Face to Face: Williamson Community Conferencing Play for Stirling

David Williamson’s Face to Face will be staged by young, emerging director Brendan Ellis for Stirling Players (WA) in May 2012.

As the first part of Williamson’s Jack Manning Trilogy, this dramatic and character-driven play takes its format in a realistic setting of ‘community conferencing.’

When young construction worker Glen rams into the back of his boss’s Mercedes in a fit of anger at being sacked, he is given the opportunity to discuss his actions in a community conference, rather than going straight to court.

This face-to-face confrontation between the young man, his boss, his boss's wife, co-workers, best mate and mother lifts the lid not only on his dysfunctional life but on their workplace dirty laundry, turning all of their lives upside down.

Community conferencing - an alternative method of justice that is relatively new to Australia - is explored by Williamson in this play which celebrates the strength of community over our rigid and often seemingly unfair court system.’’

Michelle Dolden, who plays Glen's mother Maureen, says of her role, “Life has not been easy being married to an abusive husband, though not as hard as for his second child, Glen. But I was strong enough to stay and raise a good boy beyond all the odds. Sometimes he is a little misguided and needs me to be there for him, to support and encourage. That is why I am at the meeting today as it is imperative for me that Glen gets his job back for his own self esteem and to keep his life on track. Without a job that Glen likes he is frustrated, prone to outbursts and extreme excitability.”

Alan O'Neill, who plays Jack Manning, the convenor of this community conference says of his role, “He leads the conference discussion and referees between all of the participants. There is a high level of conflict between all of the characters underneath the surface at the start of the conference. Through Jack’s questions and focus on the issues, that conflict is brought right out into the open with some unexpected revelations and story twists. Although the conversations do at times start to ‘go off the rails’, through Jack’s deep belief in the process and in people, the conflict is successfully transformed.”

Cast

Jack:            Alan O'Neill

Glen:            Mathew Young

Maureen:    Michelle Dolden

Barry:            Braden Scott

Greg:            Chris Henderson

Claire:          Janet Weston

Luka:            Alex Littlewood

Richard:        Gino Cataldo

Julie:            Tarniah Bantum

Therese:        Claire MacRae

Face to Face plays at Stirling Theatre, Morris Place, Innaloo from May 11 – 26, 2012.

Bookings: from Tuesday 10 April 2012 through Morris News on 9440 1040.

This play contains some strong language and is suitable for mature audiences.

www.stirlingplayers.com.au