Sold-out NORPA production returns to The Eltham more immersive than ever

JULIAN Louis was sitting at The Eltham Hotel around five years ago when an idea began to take shape.

The artistic director of acclaimed Lismore-based theatre company NORPA envisioned a unique large-scale production that would place audiences in a purpose-built seating bank in the historic pub’s carpark, with the historic hotel serving as the backdrop.

“Our work can be outdoors and site specific, which I think it’s a great way to make theatre more visible, engaging and accessible,” he said. “NORPA makes extraordinary work and we try to turn heads not just locally but nationally and put our company on the map.”

The resulting production, Love for One Night, did exactly that, selling out when it premiered in 2022.

It then went on to win the PAC Australia IMPACT Award in 2023, recognising its outstanding artistic achievement and community impact.

With hundreds of people left on the waiting list during its original run, Louis said he is thrilled to be bringing the production back later this year.

The play centres on a series of stories exploring love – finding it, understanding its role in our lives and learning to appreciate it.

Five actors portray 25 characters who all find themselves at the hotel on a single night. Among them are childhood sweethearts bantering over schooners, two men who fell for the same woman and a man who loses the love of his life to a cult.

The production is built around a live band, while footage captured by cameras in the hotel’s upstairs rooms and bar is projected onto the building in real time.

“It allows us to explore the interior of the pub, but also the inner lives of these characters,” Louis said.

The rooms at The Eltham were inspired by real people, some of whom became part of the story, including a film star named Delilah who used to stay there.

“They’re not random stories we have made up, they’re inspired by stories we have researched from here that have some relevance for local audiences,” Louis said.

Louis said he is looking forward to refining the production further and making it even more immersive for audiences.

“One of the ideas is to set up seating on the stage amongst the action,” he said. “You can buy a ticket that allows you to sit inside the work. It’s so thrilling to see the audience turning up excited about the work.”

Love For One Night is at The Eltham Hotel 27 August–12 September.

For more information and tickets, visit norpa.org.au