I am currently involved in rehearsals for a monodrama-style performance of “Crossing the Quince“, a play that will be presented at the Rex Cramphorn Studio at Sydney University as part of a research practice. This opportunity represents my third Artist in Residency project at the university and my initial exploration into the Monodrama style. This play is a Practice Led Research Project, with the objective of making noteworthy cross-disciplinary findings. The performance is intended to have a broad appeal as a bilingual play, and the discoveries from this project will be shared at conferences and in published works at Stanislavsky Studies journal published by Routledge.
Crossing the Quince, new Australian play by Noelle Janaszewska, serves as a poignant portrayal of the indomitable human spirit’s capacity for resistance and resilience. The play delves into the harrowing impact of war on the everyday lives of ordinary individuals, where the lines between fact and fiction are often manipulated for political agendas. It also sheds light on the challenges faced by scientists whose research conflicted with Soviet orthodoxy.
The narrative of “Crossing the Quince” revolves around the conclusion of the Siege of Leningrad, a gruelling 872-day blockade that stands as the longest and most destructive siege in history yet. Through its storytelling, the play prompts contemplation on timeless inquiries: What defines cowardice in the face of imminent danger? How do notions of bravery, honour, and betrayal intertwine in times of crisis? Can the smallest decisions determine life or death? And ultimately — is survival a triumph or a tragedy, showcasing the remarkable resilience of the human spirit?
My second project (in pre-production) entails the creation of a short film titled “Gobbles, Gobbles“, in which I portray a Jewish Hungarian woman who harbours painful memories of her childhood during the Nazi occupation of Budapest and heals her childhood memory by interacting with her Australian granddaughter.
The third project is a radio-poetry reading. My empathy for the struggles of war survivors is deeply rooted in the compelling images emerging from the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Recently I have recorded the poetry reading as a pilot radio program for ABC National, the poems of war from different times of humanity.
Current Projects Gallery
