Donna Hughes Playwright

Synopsis:

In a small country town where urban legends thrive and secrets run deep, fourteen-year-old Lesley Pratchett is struggling to keep it together. A talented footballer, she has a shot at tryouts in the City — but the cost is far beyond her reach.

Lesley is filled with a rage she can’t quite control. She’s grappling with constant change: the loss of her beloved grandmother, her mum’s repeated disappearances and to make matters worse, Welfare is circling.

Backed by her fiercely loyal, thuggish friends, Lesley finds an easy target in Nix, the new kid. Nix is a relentless chatter box who gets on everyone’s nerves. Their clashes come to a head when Lesley’s hostility drives Nix to Wattle Lane—the one place no local would dare go. Wattle Lane is home to Mad Old Frank Fernando, the town’s feared recluse, shrouded in rumours and mystery.

Against all odds, Nix forms an unexpected bond with Frank. Through their growing friendship, Nix stumbles upon truths that could unravel the myths surrounding Frank—and expose secrets that will challenge everything Lesley thought she knew about her family, her town, and herself.

Development One: Selected for development by Australian Plays Transform and La Boite Theatre Company in Brisbane.