Castlemaine Table-Read  (Saturday 4 October 2025, Phee Theatre)

​Photographs by Fred Farquhar ( https://www.fredfarquhar.com/ )

As part of the project’s development phase, production company, Black Stitch, brought together a cohort of actors and creatives to read the full arc of Episodes 1–9, test character and emotional continuity, explore tonal balance, and generate integrated feedback through post-reading discussion. Professional actors and a live audience had the opportunity to experience the full nine-episode script across three reading blocks in a single day.

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The event ran from 9:30am to 4:30pm and was open to the public free of charge, with over 30 attendees across the day. The session concluded with a live feedback discussion. Data from both the cast and audience feedback sheets informed the next redraft of the television script..

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Purpose of the Table-Read

The table-read was designed to:

• assess character arcs across nine episodes

• test emotional consistency and narrative escalation

• refine pacing, tone, and ensemble rhythm

• evaluate representation of First Nations, CALD and LGBTQIA+ characters

• gather lived-experience regional insight

• identify structural or emotional adjustments for draft 8 - 9.

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Key Outcomes of the Table-Read

Emotional Continuity Across Episodes

Insights from the readers clarified several emotional sequences requiring tightening, especially for:

• Shaun

• Dayne

• Ginny

• Martin

 

Behavioural Clarity and Motivation

The ensemble identified:

• moments where character behaviour needed clearer motivation

• places where subtext could be strengthened

• opportunities to heighten relational tension or soften tonal shifts

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Tonal and Comedic Adjustment

Performances revealed:

• comedy beats requiring refinement

• places where humour undercut emotional stakes

• places where emotional rhythm needed lift or restraint

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Cultural and Regional Representation Accuracy

Feedback improved:

• representation of CALD and First Nations characters

• accuracy in regional behavioural logic

• grounding in lived emotional truth rather than stereotype

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