What a fantastic, incredibly fulfilling week it has been working on the UK creative development of Sofya Gollan’s new play, MotherLode, at Brixton Community Base in London. We achieved so much and got some very useful feedback from our audience. A huge thank you to everyone who participated. This project was made possible due to the kind assistance of Accessible Arts NSW, Australia Council for the Arts and Griffin Theatre Company.
MotherLode is about Rosemary, a DeafBlind woman. At 75, Rosemary has lost round-the-clock care, too old to qualify for government support other than the basic pension. Her daughter, Connie is the one remaining contact with the outside world. Until Cate, a deaf woman, comes along having discovered Rosemary’s long-lost photos of another era
The UK creative development of MotherLode focuses on story structure, investigating where the gaps psychologically and narratively are for the audience and performers. The production will incorporate elements of visual vernacular – that is a combination of signing, mime and movement.
Actors: Jean St Clair, Stephen Lloyd, Genevieve Barr, Sami Thorpe
Interpreters: Becky Barry, Katie Fenwick
Credits: Alva Bernadine
Sofya Gollan, Biography
Sofya started out as an actor with the Australian Theatre of the Deaf as a teenager, and from that she spring boarded to NIDA graduating into the broader industry. After working as an actor for Sydney Theatre Company, Playschool, and in USA, she went on to pick up a Masters in Directing from AFTRS.
Since then she has written extensively for the stage and screen, many of her works being produced. She is currently a resident playwright in the 2016 Griffin Studio.
Her film Preservation was nominated for several AFI Awards among other industry awards and she continues her professional practice alongside her roles as Deaf Arts Manager, Accessible Arts and, Development and Production Executive, Screen NSW.
