Evening Reads Fat Pig
Brown Mart's Theatre's monthly script-in-hand play reading series, Evening Reads, returns this month, giving Top End audiences the chance to experience plays not normally available to them and acting as an avenue for emerging directors and actors in a safe environment.
The first cab off the rank for 2021 is Fat Pig, written by Neil LaBute. It tells the story of Tom, a businessman in the big smoke, who falls for a Helen – a plus-size librarian. When they meet, Tom is taken with her brash acceptance of the way people see her and her in-your-face honesty. They eventually fall in love, but Tom keeps her a secret from his friends, further fuelling the fat-shaming Helen has experienced in her life.
This reading is directed by Darwin-based theatre maker, performer and producer, Sarah Rueben, who says, despite being almost 20 years old, the themes are just as relevant today.
“The subject matters specifically of this play are still as pertinent and potent today as they were back then, and even more so, it’s not a subject matter people feel really comfortable about in theatre. It’s provocative, touchy and makes people feel uncomfortable – this play doesn’t hold back from that. The characters are so beautiful, flawed and grossly honest,” she says.
“I’ve always been such a massive fan of LaBute’s work – his writing is so clever and funny, and the characters are intense and complex. He writes exactly like the kind of theatre I want to watch – it kind of punches you in the stomach.”
Directing the first Evening Reads reading is new territory for Rueben.
“I started out acting but have moved into theatre-making – onstage or behind the pen is where I feel most comfortable. It’s such an exciting experience to step outside my comfort zone to direct, but within a script that is so comfortable,” she says.
“I feel incredibly lucky to have such an outstanding cast – I feel very safe with them. I think choosing a script for a reading is so important. The words are so potent it doesn’t need a huge amount of physicality to bring it to life.”
Evening Reads Fat Pig
WHEN THU 13 MAY | 7.30PM
AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE
COST $15
INFO brownsmart.com.au
