Theatre Redlands

02/08/2026

Penny Everingham and Kaye Stevenson, two actors who have devoted their lives to the theatre, are continuing a much-loved association with the work of playwright Lorna Bol in our rehearsed reading of Lorna’s domestic classic, ‘I Don’t Want To Die In Melbourne’.

“I’ve been in full productions of three of her plays”, says Kaye, “her ability as a playwright is to write about real people – usually women – in real situations, in a seemingly simple way.”

“When you actually start working on her pieces, it strikes you that they speak the absolute truth about women being trapped in domestic situations beyond their control”, explains Kaye.

Penny recalls a tangible link she has to the playwright and this play, having met Lorna – who passed away earlier this year at the age of 102 – in 2006. “I’d suggested forming a collective of older actors; Errol O’Neill christened it ‘The Forgetting of Wisdom’. Lorna was present at one of our early meetings when we were trying to co-write a script – with little success. Lorna disappeared and came back in no time at all with the script of ‘I Don’t Want To Die In Melbourne’. It was wonderful, written especially for us”, explains Penny.

Lorna Bol’s plays are characterised by real characters, individual people who are not caricatures; ‘I Don’t Want To Die In Melbourne’ is no exception. The central characters Nette and Shirl have been friends since childhood; they have lived side-by-side since they were newlyweds, supported each other through life’s joys and sorrows, and have been each other’s confidants with many shared secrets connecting their rich history.

But, now times are changing. Nette’s mind is failing and Shirl’s health is in rapid decline. While their families are endeavouring to “do want’s best”, these two women have devised their own solution to the looming problem.

📅 Date: Friday, 7 August 2026
🕐 Time: 7pm (approximately 2 hours running time)
🏠 Venue: Redland Performing Arts Centre – Events Hall; 2 -16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163
🎟 Tickets: This is a free event – bookings recommended
🌐 For more information and to book your free tickets, go to https://www.rpac.com.au/what-s-on/all-events/theatre-redlands-i-don-t-want-to-die-in-melbourne/

Theatre Redlands is a Program Partner in the Redland Arts Partnership Program, supported by the Redland Performing Arts Centre

Credit: The Community Leader / Jan Nary
https://thecommunityleader.com.au/community-news/community/i-dont-want-to-die-in-melbourne-a-domestic-classic-revived/

29/07/2026

Our second in the series of rehearsed readings is being held on Friday, 7 September at the Redland Performing Arts Centre – the Australian play ‘I Don’t Want To Die In Melbourne’ written by respected playwright Lorna Bol.

The central characters Nette and Shirl are childhood friends. Their children grew up together, they supported each other through loss, and they have lived side-by-side for most of their lives. Now with both women having rapidly failing health their loving children are devising ways to care for them. However, Nette and Shirl have their own ideas about dealing with any difficulties.

The reading will feature Penny Everingham, Kaye Stevenson and Bob Newman, who have worked together in previous productions of Lorna’s plays; they will be joined by well-loved Theatre Redlands actor Debbie Spearritt.

This is a play reading and sits somewhere between theatre and an audiobook. It is done with scripts in hand and minimal staging, allowing language, performance and story to be brought to the foreground. It is a rare opportunity for audiences to hear the play and engage with its themes in a raw, intimate form.

📅 Date: Friday, 7 August 2026
🕐 Time: 7pm (approximately 2 hours running time)
🏠 Venue: Redland Performing Arts Centre – Events Hall; 2 -16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163
🎟 Tickets: This is a free event – bookings recommended
🌐 For more information and to book your free tickets, go to https://www.rpac.com.au/what-s-on/all-events/theatre-redlands-i-don-t-want-to-die-in-melbourne/

Theatre Redlands is a Program Partner in the Redland Arts Partnership Program, supported by the Redland Performing Arts Centre.

18/06/2026

Theatre Redland’s first rehearsed reading in our Redland Arts Partnership Program (RAPP) at Redland Performing Arts Centres was held last Saturday evening, 13 June.

A terrific audience of nearly fifty thoroughly enjoyed this rare, first glimpse at John Misto’s powerful story of wartime memory, survival and female resilience, "The Shoehorn Sonata".

The play explored the confronting conditions experienced by Australian Army Medical Service nurses during the fall of Singapore in 1942, told through the eyes of former Army nurses ‘Sheila’ and ‘Bridie’ when they are interviewed for a television documentary filmed fifty years after the war.

If you missed last weekend’s first session, our second rehearsed reading in the series is coming up in August. More details to follow…

10/06/2026

SHOEHORN FAST FACT:

‘The Shoehorn Sonata’ by John Misto was first seen in 1995 - the year of the 'Australia Remembers' campaign when our nation gave thanks to the generation who secured our freedom during the darkness war. It won the 'Australia Remembers' National Playwrighting Competition in the same year.

The play was inspired by real life accounts of Australian Army Nursing Service members who survived captivity in Sumatra and Malaya.

We are presenting an intimate encounter with this powerful story of memory, survival and resilience on Saturday evening, 13 June at the Redland Performing Arts Centre.

This play is being performed as a play reading with scripts in hand and minimal staging, allowing language, performance and story to be brought to the foreground. It is a rare opportunity for audiences to hear the play and engage with its themes in a raw, intimate form. Think of it as sitting somewhere between theatre and an audiobook.

📆 Date: Saturday, 13 June 2026
⏰️ Time: 7pm (approximately 2 hours running time)
🏠 Where: Redland Performing Arts Centre – Events Hall; 2 -16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163
🎟 Tickets: This is a free event – bookings recommended
For more information and to book your free tickets, go to:

This Play Reading, presented by Theatre Redlands, invites audiences into the early creative life of the work.

08/06/2026

Congratulations to Theatre Redland's practitioner Chad Sherrin on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the 2026 King's Birthday Honours! 👏

Chad receives the award for his long-standing service to veterans and their families. 🇦🇺

03/06/2026

Theatre Redlands is kicking off our partnership at Redland Performing Arts Centre this month, presenting an intimate encounter with a powerful story of memories, survival and female resilience.

‘The Shoehorn Sonata’ by John Misto brings together two women, fifty years after World War 2, as they are interviewed for a documentary about their experiences during the fall of Singapore. The play reveals the largely unacknowledged story of Australian and British women who survived evacuation and subsequent imprisonment.

This play is being performed as a play reading with scripts in hand and minimal staging, allowing language, performance and story to be brought to the foreground. It is a rare opportunity for audiences to hear the play and engage with its themes in a raw, intimate form. Think of a play reading as sitting somewhere between theatre and an audiobook.

📆 Saturday, 13 June 2026
⏰️ 7pm (approximately 2 hours running time)
🏠 Redland Performing Arts Centre – Events Hall; 2 - 16 Middle Street, Cleveland QLD 4163
🎟 This is a free event – bookings recommended.
🌎 For more information and to book your free tickets, go to: https://www.rpac.com.au/what-s-on/all-events/the-shoe-horn-sonata/

08/03/2026

Thank you to the Redland Bayside News for their support of the local social scene. This was just a small cross section of the audience who attended the 2026 Australia Day production ‘Dinkum Assorted' at Redlands Coast Museum during January and February.

Kudos to the wonderful events team at the museum for decorative rolling pins which adorned the dinner tables!!!




https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=849444454769548&set=pcb.849444501436210

08/02/2026

And that’s a wrap! The biscuits have been baked 🍪, Lola the oven has been retired from service 🫡 … and Rita the goat is resting comfortably in the yard - with a rum-chaser!!! 🐐🥃

Theatre Redlands thanks everyone who attended the six performances of “Dinkum Assorted” over the previous two weekends. Four, sold-out performances were terrific to see and you all brought an energy to the room which the cast fed off.

Many massive thank yous must go the legendary group of volunteers (the best around!) and the management committee at the Redlands Coast Museum for looking after us and helping to present a wonderful 2026 Australia Day Play.


🫡

31/01/2026

We’re on the gallop! Our final weekend of the Australia Day Play 2026 – Dinkum Assorted is underway at Redlands Coast Museum and it’s three SOLD OUT performances!!!!