Flame Trees

There is probably nothing scarier in Australia than bushfires, we go through the fear each summer. Flame Trees examines that fear a bit closer.

This new play is about one woman’s fight for redemption. Ten years ago Tess confessed to lighting a bushfire that destroyed part of the town and killed her best friend. She’s been to jail, she’s out, and now she’s coming home to face the music. Set in a small country town inspired by Peak Hill near Forbes, it examines small town mentality. It’s about strength, family and determination, about fighting for yourself and fighting for forgiveness – and about fire and the fear that it brings.

Flame Trees’ creator Wayne Tunks is an award-winning writer who wrote for Neighbours during 2010 and 2011. He not only penned Flame Trees but produced the show and also acts in it. “I’ve always been strong on storyline. You need a good foundation before you start fleshing it out with action and dialogue, otherwise you don’t have a good story,” he said.

Tunks plays Nathan, Tess’s older brother who is mentally handicapped.

“Nathan is a little slow, but he’s a lovely guy who loves people and probably trusts people a bit too much. I originally did a lot of research because it’s important to make sure the character is true, not some two dimensional character, but a real life adult man who has the intelligence of a child,” explained Tunks.

“It’s an iconically Australian story and I wanted to pair it with an iconically Australian song. Cold Chisel’s [‘Flame Trees’ has] always been rattling around inside my brain. When I thought about the show, I thought there’s no other title I could use,” Tunks concluded. (MS)

Jun 15–Jul 2. The Depot Theatre, 142 Addison St, Marrickville. $22-$32. Tickets & info: thedepottheatre.com

BY MEL SOMERVILLE