A woman enters a farmhouse where she was drug raped twenty-four years earlier, to confront the man she believes committed the crime.
For Jeff and Claire Gibbs, this will be the biggest test of their marriage.
For Cynthia, the moment she’s been waiting for.
And so goes the synopsis for a fairly intense new stage play about to be staged at Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway next Friday July 29 and Saturday July 30.
“Gibbo is an exploration of the wrongs we do to each other, and the consequences of those wrongs – for the survivor, the perpetrator, and those who love them – even decades later,” says playwright and director, Malmsbury-based Sandy Fairthorne
The production of Gibbo features cast members Rebecca Barnett, Stephen Mitchell, Kate Stones and also marks the launch of a new local theatre company Suckerpunch Theatre.
“The story revolves around a woman turning up at a farmhouse twenty-four years after she believes she was drug raped, wanting, among other things, to make the farmer living there confess to the crime,” says Fairthorne.
“The ensuing drama takes the audience on a suspenseful 90 minute journey, exploring the effect this kind of crime can have on all involved, even decades later.”
The scriptrevolves around a likeable farming couple, Gibbo and Claire, whose world is tipped upside down when a woman walks into their home twenty four years after a party at which she believes she was drug raped.
“She has only one request to make of this man,” says Fairthorne, “But it requires that he admits he committed the offence. Therein lies the challenge.”
The playwright wants to get more people talking about about the subject, following her own personal experience over three decades ago.
“It’s always bothered me – how to write about this subject. Then one day I thought, ‘What if..?” and the spark for the play was started,” she says.
The production also features original music composed by Malmsbury based composer Krzysztof Derwinski.
Following its two upcoming evening debut dates at Castlemaine’s Phee Broadway, Gibbo will go on to tour to Melbourne, Bendigo, and Kyneton throughout August. Bookings can be made via suckerpunchtheatre.com