“Hells Gates is the story of when, in 2020, five hundred pilot whales turned up unexpectedly on the West Coast of lutruwita / Tasmania, leaving rescuers scrambling to try and save them. Over the weeks that followed, community members rallied around each other, in a race against the clock to prevent a major ecological disaster.
“Over the past two years, I’ve been working with writer, James Jackson on this remarkable Australian story – travelling back and forth between Geelong and Tasmania for interviews/research – and the resulting theatre show will have its world premiere at the newly imagined Geelong Arts Centre in August 2023,” states local Joel Carnegie, Founder and Creative Director of The Space Company.
“This will be the very first production to be staged in the Geelong Arts Centre’s brand new 550-seat theatre space, The Story House from 10 – 12 August 2023 (exciting!). Something of a real moment.
“Hells Gates is an emotional rollercoaster of a production about courage, humour and determination – combining drama with comedy, poetry, and live music, to highlight the spirit of a remote community banding together – and what can be achieved in the face of adversity – as the whales arrive at Hells Gates.
“The show is by Katy Maudlin (IPHIS, Slap. Bang. Kiss), and stars Louise Siversen (Heartbreak Choir, House Husbands, Prisoner) Natalie O’Donnell (Come From Away, Next to Normal) and Dushan Philips (Stay Woke, Angels in America, Bernhart/Hamlet), with a captivating live musical soundscape from Xani Kolac.
Details and tickets: https://geelongartscentre.org.au/whats-on/all-events/hells-gates-world-premiere/
Joel reiterates, “We’re really honoured to be custodians of this story in this new original Australian production, fuelled by courage, humour and determination. We can’t wait to show audiences what The Space Company has been working on over these past two years. Plus, as the first production to be staged in the newly imagined Geelong Arts Centre, audiences will get to have a sneak peak of The Story House before the Geelong Arts Centre officially reopens. It’s Super exciting!”
Photo Credit: Sarah Walker and Studio Found.
HuG 