WINTER SOLSTICE SHINES LIGHT ON LOCAL ISSUES

The Winter Solstice painting pictured is by artist and Geelong playwright Shane Foyster who wrote, What became of the Hooded Plovers, one of two plays that will be performed at The Potato Shed as part of the Winter Solstice Play Festival over June 29-30.

The Bellarine Peninsula’s tenth annual Winter Solstice Play Festival continues to highlight important local issues via performance.

Geelong playwrights are given the opportunity to tell local stories with environmental and social issues the theme of this year’s performances held across June 29 and 30, the full moon of winter’s longest nights.

The Potato Shed Theatre in Drysdale will host the yearly showcase produced by Theatre 3Triple2 and written by Shane Foyster and Amy-Jo Reynolds.

Mr Foyster said his play What Became of the Hooded Plovers is a classic whodunit murder mystery for the crowd to get involved in.

“Visitors to our beaches are aware that shorebirds are critically endangered yet may not know why. I wrote a classic murder mystery for people to get involved in and try to find the answer,” he said.

“The play looks at our local environment as a neighbourhood, and each animal has a human face. The audience is encouraged to investigate the disappearance of the Hooded Plover, in the same way they would if a young girl went missing in their own street. Hopefully they will leave the theatre and keep looking for answers on our local beaches.”

Ms Reynolds said her play, Until Next Week, is a dramatic insight into the lives of a group of individuals who attend a weekly Recovering Alcoholics group.

“Found on any night of the week at community centres across Geelong. True to the spirit of these groups, each individual learns that saving each other begins with saving themselves and taking the first step towards redemption,” she said.

The Winter Solstice Play Festival includes live music by local folk musician Melody Moon, roaring bonfires, mulled wine and entry to two original one act plays.

Tickets are only $20.00 each and can be purchased by calling The Potato Shed directly on 5251 1998.