18.04.24
Dear Grif-friend,
As I write this, the countdown to the ultimate efficiency on the SBW Stables Theatre is nicely and actually on and the vibes within the Griffin workplace are… unusually peaceable? I can’t inform if it’s the calm earlier than the (celebratory) storm of the ultimate weekend, the same old stoic trudge towards the top of a manufacturing’s season, or each or neither. Maybe all of the Griffin workers are repressing their emotional attachment to our beloved dwelling… or perhaps we’ve processed the whole lot already!
There are simply 4 extra efficiency dates for our season of The Lewis Trilogy, however eight extra performs when you tally all of the performances up. And each single one in all them is bought out! Thank you in your overwhelming response to our ultimate epic manufacturing of three of Louis Nowra’s best Australian performs—it has actually been so particular to welcome audiences into the Stables for the ultimate time earlier than our redevelopment. I’ve been getting a kick out of studying everybody’s scrawled notes on a few the orange partitions of the theatre lobby, too. All the reminiscences remind me that the impression of this place—its historical past—is a lot larger, a lot extra complicated and sprawling, than me, or anybody particular person, might ever conceive.
But sufficient real reflective sentiment! Yuck! You undoubtedly gained’t discover me sobbing into the orange cushions within the nook after Sunday evening’s ultimate bows, so don’t hassle wanting! Chapters finish—new ones start. And the way forward for Griffin is wanting f**king thrilling.
There’s our redevelopment, after all, however the remainder of our compact little 2024 Season is shaping as much as be an actual deal with. One of probably the most lovely performs I’ve learn in latest reminiscence is developing in July at Carriageworks: swim by the lauded poet (and now playwright) Ellen van Neerven. Associate Artistic Director Andrea James has been working onerous with Ellen and the artistic crew to develop the work up on Yugambeh Country over the previous couple of years and from the sound of issues, the present goes to be a magical, monumental ode to water, dwelling and queer love.
I’ve additionally had the completely ridiculous pleasure of being in a artistic growth forward of our season of Flat Earthers: The Musical by Jean Tong, Lou Wall & James Gales, which premieres as a co-production with our associates down the highway at Hayes Theatre Co. A Griffin musical is a uncommon and treasured factor, however I can assure that this manufacturing can have all of the fun-yet-deeply–bizarre risk-taking that Griffin likes to showcase on our levels.
I’d catch you on the weekend—and if not, see you someplace that’s NOT the SBW Stables Theatre (😭) quickly.
Much love,
Declan
Declan Greene
Artistic Director & co-CEO