Dear Grif-friend,   

I’m Katie Hankin Griffin’s Producer & Company Manager! Prior to this role I have spent the last few years, touring as a stage manager. My last experience with Griffin was in 2023 when I stage managed the national tour of Prima Facie. A wild few months with just three of us (Sheridan Harbridge, Julia our production manager, and me) driving around the country. It was a huge privilege to be a part of taking that important work across Australia, and what a joy to see how far that show has gone since then that is what I love about Griffin, it is a small team working hard to bring new Australian stories to life.   

One of the wonderful things about theatre is how it can bring different worlds together and showcase a range of human experiences. I am excited to be working on the hilariously funny Mum Club by Jorjia Gillis at the moment. Motherhood and theatre are not always an easy mix. In theatre, we work long hours, often foregoing our social lives, not seeing family and friends for long stretches and fully immersing ourselves in our own little world that we have created—sound familiar, mums? This past week has been all hands on deck to get ready for our opening night tonight. I usually spend too much time sitting at a desk or backstage, this week has been all about running around Sydney buying props, picking up costumes, painting set pieces and one session in the Belvoir foyer working out how to make a fake matcha latte out of PVA glue!  

Whilst I am used to being backstage running the show, I was so happy to be able to sit in the audience for the first preview performance of Mum Club and not only experience the show but also watch the audience experience it from the opposing seating bank. I can’t wait for you all to see what the whole team has cooked up! The amazing cast is outrageously funny—if you come along, you are in for a wild ride with some incredibly touching moments.  

I am especially thrilled about the Babes in Arms performance we have coming up on Wednesday 2 September and Thursday 10 September, where parents/caregivers can bring their babies. We are currently drawing up plans for pram parking, deciding on some delicious treats to serve, and preparing for a theatre full of life. These performances flew out the door and I can’t wait to share this event with the parents and bubs.  

That’s all from me! I hope to meet you all in a foyer soon and look forward to sharing many more stories.   

See you later, 
Katie   

Katie Hankin
Producer & Company Manager