The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race has been brought to life by Pymble Players as their 2025 season finale, and it is an absolute delight. Written by Melanie Tait, the play was first performed in 2019 by Ensemble Theatre. Six years later, this uplifting story of female empowerment, resilience and community is as relevant as ever.
The story follows the lives of five women living in the small Australian town of Appleton as they prepare for the local show and one of its main events, the Potato Race. When recently returned local girl Penny Anderson finds out the prize money for the ladies’ event is significantly less than the men’s, she leads a charge for gender equality that divides the community.
Director Alexandra Pelvin has done a magnificent job staging this production. She has worked brilliantly with her team to highlight the global relevance of gender equity conversations through the lens of a charmingly familiar Australian small town. The team has perfectly represented the shifting perspectives, changing relationships and brave decisions that permeate and drive the story.
The set design, by Alexandra Pelvin and Ian Ackland, truly immerses us in the narrative. The three recurring locations are well designed to give us a glimpse into the life of the characters. I was delightfully surprised by how the set managed to transform for the final scenes. The moveable pieces transport us to other locations and time periods with ease and clarity.
The sound design, by Geoff Jones, combines radio reports, sound effects and familiar music to support these transitions. They also highlight how far these conversations have extended into the global community.
The cast perfectly capture the complex history, dynamics and emotions of the women who tell this story. Courtney Farrow is delightful to watch as Penny Anderson. She brings a passion and determination to make a difference, while challenging and uniting her community.
Christine Greenough plays the town matriarch Bev Armstrong powerfully, with a sternness that perfectly masks her underlying fear. Kate Mannix truly embodies the heart and warmth of the community in her portrayal of Barb Ling. It is lovely to watch her find her power and voice.
Sharni Ludowyk plays Nikki Armstrong with wit and cleverness, capturing the character’s sharp-tongue and brash characteristics tremendously. Moja Band rounds out the ensemble as Rania Hamid, reflecting beautifully a quiet bravery that we get to see grow louder and louder throughout the performance.
With a cast of only five, the connection between the actors, how they move around the space and around each other is vital to the story. And this connection is palpable in this production. Through the moments of tension and unity, it is clear how committed these performers are to the story and the support they have for each other as both players and characters.
Theatre is all about building connections between people. From the moment we enter the space, the commitment the Pymble Players team has to extending and supporting their community can be felt. The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race is a beautifully empowering production that highlights the power of community, on both a local and global scale, in affecting change.
The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race runs to 1 November at the Zenith Theatre, corner Mcintosh Street & Railway Street Chatswood NSW 2067.
Tickets: https://pymbleplayers.com.au/tickets
Website: https://pymbleplayers.com.au/the-appleton-ladies-potato-race
Socials:https://www.instagram.com/pymbleplayers/
Photo credits: Daniel Ferris
