‘Sainting Joan’ playing now!
Saint Peter’s Basilica is filled to the brim with spirits as preparation for the sainting begins. Nearly five hundred years after the English burned her at the stake, the French hero is getting officially recognised. Jealous kings and corrupt judges play devils advocate to Joan’s legacy, while the spirits of her friends and allies remember her courage, impact, and general bad-assery.
This impressive piece of new work written by VCA graduate, ABIGAIL BANISTER-JONES (also playing the lead role of Joan), is a jovial and somewhat educational look at the life and times of Joan of Arc. A significant person in history, I knew little of Joan before seeing this rock musical in St Kilda opening with a full audience!
A fire rock-musical production of original songs and dialogue engages the audience to feel transported to the canonisation of Joan after her actual death date. Will they or won’t they make Joan a saint? Should they or shoudn’t they? Ghosts of Joan’s time, including Joan herself, take us on the journey of poor peasant girl to a mighty leader saving France.
A cast of 8 talented Melbournians rock out to music with an impressive band of drums, guitar, bass and keyboard playing at the back of the stage in full view the entire show. At first, I thought that might be distracting but as there are no ‘scene’ changes you will quickly become involved in what is going on in front of you and just enjoy the music coming from the rear complementing the overall story perfectly.
Costuming is fantastic. A predominantly red, black and white colour scheme is used extremely well. The red sheer over Joan in her time of passing I thought was exceptionally done and how the actor underneath didn’t lose the fine fabric amongst a lot of movement was well rehearsed.
I absolutely loved the folding arms circling trio looking spooky with a complete change in their facial expressions to relate to the doom of Joan and how she does what she does explained by the threesome in words and song and facials was thoroughly entertainingly entrancing to watch. My favourite scene for sure.
The choreography is to be commended lots of very clever combinations and performed with precise spacing from everyone, big cheer!
The King is expertly played on all counts as is Archbishop (my favourite character overall), typical of the era are their accents and hierarchy displayed, and with some fast and extensive lines I really thought these two together were great fun particularly in the more comic moments. My friend I took along loved the General and as a singer herself noted some beautiful harmonies here too.
‘God is not French!’ had us all laughing along with a ton of other witty quotes and unexpected outbursts.
Bravo to the entire cast and creative team behind what I can see could become a sold out season.
Please do go and support this small theatre and its productions:
Playing 20-30 May at the Explosives Factory. Entry is via a laneway, upstairs and they offered bar drinks and snacks before the 80min show with no interval. The 80 minutes flew by!
WRITER/DIRECTOR – Abigail Banister-Jones
MUSIC DIRECTOR/ARRANGER – Lachlan Obst
CHOREOGRAPHER – Francesco Mandarino
COSTUME DESIGNER – Hannah McGlinchly
LIGHTING DESIGNER – Stuti Ghosh
STAGE MANAGER – Lowana van Dorssen
CO-PRODUCER – Janvi Sikand
CAST
JOAN OF ARC – Abigail Banister-Jones
KING CHARLES – Emerson Hansford
ISABELLE – Bek Schilling
ARCHBISHOP – Cassie Ogle
DEVIL’S ADVOCATE – James Colbourn-Keogh
GENERAL DUNOIS – Gemma Caruana
PRINCE LOUIS – Riley Street
ROBERT DE BAUDRICORT – Brittany Ng
BAND
KEYS – Lachlan Obst
GUITAR – Timothy Chivers
BASS – Lou Hogue
DRUMS – Victoria Mertonidis
To book tickets to Sainting Joan, please visit https://www.theatreworks.org.au/2026/sainting-joan.
