Wollongong’s, The Phoenix Theatre, celebrated its 100th show with the Australian cultural play phenomenon, ‘Ruby Moon’.
Business manager Nick Kilpatrick and artistic director Steen WHO have been waiting three years for the rights to the iconic Australian gothic play.
Mr Kilpatrick said that before it was released he had been leaning towards other options. But after finding out the rights were released Mr Kilpatrick was quick to apply.
Photo Source: The Phoenix Theatre Instagram. Photo from ‘Ruby Moon’ Production.
“Something like Ruby Moon, it’s iconic,” Mr Kilpatrick said.
“I tend to go with pieces that people can take something from, normally there’s a lot of trauma in there… People kind of knew (the play) and had all these perceptions in their heads that I really wanted to challenge it,” he said.
The plot, dialogue and characters explore hidden symbolism, and elements of Australian goth. Ruby Moon can be considered psychologically thrilling, drawing on relatable experiences of missing person cases and making audiences feel dis-ease.
One of the play’s leading cast Cathy Bates, said the script is an odd and compelling rollercoaster.
“On a deeper level it’s about the unease in Australian society,” Miss Bates said.
“For this child to just go missing in such a safe environment, it sort of speaks to this motion in Australian society of this change. I think that’s the theme that runs all the way through Ruby Moon, the familiar becomes unfamiliar,” she said.
Photo Source: The Phoenix Theatre Instagram. Photo from ‘Ruby Moon’ Production.
Actress, Slade V Mayer said audiences may feel uneasy about the play because the situation can happen to anyone. For the cast, the scenes aren’t uncomfortable because of the time they have taken to process the trauma of the play.
Actor, Thomas Roberts said the unfamiliarity that ‘Ruby Moon’ touches on the differentiating emotions of the play between the cast and the audience.
“It walks this line between this kind of farcical at parts but then the reality hits you,” Mr Roberts said.
“You don’t really have any clear answers ever and I think that also matches with reality in a sense.”
To see a production at, The Phoniex Thretre hit the link and check out their upcoming shows.
