Red Silk (2011)

Anne Sexton was a confessional poet, a friend and colleague of Sylvia Plath and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize. She put words to the thoughts and actions of the early 1960s feminists.

Martin, her first psychiatrist, diagnosed her as depressed. He suggested that she use writing and medication as a cure. When Martin engaged another psychiatrist to treat her in his absence, a bizarre and dangerous triangle was created.

The world premiere in 2011 is detailed below. Since then there may have been the broadcast of a radio on Radio Fremantle. I wrote to the station for confirmation, but they did not deign to reply. If the recording exists, it is likely to have Solanje [sic] Burns as Anne Sexton, and James Hagan as the older of the two shrinks.

In 2019 the play is being filmed with the same cast as the radio version.

Anne Sexton >

World Premiere 2011

Anne: Rosalind Hammond
Martin: Luke Hewitt
Ted: Dan Luxton
writer: Lois Achimovich
dramaturg: Pippa Williamson
director: Aarne Neeme
design: Lawrie Cullen-Tait
produced by Red Silk Productions and Renee Newman-Storen
The Blue Room, James St, Northbridge, 13-31 March 2011
Previews 13-14 March
First night Tuesday 15 March
Tuesday to Saturday 7.00 pm, 2 hours with interval

Roz Hammond (Anne)

Luke Hewitt (Martin)

Dan Luxton (Ted)

Craig Dalglish interview with the director
Courtney J. Pascoe review at Aussie Theatre
David Zampatti review
Nerida Dickinson review in artsHub
Promotional showreel on youtube