The Greening of Grace November 16, 2012

William Zappa’s bold new work The Greening of Grace premieres at the Theatre 19 (formally The Darlinghurst Theatre) from Friday,16 November to Sunday, 9 December.

Grace may be old, she may be frail, but she isn’t a victim. Her life as she knows it is altered by one shocking event. Resisting her daughter’s attempts to protect her and inspired by the memory of her late husband and the determination of a passionate ally, Grace becomes an unlikely eco-warrior; a role model for our times, who demonstrates that every individual has the power to change the world.

“The Greening of Grace is an intimate play that looks at an event that has changed a life; a kind of re-birth. It is a play about 'Global Warming' on the one hand but it is more about how an old woman, Grace, survives an awful event and uses it to reshape her life… be touched by the experience of meeting Grace and her family,” said Writer and Director William Zappa.

William Zappa was most recently seen on stage at Darlinghurst Theatre in The Seafarer and his revival of Winter’s Discontent, a play written and performed by himself. With a career spanning two hemispheres, William has also worked as an actor and director in the UK and recently been seen in a number the feature films and television programs.

Maggie Blinco’s career spans four decades, with leading roles in Australian film, television and theatre. In the last five years alone, she has appeared in innumerable TV shows, including: All Saints, Blue Heelers, White Collar Blue, Above The Law, McLeods Daughters and Escape Of The Artful Dodger.Don Reid has appeared in The Dapto Chaser (Merrigong Theatre Company), Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk (Company B) and Burnt Piano (Ensemble Theatre). He has also appeared in the feature films Men’s Group, Moulin Rouge and Evil Angels and on television in All Saints, Always Greener and Big Sky. Wendy Strehlow is best known for her role as Sister Judy Loveday in the television soap opera A Country Practice, for which she won a Logie Award For Best Supporting Actress in 1986.Nigel Turner-Carroll is a NIDA graduate, most recently seen on stage in Skylightat the Ensemble theatre. Other stage productions include Birthday Boys, West Side Story and Gallipoli.

“When I first heard a reading of The Greening of Grace in 2008 I was captivated by the story of Grace and, as the actors brought the words to life, it sang to me. It’s taken four years to bring this exceptional work to the stage and I am delighted to have the opportunity to produce it. In the character of Grace I see a strong and powerful woman who refuses to be brought down by the terrible thing that has happened to her; and in that I find inspiration,” said Producer Victoria Wildie.

Cast: Maggie Blinco, Don Reid, Wendy Strehlow, Nigel Turner-Carroll
Director: William Zappa
Designer: Amanda McNamara

Dates: Friday, 16 November – Sunday, 9 December
Times: Tuesdays – Saturdays at 8pm, Sundays at 5pm

Opening Night Tuesday 20 November at 8pm