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Couple’s stage play juggles life and art
By Kerri-Anne Mesner
18th March 2008 11:05:02 AM
Working together … Peter Houghton and Anne Browning, at the Malthouse Theatre, bring their own experiences to the stage. Picture: MATHIAS HENG.
THE ANTICS of a suburban wife trying to juggle a career and family forms the basis of a North Sunshine couple’s production that opens at the Malthouse Theatre tonight.
Theatre couple Peter Houghton and Anne Browning have created the production, The China Incident, from their own lives.
It was written by Peter, who also directs, and is performed by Anne.
The comic monologue tells the story of a modern-day mother trying to maintain a career in the political world while coping with her love life and her children’s lives.
The China Incident is one of many productions Mr Houghton and Ms Browning have created together, with the first, The Pitch, being based around events in Mr Houghton’s life – the antics of a film maker trying to get his idea onto the big screen.
“This (The China Incident) is very much inspired by politics – life really,” Mr Houghton said. “It jokes about the juggling housewife.”
He said that while their productions had been a bit autobiographical, they tried to hide their own lives in the story lines.
The couple moved to the western suburbs about five years ago to raise their young family – a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter and four-year-old son – while trying to make a living in the theatrical world.
Peter said the decision to move from their rented flat in Prahran to North Sunshine was mostly to do with affordability and closeness to the city.
Ms Browning said the couple had decided to work together because it made logistical sense.
They were able to work anywhere at any time – at home or in the theatre.
“The bad side is you bring your work home,” Mr Houghton said.
The couple, who have been doing some renovation work to their home in their spare time, plan to stay in North Sunshine for years to come and to do some theatrical and directing work in the community.
“I haven’t written anything about that area (North Sunshine and the western suburbs). Maybe I should write Maribyrnong the Musical,” he said.
The China Incident opens at the Malthouse Theatre, Sturt St, Southbank, tonight and will run until 6 April. Tickets cost from $15 to $30, depending on the session time, and tickets can be booked by phoning 9685 5111 or online at www.malthousetheatre.com.au.
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