31 July 2025

Manly Theatre Group’s latest double bill at the Darley Smith Theatre in Manly offered audiences two bold and contrasting original Australian works—Vivien Thomas’ emotionally resonant 1 in 7, and Carlin Hurdis’ razor-sharp backstage comedy The Audition Helpers. Together, these one-act plays created an unforgettable night of theatre that drew full houses across four performances.

1 in 7 – A Powerful Collective Cry

Set in the emotionally charged space of a hospital waiting room, 1 in 7 explores the raw and often unseen turmoil of women awaiting further breast cancer screening. With one in seven Australian women affected by the disease in their lifetime, playwright Vivien Thomas takes this grim statistic and humanises it through a beautifully rendered ensemble piece. Directed by Kathleen Walker, the play unfolds over four tense hours where six women share not only physical space but deep fears, biting humour, and surprising solidarity.

Anchored by a powerful performance from Trish Donoghue as Tina, a harried mother whose life has no time for illness, the cast gives voice to characters at various life stages, all grappling with uncertainty. From the tightly-wound retiree (Liz Jewell) wondering if cancer will disrupt her dream holiday, to the outwardly brash but inwardly unraveling Mrs Collins (Karen Pattinson), the play is an aching study in emotional endurance.

As tears and confessions flow, so too does commentary on wider societal pressures—cost of living, climate anxiety and gendered emotional labour. Under Walker’s direction, the production balances poignancy with humour and delivers a message of compassion: we never truly know what others carry.

The Audition Helpers – Wickedly Funny Meta-Theatre

In stark contrast, The Audition Helpers is a brilliantly meta, laugh-out-loud comedy that lifts the curtain on the less glamorous side of community theatre. Written by Carlin Hurdis and also directed by Kathleen Walker, the play centres around two unnamed audition “helpers”, played with delicious bitterness and desperation by Gregory J. Thorsby and Frank Byrne, relegated to backstage duties after decades of trying to make it big.

The result is a biting satire filled with ego clashes, theatre gossip, and absurd audition monologues (yes, including a moment from The Goat that sparks hilariously inappropriate commentary). Alisan Smotlak is the blissfully unaware director, while Danny Nercessian, John Corrigan, and Elaine de Jager round out the cast with comedic flair.

With nods to vaudeville, film noir, and modern absurdism, The Audition Helpers is both an affectionate homage and a sharp critique of the theatre world’s vanities and forgotten talents. Beneath the laughs lies a deeper commentary on ageism, insecurity, and the eternal search for relevance in creative spaces.

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Manly Theatre Group’s pairing of 1 in 7 and The Audition Helpers showcases not only the depth of Australian playwriting talent but also our company’s ability to pivot between emotional drama and comedic critique. Both plays, though tonally different, explore human vulnerability and resilience—whether facing illness or obscurity.

Performed to packed audiences at the Darley Smith Theatre in July 2025, these productions reflect a vibrant and evolving community theatre scene that dares to entertain while asking difficult questions. Here's hoping both Thomas and Hurdis continue to bring new Australian stories to the stage.

“1 in 7” Cast: Trish Donoghue, Ella Green, Talith Fishburn, Liz Jewell, Jessica Hermosilla, Anna Bowden, Chantal Harrison, Karen Pattinson and Claudia Limpert.

“The Audition Helpers” Cast: Gregory J Thorsby, Frank Byrne, Alisan Smotlak, Danny Nercessian, John Corrigan and Elaine de Jager.

Assistant Director: Annie Gurton

Lighting, Sound & Videography: Geraldo Rodrigues

Photography: Neil Thompson Rees