Play Details
(2F, 2M) Drama. Written by Elodie Boal. 40 Minutes in length.
Awards
The Descent achieved 19 awards during its tour of the Southeast Queensland Drama Festival Circuit. Some awards include Best New Australian Script, Best Play, Best Direction, Best Set Design and various acting awards.
Premiere Information
The Descent premiered in August 2018 at Crete Street Theatre as part of Beenleigh Theatres Drama Festival. It went on to tour the drama circuit at Ipswich, Sunshine Coast, Burpengary, Sandgate and Redland Bay.
The Descent explores myths and realities, and invites audiences into a world that hasn’t been explored before. Drawing inspiration from the nursery rhyme ‘Jack and Jill’, this play brings these characters to life in an expose’ of what really happened up on the hill.
Written by Elodie Boal in 2018, The Descent requires minimal setting and lots of imagination. The script has been described as ‘clever’, ‘unlike anything that has been seen before’ and ‘amazing’ (described by adjudicators on the 2018 SEQ Drama Circuit).
Reviews and Feedback
“The stylised characterisations from Jack and Jill were very fine. The play itself is an extended theatrical riff which uses the Jack and Jill nursery rhyme as a basis to explore power relationships, wishes and desires… We really enjoyed watching The Descent. Elodie, did a truly masterful job of directing this piece. We think you have a real theatrical sensibility and flair.”
Margery and Michael Forde, Adjudicator at Sunshine Coast Theatre Alliance Festival
“Good emotional work and believable dialogue. I like the shifting focus of the couples… excellent trust between performers. Thank you for your efforts in bringing this amazing play to us… it’s of professional standard.”
Kiesten McCauley, Adjudicator at Beenleigh One Act Play Festival
“This is theatre.”
Kate Beck, Adjudicator at Ipswich Little Plays One Act Play Festival
“Just watched your brillance tonight at Beenleigh Theatre – you guys are phenonmenal. So so love your work!”
Bernadette Gilligan Mallee, Audience Participant
Awards and Achievements
Beenleigh Theatre Group Drama Festival, Beenleigh – August 2018 (Adjudicator: Kiesten McCauley)
Best Play, Best Director (Elodie Boal) and Soroptimist Int. Beenleigh Inc. Shield for Best Female Actor of Festival (Elodie Boal).
Ipswich One Act Play Festival, Ipswich – August 2018 (Adjudicator: Kate Beck)
Best Play, Best Australian Play, Best Director (Elodie Boal), Adjudicators Award for Acting (Sophie Price), Adjudicators Award for Acting (Gary Farmer-Trickett), Nomination for Best Supporting Actress Female (Sophie Price) and Nomination for Best Actor Male (Gary Farmer-Trickett).
Sunshine Coast Theatre Festival, Sunshine Coast – August 2018 (Adjudicators: Margery Forde and Michael Forde)
Adjudicators Award for Overall Theatre Making (Elodie Boal), Adjudicators Award for Acting (Sophie Price), Best Supporting Actor Male (Matthew Bapty) and Best Set Design.
King Street Players Theatre Festival, Burpengary – August 2018 (Adjudicator: Ron Kelly)
Third Best Play, Best Female Actor (Elodie Boal) and Best Female Supporting Actor (Sophie Price).
Sandgate Theatre Inc. Festival, Sandgate – September 2018 (Adjudicator: Michael Beh)
Best Supporting Male Actor (Matthew Bapty) and Adjudicators Certificate of Distinction for Directing (Elodie Boal).
Redland Performing Arts Centre Festival, Redlands – September 2018 (Adjudicator: Michael Beh)
Best Supporting Male Actor (Matthew Bapty) and Best Supporting Female Actor (Sophie Price).
