The Readers

Belvoir alumna Elizabeth Nabben makes her directorial debut at the Belvoir’s Downstairs Theatre with The Readers. Based on playwright, Scott Smart’s real experiences working in Sydney’s eastern suburbs, the play tracks the friendship of two electricity meter readers as they navigate both the perils of their unexpectedly dangerous job and their burgeoning friendship.

Almost a road movie on foot, The Readers blends humour and pathos to present an ultimately optimistic tale of an older man training a younger man in the ways of high-vis.

“As a young, female director, I’m really interested in portraying a different kind of masculinity that’s not often shown, being the kindness of this awkward male friendship,” says Nabben.

“It’s a dog-eat-dog workforce but there’s a real kindness between them as they try to connect and bridge the gap of an awkward workplace friendship.”

The Readers is part of the Belvoir’s 25A program, which is an initiative designed to nurture emerging Australian artists and low-cost theatre.

“25A represents the ethos of Belvoir. It’s so hard to garner audience trust to program a new playwright or director as in the case of The Readers so this is a way of beginning and getting in contact with new works,” says Nabben.

May 5-19. Belvoir – Downstairs Theatre, 18 & 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills. $20-$25+b.f. Tickets & Info: www.belvoir.com.au

By Emily Shen