- For Artists
- Creative Developments
- Florence
Florence
Based on the book, 'Florence Broadhurst – Her Secret and Extraordinary Lives' by Helen O’Neill Book by Elise Greig, music and lyrics by Matthew Semple
Dates
23 Feb 2023 - 19 Jun 2024Location
Metro Arts Studios, West EndElise Greig, in partnership with Metro Arts and Playlab Theatre, is developing the world premiere new music theatre work, Florence.
Flamboyant Queenslander Florence Broadhurst was a charismatic risk taker who turned the Australian wallpaper world on its head. Florence’s life was as colourful and adventurous as the exotic birds and bold colour strokes she captured on her silk screens.
Born in 1899 at Mount Perry, Bundaberg, Florence defied her geographical isolation, performing internationally before reinventing herself as a businesswoman in France, England and China. After these expeditions, Florence returned home and started her internationally successful wallpaper company. However, in 1978, at the height of her power and success, Florence was murdered, a crime that remains unsolved.
Her luxurious and vibrant designs made waves around the world, but perhaps her most innovative design of all was herself. Based on Helen O’Neill’s book, ‘Florence Broadhurst: Her Secret and Extraordinary Lives’, this new music theatre work explores the life of an enigmatic and extraordinary Australian. This theatre work looks to put the power back in the hands of the woman who was murdered.
The artists
ELISE GREIG - Writer and Co-Producer
Elise has been recognized by the Matilda Awards on four occasions for her outstanding contribution to Queensland Theatre. Elise is an acting graduate from USQ and an Honours and Masters graduate from QUT, where she was awarded the University Medal for Academic Achievement.
Elise also trained with Shakespeare & Company in Boston, USA. Elise’s first play, The Romany Project was presented as part of Metro’s Year of Independents and her next, Crèche and Burn was a box office and critical success as part of La Boite Theatre’s 2005 mainhouse season, followed by a 10-week national tour.
Elise’s work, Magpie was longlisted for the QPDA 2018 and had a critically successful season at Brisbane Powerhouse 2019, presented in partnership with Playlab, Metro Arts and EG. Other writing credits include: Night Sky Over Our Town (Qld Conservatorium Griffith University), The Sweet Science of Bruising (Shortlisted 2010 Playwriting Australia), Hopelessly Devoted (Glen Street Theatre), Flood (Short+Sweet), Are My Balls Still in the Air? & Mornings With Maryanne Merrily,
(Brisbane Cabaret Festival). Elise has dramaturged a number of theatrical works, most recently the Matilda Award-winning Wilbur the Optical Whale by Karen Roberts for Indelibility Arts.
MATTHEW SEMPLE - Composer
MEGAN SHOREY - Music Consultant
Acknowledgements
