Australian actress Sapidah Kian is making her post-COVID return to theatre next week, with the arrival of ‘The Appleton Ladies Potato Race’ at Riverside Theatre in Parramatta.
Although working part-time as a teacher at the Victorian College of the Arts at the University of Melbourne was able to carry her through the long 2020 lockdown, she lost a lot of work.
“I also work as a dramaturg and as a director as well, in theatre, so I definitely had three jobs cancelled … it took a little while for them to get started again,” she said.
“I am really looking forward to getting back into a room with a group of actors … and the creative team as well – they’re a great group of people.
“I really appreciate the digital space but being in a room with people is something else,” she laughed.
Sapidah is returning to the production, having starred in the same role of Rania in the original 2019 production of the show. In fact, the entire cast and creative team behind the 2019 run are returning for the tour this year.
“It’s not very often in theatre that I get to play a role twice, so I have really been enjoying thinking about that character and where she’s at,” Sapidah said.
Rania, a Syrian refugee, is an outsider in her new hometown of Appleton, where she is working to fit in and be accepted by the regimented, traditional members of the town.
“After the events of the last year, I think I view her a little bit differently, particularly in regard to remoteness and isolation,” Sapidah said.
“I think it’s definitely re-fitting my understanding of that experience, having been in isolation in Melbourne.”
Most of the characters in the play are contending with the traditions of Appleton, with the lead character Penny returning to her hometown and becoming aware of the disparity in the prize money between the men’s and women’s annual potato race, taking place at the Appleton Show.
“They’re all different women with different experiences … they’re all kind of trying to find ways to really relate with one another,” Sapidah said.
However, Sapidah’s other favourite theme of the play is humour, and she’s expecting big laughs out of the audience when the play opens.
“It’s a very funny play … I think that’s what makes it even more heart-opening as a play,” she said.
‘The Appleton Ladies Potato Race’ will play at Parramatta’s Riverside Theatre from Wednesday, May 5 until Saturday, May 8. Tickets begin at $41. For more information and purchase tickets, visit http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au/show/appletonladies.
Troy Dodds is Parra News' Managing Editor and Breaking News Reporter. He has more than 20 years experience as a journalist, working with some of Australia’s leading media organisations. In 2023, he was named Editor of the Year at the Mumbrella Publish Awards.