The Wolves Theatre Company's Programme

Marooned was initially rehearsed in a living room, and from its opening night in a small theatre in Prahran Marooned has been warmly accepted. It has since toured regional Victoria where it has attracted standing ovations and a loyal following.

In 2019 The MTC invited The Wolves to stage it in one of their theatres, what followed was a succession of country towns buying the play before performances before The Australian Army firstly at the Vic Barracks in St Kilda and then the Chief of Army inviting us to Canberra to perform before the COA and the Chain of Command.

In 2022 Marooned was used under the direction of British Director Lindsay Posner for a Conference of Psychotherapists in the UK. It was supported by MIND UK and other mental Health organisations.

It has been called a revolution in suicide prevention by a top army psychologist and has also attracted the backing of a former Australian of the year, Simon McKeon.

But the real gift of the play is the conversation afterwards. People often hang around for well over an hour wanting to talk warmly and tearily and openly about suicide. Toured town to town we believe this play has the power, the empathy and resilient humour to effectively join in the growing attack on the stubborn silence. We really do believe this because we’ve seen the reactions in the over 80 productions to date.

I have decided to get Marooned back on the road. Eventually I would like to make it into a feature film. As a film it could reach a far wider audience which in turn will be able to do more good.  Producer Rohana Hayes

                                           Ambassadors for Marooned

  Marooned is such a powerful tool it sells itself as it has proven over and over.

                   We have now got The Male Hug as partners with the play.

If you would like to partner with Marooned, or if you would like to discuss having Marooned come to your town, please email us at thewolvestheatre@gmail.com

If you would like to read our prospectus for the film here is the link.

Marooned The Film prospectus.pdf

If you are interested in donating or investing in Marooned the film, here is the link   https://chuffed.org/project/96290-filming-a-suicide-prevention-film

 

Writer Michael Gray Griffith

 

Michael is a prolific writer with a unique voice. He has written several plays.

Prior to the world stopping his play The Shadows and the Hues was set to be Directed by Bruce Bersford who said of his writing. "While I can see the influences of Pinter, this is not Pinter. This is an original voice."

 

"Michael Gray Griffith has an extraordinary gift as a writer, together with actor/Producer Rohana Hayes they are creating, some of the most poignant, exciting, funny scripts I have read in a long time" ~Amanda Muggleton

"Michael shits out plays like Richard Rodgers shat out tunes”.

~John Wood

“Michael is an outstanding playwright. He has a great gift in creating uneasy ripples under everyday events and conversation, placing them with a strong ambience. His talent is matched only by his

compassion.”

Aarne Neeme Director

 

Marooned was written after the suicide of an actor friend Guy May. This play is dedicated to Guy.

 

 

Producer Rohana Hayes 

I have been Producing plays with Michael Gray Griffith as The Wolves Theatre Company since 2015. Unfortunately, we had to put the Company on pause for a couple of years, (we all know why!) but with the problems in society increasing and suicide especially I have decided to re-ignite what greatness we were doing.

With no funding and often challenging time frames and unexpected occurrences that happen with independent theatre instead of being fazed I try to focus on and see the end vision. This version of Marooned has not been without its obstacles but with this joyous team and this beautiful script I believe we have created something very powerful.

 

 

CAST

Chris Connelly plays 1620

Chris Has worked extensively in Stage, Television and Film. MTC productions include Happy

Ending, After Shocks (Green Room award for best ensemble acting), Pax Americana, The

Caretaker, Never in My Lifetime, A Fortunate Life and Wait Until Dark. Other theatre credits

include: When the rain stops falling, Barassi (Ron Barassi) Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf,

Neil Labute’s In A Forest Dark and Deep, Bouncers, Hotel Sorrento, David Williamson’s Face to Face and The Club (2007), Jenny Kemp’s Kitten Australian tour of West Side Story. For Red Stitch: Fury, The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later and Harvest. Chris’ solo shows include The Dream of a Ridiculous Man (Playbox Theatre, Edinburgh, Covent Garden). Television credits

include Deadline Gallipoli, Bed of Roses, Stingers, Blue Heelers, Good Guys Bad Guys,

Neighbours and The Adventures of Lano and Woodley. His film credits include John Doe,

Michael Rymer’s Face To Face, Queen of the Damned, Angel Baby, Blue Sky Blood Moon

and Unfinished Business. Chris has also collaborated with refugees and people from developing countries and was the co-founder of the Maya Shakti drama school/company in Sri Lanka.

 

 

 

Darren Mort plays 379

Darren trained at the College of the Arts and has been acting for many years. He is drawn to the theatre and has performed in many shows including more recently The Wrong Horse, The Memory of Water, Desire Under the Elms, Away and Mud N’Blood. Darren has also appeared in musical theatre including the Full Monty, Into the Woods, Pippin, Chess, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and many others. He has also had guest roles on Neighbours, Blue Heelers, City Homicide, Lano & Woodley, a regular role on Surprise Surprise and more recently he has appeared in Warnie. Darren has his own production company and is a co-founder of a children’s charity, TO BE LOVED NETWORK. His film TOMMY has been an international success. He has just had his first novel, ISLA’S SONG published. Darren is honoured to appear as 379 in Marooned.

 

Fin Borland Zammit 134

Is a newcomer to this role and a dynamic young actor. Recent credits include Taylor in Adrifting which was recently performed as a reading. Fin excelled in theatre studies as part of his VCE and got a high achievement as part of a cert 3 at his school. He studied at the Lee Strasberg Institute for a summer school in New York when he was 18 and was labelled a standout. Fin is a passionate and an excellent actor. This is his return to the stage. He is also very interested in film making.

 

Rohana Hayes plays 786

Rohana first started performing in London many years ago with performances in numerous plays including The Three Sisters, The Maids and various physical theatre, dance theatre projects. She came to Australia 25 years ago to get warm and ended up in Melbourne where she met Michael who wrote her a one woman play Decoupage Skin. Together they worked on many projects before forming The Wolves TC in 2015 where they produced Michael’s plays. Rohana has performed in several performances of Marooned, as well as The Magnolia Tree, ( La Mama and RAV funded Tour) The Seagull King an earlier version of Adrifting and the recent Adrifting where she played a different role to the initial adrifting .

She has also acted in both short and feature films in London and Australia along with small TV roles including Please like me. Picnic at Hanging Rock and more.   

   

 

Thank you to the following.

 

A huge THANK YOU to Ela Rose Studios for believing in the play.

 

The Male Hug for their ongoing support and in getting behind this play.

Tracy Gilson, for her continuous support and promotion.

Charles Kovess from TNT Radio

 

Rohana Hayes

Producer

Wolvestheatre.com

 

  

If you or someone you know is struggling

Crisis support can be found at Lifeline ( 131114)

Suicide Call Back service 1300 659 467

Beyond Blue 1300 224636