GRACE

Season

13 Feb — 6 Mar 2010
Venue

Victoria Hall

“Pacy, scary, dripping with atmosphere” THE TIME

“Grace is like a flare of hope in an empty sea.” The Mercury

Grace finds herself pursued by a stalker. He haunts her in cinemas, writes psychotic letters and breaks into her flat. Losing her boyfriend, her job and nearly losing her mind, she flees the city and goes into hiding in a crocodile park in the Kimberley. Meanwhile her father unearths an ancient skeleton that brings into question the very origins of the human race…

Part thriller, part-road movie, part film-noir, this is an epic tale that travels from inner-city Sydney to the Great Sandy Desert. Adapted from the celebrated novel by Robert Drewe, this new theatrical feast is wryly satirical and heartbreakingly moving. GRACE is a gripping story with heart, humour and passion.

With a cast of some of WA’s finest actors including Kirsty Hillhouse in the title role of Grace and George Shevtsov as her bone-collecting father, this will certainly be an event not to be missed.

Watch Grace

Hear Kirsty Hillhouse talk about the character of Grace.

Hear Chris Bendall, director of GRACE, talk about the actors and their retrospective characters.

Join the conversation. Robert Drewe, Humprey Bower and Chris Bendall talk about the adaptation of the prolific book to a play.

Director

Chris Bendall

Written By

Robert Drewe, adapted by Humphrey Bower

Composer

Ash Gibson Greig

Starring

Ismatullah Akbarzada, Tony Briggs, Kirsty Hillhouse, Polly Low, Russ Pirie, George Shevstov & Steve Turner

Sound Designer

Kinglsey Reeve

Lighting Designer

Andrew Lake

Video Designer

Kirrilly Brentnall

Press Reviews

“There’s quite a lot going on in the world of Grace, and Humphrey Bower’s adaptation does not shy from tackling it all… The thriller ending is remarkably well done” The West

“. . . a hard hitting play . . . thought provoking . . . uniquely Australian and worth seeing” Australian Stage

“Hillhouse is an attractive, feisty Grace, and her performance is affecting as she and the hunted Afghan refugee (engagingly played by newcomer Ismat Akbarzada) console each other… (her) demented pursuer Carl (was) played to creepy perfection by Russ Pirie” The Australian

“The formidably impressive George Shevtsov, plays Grace’s Father John with a quiet dignity and presence on stage that few actors have… Kirsty Hillhouse as Grace was exceptional” Australian Stage

“There is a lot to applaud in this multi – stranded narrative, it’s visually exciting and intellectually stimulating…” Perth Now