A bold and emotionally resonant new Australian play, threadbare, will premiere this July at St Martins Youth Arts Centre, led by a powerhouse team of young theatre professionals already establishing themselves in major productions nationwide.
Written by multidisciplinary artist Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth (MTC’s What If Only, When the Light Leaves), threadbare is a moving exploration of dementia and the complexities of family.
At its heart lies the story of a fractured relationship between grandparent and grandchild – one shaped by memory, identity, and the struggle to hold onto love when everything else is slipping away.
Sasha is only just beginning to understand who they are, carrying a quiet hope that one day they might tell their grandmother, Elaine. But dementia has begun to blur Elaine’s memories – fracturing the past and clouding her sense of the present.
What follows is a delicate and powerful portrait of two souls reaching for each other through the fog of memory – where identity, timing, and love don’t always align.
“threadbare presents a reality many young people face – when a loved one forgets who you are, or remembers a version of you that no longer exists,” says Parrish-Chynoweth. “It’s about grief, reconciliation, and the ties that hold us together, even as they fray.”
The production marks the directorial debut of acclaimed actor Manali Datar (Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, Fangirls, The Wrong Gods), who leads a cast featuring Blake Appelqvist (& Juliet, Frozen), Sarah Fitzgerald (MTC’s SLAP. BANG. KISS), Matisse Laida (creator of Braided podcast), Rebecca Morton, and Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth in the central role of Sasha.
threadbare
Irene Mitchell Studio – St Martins Youth Arts Centre, 28 St Martins Lane, South Yarra
Season: 15 – 19 July 2025
Bookings: www.trybooking.com
Image: Tomas Parrish-Chynoweth and Rebecca Morton to star in threadbare (supplied)