Darren Yap is the director of Diving for Pearls playing at Griffin Theatre, Kings Cross.

Katherine Thomson’s story about aspiration and reinvention is one of the great Australian plays. Set in Wollongong during the economic rationalism of the late ‘80s, Diving for Pearlsremains startlingly relevant—the political decisions of that time planted the seeds of divide we continue to witness between those with opportunity, and those without.

With the town she grew up in changing all around her, Barbara is determined to change with it. Dreaming of a way out, she sets her sights on landing a job at one of the new resorts popping up all over town. Meanwhile, her partner Den is having change forced upon him. The steelworks he’s worked at his whole life has been sold and Den must reinvent himself to survive. The arrival of Barbara’s daughter, Verge, just might be the thing that tips Barbara and Den over the edge.

Helpmann Award-winning actor, the great Ursula Yovich stars as Barbara, a character as significant in the history of Australian theatre as Willy Loman is in America’s.

“Katherine Thomson is one of the best writers in the country – it is a real honour to have her words back on the Stables stage.” – Lee Lewis