WESTERN WEEKENDER: The Price is Right for Talented Kate
This article was originally written by Erin Christie and published in the print edition of the Western Weekender on 5 February 2021.
St Clair actress Kate Jirelle has been waiting a long time to bring Rosie Price, one of the lead characters from Andrew Bovell’s play Things I Know To Be True, to the Pavilion Theatre stage.
About a year ago, as final rehearsals were taking place, the team behind the play received the news that local theatres would be shutting due to COVID-19 restrictions, and their production would be postponed, making this week’s premiere about 18 months in the making.
“It’s been interesting because, especially with community theatre, you don’t often get the chance to sit with a character for that long,” Kate told the Weekender.
The wait has given Kate time to really connect to the role of Rosie Price, the youngest member of the Price family, who are the focus of the play.
Returning from an eventful trip to Europe with an ongoing zeal for life, 19-year-old Rosie carries a sense of innocence and naivete that Kate felt she could connect to.
“When I first read this script, it was one of those feelings of ‘I just have to play this character’,” Kate said.
“I remember when I was 18 and going out into the world, and you have all these expectations of what life is going to be … and then it often doesn’t always turn out the way you thought.
“I’m also the youngest in my family, and I get that feeling of wanting to live up to your parent’s expectations, but also realising that you might not, and your dreams might be different to the ones that your parents have for you.”
Things I Know To Be True follows Bob and Fran Price, and their four children, who all challenge their parents’ ideals and expectations in different ways.
They are brought to life in this production by the Castle Hill Players.
Following the end of her run in Things I Know To Be True, Kate will be moving on to the role of Pollie in Faulty Tales, a dinner-theatre production taking place at The Palais Royale in Katoomba this July.
Between gigs, Kate runs her own production company, Blue Sparrow Entertainment, which keeps her constantly writing and working on her own films and smaller series.
Things I Know to Be True is playing at the Castle Hill Pavilion Theatre from Friday, February 5 until Saturday, February 27. All tickets $25. For bookings, visit www.paviliontheatre.org.au or call 9634 2929