03.04.25
Hi Grif-friends!
My name is Alana. I’m the Acting Ticketing Manager at Griffin for approximately the next half hour (OK, technically two more months, but it’ll whiz by, I know it). As I write this, there is a deep silence in the office, Hayley isn’t glug-glugging water from one receptacle into another. Erica isn’t hum-singing Lady Gaga (Taylor Swift?) with her ridiculously beautiful voice. Christie isn’t sitting noiselessly in the far corner where I can’t really see her (a fact which doesn’t stop me from saying, “Hey Christie, you know that thing blah blah etc.”, and when she doesn’t answer, I have to use my actual legs to get up and walk around the corner and see that she’s at lunch—rude!).
It’s quiet because right now, everybody is on a staff retreat. They are ideating and brainstorming and hashing things out and bonding and having pillow fights and other deeply transformative experiences. And I’m here, writing this relatively directionless (thus far) blog post. Hey, they asked me to write something, and this is how I write. OK Christie! CHRISTIE!? Oh, yeah, she’s at the retreat.
OK, where was I? What to say, what to say… Ah yes, they gave me a template.
Step 1—Introduce yourself.
I sort of did that. But to elaborate, I am a Ticketing Admin Pro (I can say that because it’s true). Previous gigs include the Biennale of Sydney, Sydney Writers’ Festival, Belvoir St Theatre and Sydney Theatre Company and I am so glad to finally join one of Sydney’s most courageous theatre companies. I said it. Courageous.
Step 2—What’s on at Griffin.
Uh, well, there’s the um…hmm. OK, look we’re dark at the moment, but you all know why, right? WE’RE LITERALLY BIRTHING A NEW STAGE PEOPLE. Just give us a minute. This geographic location has been at the nexus of new Australian theatre making for many decades. It’s a special moment in Griffin history and I get a front row seat (no, too close, couple back, centre…iykyk).
Of course, there are things coming up, tickets to the 2025 Griffin Award & Keynote are on sale now, with the Keynote being given by my all-time favourite creative multi-hyphenate, Leah Purcell. Look, I don’t want to tell you what to do with your life, but just this once, I might have to. Go ahead and book. It’ll be great. Moving on.
Step 3—Elaborate.
That I can do. I am a master at elaborating. Look at me go. Oh, it appears I cannot. Next.
Step 4—Any other plugs.
Yes. Kettle, HDMI, hair straightener, TV/AV, printer… oh wait. Pluuuuggss. Got it.
Please book now for these shows, they are going to be so fun and amazing.
Koreaboo—my mother-in-law saw Michelle Lim Davidson on The Newsreader, and I finally I have something she wants, staff discounted tickets to a cool new play. Let the babysitting/discounted tickets negotiation begin.
SISTREN—I saw writer/performer, Iolanthe, in seven methods of killing kylie jenner, and I was rocked. I also saw Janet Anderson in All the Fraudulent Horse Girls, and she was utterly magnetic. Oh my, this is going to be an absolute treat.
Birdsong of Tomorrow—this is literally about birds. BIRDS! I love birds (I’m also terrified of them because they fly up high in the sky, such power, such majesty—see I can elaborate). Also, writer/performer Nathan Harrison is a sensitive and clever egg, and I can’t wait to see what he hatches.
Whitefella Yella Tree—Dylan Van Den Berg came into the office the other day and chatted with me about the nature of time. It left me contemplating how to exist moment to moment, because in truth there is no past or future, only a perpetually shifting experience of the now. Thanks for the existential dread, Dylan!
Naturism—excuse me! I’m no prude, but naked people on stage! This I have to see. Also, it looks funny as thanks to the brain of Ang Collins. I can’t wait.
Step 5—Conclusion
Oh, thank God. We made it. We got there. And here it is, the end. Thank you for reading. My name is Alana and I—ah dammit, I just saw that there’s one more step.
Step 6—Unique Sign-Off
That’s easy enough, here we go.
Best fishes,
Alana
Acting Ticketing Manager
