Entertainment
21 February, 2022
Theatre Group Present The World Premiere
A NEWLY adapted version of one of the Mareeba Theatre Group’s most beloved and popular play will be premiered to the world later this year after the playwright himself offered to adapt his script to suit their needs.
The Italian Australian wedding play will be premiered at the Cairns Italian Festival later this year, under the watchful eye of seasoned director Ida Portella.
Ms Portella has put on this wedding once before in 2014, adapting it to be the Italian Australian wedding instead of the initial Greek Australian wedding script.
After speaking with playwright Craig Wellington and sharing her ideas, Mr Wellington offered to rewrite the script free of charge.
“Ida rang me and said, ‘Is there a way to rewrite it so it’s an Italian Australian wedding rather than a Greek Australian wedding’ and that’s what I’m right in the middle of doing at the moment,” he said.
“This will be a world premiere because no one else has seen this script yet.
“I’m not some kind of world-famous playwright, I just write comedy for people when they need it but I have written comedy for many years.”
Ms Portella is excited to be working with Mr Wellington and feels honoured to be able to premier the new script at the festival.
“Working with the playwright is a first for me and I am so pleased that he agreed to do. It is a fabulous script and I am ecstatic to be able to direct it again,” she said.
“The wedding will premiere at the Inaugural Cairns Italian festival on July 29 this year, It will be comical of course with so many awesome characters that we can all relate to.
“This Aussie Italian wedding will be one not to miss, it will be fun entertaining and not to mention awesome 80’s music.”
Mr Wellington is even arranging to attend the festival in order to see his new play realised live on stage by Ms Portella and her talented team of actors.
