Louis Nowra’s stories of human connection on the margins of Australian communities are enlightening and endearing in this 3-part, 7-cast-strong theatre epic as Griffin Theatre Company SBW Stables says ‘goodbye for now.’

A housing commission, a psychiatric institution and a 1980s Kings Cross pub. Three communities that operate in the fringes of society. Playwright Louis Nowra has defined himself in Australia’s creative canon with his determination to help audiences see past preconceptions and appreciate the diversity, beauty and love that is present in every nook and cranny of society.

Griffin Theatre Company’s ambitious endeavour to present a three of Nowra’s plays about a protagonist Lewis at different stages of his life, over an 8-hour period of a single day, is an unusual one that absolutely pays off. Director Declan Greene, in collaboration with Nowra, has adapted each story to ensure that the closing of each chapter leaves you wanting another instalment.

In Summer of the Aliens Lewis, played by Philip Lynch, is a UFO-obsessed child in a housing commission. His older self, played by William Zappa, acts as narrator. Lynch is naïve and impressionable in this gritty, confronting world, yet unmoveable in his beliefs that his experiences must be because of aliens rather than amorality or trauma. Thomas Campbell as Lewis’ neglectful dad Eric and Masego Pitso as childhood friend and victim-survivor of abuse Dulcie give strong emotional weight to Lynch’s portrayal of Lewis’ struggle to make sense of his world.

Cosi, the second story, is Nowra’s most famous and loved work. Lynch’s Lewis is a young adult directing an opera in an asylum full of big ideas about the world, specifically the Vietnam War, who learns through the microcosmic world of the patients to appreciate, in addition to the impact of global events, the impact that one person can have on another. Paul Capsis takes the lead, literally, as opera-obsessed patient Roy, an expert at dancing on the fine line between comedy and mania. Ursula Yovich’s portrayal of Cherry, who quickly becomes enamoured with Lewis, and Nikki Viveca as the very literal Ruth, give the story its heart.

Griffin describes upbeat final chapter This Much Is True as leaving you seeing the Cross in a ‘magically different light,’ and I couldn’t say it better. Zappa takes centre stage as an older Lewis who meets a loveable and familiar set of misfits in Kings Cross. He’s still easily drawn into zany, morally ambiguous situations but now with more openness and curiosity, tying a satisfying bow on the trilogy. Nikki Viveca is iconic as aging drag star Venus, Ursula Yovich had the audience in stitches as retired boxer Malcom, Thomas Campbell shines as the affable, enigmatic any-man Cass, and Darius Williams delivers an impressive and vulnerable performance of mentally ill Wesley.

The intimate stage transforms for each show, different props and most notably changes to lighting colour and intensity. Sound design also evolves from a quite organic, earthy soundscape

You can see The Lewis Trilogy shows over a series of nights, which I appreciate from an accessibility and time-sensitive lens. That being said, the full-day marathon is absolutely the way to go if you can! Purchase your ticket to The Lewis Trilogy here.

Shiraz | Wine Pairing

Shiraz is the quintessential Australian wine. It’s choc full of flavours unique to our soils like eucalyptus, Aussie plum, and menthol, and its vines grow in pretty much any Aussie wine region, and it goes with a sausage sizzle just as well as any gourmet meal.

The Lewis Trilogy, Griffin Theatre Company | Tasting Notes

Aussie Season	9 Feb to 21 Apr 2024, Griffin Theatre Company
Ticket $	$48-73/show – $144-219/three show package
Writer	Louis Nowra
Director	Declan Greene
Theatre Type & Genre	Drama, Australiana
See it if you like	Australian stories
Wine Pairing	Shiraz
Criteria for Wine Pairing	Bold, earthy