Fly Girl
Title: Fly Girl
Authors: Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore
Publisher: Currency Press with The Ensemble Theatre
Fly Girl was commissioned through the support of Ensemble's Commissioner's Circle and was first produced by Ensemble Theatre. Published by Currency Press with The Ensemble Theatre.
Shortlist: Drama
It’s the late 70s and the Australian Aviation Industry is a boy’s club. The only job women are allowed involves wearing heels, lighting smokes and serving nuts. Deborah Lawrie’s got the chops to fly the big jets, but Reg Ansett won’t let her.
From the comedic geniuses who brought you Unqualified and Still Unqualified, Genevieve Hegney and Catherine Moore use their trademark humour to unpack the absurd obstacles faced by a trailblazing aviatrix who refused to be grounded. Inspired by a true story, Fly Girl embarks on Deborah’s turbulent journey to becoming Australia’s first female commercial airline pilot.
Fasten your seat belts for a soaring celebration of one woman’s relentless fight to achieve her dreams. Let Fly Girl fly!
This story is based on actual events. However certain details, characters, and timelines have been changed for dramatic purposes and certain characters may be composites or entirely fictitious.
Judges’ Report
Hilarious, interesting and clever, this entertaining play, based on a real story, takes us back to a ‘breaking the glass ceiling’ moment in the 1970s, when would-be pilot Deborah Lawrie applies to become an Ansett Airlines' first female pilot – over Reg Ansett’s dead body. It uses an ensemble of five actors to flesh out more than 40 characters to tell a unique and tautly written story of our recent past, allowing audiences to reflect on how far we’ve come.
Extract
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About the Authors
Genevieve Hegney
Catherine Moore
VPLA book photography by Shannyn Higgins
The Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards are proudly supported by the Victorian Government.
