Heartstring Theatre, the Green Room-nominated theatre company, proudly brings Alice Birch’s Susan Smith Blackburn prize-winning play to Melbourne for the first time at Meat Market’s Stables.

Carol, Anna and Bonnie are three women in three separate time periods who are inextricably linked. Carol, in the 1970s, has just given birth whilst 1990s Anna grapples with a drug addiction and pregnancy. Bonnie in the near future must decide whether she allows the ghosts of her past to influence her decision to have a family.

Debuting in 2016 with their world-first all-female Coriolanus, Heartstring Theatre has subsequently produced four shows in Melbourne that focus on women’s stories, continuing their stance to always produce shows with the majority of roles being played by women and non binary people. From Shakespeare (Coriolanus, Cymbeline) to Ibsen (Little Eyolf) and Australian premieres (Marie Antoinette, Still), Heartstring endeavors to bring exciting work to Melbourne audiences, either with a fresh spin on a classic work or a brand new work that has not been seen in Melbourne before.

Alice Birch is an award-winning playwright who has written for stage (Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again), television (Succession, Normal People) and film (Lady Macbeth).

Praise for Heartstring Theatre:
“Unflagging energy and a very high standard of performance” – Stage Whispers (Cymbeline)
“A remarkable achievement” – Limelight (Little Eyolf)
“It’s lots of fun and the cast is excellent…sophisticated and intelligent theatre” – Australian Stage (Marie Antoinette)
“Another fine offering from Heartstring Theatre” – Stage Noise (Marie Antoinette)
“An exciting evening in the theatre” – Stage Whispers (Still)

Written by Alice Birch
Directed by Katie Smith
Performed by Elisa Armstrong, Ashleigh Coleman, Adriano Del Re, Adam Hetherington, Harper Hynes, Frances Lee, Lucy Payne, Erin Perrey, Alexander Tomisich, Stephen Whiley
Sound design by Grace Ferguson
Set and Costume design by Olivia Lucia Pimpinella
Lighting design by Georgie Wolfe
Stage managed by Alessandra Alessio
5-16 February 2025
Wed – Sat 7:30 pm, Sunday 5pm
Previews: 5th and 6th February
Opening Night: 7th February
Tickets: $40 Full, $35 Concession, $28 Preview, $20 Mob tix
Bookings: https://www.eventbrite.com/manage/events/1145232494219/details
Enquiries: (03) 9329 9966
Venue: Meat Market’s Stables
2 Wreckyn St, North Melbourne 3051 VIC (corner of Wreckyn St and Courtney St)
www.weareheartstring.com
Duration: 100 mins, no interval
Suitable for ages 15+
Warnings: This production includes discussion of suicide, depression, sterilisation, childbirth, fertility and mental illness. It includes artistic depictions of suicide and medical procedures.