Director

Reinventing the wheel

DIRECTOR

QUT DRAMA School of Creative Arts  | July-October

Writer & Actor: Siena Hardie

Director: Brianna Wilkie

Stage Manager & Production Design: Hollie Pianta

Assistant Director & Actor: Hayley-Rose Hoskins

Actor & Dramaturg: Mimi Ruiz

Costume Designer & Actor: Tianna Major

Assistant Stage Manager & Actor: Emma Nelson

PRODUCTION DESCRIPTION

The kiln is ready. Who’s next? 

Jenna Thompson has finished her PhD. Her life’s to-do list is complete—so why doesn’t she feel that way? In a life she realises she never truly loved, Jenna finds solace in her weekly pottery classes. Alongside her, the ever-changing Angie and same-old steadfast Zoe shape clay, and in the process, shape each other.

Reinventing the Wheel explores the magical nature of change—how transformation in life can feel sudden, surreal, and extraordinary.

Reinventing the Wheel my Drama Bachelor capstone play as part of my final semester at university.

It was inspired by the concept of a friend changing so much that they might as well be a new person entirely. We explored change through this, focusing on our three characters and how they engage in change. Our dramatic meaning is how change can be magical or mundane, but it’s always human and isn’t always a choice.

The play follows a main female protagonist and two other female characters and their weekly pottery sessions, through this we inherentky explore the female experience, especially in Generation Z as, it was developed, written, directed and performed by creatives in this generation. We aimed to create a play that our generation could see themselves reflected in, without it being exaggerated and cliche. This is especially true through the themes of achievement, change, and the feeling of not knowing what is next, as most people our age are also finishing degrees and stepping into the next phase of their lives.

In order to successfully write and present a play that included pottery, we felt it was important to collaborate with. a pottery studio, who kindly gave us a workshop about pottery, supplied us with props and advice.

 

As our play is character focused, we developed their personalities by taking traits from our own group members, making them true to real people you would know.

This play is a true example of my passion and interest for entertaining but thought provoking theatre, where the fun of the play is balanced with it’s reflective theme of change.

 

“So complex but hilarious at the same time. Loved how ambiguous it was because not much student theatre leaves you feeling how your show makes us feel.” – Audience Member 2025

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