Good Grief by Delsa Tuitea

Presented as part of the VCA Master of Theatre (Writing) Festival 2024

Dearly beloved,

We are gathered at the grim reaper’s dumping ground; a financially crippled funeral home. Here, the unpaid staff judge their deceased clients, squeezing out the juicy details of their illicit affairs and having conversations with the dead. Standing on moral high ground they ignore their own unspoken encounters with grief.

In the midst of dealing with the deceased, the hot debate topic is: What’s the best outro song to play enroute to the gates of heaven or hell? And can we get Julie Andrews to sing it?

Content Warnings: Sexual References, Death and dying, References to Domestic Violence, Crude Humour

Credits

Director: Freddie Fitzpatrick-Lubowitz
Dramaturg: Michael Honeyman

About the writer

Delsa Tuitea is an Australian-born Samoan playwright/producer. An alumna of La Trobe University and currently studying Master of Theatre (Writing) at Victorian College of the Arts.

She has worked in community arts space with Pacific Island Creative Arts Australia Inc. (PICAA Inc.) which included her debut play Amataga o le alofa (2016) and coordinated Pasefika arts programs. She is also the secretary and producer of Le Masiofo Siva Academy Australia.

Delsa was awarded the New Voices for the West playwright commission with Western Edge Youth Arts in 2023 which saw the creation of E lelei mea uma - All is well.

She currently works as Program Manager at Arts Centre Melbourne delivering programs for young people and community.

Acknowledgements

Thank you to all the VCA staff throughout this course. Special thanks to Raimondo Cortese, Emily Sheehan, Michele Lee and Chris Mead for your guidance, mentorship and affirming that crazy ideas are worth writing down.

My utmost gratitude and love to this year’s writing cohort, truly thankful for the friendship, offerings and gems shared to enable the best of our collective and individual creativity.

Thank you to Freddie Fitzpatrick-Lubowitz and Michael Honeyman for the dedication to this piece as well as the cast. It’s a grim comedy, if we’re not going to cry, let’s try laughing!

Appreciation and gratitude to those who encouraged, prayed, supported and granted me the time and space to undertake studies from my workplace Arts Centre Melbourne, my village (too many of you to name individually!!) and my parents & siblings.

It is by the grace of God my journey to VCA and the conception of this piece has been possible. This piece was written as I navigate through my own grief.

I dedicate the journey through this Masters and this piece to my late grandmother Mere Fiamalua Tia’i.

__________

Ticket Prices

Free, registrations required on Humanitix

Run time

This reading will run for approximately 90 minutes.

Venue

This reading takes place in Studio 4, located in the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building which is accessible via paths in the new Dodds Street Linear Park.
Please meet Front of House in the foyer on the ground floor of the Dodds Street Performing Arts Building, Studio 4 is then accessible via the stairs or lift.

Parking

The City of Melbourne has recently changed the parking restrictions around the Southbank Campus. Parking control hours are now expanded to 7am–10pm, seven days per week, and are capped at three hours. A $2-per-hour fee after 7pm is also now in place. There is no change to the $4-per-hour peak rate between 7am–7pm. Parking inspectors are regularly in the area fining drivers who overstay their meter, so we encourage everyone to be aware and avoid an expensive fine. More information.

Accessibility

Click on the accessibility button at the top of this page for detailed information on accessibility in the venue. Please note any requirements that you and your guests may have when prompted at checkout. To read more about access services available at our venues, please visit: https://finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/access-our-events.

Important Information

As this is a new devised work, content warnings may be updated closer to the performances. Audiences will be made aware of updated warnings in their event reminder.
Please stay home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms. Face masks are welcome in all settings for community and personal safety.
In order to account for drop-off in attendance, we overbook a select number of free events at the Faculty. If you have not arrived by the start of the performance, your ticket may be released to any waiting patrons at the door. Please arrive at the venue at least 15 minutes before the performance to secure your seat.
Admission to any of our concerts and events is strictly at the discretion of Front of House. We have zero tolerance for any disrespectful behaviour.

Banner: Image by Zayn Ulfan, 2024.