Format

Full-length play

About

Three female security guards witness their male co-worker assault a female patron. They say nothing, and it f**ks them up.

Creative team

Writer Michele Lee

Director Alice Qin

Performed by Zoe Boeson, Sina Brown, Katerina Kotsonis

Dramaturg Emilie Collyer

Set and Costume Design by Juliette Whitney

Sound Design by Russell Goldsmith

Lighting Design by Rachel Lee

Production Manager & Co-Producer Rain Shadrach

Stage Manager Teri Steer

Previous developments: Bridget Balodis, Ra Chapman, Genevieve Guiffre, Jem Lai, Chanella Macri

Production and development

2022: presented by Darebin Speakeasy, Northcote Town Hall Arts Centre (originally scheduled for 2020 and then 2021, but postponed again due to COVID-19)

2020: finalist for the 2019 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award

2018: second development, Tower Residency, Malthouse Theatre

2018: first development at Footscray Community Arts Centre through their Call to Create program

Supporters

AMP Tomorrow Maker program, Australia Council for the Arts, Creative Victoria

Reviews

Straying almost into sketch comedy before confronting us with grim ubiquity of sexual assault, Michele Lee’s latest play Security unfurls through offbeat, fly-on-the-wall conversations between three female security guards… The play’s emotional impact feels earned partly because its comic impulse is articulated with such rich and understated levity… Security does offer an uncompromising view of rape culture and the power structures that support it. The desolations of the subject are made more bearable by the playwright’s keen ear and sharp wit - The Age

Security is a riveting, hilarious and stirring drama… The dramaturgy and dialogue were excellent; kudos to Collyer and Lee respectively. All three characters had personal stories of ways in which their bodies and consent had been breached. The testimonies felt very real; they dealt with complex feelings of self-blame and betrayal… The play was a serious provocation to audiences to consider the ways in which we might support structural gender-based violence, and our collective duty, beyond being in ‘security’ to keep one another safe. A very thought-provoking, timely reminder by way of high-quality theatre - Arts Hub

Brilliant… Michele’s writing is relevant and critical, and it’s art like this that helps to shift things, even a little bit, in the right direction - Plus Ones