Productions

In Development

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Director:
Leticia Caceres

Playwright:
Angela Betzien

Composer:
Pete Goodwin

Cast:
Jodie Le Vesconte Louise Brehmer Melodie Reynolds

Designer:
Tanja Beer

Lighting Designer:
Lisa Mibus

Photographer:
Stephen Henry

Children of the Black Skirt

Official Website: www.childrenoftheblackskirt.com

Awards

Winner 2005 Drama Victoria Award

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Reviews

'Three actresses make light work of the script and the demand for multiple roles; it was something of a visual feast to watch the various physical contortions they used in an endeavour to replicate a very overweight woman, an orphanage inspector and several different young children. '
Arts Hub

This work explores incredibly important aspects of Australian history and is rapidly becoming cult viewing for young audiences across Australia...
Sally Chance, Come Out Festival Director 2004

A fantastic performance, thought provoking, very necessary subject matter to be discussed, such a clever production, excellent cast.
Pastor Kathryn Koning, Immanuel Lutheran College

Excellent. Exceptionally creative and imaginative work.
Shanora Chapman, Victory College

A thoroughly stimulating, poignant and professionally presented performance on a heart-wrenching, topical subject.
Lee Cochrane, Redcliffe SHS

Fantastic energy displayed which captivated our audience. A brilliant playwright carried off beautifully by the exuberant energy displayed by the performers.
Elena Higgins, Cleveland Education and Training Centre

The skills employed by the actors to bring this lyrical and heartfelt performance to life were outstanding. Our middle years students were mesmerized and full of questions afterwards.
Peter Robert, Yarra Valley Grammar School.

Synopsis

Three lost children stumble across an abandoned orphanage in the bush. They become trapped in a timeless world, haunted by spirits from the past. They are tormented, too, by the Black Skirt, a cruel governess who floats up and down the orphanage corridors wielding enormous scissors. But as the stories of these forgotten children are told— from pick pocketing incidents in the eighteenth century to the tragedies of the Stolen Generations in the twentieth— their spirits are released, one by one.

Children of the Black Skirt is a gothic fairytale with bite. Roald Dahl meets Charles Dickens under the harsh Australian sun, as Angela Betzien explores Australian’s history and the healing power of storytelling.

Children of the Black Skirt has been published by Currency Press. To purchase a copy on-line, please click here