When The Light Leaves
Written by Rory Godbold
Directed by Jayde Kirchert
A critically-acclaimed new Australian play that explores how people navigate the complex reality of terminal illness.
Nominated for Best Writing at the Green Room Awards 2020
12 — 23 June 2019, La Mama Theatre, Courthouse
30 — 31 September 2019, Wonthaggi Theatre
29 Jan — 1 Feb 2020, Gasworks Arts Park, Gasworks Theatre
A critically acclaimed new Australian play that explores how people navigate the complex reality of terminal illness
Death is wild and unpredictable, when it comes to the end of my life, my trust is with myself.
Dan’s dreaming of dead ducks and cartoon skeletons. He’s also dying.
Terminal brain cancer has forced Dan to decide how he wants the end of his life to look. Despite his supportive partner, well-intentioned sister and nurse who comforts by-the-book, no one can give him what he needs. It’s time Dan chooses how he goes.
With access to assisted dying now legal, everyone has an opinion about how you live and die. When The Light Leaves explores how people navigate the reality of death and reconcile their grief, leaving audiences to decide for themselves how they would want to go.
“I know from close observation that Rory Godbold understands the brutal nuances of this issue in ways that very few can claim. He brings a perspective to it, both as creator and as witness, which has the unmistakable ring of truth. Nothing in performance is more powerful than the truth.”
– Andrew Denton
Grants & Support
When The Light Leaves was generously supported by:
La Mama Theatre
The City of Melbourne Quick Response Grants
Approx. running time: 70 min
Q&A FORUMs
Every performance of When The Light Leaves was followed by a Q&A Forum to discuss Voluntary Assisted Dying in more detail. Panellists included: Rory Godbold (playwright), Dr Nick Carr (GP) and Fiona Patten (leader of the Reason Party) & The Hon. Jill Hennessey.
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Tomas Parrish as Dan
Leigh Scully as Liam
Veronica Thomas as Kate
Michelle Robertson as Alice
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Written by Rory Godbold
Directed by Jayde Kirchert
Designed by Stu Brown
Lighting Design by Gina Gascoigne
Costume Design by Aislinn Naughton
Composer/Sound design by Imogen Cygler
Stage Manager: Teri Steer
Associate Producer: Steph Clare-Cover
Associate Producer: Alex Suttie (La Mama season)
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High Line Productions in collaboration with Citizen Theatre presented at La Mama Courthouse, June 12-23, 2019
High Line Productions in collaboration with Citizen Theatre presented at Wonthaggi Shed Theatre, September 20-21, 2019
Gasworks Arts Park & Packed House productions present a Citizen Theatre production presented at Gasworks Theatre, January 29 - Feb 1, 2020
The La Mama season was generously supported by the City of Melbourne Arts Grants Program
When The Light Leaves was selected for the 2021 Showcase Victoria program.
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Scripts were available prior to the performance for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
AUSLAN interpreted performance was on Fri 21st June 7:30pm
La Mama Courthouse, Wonthaggi Shed Theatre and Gasworks Theatre were accessible venues.
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When The Light Leaves
When The Light Leaves is a new Australian play that explores the how people navigate the complex reality of facing an uncontrollable, wild death.
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