Very close and intensely personal emotions are the essence of a new play at the city's Shed 9, writes Sharu Delilkan.
Melissa Fergusson has kept a personal journal for 20 years but only lately decided to make her life story public in play form.
Motherlock is the based on 14 years
of experiences living in the UK and New Zealand, through four pregnancies to different British men. The play's sneak preview is in Auckland before its debut at the Melbourne Fringe Festival later this month.
The St Marys Bay resident says, "Both my daughters are at the age - 16 and 12 - where they either know their birth father or are interested in finding out about him, so I thought the play would be a good way to tell my story."
In the lead role is 23-year-old Virginia Frankovich (Fitz Bunny, The Young and Hungry Festival of New Theatre and The Vagina Monologues), dealing with the rollercoaster of experiences that led this woman to motherhood.
"This is the most challenging role I've had to date," says Frankovich. "I am really enjoying working with the playwright, who's also the director. How often do you actually get to ask the person you're playing what they were thinking at that time?"
To make the experience more authentic, the actress spent a weekend with Fergusson and her daughters at their home.
For privacy's sake, Fergusson has avoided using any names in the play. However, it does include actual letters written by the children's fathers to Fergusson, injecting Motherlock with raw sincerity.
Frankovich says reading those letters and looking at photos of Melissa taken during those years has helped to intensify the dialogue's authenticity.
Motherlock, Shed 9, 90 Wellesley St, Sept 17, 8pm. Booking essential. Contact: Kristina Hard, ph 021 054 7682.
