The Mourning After

Nancye Hayes, from the programme for "The Mourning After", published by Currency Press.

The Mourning After

By Verity Laughton

23 October 1996 – 23 November 1996 Beckett Theatre

Playbox Theatre Company,

New Writing Theatre World Premiere

A warm, and richly comic evocation of a woman’s life and choices set in context of Australian theatrical history. Belle Doyle, a performer in both radio serials and the Australian musicals of the 50s, is alone on Christmas Day on an Australian beach. She has just buried her husband, Harry Doyle, a one-time comic dancer turned very serious bank manager. She has just had the kind of offer that it is hard to refuse, yet has to fight both her own guilt – how and why did Harry die? – and the shades of her family – persons who possess almost too much life energy – to make a decision that could bring her back to the centre of her own story.

In 1997 this production toured to regional Victoria, Hobart and Glen Street Theatre in Sydney.

Production still for "The Mourning After". Nancye Hayes as Belle Doyle. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Production still for "The Mourning After". Nancye Hayes as Belle Doyle. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Production still for "The Mourning After". Nancye Hayes as Belle Doyle. Photographer: Jeff Busby
of

Production still for "The Mourning After". Nancye Hayes as Belle Doyle. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Mourning After". Nancye Hayes as Belle Doyle. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Mourning After". Nancye Hayes as Belle Doyle. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Cast

Nancye Hayes

Nancye Hayes

Performer

Creatives

Max Lambert

Composer

Tony Sheldon

Director

Robert Taylor

Robert Taylor

Lighting Designer

Trina Parker

Trina Parker

Designer

Verity Laughton

Playwright

Tanya Bennett

Stage Manager

Baird McKenna

Baird McKenna

Tour Manager