Time to shine for young cast

Kate Mallory and Liz Ball in the Incinerator Theatre's production of Time and Time Again.

Claudia Baxter

SOME women have gone to great lengths to avoid what they see as subjugation by men.

This struggle provides plenty of inspiration for writers, as it has for Ipswich playwrights Ian and Helen Pullar.

In Ipswich Little Theatre's next major production, Time and Time Again, suffragette Libby and her sister Carey, a nurse, are both determined to resist the attentions of their persistent suitors.

Even though their mother and little sister are equally intent on seeing them both married.

Mrs Pullar said the play lightheartedly followed the courtship and traced the march of women's rights from the demand for the right to vote to the breaking through of the “glass ceiling”.

“The staging takes place over a continuous set, moving rapidly from one scene to another with kaleidoscopic changes of costumes and visual delights, keeping the audience on their toes almost as much as the actors,” she said.

“A cast of young people, several of whom have been members of Little Theatre's Young Theatricals, have brought their exuberance and enthusiasm to the play.

“We both loved working with young people when I was head of drama at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School, and were drawn to write something for our own young people which would be challenging and give them opportunities we felt they deserved.

“They have certainly come up to expectation. It is a good night out for people of any age.”

Mr Pullar, co-directing with his wife Helen, says the audience will enjoy the costumes and music of the various periods from the 1890s to the present day.

“The innovative set will also create interest,” he said.

“It is so good to see young people we have nurtured in the Young Theatricals coming through and more than holding their own in mainstream senior theatre, like Kate Mallory, Philippa Prole, Stephanie Groves and Harry Risson.”

Elizabeth Ball and Daniel Wheeler complete the cast.

Time and Time Again opens at the Incinerator Theatre on September 29 and runs until October 16.

Gala opening night tickets are being sold by Jan Paterson on 3210 5884.

To book for public performances on October 8, 9 and 15, or a special matinee performance on October 10, call the Ipswich Visitor Information Centre on 3281 0555.