Many Corangamite Shire residents will see their own lives and experiences reflected in an upcoming theatre production.
Tickets are on sale now for 'Red Sky Morning', by award winning Australian playwright Tom Holloway, at the Theatre Royal in Camperdown.
The production, by Independent company Theatre Works, celebrates the strength found in small communities, offering a sense of connection and hope.
It is driven by silence, rhythm, and the spaces between people who love each other, rather than by spectacle or big emotional moments.
Theatre Works programmer and producer Dianne Toulson said she was drawn to stage 'Red Sky Morning' because it speaks so quietly and so truthfully about what people carry when the ground beneath them feels uncertain.
"That felt especially relevant given what regional Victoria has been through recently devastating fires after years of drought, followed by more fires again.
"These events don't just disappear once the news cycle moves on. The impact lingers through families, businesses, and whole communities.
"What struck me about this play is that it doesn't try to dramatise catastrophe.
"Instead, it reflects the quieter aftermath, the unspoken anxiety, the emotional fatigue, the way people keep going without necessarily having the language or the support to process what's happened.
"That felt incredibly resonant, particularly in regional contexts where mental health services are limited and people tend to hold things in rather than speak them aloud."
Deputy Mayor Laurie Hickey invited residents to come along and enjoy the show.
"'Red Sky Morning' was named the 'Sunday Age' play of the year after its debut season in 2016 and the themes are as relevant as ever today.
"It has consistently earnt great reviews and a fantastic opportunity for our community to see first-class theatre.
"Thanks to Creative Victoria and the City of Port Phillip, Council is proud to present this production as part of its arts and culture program and in support of community priorities identified in the 2040 Community Vision and Grow and Prosper strategy.
"So bring your friends to enjoy the shared experience and hopefully some stimulating conversation afterwards."
'Red Sky Morning' by Tom Holloway
(15+ Mild adult themes, occasional coarse language and emotionally charged moments.)
Director: Lyall Brooks
Cast: Alpha Kargo, Izabella Day, Emma Choy
Creatives: Sidney Younger, Jack Burmeister, Harry Gill
Where: Theatre Royal, Camperdown
When: Friday 29 May, 7.30 pm
Life in the country can be beautiful, and brutally honest. In Red Sky Morning, we meet a woman, a man, and a girl who live under the same roof but have slowly drifted apart. Over the course of one day, their stories unfold in a series of poetic monologues that reveal love, regret, and the quiet hope that things might get better.
Based in St Kilda, Theatre Works has been home to bold, independent theatre for more than 40 years. It gives artists the space, support and freedom to take risks, and audiences the chance to discover powerful new Australian stories. Each year, it presents dozens of productions across its three venues, from reimagined classics to brand new works, created in partnership with some of the country's most exciting theatre makers.
Photo: Izabella Day. Credit Daniel Rabin
