A coming-of-age story set in an Australian country town, rising star Ashleigh Cummings ('Puberty Blues') makes her La Boite debut in this heartfelt ode to the resilience of the young – 'Samson'.
Essie, Beth and Sid are on the cusp of adulthood at the arse-end of the world. Together in a small Queensland town they laugh, sunbathe, fight, dream and pray for some kind of future that they can’t quite picture. But when the accidental death of a friend tears apart all their assumptions about loyalty, love and life, and a new kid comes to town with his own secrets and baggage, their fragile equilibrium faces a fresh test. Barely-healed wounds are reopened, new allegiances are formed and, finally, new futures become possible.
La Boite’s previous Playwright-In-Residence, Julia-Rose Lewis' 'Samson' is a big-hearted, brutal and darkly beautiful production, offering a glimpse at the world of young Australians today. Co-producing the production's world premiere season with Sydney’s iconic theatre company, Belvoir, 'Samson' will be under the internationally regarded direction of Kristine Landon-Smith.At just 22-years old, Ashleigh Cummings was born in Saudi Arabi and moved to Australia when she turned 12. Best known for her role as Debbie Vickers in 'Puberty Blues', Ashleigh has also appeared in 'Miss Fisher’s Murder Mysteries', 'Tomorrow, When The War Began', and TV mini-series 'Gallipoli'.
This is your second role depicting a character who is coming-of-age, did acting adolescence help you through your 'Puberty Blues'? (pun intended)
I'm actually a bit older than most of the characters I've portrayed, so I've never been in parallel with their journey through puberty! However, I think some of the questions we ask ourselves during that period of time (surrounding our existence, purpose and identity, for example) are fairly timeless and forever evolving. So it's been really wonderful to reflect on that period with a little bit of hindsight and that awareness has definitely informed my own understanding of myself and my views today.
Can you explain your character in 'Samson' and the life experiences she faces throughout the play? What does she learn?I play Essie who is a tough nut from a country town in Australia. She's learnt how to survive within her environment so has developed quite strong defensive mechanisms. At the same time, she is sharply insightful, independent, and her dreams have far-reaching tentacles which is something that distinguishes her from the majority of her community. The play really stems from the characters' experiences of grief, and within that, Essie also encounters the shifting geometrics of friendships, the confusion of faith and ideology and the blurred lines of the relationships between males and females (or just sexuality in general) during pubescent interaction. Out of all this, she gains the strength and clarity to decide what she truly believes in, in autonomy of her friends and community, and what she wants for her future.
How does Essie deal with the loss of a friend?
Essie retreats from her usual friendships because that constant reminder is just too jarring and nauseatingly familiar when, “nothing has changed, but everything is different”. She is refreshed by the innocence of Rabbit – a boy who has just arrived in town – and solace in the knowledge that they both share the understanding of loss. She turns away from religion while her best friend turns towards it and she begins consolidating her own ideology.
Is Essie naïve when she thinks about her future, or is she passionate and determined to fulfil her dreams? What are her dreams?I don't think she's at all naïve... but then I suppose some people might say that I'm naïve about my own future! I think she just dreams differently than those around her which can be frightening and confronting to them. In the play, Rabbit asks Essie, “do you think my dreams are shit?” She says, “nah, they're just small.” And he responds, “small doesn't mean bad.” (On a side note – but I'm going to write it in bold because it really should be a front-centre note – isn't Julia-Rose Lewis the most beautiful playwright!? I have a major girl-crush on her). Essie says she wants to reach beyond the confines of her little town and be remembered for doing something 'awesome'. I think by the end of the play, however, this is largely reconfigured into her essentially just wanting to do whatever she wants, which is a simple notion but can be a deceivingly complex task to achieve.
How does Essie relate to you when you were growing up?
I definitely dreamt big – I still do, even if it's outside the lines of convention or what people deem is 'possible'. I also was lucky enough to have the same sense of independence instilled within me that Essie does. In direct correspondence with Essie, the death of one of my dear friends in my late teens was irrefutably confronting and, while it threw an already tumultuous adolescent world into further confusion, it also provided me with clarity about certain aspects of my world and belief system.
What were some of the toughest things you had to face during your adolescence?My friend's death was definitely one of the toughest things I've ever had to face. I've dealt with grief and death before on multiple occasions, but it's different when it's premature, and really jolts you into understanding your own mortality and priorities. Aside from that, I definitely experienced other adolescent turmoils, and now that I reflect on them, I can see that they came from a lack of 'self-love' (a term that has been wildly thrown around lately, but is undeniably what it came down to for me), a need to be heard and to assert my own independence and the confusion of what I stood for and believed in. Again, these are all things I continue to work on and develop, but they were definitely heightened and more overwhelming during adolescence when I didn't have the knowledge of how to identify or deal with these concepts.
What did you dream of being when you where younger?
Everything. I guarantee you, name a job or a lifestyle (within the confines of my moral beliefs), and there will have been a time in my life where that seemed like the best idea ever! Things haven't exactly changed either... Acting isn't all I'll do.
Moving from Saudi Arabia just before your teenage years, how did you find starting a new life in Australia and making new friends?
I definitely had a few integration issues! The Middle East is a vastly different landscape and cultural climate, as is living as an expat/ traveller in general. I was used to people coming and going unexpectedly as I did, so could slot into most situations seamlessly. However, when it came to really investing in people and situations long-term, I think I have and still do struggle with that. However, the shift was also a largely educative one and I know I wouldn't have the same resilience or be able to do what I do for a living if I hadn't had that experience growing up.
If you could talk to your teenage self again and give her some advice, what would it be?Ride the waves; they'll crash eventually.
Do you think you were born in the right era, or could you easily time warp and fit right in?
I think I would combust if I existed in a world where thinking was any less progressive than it is now. Though the '70s were pretty radical and they had flares so that is somewhat tempting...
Are you a social media fiend or foe?
I'm terrible at using it. It's a love-hate relationship, because I'm aware of its power to be a positive influence, but I can also see its destructiveness. I want to contribute further to its constructiveness but am still working, myself, on shedding the negative information from my own sight which is why I probably shy away from it!
Lastly, is there anything you want to say to the resilient youth of Australia?
You are stronger and more brilliant than you would ever imagine yourself to be. Just trust me on that.
