I’M WITH HER

CAST

Woman 1 – Nikki Keating | Zoe Lucas

Woman 2 – Julie Bates AO | Dr Tracy Edington Mackay

Woman 3 – Sister Patricia Madigan | Leanne Topfer

Woman 4 – Pam Burridge | Christina Chamley

Woman 5 – Julia Gillard | Jodhi Gough

Woman 6 – Marcia Langton | Eva Grace Mullaley

Woman 7 – Marion Blackwell AM | Lynne Price

Woman 8 – Anne Aly | Dr Amina Keygan

Creative Team

Director | Victoria Midwinter Pitt

Producer | Libby Klysz

Stage Manager | Mel King

Graphic Design | Kristen Kin

Composer | Nicolette Boaz

Sound Design | Glenn Martin

Water cinematography | Rick Rifici

Purnululu cinematography | Ben Broady

DIRECTOR’S NOTES

Since #metoo erupted, women all over the world, me included, have been joining the dots about our experiences of abuse, harassment and discrimination. But it’s always struck me that within our horror stories there are other dots, begging to be joined - nuggets of proper heroism. It’s the part that doesn’t always get told, which is interesting, because it’s a ripper: none of us cops this shit, without – in some way – opposing it.

This is the golden thread I’m With Her pulls on – the dark arts of female resistance. Some are small, private acts of dissent, some are loudhailer public triumphs, but when we piece them together, they begin to tell us something important about ourselves. We know all about the dreaded patriarchy; this show is about the strengths women deploy to navigate through it and keep turning up to our own lives. These stories come from long, long conversations with eight marvellous women, who were all so funny, so warm, so clever in how they have understood their own lives and told them to me. I don’t know how I got to be so lucky, or how I’ll ever properly thank them.

The eight fantastic women who have put their own very fascinating lives on hold to come together here in Burnie to deliver their wise and wicked words have all been infected with their spirit – go hard, go early, go round the side, but whatever you do, keep going.

We hope so many women and girls will pick up this script and carry it off now and make it theirs, and add their own stories to the pile. For more information, including teachers notes and a kit for holding your own reading come and join us at imwithertheplay.com

ZOE LUCAS – WOMAN 1 (NIKKI KEATING)

Zoe Lucas grew up on the North West Coast in Burnie, where she now currently lives and works as a college Drama, English & Humanities teacher. Through her involvement with local theatre group DoMaur productions and as a committee member of The Coasters, Zoe engages her passion for the local community through involving herself in and sharing all that the North West Coast has to offer. A graduate of The University of Tasmania she holds a bachelor’s degree in Contemporary Arts: Theatre and a Master of Teaching, specialising in Drama and English. Zoe is looking forward to sharing this thought provoking, moving and relevant show with an audience.

DR TRACY EDINGTON MACKAY – WOMAN 2 (JULIE BATES AO)

Community Mobiliser / Writer/ Independent Thinker. Tracy is a proud global citizen that embraces life- long learning, people, place and culture. She has always shown a strong commitment throughout her many years to work for a fair, just and kinder world. Tracy has spent the past 12 years spreading her wings with the residents of Shorewell Park Burnie. Tracy strives to do whatever is necessary to create an inclusive community where every person’s story count, they are listened to and respected.

LEANNE TOPFER - WOMAN 3 (SISTER PATRICIA MADIGAN)

Leanne Topfer is a Magistrate based in Burnie. She has been President of the Law Society of Tasmania, on the Executive of the Law Council of Australia, and recipient of the Law Society Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the Tasmanian Legal Profession in 2017. She grew up in Hobart, moving to the NW Coast with her husband Colin in 1986 as young lawyers looking for experience; two sons and many years later, they are still here. I’m With Her is Leanne’s return to the stage after a long hiatus: her last acting role was as a chorus member of the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Tasmania production Iolanthe in 1984.

CHRISTINA CHAMLEY - WOMAN 4 (PAM BURRIDGE)

Christina Chamley has lived in Burnie for 25 years. She is married with two children and was a psychologist before retiring 2 years ago. Christina was also a competitive powerlifter for over 10 years, being a 4-time Australian Champion, Australian record holder, Oceania and Commonwealth Champion. For the last 12 years she has worked in the international media for powerlifting and continues to write international publications and commentate international championships that are live streamed online. In 2021 she was inducted into the International Powerlifting Federation Hall of Fame for outstanding accomplishments and achievements in the sport of powerlifting.

JODHI GOUGH - WOMAN 5 (JULIA GILLARD)

Jodhi Gough is an agent for change, with people and humanity at the heart of her foundation. Jodhi has characteristics of strength, resilience, courage and determination and is a great champion for women, currently serving as President of IGNITE Women Tasmania, a not-for- profit organisation on the North West Coast of Tasmania that empowers women to do great things. Jodhi is thrilled to be part of a cast of strong women, bringing Victoria Midwinter Pitt’s stage play to life which, as she says, is a reminder to us all that the power lies within us as women, just by being who we are, our authentic selves

EVA GRACE MULLALEY - WOMAN 6 (MARCIA LANGTON)

Eva Grace Mullaley is a Widi woman from the Yamatji Nation in the Midwest Region of Western Australia. In her 20 year career Eva has worn many hats in the arts industry including Artistic Director of Yirra Yaakin Theatre Company, Director, Administration, Stage Manager, Tour Manager – internationally and nationally, Producer, Event Manager, Actor, Dramaturge, Lecturer in Character and Script Analysis (WAAPA), Collaborating Director, Workshops Coordinator and much more.

LYNNE PRICE - WOMAN 7 (MARION BLACKWELL AM)

Arriving in Tas in 1968 as a “Ten Pound Pom” and moving to Burnie after four years I combined family responsibilities with work and community activities. Establishing the Burnie Netball Centre was followed by a passion for community music (especially string playing). Since retiring from teaching at Marist Regional College after 25 years I have immersed myself in community arts and Burnie Arts Council. In 2007 I initiated and developed the Burnie Stringalong Programme giving students in local state schools the opportunity to learn a stringed instrument. I am a Life Member of Burnie Netball Association, Burnie Arts Council, Tasmanian Regional Arts and Cradle Coast Orchestra.

DR AMINA KEYGAN - WOMAN 8 (ANNE ALY)

Amina is a proud resident and representative of Burnie, a passionate lover of the arts and culture, and a staunch advocate for equity across our community. In her professional life, she is a doctorate of demography and senior advisor, implementing evidenced based programs in our City and State, to make people’s lives better. Privately, Amina is raising some remarkable humans who daily teach her humility and to be the change they need in the world. “It is a privilege to be a part of this work. The women and their stories, while remarkable, hold an element of us all in their truths. These experiences, so universal, bind us, lift us and shatter us. Nevertheless, we persist”.

VICTORIA MIDWINTER PITT – DIRECTOR

Victoria is a documentary film-maker, playwright and theatre director. She trained in theatre at the Royal Centre School of Speech & Drama in London. Her films, which have won Australia’s major documentary awards (Walkley, AACTA and Premier’s History Prize) and been nominated for two Emmys, include Frontier, Rampant: How a City Stopped a Plague, Surviving Mumbai, Leaky Boat and Afghanistan: Inside Australia’s War. Her most recent play I’m With Her was published by Currency Press in 2022. All Victoria’s work is based on the power and revelation of first-hand story telling.

LIBBY KLYSZ - PRODUCER

Libby is a director, producer, teacher and performer working for over 20 years. Recent projects include I’m With Her (Half the Sky 2022, Midwinter Productions 2023), Hide the Dog (Performing Lines Tasmania, 2023) JULIA and Savage Grace (Steamworks Arts, 2021-22); The Golem, (Humphrey Bower, 2020), My Robot (Barking Gecko Theatre, 2019) Wonder Woman (Laura Boynes, 2019), and BANG! BANG! (Scott Elstermann & Shona Erskine, 2019-2022). Libby runs Variegated Productions, creating Ragnarokkr (2020), Frankie’s (2018), The Man and The Moon (2016), Ramshackle & Kitsch (2017). She associate directed Black Swan’s The Tempest (2021), directed Kaitlin Tinker’s Earthside (2022); and Charlotte Otton’s hit Feminah (2019). She sits on the boards of CircuitWest and Chamber of Arts & Culture WA.

MEL KING – STAGE MANAGER

Mel is an actor, director, production manager and events producer. A professional actor for over 30 years Mel began directing in 2016 co-directing Blue Cow’s Pedalling Back and AD on Loud Mouth’s The Bull The Moon and The Coronet of Stars. Her direction credits with Tas Theatre include What Rhymes with Cars and Girls 2017, Eight Gigabytes of Hardcore Pornography 2018, Speaking in Tongues 2019 with Hobart Rep and Caravan Boat Treehouse with Mudlark 2020. Mel is directing new work Jingled by Launceston writer Stephanie Briarwood later this year for Hobart Rep. She is the regional producer for the Festival of Voices and sits on the board of Mature Artist Dance Experience.

Acknowledgements

This production is supported by the Department of Local Government Sport and Culture, Blake Beckett Trust, Australian Cultural Fund, and Fremantle Arts Centre

Acknowledgement Of Country

Every part of Australia is, always was and always will be, Aboriginal land. As a community gathering-place, a festival of arts, cultural exchange and celebration and as a site for the sharing of ideas and stories, Ten Days on the Island pays respect to the Palawa/Tasmanian Aborigines – The original owners and cultural custodians – of all the lands and waters across Lutruwita/Tasmania upon which our Festival takes place.