Morgan Stern
by Gina Schien
directed by Goldele Rayment
Fate. Family. Madness.
Morgan Stern, from AWGIE award-winning playwright Gina Schien, explores one man’s experience of psychosis. The question is, “Which man?
Shifting between families, centuries and hemispheres, we are introduced to a mysterious character known only as The Gent, who has seemingly dropped into the world of a young man living in Sydney in the 1970’s. Fragmented stories of two families struggling with the mental illness of a young adult are contrasted against the backdrop of the infamous Bethlem Asylum and contemporary psychiatric care.
Places, people and stories crystallise and dissolve throughout the performance, and the image of a one-eyed ornamental goldfish will come back to haunt you.
Morgan Stern is a powerfully moving solo performance that will leave you with as many questions as it does answers.
A moving monologue Morgan Stern was described by critic Lisa Thatcher as: “A troubling, beautiful, uplifting ninety minutes that will leave you breathless”. Veteran actor Graeme Rhodes has been praised by The Sydney Morning Herald’s Jason Blake for his “exceptional performance” as The Gent.
In it, an Georgian gentleman slowly recovers heartbreaking memories of his daughter, whom he committed to the infamous Bethlem insane asylum. With each memory comes a growing realisation that he must make amends and try to save Morgan from the same fate as his daughter.
Part Black Mirror, part contemporary gothic drama, Morgan Stern has left audiences spellbound from Brisbane to Edinburgh and beyond.
Morgan Stern Performance History
Blood Moon Theatre, Sydney, November 2016
Belvoir Street Theatre, Sydney, July 2017
Edinburgh Fringe Festival, UK, August 2017
Undercover Artist Festival, Brisbane, October 2017
CREATIVE TEAM
Written by - Gina Schien
Director : Goldele Rayment
Creative Producer : Robbi James
Sound Design : Tegan Nicholls
Lighting Design : Roderick Van Gelder
Costume Design: Lara Hollowood
Photography: Chrissie Iannsen
Featuring : Graeme Rhodes as The Gent
Press Links: Sunday Times (UK); Disability Arts Online; Vile Arts; Australian Stage
Morgan Stern is available for Australian and international touring. Please contact The Rogues if you are interested in taking the work to new audiences.
THANK YOU
It is due to the generosity of our friends, families, supporters and ticket holders that we are able to make theatre. We’d like to make special mention of those who have contributed to Morgan Stern’s development and especially the Edinburgh tour anonymously and to the following individuals and organisations for their kind support…
Rosemary Allsopp
Elizabeth Connelly
Allan Mclean
Alan Patriarca
Ashfield Youth Theatre & Ashfield City Council Artist Xchange program
Shopfront Arts Co-op
Belvoir St Theatre