THEATRE: WOLF LULLABY
PREVIEW BY MICHAEL FARRELL
Wolf Lullaby, an Australian play first staged in 1996 at the Griffin Theatre, will be presented by the newly formed Squeaky Floor Productions. Wolf Lullaby was inspired, in part, by the brutal murder of two toddlers at the hands of Mary Bell, then aged only 11, in December 1968. It is a powerful drama of innocence and brutality, love, darkness and what human beings ‘ children, particularly ‘ can be capable of.
Kellie Clarke, a recent graduate of the Theatre Nepean acting course, plays Lizzie – a nine-year-old child to separated parents, who Clarke describes as inquisitive and intelligent. Although the play itself is a fiction inspired by real events, Clarke tells us that ‘many of Lizzie’s lines are things that Mary Bell actually said during Police interviews.’
‘She has a fascination with death and what it means, and is fascinated with things smaller than herself. She’s an only child, neglected by her parents who don’t spend much time with her ‘ there’s a conflict between how they see Lizzie and how they treat her.’
Director Lara Kerestes says that the play is centred around not only the murder but also the question of responsibility. ‘We want to emphasise the moral issues that the play raises. It questions human nature. How do we react and interact when we’re on the edge in high presure situations’ Do we get ugly or do we rise up to occasion”
Written by Hilary Bell, an award winning playwright who has written for stage, radio, screen and music theatre, Kerestes says that the script is extremely challenging but amazingly written. ‘There is a lot of freedom to be creative here, and there are many subtleties to be explored. The script really stands up by itself.’
Wolf Lullaby explores the sources of violence and its legacy, asking difficult questions about responsibility, neglect, truth and lies.
Wolf Lullaby
July 29 ‘ August 2
Studio 1
UNSW, off High Street, Kensington
Tickets: $12 – $15, www.squeakyfloorproductions.com
