45 days that chaged the Valley
Week after week in 2014, the Hazelwood mine fire belched fumes across the Latrobe Valley, feeding on fuel hundreds of thousands of years deep.
Tara Acie Dean, who was living at Trafalgar at the time, felt the story of the fear and confusion of those 45 days was well worth telling.
On June 19, Off The Leash Theatre will present a reading of her play, 45 Days, which tells the story of how the community watched and waited, trusting in a government caught napping.
Dean, who helped to establish the Voices of The Valley community action group, initially approached Deb Milligan from Regional Arts Victoria with some sketches she had written during community events at the time, wondering whether there was a future for such a work.
Regional Arts responded by connecting Tara with Off The Leash Theatre member and playwright Jeannie Haughton, and a mentorship program was designed.
Haughton, who has worked with Dean for about six months, says a mentorship is a precious thing.
“A mentor needs to nurture, to suggest, to inform, without directing changes, or stifling in any way, thereby allowing the writer’s ideas and intentions to shine through and drive the project.”
She says playwrights are often filled with self-doubt, feeling the very idea of bringing a story to stage is some sort of madness.
“There’s the uncertainty as to whether the ideas and emotions will communicate to an audience. The writer is vulnerable and courageous.”
Haughton says the reading is an opportunity for people to be involved with the development of a new stage play.
“One thing I know from personal experience is that a reading with feedback is the best way to help a new writer on their way.”
45 Days will be read in the Off the Leash Theatre Dog Box, above the Bruce Armstrong band room near the West Gippsland Arts Centre box office, at 3pm on Sunday June 19.
Readers and an audience are required. For more information, contact Jeannie Haughton on 0438 222 138.
Late afternoon food and drinks will follow the reading.