldard achieved Best Actress awards at the Ballarat and Anglesea Festivals. Associate Professor Kim Durban from the University of Ballarat commented that Tapestries ‘invokes the cry of the soul’ and that Nash handled the subject matter with ‘heart and compassion’.
Tickets are $15 full price and $12 concession. Limited seats are available so please book in advance at Newstead Rural Transaction Centre on 5476 2360. Tickets will also be available at the door. Coffee, cake and wine will be available before and between the performances.
Challenged is generously supported by Maldon and District Community Bank.