A touch of magic is set to arrive on stage this month with the Australian premiere of The Coven on Grey Street, the latest production from UpStage Theatre.
The play will debut at Mousetrap Theatre in Redcliffe before transferring to Wonargo Revue in Northgate. The show is directed by Susan O’Toole Cridland.
UpStage Theatre president Virginia Gray said she first saw the production during its New Zealand premiere and recognised its opportunity for older actresses to “flex their talent on stage”. She said the playwright, Jamie Cain, was enthusiastic about the prospect of an Australian version with local references to give the show “an Aussie appeal”.
“This has been two years in the making for me, finding the right cast, a great director, available venues and of course, the right time,” Virginia said. “I couldn’t be more excited to bring a new play to the Brisbane theatre scene.”
Story, Cast and Production Highlights
The Coven on Grey Street imagines what happened to Macbeth’s Wyrd Sisters after Shakespeare’s classic.
“Although the Wyrd Sisters are recognisable with reference to Macbeth, this is the timeless story of family dynamics when sisters get together after an absence, mixed with romance and drama – it could be anybody’s family gathering,” Virginia said. “But of course, the promise of magic adds that extra dimension that normal drama doesn’t have, and when things go bad, who has your back?
“The sisters are portrayed as three differing individuals, the older sister (Sybil) – a serious character withdrawing from the modern world, she comes across as stern and aloof. The middle sister is the peacekeeper (Daphne) and the one who falls in love. While the youngest witch (Fay) is a rebel, big attitude and a bit of a potty mouth.”
The three sisters will be played by Carmen Heath as Sybil, Tèa Grosse as Fay in her UpStage debut, and Virginia Gray herself as Daphne. Grant Caldwell also joins the cast as lecturer Ted.
Virginia said director Susan O’Toole Cridland was the show’s “pièce de resistance”, crediting her with “pulling it together” and describing her as “a talent at large worth following.”
The production features a prebuilt movable set created by set builder and lighting designer Gordon Heath, allowing the show to transition between the venues. Zoe Power is responsible for sound design.
“Being a theatre on the move, we want to be able to bring our shows to as wide an audience as possible,” Virginia said.
The Coven on Grey Street
- Friday, 12 June – Sunday, 5 July
- Wonargo Revue
- 62 Flower Street, Northgate.
- Mousetrap Theatre
- 157 Sutton Street, Redcliffe
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