
BUB
TAHLEE FEREDAY

Black Light is a play about finding our way back to ourselves, to Country and to the people we love, when everything else tries to tear us apart.
Things are uneasy in town. No one’s sure what’s going on, or how long it’s going to last. Fuel is scarce, so is water, military jets fly overhead and all other flights are grounded. The only choice they have is to wait it out. Together.
The eldest in the family is Nan – she has dementia and finds it difficult to make sense of the world. The youngest is Bub. Recently separated from their wife, Bub is struggling to find stability and parent alone. Aunty and Mum are sisters and yet polar opposites. They nitpick at each other, barely able to conceal their disdain. There's so much history between them all, so much water under the bridge, and none of it clean.
What emerges while they wait, are the deeply ingrained fears they're all carrying. The pain and the wisdom. In the stillness, it all seems ever-present. But Country is speaking louder now and it cannot be ignored.
Black Light is written by renowned playwright Jada Alberts (writer and director of Aretha: A Love Letter, Brothers Wreck and director of Seven Stages of Grieving) and stars sisters Rachael and Lisa Maza, as well as Tahlee Fereday and Trisha Morton-Thomas. This work brings you on a deeply personal journey as it explores the complexities of intergenerational wisdom, trauma and survival in a colonial world.
MON 16 FEB
The Black Light Community Night invites First Nations audiences to come along to the performance on MON 16 FEB and join us for a special celebration after the show.
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community members can purchase $25 tickets to the performance on Community Night when you book via our website.
There is also an allocation of free tickets available to Mob across every performance of Black Light (including Community Night). Submit your request for free MobTix here.

BUB
TAHLEE FEREDAY

MUM
LISA MAZA

AUNTY
RACHAEL MAZA

NAN
TRISHA MORTON-THOMAS

STANDBY
ELLA FERRIS

WRITER & DIRECTOR
JADA ALBERTS

SET & COSTUME DESIGNER
DALE FERGUSON

LIGHTING DESIGNER
JENNY HECTOR

COMPOSER & SOUND DESIGNER
KELLY RYALL

ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR
JESSICA ARTHUR

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
TOMAS PARRISH-CHYNOWETH

DRAMATURG
KEZIAH WARNER

VOICE & TEXT COACH
SUZANNE HEYWOOD

STAGE MANAGER
JESS KEEPENCE

ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER
ROSEMARY OSMOND
SCENIC ART
PATRICK JONES
LX PROGRAMMER
JAMIE TURNER
SOUND OPERATOR
EUGENE MACKINNON
SET & COSTUME DESIGN INTERN
TIARNA MCPHERSON
Previews
Community Night
In Season
Open & Closed Captioning
Time to Talk
Approximately 90 minutes, no interval
This production contains adult themes, coarse language, depiction of natural disasters, references to domestic violence, discussion of colonial violence and racism. There are moments of dynamic sound, flashing lights, and use of smoke effects and fake cigarettes.
Detailed content warnings are available here.
If you would like to speak with us about specific content, please contact box office on (03) 9685 5111 or email boxoffice@malthousetheatre.com.au.
Aural Rating: 50% – this production has both sound and visual components, but sight isn’t essential to be able to engage with the event.
Visual Rating 50% – includes dialogue and background music or sounds, so Deaf and hard of hearing audiences can have some engagement with the event.
Please visit our access page for more information about accessibility services.
Campaign image by T J Garvie
Hair and make-up by Nisal Atapattu and Erika Beiza
Black Light was generously supported by Australian Plays Transform through their Australian First Nations Playwrights Retreat and Development Program.
