The Lark

8 July - 12 July, 2026

The Lark

From the creators of the critically acclaimed Mother (★★★★★) comes The Lark.

 

Noni Hazlehurst, beloved star of stage and screen, takes centre stage in this new work written by Daniel Keene and directed by Matt Scholten.

 

Rose Grey is saying her final goodbye to The Lark, a small inner-city pub in Melbourne. It’s been closed for six months and will be demolished as the suburb gentrifies. But for Rose, now in her seventies, this derelict building is her whole life.

 

She’s lived here since she was a child, finally taking over from her father as he grew old. Her memories, both bitter and sweet, bind her to The Lark. Trapped in the past, she fears that The Lark might hold her forever in suspension. Now she wants to escape from this cycle of endless return and wrench herself free.

 

With rave reviews on its 2025 world premiere in Melbourne, you won’t want to miss Noni Hazlehurst's breathtaking performance. A powerful and moving meditation on life, death and change.

 

Originally commissioned and produced by Arts Centre Melbourne and Hey Dowling.

 

Auslan Interpreted Performance – Sat 11 Jul, 2:00pm

Cast

Daniel Keene

Daniel Keene – Writer

Daniel has written for the theatre since 1979. He has won the Victorian Premier’s Literary Award for Drama twice, the NSW Premier’s Literary Award for Drama three times, the Adelaide Festival Award for Literature, the Wal Cherry Play of the Year Award, the Sumner Locke Elliot Prize (New York), the Queensland Premier’s Literary Award and the Sydney Myer Performing Arts Award. He has also been awarded the Kenneth Myer Medallion for the Performing Arts for his contribution to Australian theatre. His work has been presented at the Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide International Arts Festivals and at Melbourne Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company. Since 2000 over 80 productions of his work have been presented in Europe, predominantly in France. In 2016 Daniel was appointed to the rank of Chevalier de I’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French Ministry of Culture.

Matt Scholten

Matt Scholten

Matt is a director, producer, writer, and lecturer and is the Artistic Director for award-winning, prolific independent theatre company If Theatre. Matt is a graduate of the Victorian College of the Arts and the University of Melbourne and has directed for Melbourne Theatre Company, La Mama Theatre, Belvoir Street Theatre, Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Queensland Theatre, JUTE, Playlab, TheatreWorks, Tasmanian Theatre Company and many others. Matt’s theatre work has been nominated for two Helpmann Awards, four Green Room Awards, the Australian Performing Arts Centre Association’s Drover Award, and If Theatre won the 2015 Drama Victoria Award for Best Production for Mother, and their co-production of The Campaign was nominated for four Tasmanian Theatre Awards, winning one. Matt’s debut short film Belonging, based on the play, won the Melbourne Queer Film Festival award for Best Documentary. He has taught at the VCA, QUT, USQ, Griffith and Melbourne Universities. Matt is currently producing, writing and developing a series of creative projects for theatre, film and television.

Noni Hazlehurst

Noni Hazlehurst

Noni is one of Australia’s favourite and most respected actors and presenters. The celebrated film, theatre and television actor, beloved Playschool presenter, and host of Every Family Has a Secret and Better Homes and Gardens, has undoubtedly one of the most impressive and wide-ranging career portfolios in the business. On stage, as well as countless other appearances for the STC and MTC, she has performed Mother since 2015, touring the east coast and in seasons at Belvoir St in Sydney, HOTA on the Gold Coast, QPAC in Brisbane, and Arts Centre Melbourne (2024). She was awarded Best Actress at the Matilda Awards for Mother in 2018. Other recent credits include the feature films June Again, Ladies in Black, Truth and Sting, and the television series A Place to Call Home, The End, One Night, and Upright. In 2016, she was the second woman to be inducted into the Logies Hall of Fame. Among her many awards, she has won two Critics’ Circle Best Actress Awards, four AFI Awards - Best Supporting Actress for Little Fish and Waiting At The Royal, and Best Actress Awards for Fran and Monkey Grip, two Logies - Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-series for Waterfront and Best Supporting Actress in a Mini-series for Ride On Stranger. In 1995 Noni received an Order of Australia, and in 2007 she was bestowed a PhD honoris by her alma mater, Flinders University.

Credits

Credits: Rose Grey: Noni Hazlehurst Writer: Daniel Keene Director: Matt Scholten Sound Designer: Darius Kedros Lighting Designer: Richard Vabre Set, Props & Costume Designer: Emily Barrie Production Manager: Nate Evers Stage Manager: Vivienne Poznanski Hey Dowling Producers: John Glenn & Peta Spurling-Brown

Reviews

  • “Hazlehurst’s portrayal of Rose is nothing short of a tour de force”… “Keene’s exquisite writing…is an incredibly moving exploration of life moving on after death” - Matt Bell, Standing Inn-ovation
  • “Noni Hazlehurst delivers a world class performance” - Alex First, The Blurb

  • “Theatre in its purest form”...“The Lark is…delivered by one of the greatest performers Australia has ever seen” - Jesse Chaffey, scenstr

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Location

135 Bundall Rd, Surfers Paradise, QLD 4217

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