BRISBANE Twelfth Night Theatre’s owner-manager Gail Wiltshire has been inspired by a Sister of Mercy to present Australia’s first play on Blessed Mary MacKillop.
A giant billboard bearing the Josephite co-founder’s image in front of the Bowen Hills theatre is concrete evidence of Ms Wiltshire’s dedication to the project.
The theatre owner’s seemingly miraculous recovery from two different forms of potentially fatal cancer is a further reason for her decision to present a stage version of Mary MacKillop’s life story.
“I certainly have no difficulty in believing in the concept of miracles after these events,” she said.
“On both occasions – once when I had breast cancer and the other time when I had peritoneal cancer – I was given six months to live.
“In each case I had deadly grade-three tumours – yet 14 years later here I am.
“I’ve had first-hand experience of the importance of faith.”
However, a Mercy Sister who taught Ms Wiltshire as a child has provided the greatest motivation to present At the Centre of Light The Mary MacKillop Story.
“Sister Mary Bartholomew was my teacher at Boonah where I grew up,” she said.
“Sister Mary told me I could accomplish anything in life I set out to, and that I was here on earth for a purpose.
“She was such an inspiring leader and mentor and had such a love and knowledge of music and drama, I thrived.”
Certainly Sr Mary Bartholomew must have been a good teacher.
While still a teenager Ms Wiltshire achieved her AMusA (Associate diploma in Music, Australia) for piano.
Several years later she was the first Australian examiner for London’s Trinity College of Music for Speech and Drama.
Ms Wiltshire firmly believes it was these experiences that made her so open to staging a play on Mary MacKillop.
“Also, when you think of it, her story is something that goes beyond denominations – she’s made a remarkable contribution to this country, particularly to the education of the underprivileged.
“So I got really excited when I heard Australia was going to get its first saint.
“We have sporting heroes, celebrities that become famous by roaming around half-dressed – why not a spiritual hero for our nation?”
About a year back, the play was workshopped in Melbourne after script approval by representatives of the Josephite order.
A promotional flyer quotes the Queensland Josephites provincial leader Sr Moya Campbell as applauding Twelfth Night Theatre for bringing their co-founder’s story to stage.
Mary MacKillop will be played by Carolyn Bock, from Neighbours and City Homicide, and Fr Julian Tenison Woods is played by Peter Stratford, of Blue Heelers, Prisoner and Cop Shop.
Plans are under consideration to tour the play nationally.
A percentage of the play’s gross earnings will go to the Josephites and Catholic Mission.
Ms Wiltshire said the play would open on August 18 and run for about three weeks.
