SYN Media

A Room of One’s Own is an extended essay written by Virginia Woolf. It is based on a series of lectures Woolf gave at two women’s colleges at Cambridge University in 1928. The lectures employ a fictional narrator and narrative and they explore the idea of ‘women and fiction’. It argues space for women writers, both figuratively and literally, in the world of literature that is often dominated by men.

 Sentient Theatre’s inaugural performance of A Room of One’s Own is directed by, and translated and to stage, by Peta Hanranhan. Virginia Woolf’s essay was beautifully bought to the stage in this production performed by Anna Kennedy, Jackson Trickett, Carolyn Bock and Marissa O’Reilly

The ideas and arguments were successfully portrayed and it was amazing to see how relevant Virginia Woolf’s writings are still today. However, I felt it often delved too deeply into the intellectual and the academic in an attempt to make it more accessible to people unfamiliar with the ideas and arguments of Woolf’s work.

It was extremely wordy, visually quite still and unchanging, and I often found myself drifting off into my own thoughts. I would have loved to see a change in mood and energy in this piece to keep the audience drawn into the world of the play.

Overall this play was very thought provoking and explored a very beautiful and important text.  

A Room of One’s Own is showing at La Mama Court House in Carlton until May 8th.

Review written by Ebony Beaton

Review read aloud by Janet Kelso