The Only Child

Overview

It is usual not to smile when seeing a family torn apart by the death of a child. There are too many reasons to cry or become angry. And yet, even amidst the most shocking of revelations, The Only Child has the power to also draw sympathetic, mirthful laughter from its audience.

Developed by Melbourne company The Hayloft Project, The Only Child is a gift especially developed for Belvoir Downstairs. Writer/director Simon Stone and co-writer Thomas Henning (of the Black Lung) have led an exceptionally talented creative team in their reconstruction of Henrik Ibsen's Little Eyolf.

The result is a resounding success, an example of theatre that taps into the most ancient qualities of the art: balancing tragedy and comedy and presenting narratives that can drive a stake into anyone's soul, regardless of their place in life.

The Hayloft Project is creating theatre in the same spirit as that undertaken by the likes of Shakespeare; by using existing stories to develop new work for a specific ensemble of actors, in a specific space, the company has produced a piece of tremendous poetry, truth and effect for today's audience.

Photo by Patrick Boland