In modern day Australia, a marriage is pulled apart by mistrust, paranoia and violence. A woman breaks apart in the turmoil. In medieval England, a woman has mystic visions. The patriarchs write them off as female madness, but she knows her truth. These visions allow her to be heard – maybe even to connect across centuries.
In My Dearworthy Darling, threads that run through history are woven into a tapestry. As the strands draw ever tighter, the old languages threaten to tear asunder. What new worlds might open?
The lyrical imagery of award-winning poet and novelist Alison Croggon, in a play written especially for feminist theatre mavericks THE RABBLE, is manifested in a visual feast. There is no madness here. Only truths that a corrupted world doesn’t want to hear.
Alison Croggon is an award-winning novelist, poet, librettist and critic. She has 30 years experience reviewing performance for outlets such as the Australian, ABC Arts Online and The Monthly and generated an international reputation as a performance critic with her influential blog Theatre Notes, which revolutionised performance discourse in Australia.
THE RABBLE was formed by Kate Davis and Emma Valente in 2006 from a desire to make work that wasn’t being produced in Australia: visually ambitious, political, feminist and formally experimental. With an impressive performance history, they have been commissioned by Melbourne Festival, Arts House, Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir Theatre, MTC, Theatre Works, The Substation, Vitalstatistix, Dublin Fringe Festival and Castlemaine State Festival.
Presented by THE RABBLE and Malthouse Theatre, My Dearworthy Darling developed while in residence at La Chartreuse Centre national des ecritures du spectacle. With the assistance of the Copyright Agency Cultural Fund, and has been generously supported through the Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance, Artist in Residence Program.
“Like all The Rabble’s work, they’re walking a dangerous tightrope between the abominable and the humorous.” – Sydney Morning Herald
Director / Designer: THE RABBLE Featuring: Natalie Gamsu, Ben Grant, Jennifer Vuletic Stage Manager: Jess Keepence Writer: Alison Croggon
My Dearworthy Darling
Beckett Theatre – The Coopers Malthouse, 113 Sturt Street, Southbank
Season: 7 – 18 August 2019 (previews: 2 – 6 August)
Information and Bookings: www.malthousetheatre.com.au
Image: My Dearworthy Darling – photo by Zan Wimberley