Funny how love hurts

ACCLAIMED director Ben Winspear describes the Tasmanian Theatre Co’s latest production as a “rom-com interrupted by medical emergencies”.

Gruesome Playground Injuries was written by Rajiv Joseph and opens at Moonah Arts Centre tonight.

“It’s basically the story of a friendship and potential romance over 30 years that’s written through their personal injuries,” Winspear said.

“The writer had a friend chatting to him in the pub, who was showing off his various scars and talking about the stories behind each scar on his body.

“He thought that would be a great way to approach a story — telling chapters in the history of the characters’ lives, through their scars and injuries and other misadventures.”

“Every time we meet these

characters we jump forwards and backwards in time.”

He said the play was a “beautiful piece of writing”.

“It touched on really deep material, but he handles it very deftly and with a lot of beautifully observed comedy as well,” Winspear said.

He said the cast and crew were a “good mix” of experienced and new talent. The show features homegrown acting talents Maeve Mhairi MacGregor and Rob Maxwell.

“Rob and Maeve have worked together many times, but never as actors in the same play, so this is a first,” Winspear said. “Having artists with a deep working history is such a gift to a director.”

Gruesome Playground Injuries opens at the Moonah Arts Centre at 7.30pm tonight.

It will then be performed at 7.30pm tomorrow and Saturday, and at 7.30pm from June 18-22. There will also be 2pm matinees on Saturday and June 22.

Tickets are $25-$52. For booking and more details go to tastheatre.com

— PATRICK GEE