When John Doyle’s play Vere (Faith) was announced as part of
Sydney Theatre Company’s 2013 season, I leapt at the chance to become
acquainted with director Sarah
Goodes’ work. I had heard positive reviews from her previous productions at
STC – Anthony Neilson’s Edward Gant's Amazing
Feats of Loneliness in 2011,
and Hilary
Bell’s The Splinter in 2012 – so although
I had been unable to see both those productions, I knew of her work’s
reputation as being generous-spirited, inquisitive, and compassionate pieces of
theatre.
Since 2013, I’ve had the pleasure to see
four of her productions, with a fifth – Orlando
– about to open. Following the end of Battle
of Waterloo’s run, I sat down with Goodes for a discussion about her
work as an independent theatre-maker and as a Resident Director at STC, the
importance of new work, the role of a director, and the seriousness of playing.
