Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which we work. We pay respect to the Elders, past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
Welcome
Jacqui Somerville Program Director Bachelor of Acting
Welcome to the QCGU Bachelor of Acting Third Year production of Blue Stockings by Jessica Swale. It is with great excitement that we bring this powerful and timely story to the Metro Arts stage in 2025.
Set in 1896 at Girton College, Cambridge, Blue Stockings follows the journey of four remarkable young women fighting for their right to education in a world that tells them they don’t belong. Their struggle for knowledge, respect, and equality is as urgent today as it was over a century ago. At a time when access to education, autonomy over our own futures, and the voices of those historically unheard are still contested, this play reminds us how far we have come - and how far we still have to go.
At the heart of our acting training is the belief that theatre should challenge, inspire, and spark conversation. Blue Stockings does exactly that. It demands that we reflect on the systems we uphold, the biases we inherit, and the courage required to create change. Our students, alongside director Elise Greig, have poured their passion, talent, and curiosity into bringing these characters to life, and I am incredibly proud of their dedication to this work.
I must acknowledge and celebrate this wonderful production team, cast, Conservatorium colleagues - Michael Hibbard and Grace Royle - and the team at Metro Arts for their work on bringing Blue Stockings to life.
We invite you to immerse yourself in this world, to laugh, to rage, and to celebrate the tenacity of those who dared to push boundaries. Thank you for joining us on this journey - may it ignite something in you.
Enjoy the show!
Director’s Note
Dr Elise Greig
When Jacqui Somerville approached me to direct Jessica Swale’s debut play, Blue Stockings, I was absolutely thrilled by the opportunity to bring this remarkable piece to life. It’s a moving, comical, and eye-opening story of four young women fighting for the right to graduate with a degree from Girton College, Cambridge.
Set in 1896 at Girton College, Cambridge - the first college in Britain to admit women -the play highlights an extraordinary injustice. Despite studying diligently and at times ferociously, while also matching their male peers grade for grade, the women of Girton were denied the right to graduate. Instead, they left with the stigma of being labelled ‘blue stockings’ - a derogatory term for an educated, intelligent woman. Astoundingly, they not only returned home without a degree but also carried the burden of being considered unmarriageable.
Directing a play that gives voice to this pivotal moment in history has been a privilege. It has been a joy to shape the story of Tess Moffat and her fellow first-year students as they fight for the right to graduate. Along the way, they encounter hurdles, challenges, distractions, and the deep inequities of class divide. Over one tumultuous academic year, we cheer for them as they defy convention and strive to change the future of education.
I am incredibly grateful to Jacqui for trusting me with this production and for the opportunity to work with the talented third-year cohort. Their openness, commitment, and willingness to explore have been truly inspiring. As they take to the stage at Metro Arts, I am reminded of how profoundly my own life has been shaped by the education I have been fortunate to receive.
Thank you for being here to experience Blue Stockings. May the conversation around women’s rights continue - thoughtfully, respectfully, and passionately.
As Ralph challenges Tess Moffat in the play: "Imagine if Plato had been born a woman". Well, he would have been denied an education for a start! Thank goodness that has changedthough, tragically, it took far longer than anyone anticipated.
Please enjoy Blue Stockings.
Please be advised that this production contains adult themes and live performances depicting violence.
Act I - 65 mins
Interval - 20 minutes
Act II - 55 minutes
The total run time of this performance will be approximately 2 hours 20 minutes including interval.
Creatives
Dr Elise Greig Director
Elise is an actor and playwright and has been recognised by the Matilda Awards on four occasions for her outstanding contribution to Queensland Theatre. Elise has also received a CentreScreen Award for her performance in Good Girls (Short Film Corner Cannes Film Festival & New Filmmakers New York), and three Goldie Awards for her voiceover work. Elise is an acting graduate from USQ and an Honours and Masters graduate from QUT, where she was awarded the University Medal for Academic Achievement. Elise was awarded her PhD from Griffith University. Elise also trained with Shakespeare & Company in Boston, USA.
As an actor Elise’s theatre credits include: White China (Playlab Theatre), Breaking (Counterpilot & Metro Arts), The Clints Come Again Reunion Cabaret (Qld regional tour 2021 & 2022 and Redland Performing Arts) 2021, Anatomy of a Suicide (BC, Big Scary Animal and e.g. at Metro Arts), That’s What She Said (Metro Arts), The Bull, The Moon and the Coronet of Stars (Queensland Theatre Quality Time), Reagan Kelly (Rocket Boy), Poison and Swallow (Metro and e.g.), Spring Awakening (Metro and Underground), A Little Night Music (Brisbane Philharmonic), The Story of Brisbane (Playabout and Powerhouse), Spectate (Metro), Long Gone Lonesome Cowgirls (La Boite/QBFM), The Spirit of The Land (La Boite), Hopelessly Devoted (Glen Street, Sydney), Secret Bridesmaids’ Business (La Boite/QPAC), Explosions (QTC), Summer Rain (QTC), Modd Madame Butterfly (QTC). Elise has worked extensively in film and TV, most recently in Reef Break and Young Rock, and is currently the voice of Mrs. Kangaroo in Peppa Pig
As a playwright Elise’s first play, The Romany Project was presented as part of Metro’s Year of Independents, supported by the Australia Council and Arts Queensland. Elise’s next play, Crèche and Burn was a box office and critical success as part of La Boite Theatre’s 2005 main house season and then received an extensive 10-week national tour. This was followed by The Sweet Science of Bruising, which was shortlisted for the 2010 Playwriting Australia Festival, Hopelessly Devoted (Glen Street Sydney) and Flood. Elise’s work, Magpie was longlisted for the QPDA 2018 and had a critically successful season at Brisbane Powerhouse 2019, presented in partnership with Playlab, Metro Arts and supported by the Australia Council, Arts Queensland and MatchLab (Creative Partnerships Australia). Elise is currently developing the premiere production of Florence, a new musical that explores the exceptional life of Florence Broadhurst. Other writing credits include: Are My Balls Still in the Air?, Brisbane Cabaret Festival, and Mornings with Maryanne Merrily, also for the 2006 Brisbane Cabaret Festival. Elise has dramaturged a number of theatrical works, most recently the Matilda Award-winning Wilbur the Optical Whale by Karen Roberts for Indelibility Arts.
Creatives
Elise’s directing credits include: Night Sky Over Our Town, which she also adapted (developed through Qld Conservatorium Griffith University), It’s Only Life, Putting it Together, Working, and Edges for Queensland Academy of Excellence in Musical Theatre, Kryptonite and Gaybies for Playlab Theatre’s audio plays season, Shooting Hoops by Julia Rose Lewis for which Elise was awarded Best Director at Short+Sweet Festival, Love You Hate You for Playlab’s development program, Suffrage (International Women’s Day at Southbank), The Seagull (1st Year Students) Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University, Our Town for Griffith University Mt Gravatt, and Girls Like That Griffith University Gold Coast (online).
Keith Clark Lighting Designer
Keith Clark’s lighting design work includes Single Asian Female (La Boite Theatre Company), Boy Girl Wall and Packed (The Escapists), Handle with Care (Joymas Creative), De-Generator, Opposite of Prompt, AngelMonster, and The Machine that Carries the Soul (Phluxus Dance Collective), Moon Spirit Feasting (Elision Music Ensemble), Juice (The Crash Collective), Kazka and Legend (Lehenda Dance Company), The Laramie Project (Forward Movement), The Wind in the Willows (La Boite Theatre Company) Die Opernprobe & Der Häusliche Krieg (Lisa Gasteen National Opera Program), and Tarnished (La La Palour).
At the Queensland Conservatorium his lighting designs include Grease, Street Scene, Beatrice and Benedict, Iolanthe, Dido and Aeneas, and 42nd Street. Improvised designs have been for such artists as The Necks, Jeff Lang, The Ordinary Fear of God, Aaron Goldberg, Kate Miller-Heidke, and Nakhane.
Keith’s designs for various productions have toured nationally and internationally to Europe and America. He is also a member of the award-winning independent theatre group The Escapists
Class of 2025
Blue Stockings Cast List
The casts have been named after the two key founders of Girton College: Barbara Bodichon and Emily Davies.
Character
Tess Moffat
Celia Willbond
Carolyn Addison
Maeve Sullivan
Mrs Welsh
Miss Blake
Miss Bott
Mrs Lindley
Librarian
Minnie
Lady in Café
Ralph Mayhew
Lloyd Holmes
Barbara Cast
Jordana Wenke
Darcy Jackson
Angela Lal Paulose
Cecilia Varese
Grace Faint
Allegra Marino
Arundhati Banerjee
Emma Kidd
Riley Fahey
Emma Kidd
Arundhati Banerjee
Callum Johnston
Rushad Katrak
Cameron Rixon
Emily Cast
Emma Kidd
Darcy Jackson
Angela Lal Paulose
Arundhati Banerjee
Grace Faint
Allegra Marino
Cecilia Varese
Jordana Wenke
Rory Gryffin
Jordana Wenke
Cecilia Varese
Callum Johnston
Rushad Katrak
Cameron Rixon
Character Edwards
Will Bennett
Dr Maudsley
Mr Banks
Professor Collins
Professor Anderson
Professor Radleigh
Mr Peck
Billy Sullivan
Waiter
Barbara Cast
Rhys Canham
Lachlan Brayshaw
Rory Gryffin
Liam McMahon
Cameron Rixon
Rory Gryffin
Matthew Ianna
Matthew Ianna
Riley Fahey
Matthew Ianna
Cast Dates
Saturday 1 March, 7:30pm
Tuesday 4 March, 7:30pm
Wednesday 5 March, 7:30pm
Thursday 6 March, 7:30pm
Friday 7 March, 7:30pm
Saturday 8 March, 3:00pm
Emily Cast
Liam McMahon
Matthew Ianna
Riley Fahey
Rhys Canham
Cameron Rixon
Riley Fahey
Lachlan Brayshaw
Lachlan Brayshaw
Rory Gryffin
Lachlan Brayshaw
Emily Cast
Barbara Cast
Emily Cast
Barbara Cast
Emily Cast
Barbara Cast
Production Credits
Director
Dr Elise Greig
Lighting Designer
Keith Clark
Production Managers
Keith Clark & Amy Hauser
Stage Manager
Erin O’Shea
Movement Coach
Joanne Loth
Intimacy Coordinator
Jacqui Somerville
Costume Alterations
Beverly Fairweather
Musical Revisions
Shelli Hulcombe
Fight Choreography
Jason McKell
Blue Stockings Illustration by Emma Kidd & Rory Gryffin
Student Production Roles
Stage Manager
(Keeper of the Keys)
Arundhati Banerjee
Cecilia Varese
Set & Props
Riley Fahey
Rory Gryffin
Matthew Ianna
Rushad Katrak
Jordana Wenke
Costumes
Grace Faint
Emma Kidd
Jordana Wenke
Hair & Makeup
Darcy Jackson
Cecilia Varese
Projections
Cameron Rixon
Lighting
Lachlan Brayshaw
Music & Sound
Darcy Jackson
Allegra Marino
Marketing
Rhys Canham
Angela Lal Poulose
Voice
Riley Fahey
Liam McMahon
Research
Callum Johnston
Angela Lal Paulose
Queensland Conservatorium Staff
Director
Professor Bernard Lanskey
Deputy Director
(Learning and Teaching)
Associate Professor
Donna Weston
Deputy Director (Research)
Dr Alexis Kallio
Conservatorium Manager
Stuart Jones
Open Conservatorium
Manager
Jason Budge
Program Director
(Bachelor of Acting)
Jacqui Somerville
Lecturer in Acting
Claire Christian
Front of House &
Operations Manager
Michael Hibbard
Technical Team Leader
Cameron Hipwell
Executive Officer (Engagement)
Dr Natalie Lewandowski-Cox
Operations Administrator
Clare Wharton
Technical Officers
Keith Clark, Amy Hauser, Len McPherson
Venue Officers
Grace Royle, Joshua White, Joseph Gale-Grant
Administration Officer
Liz Tyson-Doneley
Special thanks
Special thanks to Queensland Conservatorium supporters and donors.
Philanthropy plays a vital role at Queensland Conservatorium. Only through your support can our students experience valuable learning opportunities through productions such as this one. To invest in the future of music and performance in Queensland, contact us on (07) 5552 7218 or email giving@griffith.edu.au
Queensland Conservatorium thanks our generous donors and supporters. We would like to acknowledge our instrument bank donors supporting the students in tonight’s performance.
Make a donation
Queensland Conservatorium Griffith University
140 Grey Street, South Bank 4101 : griffith.edu.au/queenslandconservatorium queenslandconservatorium.com.au
QueenslandConservatorium
QldCon Griffith
Correct at time of publication.
