All the Bells and Whistles

In the silence between Mother and Father rests a splinter, slowly needling distortion and doubt, in the aftermath of their missing child being returned. As the second last production of the 2019 HotHouse Theatre season, Splinter by Hilary Bell softly strangles with an undulating tension, we don’t realise we are in the grips of until the end.

HotHouse Theatre is delighted to bring Griffin Theatre’s Splinter as a direct transfer from the premier season in Sydney, straight to the Hume Bank Butter Factory Theatre, Wodonga from October 15 to 19. The Bell family are no strangers to bringing great theatre works to this region.

However, internationally acclaimed playwright Hilary Bell (Wolf Lullaby), and acclaimed actor, Lucy Bell (Rake, Home & Away, Place to Call Home, Love Child, All Saints), have emerged as powerhouse artists in their own right. Reuniting to work on this new production, Hilary and Lucy’s relationship as sisters brings a special alchemy to the interpretation of the Mother character. Having made theatre together since they were children, Lucy inherently understands Hilary and what she is trying to achieve.

Lucy Bell says, “I find it truly terrifying. I don’t read horror and I don’t watch horror films. But I do love being deeply shaken and being asked to look at my fears, and this play does that for me.”

The powerful portrayal of the Mother is matched equally by the might of acclaimed music theatre star, Simon Gleeson (Les Miserables, East Enders, Love Never Dies) as the Father and this dynamic team is raised to brilliance by Griffin Theatre’s Artistic Director, Lee Lewis (Rice) to create a chilling night in the theatre.

“It holds you in its thrall” - Jo Liston, The Sunday Telegraph “Bell is brittle and beautiful…Gleeson is more of a dark force, snapping from hope to fear… Together, they braid together the halting, shifting words in a seamless, pacey crescendo of suspense ★★★★ - Sydney Morning Herald HotHouse Theatre is Albury Wodonga’s leading performing arts company programming Australian stories for local stages.

To get tickets, head to hothousetheatre.com.au