July 27th, 2022True event stage drama

A powerful stage drama based on a true event and set in a farmhouse in rural Victoria, is now in rehearsal at Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway Theatre.
Castlemaine actors Kate Stones, Rebecca Barnett and Stephen Mitchell are performing in the drama, written and directed by award-winning local playwright Sandy Fairthorne.
Gibbo tackles the challenging subject of drug rape, and revolves around a likeable and popular farming couple, Gibbo and Claire, whose world is tipped upside down when a woman walks into their home 24 years after a party where she believes she was drug raped.
“She has only one request to make of this man,” says Sandy, “but it requires that he admits he committed the offence. Therein lies the challenge.”
The playwright wants to get more people talking about the subject, following her own personal experience over three decades ago.
“It’s always bothered me – how to write about this subject. Then one day I thought, ‘What if..?’ and the spark for the play was started.”
Kate Stones plays the outsider who visits the farmhouse, and says she is relishing the role. “The challenge of representing a woman who has experienced trauma, when that trauma has occurred while she was unconscious, has been fascinating. Sandy has been very supportive and her brave candour has helped me enormously.”
Lee Edmonds, of the Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria, says this is an important issue that needs to be talked about. “The play Gibbo explores themes that people seek support from CASACV about – how the use of alcohol and drugs can be utilised to facilitate non-consensual sexual activity.”
Sandy says Gibbo is a dark but fascinating journey, “exploring our innate longing for truths to be exposed, no matter how long it takes – but there are also moments of genuine tenderness and humour, and the ending is both cathartic and positive”.
CASACV will make available resources and support contacts.
Tour details: Castlemaine – July 29 and 30, Prahran – August 5 and 6, Bendigo – August 12 and 13, Kyneton – August 19 and 20.
Tickets and details: www.suckerpunchtheatre.com
Link: Centre Against Sexual Assault Central Victoria – www.casacv.org.au