An honest portrait of modern Australia, Darlinghurst Theatre Company presents the Sydney premiere of Maggie Stone by Caleb Lewis at the Eternity Playhouse from 30 September 2018.
Meet Maggie, a hard-hearted small loans officer who doesn’t owe the world a thing. That is until she finds her fate unexpectedly intertwined with that of the Deng Family. After refusing the plea for an $800 loan, Maggie learns of the consequences that follow, leaving her indebted to a family left behind.
Enter a ruthless creditor, Leo Hermes, demanding an impossible payment from a family already drowning in debt. Maggie learns first-hand the politics of charity, for even favours require gratitude, investment requires returns and an outstanding debt awaits satisfaction.
In Australia, migrant communities have frequently been maligned by fearmongering and racism. With fear propagating division and isolation, Maggie Stone asks us to take a cold hard look at ourselves.
“I became fascinated by the hidden world of debt and debt recovery – because money is not something we like to talk about, despite the fact it rules our lives” says playwright Caleb Lewis. “Maggie Stone asks us questions around the nature of giving and receiving and the sometimes complex motives behind altruism.”
Director Sandra Eldridge sees Maggie’s journey as one of “greater understanding and appreciation of the migrant experience, especially when faced with such discrimination and hostility as the Sudanese community are in this country.”
Caleb Lewis is a multi-award-winning playwright, theatre-maker and experience designer. His plays include Nailed; Men, Love and the Monkeyboy; Dogfall; Death in Bowengabbie, Rust and Bone; Songs for the Deaf; Bluebottles; Crystal; Aleksander and the Robot Maid; The Honey Bees; In a Dark Dark Wood; Six Million Hits; The River at the End of the Road; and Clinchfield – which won the inaugural Richard Burton Award for New Plays.
“Maggie Stone is a powerful indictment of racial prejudice… A superb evening of thought and emotion provoking theatre that will stay with audiences for a long time after.” – Broadway World Australia
Director: Sandra Eldridge Featuring: Kate Bookallil, Branden Christine, Alan Dukes, Anna Lee, Thuso Lekwape and Eliza Logan Production Designer: Sallyanne Facer Lighting Designer: Matt Cox Sound Designer: David Bergman Cultural Advisor & Assistant Producer: Moreblessing Maturure Stage Manager: Ryan Tate Dialect Coach & Cultural Consultant: Deng Deng Playwright: Caleb Lewis
Maggie Stone
Eternity Playhouse, 39 Burton Street, Darlinghurst
Season: 5 – 21 October 2018 (previews: 30 September – 2 October)
Information and Bookings: www.darlinghursttheatre.com
Image: Maggie Stone – courtesy of Darlinghurst Theatre Company