The Seed

Kate Mulvany’s The Seed is not locally written but has extensive ties to Western Australia. This bitter-sweet examination of family, heritage and inter-generational trauma has been re-written for Black Swan’s 2024 Season.

Author Kate Mulvany grew up in Geraldton and wrote this play as a commission for Belvoir Street Theatre’s Company B, partly based on the experience of her father a “Ten Pound Pom” of Irish descent who served in Vietnam with the Australian forces. In this semi auto-biographical piece, Rose (based on Kate and her sister Teagan) and Danny (based on their father) visit Nottingham to visit Danny’s father Brian, a former member of the IRA, to celebrate the trio’s joint birthday.

Originally set in the 1990s, this version moves the action to 2008. Rose, originally played by the author herself, is now played by her younger sister Teagan, joint inspiration for the role. Teagan plays Rose with sensitivity and strength, forming beautiful and tangible links with Steve Turner who gives Danny depth and great vulnerability, and Geoff Kelso, whose Brian has a gruff exterior hiding deep pain and trauma.

The Seed tackles huge issues including the effects of Agent Orange on the children of Vietnam vets, the post-traumatic stress on soldiers who served in Vietnam and the influence of Catholicism and radicalism on families, but it is also very funny at times, giving the audience an interesting ride.

Zoë Atkins’ set combines a room in a simple but comfortable council flat with the incongruity of dozens of large cardboard boxes - a crucial plot point. Audiovisuals designed by Mark Haslem with videography by Jessica Russell allows the audience to change locales from Nottingham to the Geraldton coast. Emotive lighting and sound designs from Lucy Birkinshaw and Ben Collins support the show well.

A warm and clever production that handles sensitive subjects well, a beautiful combination of drama and humour.

Kimberley Shaw

BUY THE PLAY SCRIPT HERE.

Photographer: Daniel J. Grant