Maree Hingston and Jenny Campbell are fulfilling their theatrical passions with their upcoming show Resting.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Following an ageing actress who struggles to get work, Heathcote’s Hingston will perform the one-woman show under Campbell’s direction.
The two septuagenarian have been friends for almost eight years after meeting as advocates for the Capital Theatre’s Engine Room productions that toured the region.
It is the first time they have worked together on a show.
“It was always, ‘we must do something together’ but we never took the idea anywhere,” Hingston said.
The decision to work on the show came when Hingston – who has 40 years acting experience in theatre, television and film – was going through scripts for her Heathcote theatre group Mudbrick Motley Theatre.
“I started Mudbrick Motley in 2005 with some talented performers but in the last few years have had people move, get sick or pass on, so we have sort of lost the group,” she said.
“I found myself looking around for group and thought I should just do a one-woman play.”
She called on a friend – playwright Cenarth Fox – after she found his play Resting.
“He sent me the whole thing and then I needed a director and really appreciated Jenny’s background in theatre.”
Campbell, who lives in Elmore, said the two friends work well together.
“Maree is a really gifted actor who has a great ability to connect with audiences, so it’s not hard to direct her,” she said.
“There’s no egos involved, we just have to sit down and do the hard slog together. If we do disagree, we resolve it and move on.”
One of the challenges the theatrical friends have had is finding a regular rehearsal space.
“The rehearsal process important, that's where you get it all right, and we have been all over the joint,” Campbell said.
“We have had a couple of goes in one of the venues, which has really brought things to life and got us very excited.”
Campbell and Hingston are passionate about bringing theatre to small towns with Resting performing in Redesdale, Heathcote and Bendigo in March.
“I have done things at places like Redesdale before and had a good response,” Hingston said. “They don’t get much of an opportunity to see theatre productions and are very welcoming.”
Resting is at Redesdale Hall on March 2, Wooden Church in Heathcote (formerly Mona Lisa Gallery) on March 17 and The Capital’s Bendigo Bank Theatre on March 24. To book tickets phone 0409 565 443.