12.11.24
Dear Grif-friend,
How are you? Are you doing okay out there? It’s been a wonky week where old theatrics and stories have gripped a nation… and the world (and not in a good way). It’s going to be hard to unscramble this omelette, but I’ll circle back to all of that in a minute.
My name’s Julia and I’m the new Relationship Manager here at Griffin, which is a fancy title for being everyone’s friend. In short, I help to connect those who love what we do with those who love doing it. It really does take a village and I’ve landed smack bang in the middle of a very special one.
I must confess that I’m also new to the world of theatre. I’m a photographer and visual artist with a colourful ‘portfolio career’—you know the deal, artist/arts worker—driven by an unshakeable belief in the soft but mighty power of art. I dutifully follow the lead and go where that power is most discerning. I cut my teeth teaching in university arts faculties, and in a rather relevant fashion, on the cusp of 2016-2017 even taught a course about ‘fake news’ and how strange stories are reshaping our world and seriously messing with reality.
You know who else grapples with the breakdown of reality? Jean Tong, Lou Wall and James Gales—the talented creators behind Flat Earthers: The Musical. That’s right, the recently wrapped, irreverent, hilarious, deftly clever show that Griffin presented in partnership with our friends at Hayes Theatre Co. It did what it said on the tin, and I couldn’t think of a more auspicious time for this work to have taken the stage. It received rave reviews and I hope you had the chance to have experienced it firsthand, but if not, you can enjoy a digital spin on our YouTube channel here.
I’m learning that Griffin has a real knack for timing. Not only did Flat Earthers have its finger on the pulse, so did Prima Facie and Ghosting the Party, but our creative clairvoyance is in full swing with the first show of 2025, Nucleus—a passionate play about the nuclear power debate (timely, as we move into a Federal Election year). Written by award-winning playwright Alana Valentine and directed by Griffin’s Associate Artistic Director Andrea James, Nucleus asks us to consider the consequences of the choices we make. If you haven’t already, secure your spot to see Nucleus with a 2025 Griffin subscription today!
Remember that omelette I mentioned earlier? Well, we might not be able to unscramble it, but we can certainly make a new one. A much better, more delicious and nutritious one at that! Turns out, Griffin is a particularly talented test kitchen with a knack for cooking up delectable new stories. And like any good kitchen, it is a well-oiled machine. We really know what we’re doing. There’s never been a better time to support our work and if you, like me, know the soft but mighty power of Griffin, and believe in the need for better stories, please consider donating today and help keep this engine humming. Every little bit of support counts—as I said, it really does take a village.
With love,
Julia
