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Torch the Place
Presented by MTC as part of AsiaTOPA 2020, 8 February-21 March 2020, Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio.
Teresa’s mum finds it impossible to let anything go—from grudges to household objects. She thinks of her home as a museum full of irreplaceable treasures. But she’s not really a curator, she’s a hoarder, and her house is enough to give Marie Kondo heart palpitations. When her kids return home to celebrate her 60th birthday, she’s over the moon to have the family back together. But this isn’t a reunion. It’s an intervention.
Celebrated writer Benjamin Law is one of this country’s brightest literary stars. For his hysterically funny and moving stage premiere, Law employs his effortless self-deprecating wit to spark joy in the clutter and find truth in those crazy moments that bring families closer together.
Commissioned through MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program with the support of our Playwrights Giving Circle Donors, The Ian Potter Foundation, Naomi Milgrom Foundation, The Myer Foundation, Malcolm Robertson Foundation and The University of Melbourne.
Teresa’s mum finds it impossible to let anything go—from grudges to household objects. She thinks of her home as a museum full of irreplaceable treasures. But she’s not really a curator, she’s a hoarder, and her house is enough to give Marie Kondo heart palpitations. When her kids return home to celebrate her 60th birthday, she’s over the moon to have the family back together. But this isn’t a reunion. It’s an intervention.
Celebrated writer Benjamin Law is one of this country’s brightest literary stars. For his hysterically funny and moving stage premiere, Law employs his effortless self-deprecating wit to spark joy in the clutter and find truth in those crazy moments that bring families closer together.
Commissioned through MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program with the support of our Playwrights Giving Circle Donors, The Ian Potter Foundation, Naomi Milgrom Foundation, The Myer Foundation, Malcolm Robertson Foundation and The University of Melbourne.
128 pages, Paperback
Published February 8, 2020
9 people want to read
About the author
Benjamin Law
31 books246 followersBenjamin Law is a Brisbane-based freelance writer. He is a senior contributor to frankie magazine and has also written for The Monthly, The Courier Mail, Qweekend, Sunday Life, Cleo, Crikey, The Big Issue, New Matilda, Kill Your Darlings, ABC Unleashed and the Australian Associated Press.
His essays have been anthologised in Growing Up Asian in Australia, The Best Australian Essays 2008, The Best Australian Essays 2009 and the forthcoming Voracious: New Australian Food Writing.
The Family Law (2010) is his debut book, and is published by Black Inc. Books. A French edition will be published by Belfond in 2012. The TV rights have been sold to Matchbox Pictures.
He’s currently working on his second book, a collection of non-fiction looking at queer people and communities throughout Asia. It has the working title of Gaysia.
His essays have been anthologised in Growing Up Asian in Australia, The Best Australian Essays 2008, The Best Australian Essays 2009 and the forthcoming Voracious: New Australian Food Writing.
The Family Law (2010) is his debut book, and is published by Black Inc. Books. A French edition will be published by Belfond in 2012. The TV rights have been sold to Matchbox Pictures.
He’s currently working on his second book, a collection of non-fiction looking at queer people and communities throughout Asia. It has the working title of Gaysia.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
December 11, 2020
Really enjoyed reading this! I immediately felt like I knew and could relate to all the characters, and a lot of sensitive topics were wrangled in with humour and respect.
August 19, 2022
Oof this was way too close to home and semi-traumatic, and so if it is ever put on again, I’m definitely going to go see it.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews