Griffin Theatre's 2007 Season
In a press release issued to mark the new season Marchand stated that, “The last few years have proved that where new plays were once viewed as a risk, Griffin is now at the heart of a revival of interest in new writing. I hope we can now build on David Berthold and the Griffin team’s incredible achievements over the last three years.” How does he hope to build on Griffin’s already excellent reputation? Through presenting audiences with a diverse selection of plays that reflect present trends and cultures.
The season opens with a reprisal of what is arguably one of the plays of 2006, Tommy Murphy’s Holding the Man, which will be presented as part of next year’s Mardi Gras Festival. This will be followed by the Australian premiere of The Nightwatchman by Daniel Keene. Starring William Zappa, this production marks Keene’s return to the company after a 13 year absence.
October is a black comedy about what happens when a complete stranger drops in on the lives of an ordinary city couple. While The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table by Wesley Enoch is an epic family saga set on Stradbroke Island.
Other productions include King Tide by Katherine Thomson, a play which tells of a woman’s quest to rediscover her motivation and The Seven Needs, a very unique theatrical experience which features seven award-winning playwrights responding to psychologist Abraham Maslow’s A Theory of Human Motivation. This series of 10-minute plays (which will be presented throughout the 2007 season) reflect Marlow’s hierarchy of human needs: Food. Shelter. Sex. Safety. Belonging. Respect. Spirit.
The last word on this season is probably best left for Marchand himself; “I don’t want Griffin to be a comfortable experience, but I hope it will consistently surprise. We will continue to encourage that dialogue between our artists and audience - one that asks us to reflect upon, and I hope also celebrate, our surroundings. It’s not about building a theatre rooted in Australian identity, but allowing that identity to present itself naturally, in all its eclectic glory.” By the looks of the season he has put together it seems that he has achieved that.
