"The show is made up of true stories and experiences of young people in share-houses during Covid-19, from all over the world."

Meet Ruby Conolan Barrett, the Director of A Bed of Roses and the Artistic Director of Arbour Theatre Company. Ruby trained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London UK, and is passionate about bringing together young, local artists to tell stories that matter to them.

Image + cover image: Disapol Savetsila

Tell us about the show in 100 words or less

You're invited to the most Locked-Down Party of the Year!

Welcome to Rose Street, a share-house filled with passive aggressive post it notes, scattered Uber Eats bags, deep love and even deeper frustration. The best party of the year is being planned… that is, until lockdown is announced.

What do you do when you’re forced to exist with people you desperately want to escape?

An immersive, site-specific theatre show, A Bed of Roses allows you a peek behind closed doors at what people really do when the sh*t hits the fan.

Anywhere Festival takes place anywhere but a theatre. Tell us about your venue. What is it about your space that adds to your audience experience?

Set in a converted Queenslander, A Bed of Roses invites audience members into the infamous House Conspiracy in West End as though they are real guests at the party! The audience is then encouraged to follow the housemates around as they enter a world of lockdown mania- you will be able to crawl through the basement, sing in the kitchen and dance in the garden! An arty house-party in a real house converted into an art space? It’s perfect.

 What is your creative process like?

A Bed of Roses has been created in collaboration with a multitude of amazing local Brisbane artists. Starting as a brainchild of an idea last year during lockdown, the show is made up of true stories and experiences of young people in share-houses during Covid-19, from all over the world. Created by yours truly, devised by the actors and finally scripted by our playwright Disapol Savetsila, the show is made up of all of our stories. We hope you love it just as much as we have loved creating it.

Tell us your origin story. How did your company/show/collaboration start?

Arbour Theatre Company is a newly formed Brisbane-based independent theatre company  which burst onto the Brisbane scene in late 2020. Led by Co-Artistic Directors Ruby Conolan Barrett and Disapol Savetsila, we wanted to create vibrant, meaningful moments for the stage that matter to young people and local artists. Coming from a directing and playwrighting background, we felt we could facilitate the telling of stories that haven’t had the chance to be heard before, and use our experience and powers for good!

 Who is your perfect audience member? Who is going to LOVE this event?

Young people aged 18- 35 who have lived in share-houses that have gotten a little bit out of hand will deeply relate to this show, and we hope they will not only cringe at how #real it is, but also love it! A Bed of Roses has been inspired by the likes of Fleabag, Please Like Me and Spaced, so anyone who loves these shows will also love A Bed of Roses.

Is there anything else we simply MUST know about the show?

If you come 15 minutes early you will have the chance to catch some live music from the excellent Orlando Furious over a bevvie in the garden.

Find out more and see some great behind the scenes shots by following @arbourtheatrecompany on Instagram and Facebook.

A Bed of Roses takes place as part of Anywhere Festival on the 12-16 May at House Conspiracy, West End.