Following the success of local playwright Catherine McKernan Doris’s play “Enough to Wake the Dead” which premiered at NAFA in 2021, Catherine has now completed a trilogy known as “The Wake Series”. “The Moon’s Awake” is the next installment in the series and is both a stand-alone work and a prequel.
Set in 1969, during a particularly hot Irish summer, at least two things were happening simultaneously: Men were landing on the moon, and the political landscape in Ireland was about to be thrown into turmoil with the onset of the Troubles.
The Quinn family and their friends were also suffering – primarily from hangovers, but also from the impact of occupation, inequality, the risk of having to leave the country and go to England for work, and the threat of violence. This is the story of a family and their friends trying to make the best of every day, with varying degrees of success.
Playwright and actor Catherine McKernan Doris is delighted with the cast and is astounded by the amount of time and effort each actor is giving to their roles. “They’re not just learning lines,” she said. “They’re practically learning a new language. The accents require a lot of hard work and hours of practice. I’m so grateful to everyone for their commitment to this work and to the job of recreating Ireland in the 1960s.” Catherine is also incredibly thankful to Theatre iNQ, who included early versions of “The Moon’s Awake” in two of their ‘PlayGround’ writer’s festival programs, enabling the playwright to hone the play into the version that will be staged in October.
“Some people may wonder – ‘Why an Irish play? Why do Australian audiences need to see this?’” Catherine said. “I would respond that this play is a story of family, poverty, injustice and inequality. Its themes are as relevant to society today as they were in Ireland in the 60s.”
Catherine interviewed friends, family and councillors in her native Ireland to get a rounded perspective on what was going on in Ireland in 1969 and this work attempts to give a balanced portrayal of the lead up to the Troubles. “The work examines what can happen to society if people are treated unfairly and are seen as ‘less than.’ … as well as the lengths people will go to for equality.”
You don’t need to have seen “Enough to Wake the Dead” to enjoy this work. But, if you did and have been asking ‘How involved was Barney?’, ‘What did John do?’, ‘What happened before this?’ or just want to meet Joyce’s beloved husband Jim, now’s your chance!
The cast are already hard at work learning their lines and practicing their accents. The set-builders are making lots of noise (& lots of MESS!) in the shed.
Newcomer to TLT, Torben Westkamp, (playing the astronaut) joins an experienced cast of local theatre favourites including Richard Price (Bernard), Kellie Esling (Dolores), David Walpole Sinnamon (Jim), Tenille McDermott (Laura), Glenn Shield (Brian), Mackenzie Hinnrichs (Sheila) and the playwright herself, Catherine McKernan Doris playing Joyce.
The artistic team is ably led by Katherine Shield (Director), with support from Assistant Director Marilyn Marsh-Booth, Costumier Ange Williams, Lighting Design by Amba Pummeroy with Set Design & Construction by Glenn Shield, Martin Doris and Robbie Esling. Newcomer Ten Jorgensen of InverTen is the Graphic Designer responsible for the stunning poster artwork, and international student Josie Danckaert will be working on sound.
Keep an eye on TLT’s Facebook and Insta for some sneak peaks and show goss.
Recent productions by Townsville Little Theatre have had sell out nights, so book early!
WORLD PREMIERE – OCTOBER 2025 – (7 pm nightly Wed-Sat plus TWO weekend matinee performances)
Wednesday 1 October 7.00 pm
Thursday 2 October 7.00 pm
Friday 3 October 7.00 pm
Saturday 4 October – TWO SHOWS – 2.00 pm and 7.00pm
Sunday 5 October 2.00 pm Matinee
Purchase tickets: The Moon’s Awake | North Australian Festival of Arts
Content Warning/Triggers: Strobe lighting, adult themes, coarse language, riot scenes, simulated gunfire, teen pregnancy.
Image: Playwright and actor Catherine McKernan Doris
Photography by Martin Hodgson
Poster artwork and graphic art by Ten Jorgensen and Glenn Shield