A new play by Kosta Nikas, Proxy is a new vehicle for emerging NIDA graduate director Subra Velayutham. It is the story of a female author her agent husband and the imaginary heroine of her novel, Maxine.
When talking about the inspiration of the play, Nikas says, “I wrote the first draft of the play almost 20 years ago whilst at university then forgot about it.
“I am intrigued by how people often try to live their lives through third parties; whether it be people, or ideas living via proxy.
” The three characters are locked in a complicated relationship which is tested by their individual inner desires for freedom.
When audiences see a production they rarely realise the time it has taken, “I wrote it twenty years ago and decided to work on it, I met my director Subra, who was passionate about directing the play.” Velayutham was excited by the prospect of working on Proxy a play she describe as, “packed with such sexual vigour.”
“I had been looking for a new Australian play that was edgy, thought-provoking and could essentially take the audience to another level in terms of their theatrical experience,” she adds. Protagonist, author Sarah Wehnter, is encouraged by her agent-husband to write the third instalment to her Maxine series of books.
However, a very personal and traumatic event affects Sarah’s writing and state of mind, and leads to her gradual deterioration. Sarah finds refuge from reality in the life of her book’s protagonist Maxine and slowly begins a complete rewrite of her own life through her fictional character.
This third tome of Maxine’s life is not what her husband was expecting and the struggle that ensues between the couple leads to devastating consequences. Nikas sees himself as a playwright, who tackles ideas that are universal. “Independent theatre is difficult enough without introducing stereotypical ideas about casting, content and audience expectations.”
He says, “I don’t write as a Greek Australian, a Greek, or as an anything to do with a specific ethnicity, social class or religion.”
He does admit that he gets “inspiration from the richness of Greek culture, from whatever era in its 5,000-year-old continuous journey.”
Proxy stars Barbara Gouskos, (Heartbreak High, All Saints, White Collar Blue) as Sarah, Pat Brennan as Sarah’s husband Richard and Sarah Mawbey as Maxine, plus supporting cast. Proxy is performed at Sidetrack Theatre, Marrickville between April 14 and May 2.
For more information go to, www.proxytheplay.com