BEAR HUG (NWF Reading)

14 October 2024 6:45PM Old Fitz, 129 Dowling St, NSW, Australia.

“The thought of losing you is like completely gutting myself, of my organs, of my lungs. But I think I might just have to go on hollow for a little bit. Because you... you don't exist.”

Note: this a free staged reading presented as part of the Fitz’s inaugural New Works Festival.

Iris, an anxious and insecure caseworker for the Child Protection department, meets the charismatic Rian over a shared vape at her friend's wedding. Their instant attraction quickly flourishes into something deeper, and before long Rian has moved himself into Iris's apartment. Relationship challenges soon bubble to the surface, and as Iris scrambles to keep her mental health in check under the weight of her career responsibilities, a new case lands on Iris's doorstep and threatens to topple her new perfect life.

This claustrophobic work of hyperrealism by Lisa Kelly explores abuse, systemic failure, and finding love the love we deserve in a world seemingly devoid of it.

Team: Lisa Kelly (playwright & performer), Sheanna Parker Russon (director), Jason Jefferies (performer), Evelina Singh (performer), Tamara Foglia Castaneda (performer)

Run Time: ~90 minutes

Content Warnings: Descriptions of an implied sexual assault of a minor, mentions of rape, mentions of death, explicit depictions of emotional/physical abuse