Lysa and The Freeborn Dames

Lysa King is nineteen and angry. After spending a year away from her small town, experiencing a powerful uprising of her own political voice, and the protests of women all over the world, Lysa has returned to discover that revolution seems to be happening everywhere but home.
Her arrival coincides with the biggest weekend on the annual calendar, the War Weekender, a weekend-long celebration of the town’s most prized citizens, the local footy team. Unable to stay silent, Lysa decides it’s time to ensure that her voice is heard, and armed with a flag, a manifesto, and the key to the footy club’s change rooms she plans to bring revolution about by any means necessary.
Inspired by Aristophanes’ Lysistrata, Christian lands us in the present with this hilarious, messy, and glitter-filled response to the power of women globally.

  • Director || Rosie Ross

  • Producer & Set Design || Joshua Maxwell

  • Asst. Director & Choreographer || Rayelle Robyn

  • Musical Supervisor || Ben Ross

  • Lighting Design || Nik Lyons

  • Sound Design || Daniel Lowe

  • Red Tree Theatre || November 2021

  • Written by Clare Christians

Cast

Charlotte Cooke as Lysa || Eva Berry as Peta || Jacinta Govind as Myra || Harriet Woodrow as Esme || Lola Brown, Madeline Wells & Danielle Brame Whiting as Chorus || Brandon Alexander as Grant Turner || Jordon Snook as Ken || Chris Brame as Malcolm King

Additional Credits

Asst. Musical Supervisor – Bradley Hughes || Costume Design – Rayelle Robyn & Madeline Wells || Cloaks – Kelly Maxwell || Crew – Libby Blake || Props – Rayelle Robyn || Microphones – Harriet Woodrow

The Band

Abigail Butler on Keys || Lachlan Rush on Bass || Johnathon Bullard on Electric Guitar || Yves Allman on Electric/Acoustic Guitar || Ben Ross on Acoustic Guitar || Bradley Hughes on Drums || Luke Wieringa on Drums || Brandon Alexander on Guitar & Vocals || Rayelle Robyn & Rosie Ross on Vocals

Special Acknowledgement

Mairead Tasmin Young || Vivienne McLaren || Kellie Martin || Zac Partridge || Michelle Walls

Show Photos, Reviews & Media

Lead up Media – Coast News

“Lysa and the Freeborn Dames is a vital piece of storytelling, but it is also hilarious, messy and glitter-filled.

“Right now, we all need to hear this story.

“There is a line in the show, this place is every place, and it is incredibly true.

“I hope the Central Coast embraces the show and it’s message,” Maxwell said.  Read Article

Lysa Program

Show Photos

Photo & Design Credits

James Beggs Photography ||  Watermelon Jam