Photo: Jodie Hutchinson

When 

2022: presented by Darebin Speakeasy, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre (originally scheduled for 2020 and then 2021, but postponed again due to COVID-19)

2020: finalist for the 2019 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award

2018: second development, Tower Residency, Malthouse Theatre

2018: first development at Footscray Community Arts Centre through their Call to Create program

Creative team

Presentation – Darebin Speakeasy

Writer Michele Lee

Director Alice Qin (previously Ra Chapman)

Performed by Zoe Boeson, Sina Brown, Katerina Kotsonis

Dramaturg Emilie Collyer

Set and Costume Design by Juliette Whitney

Sound Design by Russell Goldsmith

Lighting Design by Rachel Lee

Production Manager & Co-Producer Rain Shadrach

Stage Manager Teri Steer

Development, December 2018 (Tower Residency, Malthouse Theatre)

Writer Michele Lee

Director Bridget Balodis

Dramaturg Emilie Collyer

With performers Katerina Kotsonis, Chanella Macri, Genevieve Guiffre and Jem Lai

Development, May 2018 (Footscray Community Arts Centre)

Writer Michele Lee

Director Bridget Balodis

Dramaturg Emilie Collyer

With performers Katerina Kotsonis, Chanella Macri, Genevieve Guiffre and Jem Lai

About

Format

Full length play, stage

Content

Three female security guards witness their male co-worker assault a female patron.

Reviews

Straying almost into sketch comedy before confronting us with grim ubiquity of sexual assault, Michele Lee’s latest play Security unfurls through offbeat, fly-on-the-wall conversations between three female security guards… The play’s emotional impact feels earned partly because its comic impulse is articulated with such rich and understated levity… Security does offer an uncompromising view of rape culture and the power structures that support it. The desolations of the subject are made more bearable by the playwright’s keen ear and sharp wit. The Age

Security is a riveting, hilarious and stirring drama… The dramaturgy and dialogue were excellent; kudos to Collyer and Lee respectively. All three characters had personal stories of ways in which their bodies and consent had been breached. The testimonies felt very real; they dealt with complex feelings of self-blame and betrayal… The play was a serious provocation to audiences to consider the ways in which we might support structural gender-based violence, and our collective duty, beyond being in ‘security’ to keep one another safe. A very thought-provoking, timely reminder by way of high-quality theatre. Arts Hub 

Brilliant… Michele’s writing is relevant and critical, and it’s art like this that helps to shift things, even a little bit, in the right direction. Plus Ones

Supporters

Development: AMP Tomorrow Maker program, Creative Victoria, Footscray Community Arts Centre and Malthouse Theatre Tower Residency supported by the Sidney Myer Foundation

Presentation: Creative Victoria, the Australia Council for the Arts, and Darebin Speakeasy