30.04.26
Hi Grif-friend,
Writing is an inherently imaginative practice. As children we are encouraged to dream up fantasy lands and dive headfirst into fairytales, using our imaginations to inhabit and express worlds. Writers are also often told to “write what they know”. Playwright of SAVIOR, Happy Feraren, has chosen the latter route—with this particular story coming from her lived experience.
As the producer of SAVIOR, I have a front-row seat in the rehearsal room and have loved watching the actors bubble with ideas and play off each other. The room crackles with the freshness of a new work—a passion of mine. In fact, all the shows I have produced over the last several years have been premiere seasons.
Watching Happy’s fantastic script come to life under the sharp eye of director Kenneth Moraleda has been a treat. Equally, having Happy in the room enhances the process even further, as she responds, hones and informs the work as new discoveries are uncovered during rehearsals. Even the script itself is finding small tweaks and additions as Happy lifts the pearls that emerge from rehearsal play and improvisation, with the actors embodying the work.
There is already a synergy and shared shorthand between the cast and creatives that gives the work a freshness and electricity—and this was only two weeks into rehearsal. Imagine how rich the work will be by opening night!
Talking of synergy and the energy of actors collaborating and bowling audiences over with their brilliance, vibrancy and range, the gurls from SISTREN recently inspired our Young Ambassador participants. They shared stunning performances, behind-the-scenes insights, hilarious stories about their journey together and generous advice for young theatre makers to consider, ponder and run with. SISTREN by Iolanthe‘s season at Belvoir is now SOLD OUT. We are over the moon.
The perfect segue to… new works!
Applications for Griffin Lookout 2027 are now open. Do you want to be part of the next generation of theatre makers? Do you have a wonderful idea and a team on board, ready to make it happen?
We want to hear from you.
So here’s to new works—Griffin’s great love.
Tamar
Tamar Kelly
Producer, SAVIOR
