Facing the end with loads of laughs

DEATH. It’s the one certainty we all face, yet something nobody really wants to talk about. That’s the central premise of Ghosting the Party, a darkly funny and poignant new play coming to the Drill Hall Theatre in Mullumbimby.

The story follows Grace, an 87-year-old woman who has had enough — and isn’t shy about saying so. Her daughter, Dorothy, an eternal optimist, is horrified by the idea. Caught between the two is granddaughter Suzie, who’s trying to find her own path in the emotional crossfire.

Drill Hall Theatre Company’s artistic director Liz Chance said she was drawn to the script for its uniquely Australian sense of humour and fearless exploration of difficult themes.

“This is such a good play,” she said. “It deals with one of the last great taboos in modern society. The play is full of hard-earned wisdom lightly held and delightful to watch.

“They banter and argue about who is in charge of your right to die. You? Your family? Doctors? Society? How she makes us laugh about it is nothing short of miraculously funny. I am particularly blessed to have such a fine cast and the rehearsals are enormous fun.”

The play was written by Australian playwright Melissa Bubnic and features a strong local cast. Nicole Sullivan, writer, director and producer with Dandelion Films, takes on the role of Dorothy. Sonia Borenstein, a Drill Hall regular, plays Grace, while Lismore actor Elyse Dallinger plays Suzie.

Other cast members include Gregory Aitkin — known for his lead role in Mark Colvin’s Kidney at the Drill and a recent performance in The Water’s Edge by Michael Lill — and Claire Atkins, who has appeared in Shit for the Drill and Love for One Night, produced by NORPA.

Chance taught acting at NIDA for 12 years, where her students included Cate Blanchett and Sam Worthington. Her stage credits span venues such as the Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir Street Theatre and the Sydney Opera House. She also produced and co-starred with Max Cullen in the Australian premiere of Harold Pinter’s Ashes to Ashes, and has appeared on television in shows such as Home and Away, A Country Practice and Blue Heelers.

She moved to the Northern Rivers in 2002 after honeymooning in the region in the 1980s. Her first production at the Drill Hall was in 2014, playing the title role in Joanna Murray-Smith’s Honour. She became artistic director in 2020 with a clear vision: to exclusively produce Australian plays.

“I just got tired of having to go to Sydney or Brisbane to see new Australian work,” she said.

Despite challenges like the COVID-19 pandemic and the devastating 2022 floods, the Drill Hall has staged a strong line-up of Australian works since that time. They include Shit by Patricia Cornelius, Switzerland by Joanna Murray-Smith, Mr. Bailey’s Minder by Debra Oswald, Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography and The Almighty Sometimes by Kendall Feaver.

Ghosting the Party runs at the Drill Hall Theatre from September 18 to October 5.

For more information and tickets, visit drillhalltheatre.org.au/ghosting-the-party