In Conversation with Christine Davey | The Deplorables
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In this week's Backstage Blog, we spoke with Christine Davey, writer and director of The Deplorables, which opens in two weeks time at Theatre Works, bringing an end to a years-long Australian tour.
If they’re playing cricket, who is making the sandwiches? Written by Christine Davey and presented by award-winning regional theatre company – Skin of our Teeth Productions – this joyous production explores the first women’s cricket match in the country and what it means for all of us. A sharp, funny, and deeply human new work, The Deplorables turns the spotlight onto quiet rebellions, everyday courage, and the unexpected power of women who decide enough is enough.
Q: Welcome to Theatre Works! Where most productions coming through our doors are at a brand new beginning, this marks an endpoint for the incredible journey of The Deplorables. for those unaware, can you catch us up to where this show's been before now?
CHRISTINE: We started in 2025 with or world premiere in Bendigo. Since then we've headed to Geelong, Tasmania and Western Victoria. Bring on 2026 and we've performed at the Kyneton Bluestone Theatre, the Bellarine Arts Centre and a South West tour through Ararat, Portland, Warrnambool and Camperdown. We've been published through Australian Plays Transform and have been nominated for both the Vic and NSW Premiers' Literary Awards. yay. We are a proud regional and female-led company specialising in lost, forgotten or downright stolen histories.
We hope you'll enjoy the story of these fabulous women and their achievements and rage with us at their treatment. We are, quite literally, not here to make the sandwiches.
Q: How similar do you think the show is to what you first imagined? What's changed?
A: Goodness. The show has changed a lot over the last almost two years - cast changes, tone changes, even the script has changed since we began development way back in early 2025. It's a funny, upligting, thoughtful show that takes everyone on a roller coaster of emotions in 70 minutes.
Q: What will surprise audiences about this work?
CHRISTINE: Audiences are always surprised at the story itself, and the way in which we tell it - through music, laughter, larger than life theatricality - there is so much about the first two teams of women cricketers that we just don't know, so everything leads to glorious theatricality.
Q: What has been the most memorable moment in The Deplorables journey so far?
CHRISTINE: every moment is memorable, although the premiere in Bendigo was remarkable as many descendents of the original team members were at the peformances (no pressure on us to get it right) and they enjoyed it so much (phew). We want audiences to laugh, stamp their feet, sing along if they feel like it, and lean into a performance that is genuinely about engagement.
The Deplorables plays 19 - 29 August at Theatre Works.
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