ISSUES AT PLAY

Date the 8th November.

Northcote Town Hall, 6pm-8pm.

A workshop, called “Issues at Play”, at the Northern Notes Writer’s Festival, will include a reading by professional actors of 1hr-length play “Peccadilloes” by local emerging playwright Judy Doubas. It tells the story of one woman’s journey through domestic violence. After the play reading, an open forum with the actors, writer and the CEO of Domestic Violence Crisis Services, Jean Cameron will be conducted to discuss the relevance and effectiveness of the genre of playwriting to explore and inform an audience about often contentious social issues. There will be an opportunity to discuss both the issues presented and to make comparisons with other forms of writing such as journalistic articles and essays, novels and short stories.  These questions will be posed. Can a play shape public opinion, awake emotions, stimulate thought and enlighten as well as amuse and entertain? Does showing and not just telling engage an audience/ reader more profoundly and on a deeper level?

Judy Doubas has been passionate about theatre all her life. From dabbling in acting and directing, she began writing plays three years ago, to reflect upon and give meaning to, contemporary social issues that effect us all. She writes with a serious intent and some humour.  ‘Peccadilloes’ is her first full length play, but there are more in the making. Her ten minute plays have been produced at Footscray Arts Centre, Dantes and Dandenong Short and Sweet Festival. Her ten minute play “Black Eyed Susan”, a black comedy about cancer, is being produced at the Arts Centre, Fairfax Studio, as one of the Top 20 in the Short and Sweet Festival in December. She has a Diploma in Drama and a Diploma in Education Drama/English.

The actors at play are Bobbi-Lea Dionysis, Stefan Cooper-Fox, Nick Fox, Rosie Rodiadis and Scott Mc Ateer.

“Issues at Play” is supported by NNWF, Women’s Health in the North, Darebin Domestic Violence Project and Domestic Violence Crisis Service.   

For bookings call Judy on 0409210838. Or email judydoubas@hotmail.com