The unique role of farming women will be celebrated in a new piece of theatre making its world premiere at the Bijou Theatre in August.
Captive Wives will for a two-week season which runs from August 20-28.
Captive Wives explores the lives, challenges and triumphs of a group of women living on Esperance farms in the early 1970s. During February this year Perth playwright/actor/director Jenny Davis spent time interviewing local women about their experiences and exploring what led to the formation of the group, The Captive Wives.
The resulting play is a dramatic, humorous and insightful look at this remarkable group of women dealing with the issues of being new-land farmers – isolation, financial pressures, poor seasons… and snakes!
Originally an Esperance Community Arts initiative, Captive Wives has been generously supported by Esperance Showbizz which was keen to see a local script produced.
“We are excited about sharing this play with local audiences as it captures and explores an important time in the district’s history… the development of a vast agricultural area,” said co-director Lyndel Taylor.
“Captive Wives will really strike a chord with anyone who has ever lived on a farm and, we hope, provide an opportunity for local people involved in the development of new-land farms to look back at their achievements.”
Told from the perspective of the real “Captive Wives”, the play gives a unique insight into the women’s role in this development.
The 12-member all-female cast includes seasoned performers and a number making their stage debut at the Bijou.
“The cast members have risen the challenges of this inspiring play which requires them to sing, dance, create soundscapes and act multiple roles,” said co-director Victoria Brown.
“The cast includes women who were new-land farmers themselves or are currently farming and we also have some who are the daughters or grand-daughters of farmers so there is a real connection to the script.
“Before it has even hit the stage, Captive Wives is affecting people’s lives as it provides an excuse to come together and reflect. This is a piece of theatre that no local person should miss.”
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