Cirrus@Austlit

'Loosely based on events that took place in country Victoria in the mid nineties, 'Furious Mattress' is the story of a back-yard exorcism that goes tragically wrong. Convinced that his wife is possessed, Pierce enlists the aid of Annette and Max, and together they battle for the soul of Elsie. As the country swelters in the grip of a heat-wave, even Elsie's death can't shake Pierce and Annette's desperate conviction they have done the right thing, and together they wait for her miraculous return.' (Source: TROVE)

'In this unnamed country refugees are called “dirty skunks”. Thrown into congested processing centres, they face the daily threat of being deported at a moment’s notice.

'Disgusted by their government’s behaviour, individuals have formed networks of “skunk handlers” to help escaped refugees elude this fate. The government, urged on by shock jocks, has responded by treating this civil disobedience as a serious crime. Immigration teams drive through suburbs and towns, searching for skunks and their handlers. Informers assist them.

'Lily is a “short term” skunk handler. Last night Michael, her facilitator, arrived at her suburban home with two refugees − Stephen and his daughter Sam. They have just escaped from a detention centre and Michael needs Lily to care for them until they can be moved to a permanent safe house.

'A fairly routine situation for Lily turns into a nightmare day for everyone when Michael arrives with Kristy, another skunk handler. The tension ratchets up as we see the situation from different viewpoints, including the elderly neighbour, Miriam.

'This is the story of a father who must save his daughter from getting sent back. It’s the story of a woman who will keep her promise to them no matter what. It’s the story of a man, Michael, who will deal and double deal to get what is important – the means/ends dichotomy. It’s the story of a public servant who wants to do the right thing, but needs to protect herself in the process. Finally, it’s the story of an elderly neighbour who is so disoriented by the political changes around her that she swallows the whole anti-skunk propaganda until she meets the two skunks and realises they are people just like her.

'In the end, only one person can make it possible for young Sam to remain safe.' 

'Lars likes to compose autobiographical sentences about him self and perform his idiosyncratic daily rituals without interruption. But beneath his obsessive and rather enigmatic persona lies the impulse to kill. And, as a globetrotting businessman, the opportunity is never far away.

'When he makes his next flight to London a bereaved father, on a tragic mission to identify the body of his missing daughter, sits across the aisle. While beside him is a young and unsuspecting woman, who could well become Lars’ next victim.'

Source: Australian Plays (https://australianplays.org/script/ASC-1594)

A funny, moving and realistic human drama, Between These Lines follows the stories of a range of characters as their lives intersect with both humorous and far-reaching consequences, proving that the simplest actions can have the greatest impact.
The play is constructed of ten interrelated stories that form one story: just as all of our lives are entwined in one larger drama. While each scene draws upon the Realist tradition of exploring everyday situations, ordinary motivations and common interactions, it is structured in a more overtly theatrical fashion, creating a dynamic and thought-provoking puzzle. ( Publisher's blurb)

Festus Flynn, Gertie Goat, Zelda Zone, Lionel Limb and their class are awaiting the arrival of their teacher, but instead a creature comes to teach them for one very special day.

Can't Wait for Love consists of three short comedies of roughly 10 minutes each:

Esla and Frinz Go Partying

Esla and Frinz are balloons at a small child's birthday party. They are in love with the romance of the cake and the song. But when the red cordial comes out there is danger for the balloons. Can they escape to freedom in the open skies? (2 actors of either gender)

Not Yours, Not Yet

Cynthia and Valerie both want to marry Osborne, and they are prepared to do whatever is necessary to make it happen. But is Osborne more comfortable at home with Mum? (2F, 1M)

Can't Wait for Love

John sees himself as a ladies' man. He's getting ready to go out to a dance, to meet some new ladies. But is he as irresistible as he thinks he is? (1M)

Wedding Belles incorporates three short plays - Wedding Belles, Bedtime Bliss and Funeral Plan

Wedding Belles

Ella is getting married to Loren’s brother, but she has fallen in love with Loren. At the last moment she reveals her feelings and confronts a shocked Loren with the truth. (4 F, 2 M)

Bedtime Bliss

Angelique and Harvey are a happy young couple, except for one blaring issue. Harvey’s snoring. One night Angelique can’t put up with it any more.

(1 F, 1 M)

Funeral Plan

Golma is on the last train from Dandenong to Melbourne on a Saturday night. She tells us about her life and the funeral plan she has taken out. It is Golma's way to control her future and to go out with a blast. (1 F)

'US President Charles Foster Raye (Chuck) is due to address the UN in order to try and avert an all out war with China. He approaches a speechwriter, Theresa, in order to write the first great speech of the 21st century for the occasion. Unable to resist such an opportunity, she takes on the challenge, then panics, terrified that she will be unable to deliver. Norman, her therapist, offers to help her through the process. Together, with the iconic speeches of the 20th century projected over the entire set, they deconstruct each speech, in an effort to discover what makes it work.

'The reason that Norman offers to help Theresa is that he is deeply in love with her, but cannot say anything because of the therapeutic relationship. Norman's therapist, Prudence, disapproves strongly. Never having been in a serious relationship herself, she aches for the touch of another human being, but would never dream of acting on this desire.

'As it happens, Prudence is also the President's therapist. Chuck is not coping, and is on the verge of a total breakdown. Prudence feels she should somehow reveal his predicament, for the public good, but is restrained by her fear of destabilising the nation in a time of crisis.

'As the public rhetoric of freedom grows increasingly hyperbolic with each successive speech, the personal freedom of each of the characters progressively narrows, as they become increasingly trapped by their circumstances.

'A moving study of the illusory nature of freedom in the West.' (Publisher's blurb)