Tangent Talk: Housework
Parliamentary privilege, party politics and parenting
Get the story behind the story with our Tangent Talk event at the State Library of South Australia. South Australian playwright Emily Steel blows open the doors of Parliament House to unlock some devilish and dangerous truths in this bold new black comedy, HOUSEWORK. Two of Australia’s greatest comic actresses take to the stage in this thrilling world premiere – Susie Youssef and Emily Taheny, with direction from Artistic Associate Shannon Rush. Sex scandals, betrayals, culture wars, the price of power, motherhood and Machiavellian manipulation – it’s all in a day’s work inside the House.
Before you see the show, join us for a drink and discussion about the themes of the show in “Parliamentary Privilege, Party Politics and Parenting”. We’re joined by an insightful panel, including, playwright Emily Steel, State MP for Adelaide Lucy Hood MP and former Chief of Staff to Bill Shorten Ryan Liddell. Hosted by The Guardian Senior Journalist Tory Shepherd.
Date: Monday, 20 January 2025
Time: 5.30pm for a 6.00pm start.
Location: Hetzel Lecture Theatre
Institute Building, State Library of South Australia
North Terrace, Adelaide 5000
Tickets: $10 including a wine from SC Pannell
Please contact marketing@statetheatrecompany.com.au if you have any questions.
Meet The Panel
Emily Steel
Emily Steel is an award-winning playwright and emerging screenwriter. Her stage plays include the AWGIE Award-winning EUPHORIA, produced by State Theatre Company SA and Country Arts SA and researched in regional communities, 19 WEEKS, which won the Jill Blewett Playwright’s Award, Best Theatre Award at the Adelaide Fringe and Audio AWGIE for her adaptation for BBC Radio 4, THE GARDEN and HOW NOT TO MAKE IT IN AMERICA for independent SA company Theatre Republic, and IMPERSONAL SPACE, developed with autistic ensemble Company AT and performed in the DreamBIG children’s festival. Her new play, HOUSEWORK, was developed with the support of a residency with the Assemblage Centre for Creative Arts at Flinders University.She was selected for the 2024 SBS Emerging Writers’ Incubator and spent the last year working with JOY Studios (fka KOJO Originals) as their Development Associate. She directed and produced a filmed version of 19 WEEKS, screened by Assemblage and UC San Diego and since used as part of university courses in genetic counselling and midwifery. She came up with the original concept and was a core writer for the Ruby Award-winning DECAMERON 2.0, produced by STCSA and ActNow Theatre, which put 100 new monologues on YouTube during the 2020 lockdown. She has participated in the Adelaide Film Festival Expand Lab, AFTRS Talent Camp at the South Australian Film Corporation, Spark TV writing workshop and AiF Untapped masterclasses. Emily is originally from Wales and now lives in Adelaide with her partner, two kids and a relentlessly sociable dog.
Lucy Hood MP
Lucy Hood MP was elected as the Member for Adelaide in March 2022 after a two-year campaign of community engagement. Lucy was raised in Naracoorte in the state’s south east and was the first in her family to go to university, moving to Adelaide to study Journalism. She later started her career at The Advertiser, as a cadet journalist, and went on to become Education Editor and Policy Desk Producer. Before entering politics as a candidate, Lucy was a media and policy adviser for former Premier Jay Weatherill; and more recently Director of Policy for SA Labor Leader and now Premier Peter Malinauskas MP. Lucy is Mum to Audrey, 8, and Ned, 5, and is raising them in the beautiful suburb of Prospect. As well as the local MP she is also an Authorised Marriage Celebrant. Lucy spent her childhood growing up in country SA, where community is in your DNA. Lucy believes that governments are elected to build stronger communities, and they do this by investing in community infrastructure that keeps people local, keeps people active and keeps people connected.
Ryan Liddell
Ryan has nearly 20 years’ experience across numerous senior political and communications roles, including as Chief of Staff to former Opposition Leader Bill Shorten, Senior Press Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister/Treasurer, and Press Secretary to a range of state and federal ministers. He’s played critical roles in numerous election campaigns and has driven progressive change through campaigns around a banking royal commission, marriage equality, protecting Medicare, penalty rates and renewable energy. Ryan lives in Adelaide with his partner Alicia and their daughter Ivy. He is a partner at Principle Advisory, and sits on the board of the Alannah and Madeline Foundation, the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (SA) and is regularly featured on ABC TV as a political commentator.
Tory Shepherd
Tory Shepherd is a senior journalist at Guardian Australia. She has appeared on various ABC radio and television shows and written for publications including Crikey, science magazine Cosmos and Gourmet Traveller. She was The Advertiser’s political editor, working in the Canberra press gallery during the Rudd/Gillard/Rudd years and beyond. Tory is also the author of On Freedom, a book about women with empty fruit bowls.