NAROOMA’S pre-war history is the setting for a new play currently being developed by South East Arts.
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“Sunshine” follows the story of two characters, Alma and Bill, who live in the bustling town of Narooma in 1939 – a town of fishing, timber and shipping, as well as a summer playground of the well-to-do set from out of town. But war will soon change the world they know and love.
A rehearsed reading of Sunshine will be performed at the Narooma Kinema – the original School of Arts building and scene of many social events of the time.
This performance is part of the development of a new theatre piece created by South East Arts and written by Mary Rachel Brown.
Audiences will be invited to participate in a discussion with the actors and writer after the performance.
“Sunshine” is part of a short play project that aims to highlight local stories from the past.
Another play, “Populate or Perish”, is currently in development with a focus on the Snowy Scheme and the growth of Australia’s multicultural character.
The playwright Mary Rachel Brown visited Narooma in 2011 as part of the play’s development and interviewed a number of locals with a connection to the time period. She was assisted in her research by local historian Laurelle Pacey.
Mary has been writing for the last 15 years and has written everything from “Home And Away” episodes to adaptions for the opera.
Mary’s work has toured nationally and has been produced by the ABC TV, Channel Seven, Glynn Nicholas Group, Jigsaw Theatre, B# Belvoir St, The Blue Room, La Mama, The Stables and the Australian War Memorial.
In 2011 Merrigong Theatre Co produced Mary’s play ‘The Dapto Chaser’. Currently, Mary is working with Essential Media on the development of a comedy series for television.
The performance of Sunshine is on Sunday, May 20 at 2pm at the Narooma Kinema and is part of the Eurobodalla River of Art Festival.
Tickets are $11 per person and available at the door. Bookings can be made at the Narooma Kinema on 4476 2352.
The project has been supported by ArtsNSW.
Narooma Historical Society to attend rehearsal of “Sunshine”
THE Narooma Historical Society’s next outing is the rehearsal of the play “Sunshine” at 2pm on Sunday, May 20, at the Kinema. The theatre piece was created by South East Arts and written by Mary Rachel Brown.
“Sunshine” is part of a theatre project that uses oral history interviews to create short performances that explore the local history. Mary Rachel Brown interviewed members of the historical society and others prior to writing the play.
The story is set in Narooma in 1939, where characters Alma and Bill fall in love. The town's timber, fishing and shipping interests, as well as its reputation as a summer playground of the well-to-do, provide the backdrop for the story.
The audience will be invited to participate in the discussion with the actors and writer after the performance.
Members of the public are encouraged to attend this unique event. The cost is $11. Bookings can be made by calling the Narooma Kinema on 4476 2352.