Emma Pritchard

An active member of Grafton’s theatre community, Clarence Valley playwright Steve North is looking forward to watching his award-winning production The Last Rehearsal come to life on the stage in front of a local audience for the first time later this month.

A brilliant mixture of curiosity, comic relief, and an abundance of suspenseful surprises, The Last Rehearsal is centred around a theatre group who are preparing to rehearse ahead of an upcoming performance, but unbeknownst to their director, the play only features one character alongside a number of imaginary ones.

After The Last Rehearsal was announced as one of eight winners in the nationwide Sage Age Playwriting Competition earlier this year from among more than 150 entries and was later performed at the Walsh Bay Arts Precinct as a script reading by award winning actress Sandy Gore to rave reviews, Mr North revealed he is excited to have the opportunity to share his beloved creation with his local community.

Describing the upcoming Clarence Valley debut performance of The Last Rehearsal as an evening which will be filled with laughter and music, the event is also being hosted as a fundraiser entitled One Night Only for the Cancer Council and the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service.

After tragically losing his sister following a brave and hard-fought battle with cancer, Mr North told the Clarence Valley Independent the upcoming performance will be held in her memory, adding he feels very strongly about raising awareness and funds to assist other families and their loved ones who have been affected by the devastating disease.

“There were 10 years between us, but she was a great supporter of mine during my upbringing, and she’d always be delighted by my antics while I was impersonating other actors and performers,” he explained.

“This is something I wanted to do in honour of her, and she’d be absolutely stoked.

“Along with supporting the Cancer Council, I also wanted to support the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service.

“I live quite close to Grafton Base Hospital (GBH), and I hear the helicopter fly in and out all the time, and I always hope that whoever is being transported is ok and things work out for them.

“The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter Service and the people who run it do such a great job, and it’s such a privilege to do something which helps them.”

The Last Rehearsal will be performed by Dan Fahy, a local theatrical actor who Mr North said is very astute and engaging with his audience.

“That’s the key to a good performance,” he explained.

“Especially if you’re performing comedy.

“You have to engage with your audience and make them feel involved in the story and the dialogue you’re sharing with them.

“The more engaging you are as an actor, the more the audience respond to what you have to say and how you deliver the script.

“Dan does a wonderful job of engaging with his audience right from the start of each performance, and I know he’ll do a good job performing The Last Rehearsal.”

One Night Only will be held at the Criterion Theatre located at 149 Oliver Street, Grafton, on Saturday, November 30, at 7pm.

Doors open at 6:30pm.

Tickets cost $25 per person and are available from Buckley’s Music Group (cash only), or by phoning Mr North on 0466 232 438.

One Night Only will also feature a performance by local indie rock band Hats Off and comic poetry readings by John Sullivan.

Mr North said tickets are selling fast, and he is encouraging anyone interested in attending to book now to avoid missing out.

“It’s going to be a great night, and I know everyone who comes along is going to have a wonderful time and share plenty of laughs,” he said.