Beloved Australian actor Noni Hazlehurst takes centre stage in The Lark, a powerful new theatrical work.
The world premiere production marks the latest collaboration between Arts Centre Melbourne and Hey Dowling, following their critically acclaimed production Mother. Written by Daniel Keene and directed by Matt Scholten, The Lark presents a deeply personal story of memory, loss and transformation.
The production features Hazlehurst as Rose Grey, a woman in her seventies who must say farewell to The Lark, a small inner-city Melbourne pub that has been her home since childhood. The venue has stood empty for six months and faces demolition as the neighbourhood undergoes gentrification. For Rose, the derelict building represents her entire life history, having inherited it from her father as he aged.
The narrative explores Rose’s complex relationship with the space that has defined her existence. Her memories, spanning decades of bitter and sweet moments, create an emotional anchor to The Lark. Caught between past and present, Rose grapples with the fear that the building might trap her in an endless cycle of return. The story follows her journey as she attempts to break free from this psychological imprisonment and embrace change.
The Lark
- Where: Fairfax Studio, Arts Centre Melbourne
- When: 3 September to 20 September
- Tickets: From $35 for Mob Tix, standard tickets from $72-$94
- Special performance: Auslan interpreted show on Friday 19 September at 7pm
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The production includes comprehensive accessibility features including wheelchair access, assistive hearing options and Companion Card acceptance. Audiences should note content warnings for themes of mortality and production warnings for haze effects.
The creative team includes sound designer Darius Kedros, lighting designer Richard Vabre, and set, props and costume designer Emily Barrie. Production management comes from Nate Evers with stage management by Vivienne Poznanski. Hey Dowling producers John Glenn and Peta Spurling-Brown oversee the production.
This one-woman show presents an intimate meditation on life, death and the inevitability of change, showcasing Hazlehurst’s commanding stage presence in a role that promises to highlight her exceptional dramatic range.
For more information, head here.
