Louis Nowra’s The Lewis Trilogy to close Griffin Theatre’s SBW Stables Theatre ahead of renovations

“These are not mainstream people, but they’re not outsiders,” explains Nowra. “They’re running parallel to mainstream society, whether it’s the housing commission, the mental institution, or the hotel in the last play. They don’t care about mainstream society; they have their own values. And that’s what I wanted to get across without moralism or anything.”

Putting on each play back to back over the course of a day has never been attempted before. The full repertoire of the trilogy will play on Saturdays and Sundays over seven hours, including an interval and a dinner break, while one play will be on per night Wednesday to Friday.

“To imagine Lewis over a period of about three or four decades, that’s going to be very interesting for me,” Nowra says.

“I’m interested to see how Lewis changes the community he’s with, and how he’s changed from a young boy to a much older man, but he still seems to be attracted to these people outside the mainstream, who mean everything to him. And he finds happiness with these people.”

Greene adds that there’s resonance between the plays’ themes of community and connection, and the experience of watching epic theatre: “There’s something really interesting in what happens when you’re sitting in a little room with 105 people over seven hours. You will feel like you’re doing something together.”

The announcement of the final plays at the Stables comes a day ahead of the launch of Griffin’s full 2024 season on Tuesday night. When the Stables closes, Griffin will perform their program at other Sydney venues.

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Griffin’s major redevelopment is expected to cost $10 million, including $5 million from the NSW government’s Creative Capital program, with the remaining amount raised through philanthropy. The plans involve knocking down the house next door to create 40 per cent more space, to be used to add 35 more seats, wheelchair access, and a rehearsal room, while expanding backstage and the foyer, to create a multi-use performance space.

“The stage isn’t getting much bigger or anything like that,” says Greene. “It’s still going to be a really intimate space.”

But before the redevelopment gets under way, the theatre will be seen off with the ambitious The Lewis Trilogy.

“These three plays really encapsulate the best of what Australian playwriting can be,” Greene says. “I hope that, after this, lots of other people put the trilogy on.”

The Lewis Trilogy is at Griffin Theatre from February 10 to April 21.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.

“These are not mainstream people, but they’re not outsiders,” explains Nowra. “They’re running parallel to mainstream society, whether it’s the housing commission, the mental institution, or the hotel in the last play. They don’t care about mainstream society; they have their own values. And that’s what I wanted to get across without moralism or anything.”

Putting on each play back to back over the course of a day has never been attempted before. The full repertoire of the trilogy will play on Saturdays and Sundays over seven hours, including an interval and a dinner break, while one play will be on per night Wednesday to Friday.

“To imagine Lewis over a period of about three or four decades, that’s going to be very interesting for me,” Nowra says.

“I’m interested to see how Lewis changes the community he’s with, and how he’s changed from a young boy to a much older man, but he still seems to be attracted to these people outside the mainstream, who mean everything to him. And he finds happiness with these people.”

Greene adds that there’s resonance between the plays’ themes of community and connection, and the experience of watching epic theatre: “There’s something really interesting in what happens when you’re sitting in a little room with 105 people over seven hours. You will feel like you’re doing something together.”

The announcement of the final plays at the Stables comes a day ahead of the launch of Griffin’s full 2024 season on Tuesday night. When the Stables closes, Griffin will perform their program at other Sydney venues.

Loading

Griffin’s major redevelopment is expected to cost $10 million, including $5 million from the NSW government’s Creative Capital program, with the remaining amount raised through philanthropy. The plans involve knocking down the house next door to create 40 per cent more space, to be used to add 35 more seats, wheelchair access, and a rehearsal room, while expanding backstage and the foyer, to create a multi-use performance space.

“The stage isn’t getting much bigger or anything like that,” says Greene. “It’s still going to be a really intimate space.”

But before the redevelopment gets under way, the theatre will be seen off with the ambitious The Lewis Trilogy.

“These three plays really encapsulate the best of what Australian playwriting can be,” Greene says. “I hope that, after this, lots of other people put the trilogy on.”

The Lewis Trilogy is at Griffin Theatre from February 10 to April 21.

Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.