By Daniel Honan
Bellingen-based theatre company Et Tu Productions has wrapped its October season of British playwright Dennis Kelly’s Orphans, with co-founders Amy Bradney-George and Seton Pollock reporting strong audience numbers and a growing core of returning local patrons.
“It went really well. We had such great feedback, and it’s lovely to see so many locals rebooking,” Ms Bradney-George said. “I’ve run into people in IGA who’ve told me they’ve been to every one of our shows.”
Orphans is set in the United Kingdom and follows a couple whose evening at home is interrupted when the woman’s brother arrives in a distressed state. Ms Bradney-George, who played Helen, said the company was drawn to the strength of Kelly’s writing.
“It’s incredibly well-written, but technically difficult — Kelly writes the way people actually speak and think in a crisis,” she said. “It’s much easier to speak than to read.”
She said audience reaction had borne out the choice.
“After opening night, someone told me her friend had been messaging her all day with questions about the play that went un-answered,” she said. “It was clearly thought-provoking for a lot of people.”
Mr Pollock, who played Danny, said Bellingen’s support had been the standout of the season.
“The biggest takeaway for us is how well we’ve been supported by Bellingen audiences,” he said. “We’ll do it again, because people keep coming, and because we love it.”
Mr Pollock, who co-founded the company with Ms Bradney-George in Melbourne in 2019 before relocating to Bellingen, said they were looking to grow the team beyond its two-person core. “It would be nice to have more people involved, and bring them on the journey of what theatre can do for people,” he said.
The production marked the first professional role for local actor Peter Nelson, who played Liam. Mr Nelson works at Bellingen IGA and has attended every one of the company’s Camp Creative workshops.
“It was quite amazing to finally flesh out a role over that period of time, and to be taught by Amy and Seton — they’re really highly trained, professional actors,” he said.
Mr Nelson said the first night brought the sharpest nerves. “When I first got on stage and saw the audience, I felt almost panicky,” he said. “But as the shows went on and I felt them listening, I got more excited.”
He said he managed the play’s heavy material with a deliberate wind-down after each show. “I’d go to my car, listen to some music, drive home and have a warm shower — just give myself time to let the stress of the play itself wash away,” he said.
Et Tu Productions is targeting its next production for the second half of 2027, with Ms Bradney-George flagging a shift toward “something with a bit more lightness” after a season that several patrons described as incredible and confronting.
Updates will be posted at ettuproductions.com.