Betty
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A mother & daughter navigate dementia, cultural clashes, and long-buried secrets.
Synopsis
BETTY is a harrowing and heartfelt exploration of dementia through a complex mother/daughter relationship, challenged by cultural clashes and long-buried secrets. Though it explores hard-hitting subject matter, BETTY is unapologetic, candid, and incredibly humorous; its hilarity adding a much-needed contrast to the weight of loss and tragedy.
Although never close, expat Lucy returns home to care for her ailing mother, Rose, and is launched headfirst into the unfiltered reality of her mother’s dementia. Rose’s vivid memories of her home country Thailand and the horror of her exile find their way into her suburban Melbourne nursing home, and the boundaries between past, present, living and spiritual unravel.
As the fabric of Lucy and Rose’s fraught relationship is smashed open, Rose’s rapid decline places a sense of urgency on the many unanswered questions of the past. Inherited family trauma, cultural assimilation, loneliness, abuse, blame and misunderstanding are all laid bare.
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Technical Information
Lighting
15 × 500w-650w profiles, 1x iris, 20 x 1k Fresnels, etc nomad or other eos family lighting desk.
Audio
4 x Speakers
1 x Sub woofer
Sound desk with 5 x outputs (minimum)
Staging
The set is a minimalist design comprised of 1 x armchair and 1 x traditional Thai trunk.
Transport Notes
1 tonne van with 3 x seats.
Audience & Marketing Notes
Key Audiences – Women; Seniors; Mothers /daughters; Culturally diverse Australians; Survivors of childhood abuse; Those with experience of dementia; Theatre lovers; Enthusiasts of new Australian plays and home-grown content;
Fans of magical realism, spirituality, and non-linearity onstage.
Inspired by the lived experiences of queer, Thai-Australian, award-winning playwright Jules Allen, ‘Betty’ centres on multi-faceted women navigating dementia, childhood trauma, and cultural identity.
Directed by Iain Sinclair, this work will draw arts and culture lovers familiar with his reputation as a renowned theatre practitioner and acclaimed director of contemporary theatre, both in Australia and internationally. Jules Allen’s fascinating background and extensive networks as a humanitarian, social scientist, former MasterChef contestant, and foster-carer make her a unique artist who will appeal to audiences beyond the usual theatre-goer.
This vital work provides an important opportunity for representation across diverse audiences Australia-wide. Audiences who identify as women, seniors, culturally diverse, and those who have been impacted by dementia and childhood abuse, will see themselves reflected in Lucy and Rose.
‘Betty’ pushes against the existing gap for mature women in leading roles on Australian stages, and offers an authentic, unfiltered look into the experience of dementia. While it tackles hard-hitting subject matter, the script is candid and incredibly humorous, providing an accessible entry point into the work for audiences.
Selling Points
- Mother/daughter story that appeals to women audiences
- New Australian play by an up and coming playwright that appeals to enthusiasts of new work
- Dramedy - explores poignant, heavy themes with a comedic, witty script allowing audiences an easy access point to the work.
- Cultural diversity and migrant's stories on our stages - Rose's character emigrated from Thailand to Australia and her upbringing in Thailand is largely explored in this play.
- Jules Allen's fascinating and impressive career as a humanitarian, foster parent, adoption reform advocate, motivational speaker, and Masterchef contestant, and her pivot into playwriting in 2016.
- Story that explores the heartbreak, and the humour, inherent in the experience of dementia and in caring for a loved one with dementia.
- A powerful, nuanced representation of older Australians onstage in the character of Rose. Senior audiences will see themselves reflected.
- The text is semi-autobiographical, taking inspiration from Jules' own experience of caring for her mother with dementia.
- Brought to the stage by renowned director and dramaturg Iain Sinclair, with decades of experience and a multitude of acclaimed works.
- A work that does not shy away from sexual abuse and discussing childhood trauma to start vital conversations in audiences and their communities.
Community Engagement
Content Warning
Details
Genre
Audience
Mothers/daughters, seniors
Venue Format
Black Box, Proscenium Arch, Hall, Flat Floor, and more
Duration
60 Minutes
Available Until (from - to)
01/01/2025
Budget & Fees
What are these? Find out more.In Development - work which will be produced and premiered in time for touring during 2022/2023. Please contact the Producer directly for Budgets and Fees.
Remount: $23,319
Weekly Sell Off: $7,389
Per Performance: $N/A
