Format

Full-length play

About

Set in the sanitised grunge of Collingwood, Single Ladies is a buddy story of lone women in the city told over the course of a day.

Anne, Lilike and Rachel are from different generations and backgrounds and hold different allegiances to their neighbourhood, but a chance happening outside Coles sets them on the path to an improbable friendship.

The script is available for purchase from Currency Press.

Creative team

Writer Michele Lee

Director Bagryana Popov

Dramaturg Emilie Collyer

Set and Costume Romanie Harper

Lighting Rachel Lee

Sound Elissa Goodrich

Stage Manager Rain Shadrach

Assistant Stage Manager Lowana van Dorssen

Performers Jem Lai, Caroline Lee and Andrea Swifte

Previous developments: Bridget Balodis, Jing-Xua Chan, Ra Chapman, Sarah Sutherland

Production and development

2022: Single Ladies, 2021 Green Room Awards, finalist, Best Performer

2021: presented by Red Stitch Theatre, 6 February to 14 March

2020: presented by Red Stitch Theatre, 11 March to 12 April (postponed due to COVID-19)

2018: selected for Red Stitch Theatre’s INK program

2017-19: development

Supporters

City of Yarra

Reviews

The beauty of the show was in its simplicity, and the entirely justified confidence that the strength of character, dialogue and relationship would tell enough of a story. Writer Michele Lee managed to create a feel-good piece that was anything but trite; it skated over bigger, complex issues with a deft, humorous touch and created such a strong sense of place and identity - Theatre Travels

With a minimalist set (not much more than six multicoloured, multi panel floor to ceiling screens and a bit of dirt), the actors build a connection with the audience. Of course, that also has a lot to do with the words on the page. The playwright is Michele Lee - The Blurb

Melbourne writer Michele Lee has an exceptional grasp on capturing the atmosphere and sound of a place… Single Ladies resonates with its story about loneliness, community and friendship coming from people we least expect it from - Time Out

The women of Single Ladies provide a collision of female experience and a rich source of humour for Lee…The play contests and resists labels and appearances… Lee is not interested in stereotypes. At times Single Ladies takes on overtones of a Melbourne Thelma & Louise, a version with a tram ride and dance scene executed with bánh mì in hand (two of the play’s joyous highlights). The film’s desert landscape is replaced by a cartography marked by cafes, restaurants and fast-food places. This is where the script zings - The Saturday Paper