With Australia grappling with the realities of an ageing population, Green Room Award-winning playwright Irene Korsten is bringing her sharp wit and lived experience to the stage in Are You There? – a hilarious and poignant new work running at the Explosives Factory in St Kilda from 3–13 September.
Set in the chaotic foyer of Autumn Dale Village aged-care home, the play centres on Pia, the spirited and foul-mouthed ‘Director of First Impressions’, as she juggles her duties to keep the residents safe and entertained, while her own life quietly falls apart. Alongside her are Lauren, 90, who’s down to one question, and Colleen, 75, whose daily routine is ruled by her late mother.
“I feel that dementia and aged care is on our minds more than ever before,” says Korsten. “The emotional world that persists, despite cognitive decline, can be powerful and often underappreciated.”
Inspired by Korsten’s own time as a stand-up comic and carer for her parents, Are You There? blends gallows humour with touching humanity. With a cast led by Prisoner icon Jane Clifton, and direction by Rachel Baring, the show promises both laughs and reflection.
Presented by Wild Boar Theatre Company and part of the 2025 With Theatre Works program, tickets are on sale now via theatreworks.org.au.
