The stories of the Redlands will come alive at the Redland museum with an alliance with the newly formed Theatre Redlands.
Director and actor Jan Nary said the museum was seen as an ideal home base and a source of stories well suited to the theatre.
"Stories are what make theatre. Already, Theatre Redlands has a collection of stage presentations written and developed specifically for the Redland Museum, most of which feature items from its impressive collection. During COVID, Theatre Redlands has drawn on the valuable resources of experience, enthusiasm, determination and unwavering support from the Museum to get on with research, writing, planning, casting and even rehearsals," Ms Nary said.
The first of these newly developed plays will be Women of Their Word, written and directed by Ms Nary. Women of Their Word is a celebration of selected Australian female poets who captured their times and their experiences in verse.
Ms Nary said the work was devised as a series of individual vignettes interwoven with music from music teacher and composer Donna Magrath. Depicted are suffrigists Louisa Lawson (played by Maxine Chisholm) and Maybanke Anderson (Christine Venner-Westaway), Dorothy Hewett (Penny Everingham), poet Judith Wright (Debbie Spearritt) and Leona Kyling (Ann-Marie Andersen).
Leona Kyling who was recently biographised by Mick Bright, was a Redlands identity in real estate, jam making, fashion and millinery and sculpture and was involved in establishing Redlands' first aged care facility,
"Using her as a local example, her writings demonstrate her engagement with the world and the quiet joy she found in nature," Ms Nary said.
"These women found their muse, their solace and their power in poetry. Through a blend of narrative and verse, a series of vignettes offers insights into the women behind the words - what inspired them, the challenges they faced and the contribution they made to Australia's emerging cultural identity," she said.
Ms Nary said Theatre Redlands was an autonomous group of theatre operatives with an impressive range of experience, skills and enthusiasm.
"The formation of the group earlier this year was driven by a desire to engage in community theatre that would involve and develop individuals of all ages and skills and become a mainstay of theatre arts in the region," she said.
Actors and directors Sharon Vassallo, Debbie Spearritt, Ray Noonan and Jan Nary form the operational engine room of the group. Also involved are actor /director Chad Sherrin, Ms Magrath, photographer Greg Pope, actor and stage manager Ian Munday, and light and sound maestro James Auld.
Women of Their Word will premiere at 7.30pm (doors open at 6.30pm, with seating at 7pm) on September 5 with further shows for September 11 and12 and a 2pm matinee on September 13.
Ticket prices at $30 include a glass of wine and devonshire tea for the matinee. Book on 3286 3494, redlandmuseum.org.au
