Hello,

It’s been a big week. For the cast and creative team of Oil, and for everyone at Red Stitch. Previewing one of the most ambitious plays we’ve ever staged, while opening the doors at Cromwell Rd Theatre to the public for the first time, has certainly taken some doing. But the rapturous response from our preview audiences helped get us through!

This play took hold of me from the first read, and didn’t let go. I’ve relished working through the historical context over decades, continents and multiple languages to tell the story. But what really hooked me is the heart and soul of the piece. At the centre of this play about the hunger of humanity and our endless pursuit of progress, is one of the most delicately drawn mother-daughter relationships I’ve encountered in a work of fiction.

I urge you to come see for yourselves: a magnificent play, and our ‘second home’. I’ve been fortunate to work with an incredible cast of ten actors on Oil, and their performances are sublime. Get along, before the madness of December hits! You’ll be glad you did.

See you at Cromwell Rd Theatre. I’ll be there most nights (the exhausted, proud director perched in our freshly renovated foyer).

Ella Caldwell
Artistic Director

OIL

by Ella Hickson

Stop press: PLAYlist is next week!

Do you have your tickets for our annual, immersive theatre extravaganza yet? PLAYlist is only 10 days away! Join the ensemble and our extraordinary line-up of guest artists for a one-night-only celebration at the historic Trades Hall.

The new original short plays performed on the night will be inspired by the theme “Think Again”. PLAYlist will bring together some of Melbourne’s finest creative talent. The line-up includes:

Writers: Mary Anne Butler, Ra Chapman, Eric Gardiner, Ellen Grimshaw, Elias Jamieson Brown, Amelia Evans, Joanna Murray-Smith, Ross Mueller, Vidya Rajan, Morgan Rose, Keziah Warner, Jamaica Zuanetti.

Directors: Gary Abrahams, Ella Caldwell, Katrina Cornwell, Brett Cousins, Alice Darling, Iris Gallardine, Stephen Nicolazzo, Krystalla Pearce, Alice Qin, Mark Wilson, Sarah Vickery, Shaun Wykes.

Performers: Jing-Xuan Chan, Jessica Clarke, Kate Cole, Daniel Frederiksen, Justin Hosking, Caroline Lee, Alexander Lewis, George Lingard, Patrick Livesey, Michael Logo, Grace Lowry, Olga Makeeva, Carissa McAllen, Olivia Monticciolo, Chi Nguyen, Sami Obama, Amarchi Okorom, Christina O’Neill, Joe Petruzzi, Dushan Philips, Samuel Rowe, Louise Siversen, Helen Smith, Kat Stewart, Sarah Sutherland + more

Musicians: Josh the Cat, Campbell Banks, Dave Larkin, Lucy Wise, Lila Swan + more

As an added bonus, Red Stitch will also be launching its 2020 Season at 6.30pm, just prior to PLAYist, with ticket-holders and guests invited to a sneak peak of next year’s stellar programme of events.

Don’t miss out. Get your tickets here.

Season 2020 Launch

Trades Hall Carlton

Saturday 23 November, 6.30pm (just before PLAYlist)

FREE ENTRY – RSVP essential 

We invite you to join the Red Stitch ensemble and guests to hear about the exciting season of Australian and international works we will have on offer in 2020.

2020 season tickets will go on sale Monday 25 November, so don’t forget to check out the website for details!

Please RSVP to boxoffice@redstitch.net with subject line “Launch” and tell us your name and number of guests.

“I had to do it. It’s the role of a lifetime” – Daniella Farinacci