Tyler Redway
A NEW and original play based in the Limestone Coast which has been touring the country will make its way down to Mount Gambier at the end of this month.
Playwright Caleb Lewis said the stage production known as ‘Cathedral’ was centred around some of the Limestone Coast’s most noticeable landmarks.
Talking with The Border Watch, Mr Lewis revealed the origins of his inspiration behind the new performance.
He said the play was commissioned through the State Theatre Company South Australia and Country Arts SA after they wanted a performance which focused more on the Limestone Coast region.
“The commission happened back in 2016, initially it was going to be based in Port Lincoln but then Country Arts SA’s focus shifted to the Limestone Coast area,” Mr Lewis said.
“I was particularly interested in the Limestone Coast and the sinkholes dispersed all around the coast so it was the initial inspiration.”
Mr Lewis mentioned his inspiration also came from the experience he had as a child while on a trip from Melbourne to Adelaide.
Mr Lewis, his father and his younger sister stopped at Piccaninnie Ponds while they visited the region.
Mr Lewis’s father then told the kids he was going to dive into the ponds after he had recounted horror stories about the sinkholes.
“Because my father was a diver, he told us all about the ponds and took us there,” Mr Lewis said.
“He told us there had been several fatalities over the years while cave diving, particularly before all the rules and regulations had been put in place.
“He left us on the jetty to watch him dive under and we wondered if he would come back.”
Aside from his inspiration coming from a childhood experience, Mr Lewis found the Limestone Coast itself interesting because of how the cliffs are composed of layers of ancient sea life.
He also added the play mentions well-known locations in the area such as Brown’s Beach, Cape Northumberland and Racecourse Bay.
“Back in January, a team of us came to Mount Gambier and visited all of the locations mentioned in the play,” he said.
“I’ve been to the area before but it was just so the creative team could have a better idea of the land.”
‘Cathedral’ by Caleb Lewis will be featured at the Sir Robert Helpmann Theatre on May 30 beginning at 7pm, with a pre-show kicking off at 6.30pm.
