The anticipation and vibes were high at the Flight Path Theatre, in Marrickville, on Tuesday night. For such a little space, it sure does have a warmth about it, particularly with the crowd gathered for the opening night of RARA staged by Jezabel Productions. The show was created by Meg Denman, the 2026 recipient of the Katie Lees Fellowship, which supports a young female or female-identifying theatre maker. The fellowship honours Katie, who tragically died in 2021 from complications caused by the AstraZeneca vaccine. Katie was set to be the first actor back on stage at Flight Path Theatre following its Covid closure, presenting her own play, Temporary. A passionate theatre maker who loved comedy and making people laugh, Katie's legacy lives on through this fellowship and the emerging artists it supports. It's particularly fitting that Denman has chosen to write a play about chronic illness, explored over 60 minutes of pop bangers and witty, relatable dialogue between besties.
The production has a distinctly contemporary feel, combining movement, music, humour and more intimate moments. Director Saskia Faniis brings these elements together to create an energetic and visually engaging hour. Denman plays the lead (Elle) in her own work, taking us on a journey towards vulnerability. Her best friends and chronic illness angels are played by Caitlin Green (Zara) and Gabriella Oxley (Millie). We follow these professional dancers as they explore what it means to be yourself around your friends and how to truly look after each other. The piece swirls through time and place, flashing back to the past and visiting Ibiza.
Green and Oxley each play two characters, with costume changes and distinct characterisations making the transitions easy to follow. The set, designed by Daisy Hughes, is clever and reminds us that, for people living with chronic illness, bed is always calling. I loved the use of lighting (Julian Dunne) and sound design (Saskia Faniis) to signal shifts in scenes and moods.
The choreography by George Hoad was mwah, chef's kiss. It honestly could have been Beyoncé or Gaga on stage! Hairography was on fire. The crowd agreed, going wild for these dance breaks scattered throughout the play.
The work of producers Jessica Garnett and Izzy Azzopardi is also worth celebrating. Bringing an original work to life, particularly one combining theatre, dance and music, takes an enormous amount of collaboration. RARA showcases the creativity and commitment of the entire team, with its playful theatrical style making room for some more vulnerable subject matter.
The show has a powerful message at its heart, and while there are moments where I would have loved to spend a little longer getting to know the characters, RARA is an exciting new work with lots of potential to develop further. It's so great to see emerging theatre makers bringing original stories to the stage, and I'm excited to see where Denman goes next.
To book tickets to RARA, please visit https://www.flightpaththeatre.org/whats-on/katie-lees-fellowship-performance-2026.
