Mother
By Daniel Keene
Directed by Penny Irving
BLURB
‘how can I be interested in something as common or garden as pain
it’d be like being interested in breathing’
Mother narrates the story of Christie, a homeless woman navigating a detached, harsh, and fragile world. The play explores the disenfranchised, shedding light on those who dwell on the fringes of safety, teetering on the brink of darkness and despair. With Daniel Keene's signature poetic style, Mother delivers a solo performance that delicately intertwines tenderness and isolation.
Author’s Note:
Daniel Keen talks about what motivated him to write the play.
From Belvoir Street season, February, 2018
We are living in a time when for many people the most vulnerable amongst us are objects of scorn. Refugees are labelled criminals for fleeing oppression. They are liars, cheats and opportunists. The homeless, the poor, the disenfranchised, are held in contempt. They are feckless victims of their own inherent weakness, their laziness, their irresponsibility. Victims are to blame for the crimes committed against them.
Not everyone shares these attitudes. But there are enough people who do share them to make them an aspect of our society that we cannot ignore.
What causes these attitudes to emerge? What causes one person to think that another person’s life is of no value, that they have no rights, that they are disposable?
I think that it’s fear. Not of the person who is treated with contempt, but of the realities that have reduced that person to poverty, to homelessness, to a state of fear, that have caused them so much pain.
Sometimes what is happening in the world seems too ugly and frightening to contemplate. It is better to turn away from fearful realities, to deny unpleasant truths, to ignore repeated cruelties. When there seems to be no solution, perhaps it’s best to pretend that there is no problem. There is a comfort in wilful blindness. In that darkness, no war can harm us, no misfortune destroy us, no grief overwhelm us.
Those who are stricken by grief or misfortune or war are aberrations, rips in the darkness that keeps us safe. And we hate them for it. Their reality cannot be ours, it must not be. Our darkness thickens, our cocoon of denial and fear tightens around us.
But there are people outside, in the blazing light.
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Mother was written specifically for one of Australia’s most esteemed actors, Noni Hazlehurst, who toured with the play for over two years. Wherever this production travels, audiences are swept away by its profound impact.
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In 2020, I went to see Daniel Keene’s play Mother, about a homeless woman, Christie. It was performed by Noni Hazlehurst and I loved it.
In 2022, Shelley, had ask me to direct her 10-minute play, ‘The Well’, which she had entered into the Hot Shorts at the Drill Hall. Shelley was playing a role as a mother in her play, which reminded me of Christie – both had enormous struggles and losses. I asked Shelley to read Mother and if she liked it, would she consider playing Christie. To my delight Shelley said she would and so began our journey into Christie’s world.
Daniel Keene says:
‘Sometimes what is happening in the world seems too ugly and frightening to contemplate. It is better to turn away from fearful realities, to deny unpleasant truths, to ignore repeated cruelties When there seems to be no solutions, perhaps it’s best to pretend that there is no problem. There is a comfort in wilful blindness. In the darkness, no war can harm us, no misfortune destroy us, no grief overwhelm us.’
Daniel Keene has written a strong play. I thank Shelley for all her trust, courage and commitment. It is huge to do a one woman show. I truly am so proud of what she has accomplished.
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As a solo performance, Mother has its challenges, but the profundity of the character, Christie, and the exquisite writing drew me to the role. Christie is as complex as she is wise – her ability to cut to the heart of the matter with raw honesty will leave you uncomfortable in your laughter and tender in her truth.
Shelley McNamara
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• Friday 14 July (Opening Night)
• Saturday 15 July
• Friday 21 July
• Saturday 22 July
Show Starting Time: 7pm
Duration: Approx 75 mins
Note: Doors open at 6:30pm
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Ticket prices:
Adult — $25
Adult UMT Member — $20
Concession — $20
Bookings: Online at Trybooking
https://www.trybooking.com/CIQUM
Or Pay at the Door
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Uki Hall (all performances and auditions)
1464 Kyogle Road, Uki NSW 2484
Opposite the public school in the heart of Uki
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• Wednesday 12 July, 2023 (Tech run)
• Thursday 13 July, 2023 (Dress rehearsal)
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Chai tea, coffee & cakes available at venue
BYO alcohol
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Our first review on Arts Canvass on Bay FM: check out Michael Sharman's review of UMT's production of 'Mother'. He thoroughly recommends people come and see the show. A big win for us!
Click on the link:
https://www.bayfm.org/shows/arts-canvass/
Thursday 20 July, 2023
Move your curser to 18:44 - 25:20.
We are thrilled that Michael and Karena came to see the show and took the time to review our play and theatre. A couple of pointers in there we can certainly take note of.
Playwright: Daniel Keene
Daniel Keene is the most important Australian playwright in the transition between the twentieth and twenty-first centuries…Keene’s short plays are classic in the formal senese of the word: they distil great emotions and large social contexts into simple and profoundly moving pieces driven by the passions and longings of characters who on the surface can scarcely say what it is they want…they are works of huge resonance…
John McCallum, Belonging: Australian Playwrighting in the 20th Century, Currency Press, 2009
Daniel Keene, an esteemed playwright, has been actively involved in theatre since 1979. Throughout his career, he has penned more than 70 plays, encompassing both shorter pieces and full-length works. His theatrical creations have graced stages in every major Australian city, including renowned venues such as the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Sydney Theatre Company, the Malthouse Theatre, the Griffin Theatre, the Seymour Centre, Theatre Works, the Sydney Opera House, and La Boite.
Keene's outstanding contributions to literature and the performing arts have earned him numerous accolades. He has been the recipient of prestigious honors such as The Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award, The NSW Premier's Prize for Literature (three times), The Victorian Premier's Prize for Literature (twice), The Sumner Locke Elliot Prize, and The Adelaide Festival Award for Literature. His works have been showcased at esteemed festivals including the Melbourne, Sydney, and Adelaide International Arts Festivals.
Notably, his play The Long Way Home achieved great success when it was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company in collaboration with the Australian Defence Force. The play embarked on a sold-out national tour in 2014, captivating audiences across the country.
Source: https://www.danielkeene.com.au/biography/
Photo credit: © F. Passerini
Director: Penny Irving
I was born in Melbourne and in my youth joined St Martins Youth Theatre where I learnt all about theatre making and attended numerous Theatre workshops. I have been involved in directing and acting for many years for local community theatre. This has included performances in Baz Lurmann’s Crocodile Creek, the Capricorn Players productions of Godspell, Cabaret, King O’Malley and Remains of The Day. I have also directed Urban Nomad for Rockhampton Community Theatre, Lament for Living for Noosa Arts, Sophia for RocPak and Central Queensland University, The Kiss for the Philbeam Theatre, Rockhampton, and Honour for the Drill Hall Theatre.
My work has included involvement in the Gender Equity program for disadvantaged schools, using drama as a tool. My skills have also been engaged by Rockhampton TAFE for a semester directing performances with the Hospitality students.
Cast: Shelley McNamara
Throughout her twenty years as an English and History teacher and ten years as an English education writer, Shelley McNamara has developed a great love for the arts, especially live theatre. She is passionate about the role education plays in assisting young people to develop agency through literacy, language and literature. She has written over 30 English textbooks for years 7–12 for Macmillan Education, her publishing business, and NSW Distance Education. Shelley has written extensively about literature, including film and drama, in the seven HSC study writing guides she has published since 2008. In 2022 she edited and published Of Irish Descent: a McNamara family history under the Qwiller imprint. From her family history stories, she wrote, produced and acted in a ten-minute play, titled ‘The Well,’ at the Drill Hall Theatre in Mullumbimby as part of the bi-annual Hot Shorts Competition.
Shelley is the publicity manager for the Uki Moon Theatre, drawing together her love for theatre and the local community.
Mother is her first foray into acting in a full play.
Pianist: Alison Polistchule
Besides my two beautiful children and grandchildren, my life mantra has been motorcycling, music and wisdom of the land. I am a Community Environmental Educator, Artist, Astrologer and dancer. I’ve been homeless/living rough for about eight years in my car over the past twenty years!! Life is an amazing journey.
Photo acknowledgement: https://www.publicdomainpictures.net/en/free-download.php?image=piano&id=177976