Ophelia is a walking tragedy, her fate dictated by circumstances of misfortune, grief and naivety. She is the unwanted daughter of a loveless, tumultuous marriage – grappling with her identity amidst the crucial teenage years. Enter Hamish; an aloof, mysterious older boy with a penchant for chaos and eyes for Ophelia. He drags her into his underworld, and slowly erodes her agency, identity and prospects for the future. 

This modern tale of codependent relationships explores themes of coercive control and emotional abuse in young relationships, shedding light upon these important themes, while exploring the role of Shakespeare’s the tragic heroine in “Hamlet”, Ophelia. In the original text, Ophelia exists solely for the furthering of the male narrative, and once she has been expended, she dies. O, Ophelia takes control of the tragic narrative and brings life and agency to this otherwise two dimensional female character.

Written and directed by Amber Grossmann, the founder of emerging youth theatre company Overall Arts, O, Ophelia has been developed from ‘the seed of an idea’ into a full-scale touring production thanks to support and a unique partnership with JUTE Theatre Company.

“I am incredibly excited to co-produce and tour this work, a story of our times about relationships and self-worth. I know it will resonate with audiences, and I cannot wait to ‘get the show on the road’,” said Ms Grossmann.

JUTE Theatre Company’s Artistic Director and CEO, Suellen Maunder, said Amber Grossmann is a shining light for the intergenerational growth of Queensland’s regional theatre industry. “For JUTE, developing new Australian stories and supporting a new wave of theatre makers like Amber and Overall Arts is a pinnacle achievement for the company and one which we are inordinately proud of,” Ms Maunder said. “It is because of this relationship with JUTE that we have chosen to extend the mentorship element of the work further – allowing young creatives across many disciplines to undertake a paid internship. There are few opportunities for professional development in regional theatre, but this is one of them,” she said.

For example, Cairns’ youth will have an opportunity to shine in bold new professional theatre production. The audition process for a local chorus involves participation in free acting workshops. Ms Grossmann said the free workshop series staged throughout November at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre in Cairns was a fantastic opportunity for young actors to develop their skills and have a chance to secure one of four coveted chorus roles of the production.

“For the chorus roles, we cast local young women and female-identifying persons, school leavers and young people interested in immersing themselves into the beautiful, diverse and creative world of theatre.”

O, Ophelia will officially open at Bulmba-ja Arts Centre Theatre in Cairns on International Women’s Day before embarking on a regional tour of Queensland, through the DARTS touring initiative—a platform facilitating tours of regional works hosted by regional companies—audiences in additional regional centres will experience O, Ophelia, broadening the engagement, reach, and impact of young artists’ workA