Healing flutes, Rapid Antigen Tests and 14 days stuck in a donga…what could possibly go wrong? Camp Darwin, directed by Kate Stones and written by Arjun Raina will be making its debut with the Castlemaine Theatre Company next month.
After a desperate year-long wait to be repatriated back to Australia from India at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, 150 Australian residents finally land in Darwin after boarding a government-assisted Qantas flight. This play follows the experiences of six intrepid travellers who find themselves at the ‘Centre for National Resilience’ at the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility, each assigned to their own donga, they sit and wait, counting down the 14 days, ever hopeful that they never return a positive test. Days are spent waiting to be tested, waiting to have their temperature taken, and all desperately hoping that they do not test positive and get taken to the mysterious ‘red zone’…
Based on Gisborne-based playwright Arjun Raina’s experience at the Howard Springs Quarantine Facility during the pandemic, the play asks audiences to consider the nature of human resilience, the importance of connection and ultimately the unwavering desire to return home – wherever that may be.
“We’re past the halfway mark, folks…just another seven days and we will be home!”
Rehearsals are in full swing, and have a dedicated cast with folk coming in from Hoppers Crossing to Bendigo and everywhere in between! Audiences will be delighted by the wonderful performances of the six travellers central to the story: Larry (Matt Barbetti), Jack Gold (Kim Johnson), Raminder Singh (Martin Thomas), Dalip Singh (Hem Tiwary), Peter Xu (Ivan Sun), and Chris (David Farrington) as well as the folk responsible for ensuring that the rules and regulations are followed to a tee: the cops (Kate de Prada, Luca Romani and Peter Guttridge) and nurses (Angela Down, Kate Lawrence and Lillian Gutteridge).
Writer Dr Arjun Raina urges local community members to come see Camp Darwin, “where different cultures negotiate the conditions of the Covid Camp, sometimes difficult, and at times, joyful.”
Director, Kate Stones said CTC is delighted to be offering a work by an Indian Australian writer for the first time in the company’s history.
“But more than that, we are delighted to bring to our audiences, a beautifully crafted work full of heart and hope, that opens a window on the subtle ways that men support each other through challenging times,” she said.
Tickets went on sale this week! Be sure to snap up yours and join the Castlemaine Theatre Company this May for a poignant, funny, heartfelt journey set amongst the dongas of Howard Springs Quarantine Facility. Camp Darwin will be performed at 35 Etty Street, Castlemaine, in a new and exciting space downstairs.
Performance dates May 15-31, 2026 (Fri/Sat 7.30pm and Sun 2pm).
For tickets visit www.trybooking.com/events/landing/1556179