Tracy Bourne

The House at the End of the Line is a play about people who would otherwise be homeless. It is based on the lives of residents at Reid's Guest House, Ballarat and will be staged in Ballarat from October 16-20 at the Mining Exchange. We are asking for help to pay actors fees for rehearsals.


I wrote the play as part of a residency at Reid's supported by 'Under the Floorboards' and UnitingCare Ballarat (as well as City of Ballarat and ABC radio). Reid’s Guest House offers subsidized rent for people with a range of issues including various addictions, psychiatric issues, physical and intellectual disabilities and financial problems. I spent the month of November 2012, meeting with and listening to residents' stories, and then developed characters from there. Some of the characters in the play (based on real people) include:

- Angela, who has lost everything; partner, baby and home. She is struggling to overcome her addictions and needs a safe place to stay until she gets on her feet again.

- Gabriel, who is a young man in his early 20s with cerebral palsy. He has chosen to live at Reids’ because he likes to party late on Friday and Saturday nights and doesn’t want to live where there is a curfew. He has friends at Reids who look after him and laugh at his jokes.

- Ranger, who has lived rough for many years, until he comes across Bea, a tough street-kid who tries to turn him into her father.

The House at the End of the Line tells the true stories of people who are often ignored and shows that any of us could end up homeless. All it takes is a bit of bad luck.

Cast: Thomas Banks, Rose Bray, Verity Higgins, Andreas Litras, Lachlan Martin, Kate Suter, Michael Treloar.

Script and Direction by Tracy Bourne
Set and Costume Design by Adam (Gus) Powers
Lighting Design by Liam Mudge
Sound design and Musical Accompaniment by Wayne Parker
Production and Stage Management by Robert McKenzie

Shows:
Preview 16^th October, 8pm
Season: 17^th October – 19^th October, 8pm
%20 Matinee on Saturday 19^th at 2pm,
Sunday 20^th at 6pm
Schools performance Friday 18^th at 11am

Ticket Prices:
Preview: $12/$25
Season $15/$30
Schools performance: $12

There are many challenges in organising a fully staged production with 7 actors, and a 5 person creative team. However, we are well supported by UnitingCare Ballarat, City of Ballarat and other sponsors, and I have a good track record of organising theatre events. See website for more details: www.tracybourne.com