NEVER CLOSER

NEVER
CLOSER

  • 25 May – 16 Jun 24 Upstairs Theatre

NEVER
CLOSER

Written by Grace Chapple
Directed by Hannah Goodwin

  • Venue Upstairs Theatre
  • Dates 25 May – 16 Jun 24
  • Content warning

    Approximate running times of each production are uploaded to the production page as soon as that information becomes available. During the rehearsal period running times are liable to change given the extensive workshopping and development each production undergoes before it reaches the stage.

    Content warnings will also be uploaded to each production page as they are advised.

    Should you wish to speak to a member of staff regarding running times, content warnings or any other show related queries, our box office can be contacted on 02 9699 3444.

  • In association with
    • Essential Workers
  • Supported by
    • The Group

An astonishing debut play in a production direct from our Downstairs Theatre.

Northern Ireland, 1987. Deirdre is stuck – between arguments, nations, and the lives she almost lived. But when her old schoolfriends gather in her kitchen yet again for Christmas Eve, their growing differences push to the surface a powder-keg, waiting the tiniest spark. And then one of them turns up with her surprise fiancé.

He’s English.

Set against the backdrop of The Troubles, this brilliant debut play is an unforgettable drama of home, friends, the decision to leave or stay, and the possibility of forgiveness.

Grace Chapple’s Never Closer premiered Downstairs at Belvoir in 2022 as part of 25A and I haven’t seen anything so assured and accomplished in ages. It’s a tight, mature piece of writing with some finely-detailed performances in an exquisitely directed production by Hannah Goodwin. So, in a grand tradition, we’re bringing it Upstairs. This is a chance to see a thoughtful, crafted new play by an Australian writing of her ancestral land. In six characters and a single room, Grace catches the tremors of a whole country and a whole time – with some striking resonances for here today. – Eamon

Performance Times

Weekly Times

  • tuesday 6:30pm

    Except 28 May at 7:30pm

  • wednesday 6:30pm
  • thursday 1pm & 7:30pm
  • friday 7:30pm
  • saturday 2pm & 7:30pm
  • sunday 5pm

    Except 26 May at 6:30pm & 16 Jun at 2pm

  • image description Preview Session
  • image description Special Performance
  • image description School Performance
  • image description Audio description

Save with Season Tickets!

With 4-play packages starting from $182* plus a range of ticket types and concessions, there is a package to suit everyone!

General release tickets go on sale 20th February.

*Preview 4-play package

Join Us

TEAM

  • Grace Chapple
    Writer
  • Hannah Goodwin
    Director
    image description

    Hannah Goodwin (she/her) is a director who lives and works on Gadigal land. She is currently Resident Director at Belvoir Street Theatre. Her work includes Wayside Bride by Alana Valentine (Belvoir), Light Shining in Buckinghamshire by Caryl Churchill (Belvoir), The Sorry Mum Project by Pippa Ellams (National Theatre of Parramatta, Bondi Feast), A Girl in […]

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  • Cast

  • Emma Diaz
    image description

    Emma Diaz is an actor and producer based in Sydney. A graduate of WAAPA Acting, her theatre credits include Never Closer (Belvoir 25A), The Crucible (Sport for Jove), Hamlet (Bell Shakespeare), Nautilus (Monkey Baa Theatre Company), and Hitler’s Daughter (Monkey Baa Theatre Company). Emma’s notable TV/film credits include After the Verdict (Nine Network), Bump (Stan), […]

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  • Raj Labade
    image description

    Raj Labade was born in Sydney in 2000 and is of Indian-Anglo decent. He began acting at high school performing in various musicals, plays and comedy sketches. At the age of 17, he began his professional Career as ‘Lewis’ in the 2019 Australian feature film, “Back of The Net”. At 18, Raj was Accepted into […]

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  • Mabel Li
    image description

    Mabel Li is a 2019 graduate from the National Institute of Dramatic Arts BFA Acting course. She was recently nominated for a Silver Logie for Most Outstanding Supporting Actress and won an Asian Academy award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Goalpost Picture’s, New Gold Mountain, (dir. Corrie Chen) for SBS.Since graduating, Mabel made […]

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  • Philip Lynch
  • Ariadne Sgouros
    image description

    Ariadne Sgouros graduated from NIDA in 2017 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. During her time at NIDA, Ariadne performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Eurydike and Orpheus, and The Show That Smells. Since leaving NIDA, Ariadne has been involved in a series of KXTeethCutting readings at the Kings Cross Theatre, as well […]

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  • Adam Sollis
  • Creatives

  • Phoebe Pilcher
    Lighting Designer
  • Grace Deacon
    Set Designer
  • Keerthi Subramanyam
    Costume Designer
    image description

    Keerthi is a Sydney based set and costume designer for live performance and film. Keerthi is a National Institute of Dramatic Art, BFA (Design for Performance, 2019) graduate, and a member of the Australian Production Design Guild. Keerthi has designed set and costumes for Darlinghurst Theatre Company’s Seven Methods of Killing Kylie Jenner, Chewing Gum […]

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  • Alyx Dennison
    Sound Designer and Composer
    image description

    Alyx Dennison is a singer, composer and sound designer living and working on Gadigal Land. She is a fierce advocate for equality in education and the arts, with a particular interest in work which illuminates (and works to dissolve) systems of class, power and hierarchy. She cut her teeth on experimental pop duo kyü, who toured […]

    Read full bio

Information
for schools

  • Book your performance

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    TERM TWO

    See this play for:
    ENSEMBLE CAST

    Recommended for Years 10 – 12

    Curriculum Links

    Drama
    Stage 5
    • Appreciating
      (Outcomes 5.3.1, 5.3.2)
    Stage 6
    Preliminary
    • Element of Production in Performance 
    • Theatrical Traditions and Performance Styles 
    HSC
    • Individual Project: Scriptwriting 
    • Australian Drama and Theatre: Contemporary Australian Theatre Practice (related text) 
    English
    Stage 5
    • Viewing, Responding (Drama text)
    Stage 6
    Preliminary
    • Narratives that Shape our World (Advanced) (Module A)
    HSC
    • The Craft of Writing (Standard/Advanced) (Module C)

    Schools Performances

    All schools performances are followed by a Q&A session with the cast.
    • Wed, 12 Jun 2024 11:30am

    Tickets are only $25 per student with one complimentary teacher ticket for every ten students booked.

    Evening and Matinee Performances

    School groups can book any general public performance. Book our Thursday 1PM matinees for the schools performance price of $25 per ticket, or an evening performance from $45 per student.

    What to expect

    Belvoir creates for a wide audience and our productions may contain mature content. Accurate information about productions including running times and content is available once rehearsals have begun.

    Contact Us

    For more information about our education programs, please get in touch.

    Head of Education Jane May
    Education Manager Stevie Bryant
    +61 (2) 8396 6241

    Book your performance

    Complete this form to request tickets for Never Closer.
    Want to book multiple productions? Head to our full Schools Booking request

      * Required fields

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