GENIUS
Local talent shines on and off the stage, as Brown’s Mart presents Genius – its second theatre offering for 2026, and a modern retelling of a centuries-old story.
WORDS TIERNEY WHITE
Penned by local playwright Sandra Thibodeaux, Genius is a dark comedy delivered by local players with wit, theatrical flair, and a wicked sense of humour. This work is a special collaboration between Brown’s Mart and JUTE Theatre Company from Cairns, the play opening in Cairns last year.
The story unfolds across two centuries as the story of renowned Italian Baroque painter, Artemisia Gentileschi (1593–c.1653), is retold by current-day rising graffiti star, Miss Ella.
Renowned for her skilful, vivid depictions of powerful female figures, Artemisia pushed boundaries, carving her own path to earn a reputation that has endured for centuries. Thibodeaux was inspired by the artist, and says she penned the play to shine a light on women’s experiences over time, including her own.
“I came across Artemisia’s paintings in 2019. The MeToo Movement was exploding, and Artemisia’s paintings of powerful, and often violent, women enjoyed a renaissance,” she says.
“I was personally under a strange and relentless attack from this man who did all kinds of crazy hacking online because he was upset that I wasn’t interested in him. I couldn’t open any social media without finding him there. It was horrible, and I found some catharsis in Artemisia’s works.”
Genius explores the ambition, creativity, and challenges artists, particularly female, face in worlds that can be both inspiring and treacherous. These issues, that are still so relevant today, are the undercurrent of the play as it leaps between centuries, from the dramatic, larger-than-life world of Artemisia’s studio to the urban grit of today’s art scene.
“As I read the contemporary stories of women in the arts – alongside Artemisia’s story – I kept finding this repeated issue of a certain heterosexual male privilege of some men in positions of power,” Thibodeaux says.
“The abuse is bad enough, but I get more frustrated by the underlining privilege that results in the punishment of women who won’t do what a man ‘in power’ wants.”
Depicting greats of the past and stars of the future with irreverence and imagination, audiences are swept up in this heightened world of gender, justice, and delicious bloody revenge.
Adding to the experience is the fact that not only is it penned by a local, but it features a talented local cast and crew, including director Nicky Fearn, who Thibodeaux reckons was an obvious choice.
“Nicky is amazing. She works on such an intuitive and physical level, with a brilliant understanding of text, as well,” she says.
“We had some very fruitful dramaturgical conversations that helped me whittle away at the work so that we got it down to its core. She’s also very funny, and finds great ways to bring out the humour of this dark comedy. Finally, the director needed to be female because I think a woman would best understand Artemisia’s passion and rage.”
The cast reunites after the season in Cairns, a bonus given they’ve been employed across two states, and an important opportunity for Territorian actors.
“It’s fantastic … All of the actors in Genius are simply amazing. And, as icing on the cake, we have Stevie Jean performing her original compositions live, as part of the show!”
Check out Genius for a play that’s informative, challenging, and entertaining, with music, theatre, and good quality storytelling.
WHEN TUE 3 – SAT 14 MAR (EXC. SUN & MON) | 7PM
AT BROWN’S MART THEATRE
COST $19-$48
INFO brownsmart.com.au
