A Worthy Rival had its World Premier
on 4 February 2023 at the Victorian Pride Centre, St Kilda as part of the Midsumma Festival.
Cast: Christina Arampatzi, Shannon Stevens, Amir Rahimzedeh, Josh Jenner
Music by: Saint Ergo
Sound design: John Jenkins
Sound operator: Nik Rossi
Photos: In performance – Jason Rosewarne
Photos: Midsumma Launch – Luke David
A WORTHY RIVAL: Audio play
Audio play
Drama
50 minutes Melbourne, Australia
PG
Victoria and Sam, rivals and friends, are preparing to play the defining match of their careers. Their battle about fame, sexuality, and meeting triumph and disaster equally, begins before the first serve is hit.
An original audio play with evocative sound effects and music.
Language: English
Writer/Director: Demetra Giannakopoulos
Advice: PG
Long synopsis
We are in a locker room just before the start of the Women’s Final of the Australian Open. The two tennis players, Victoria Kovacs and Sam Pepplos, are preparing to play the defining match of their careers.
Victoria is a much-loved champion and this is her last chance at the title that will cement her legacy. Sam is the new guard, a new Australian Hope, and an enfant terrible, going for her maiden Grand Slam. Two women, 12 years apart in age, eons apart in their careers.
Victoria is Sam’s childhood idol. Sam has lost each time they have played each other. For Sam to win this match she must stop seeing Victoria as her idol, and instead as her rival. Victoria must face the reality that others, just like Sam, will one day take her place as the champion. Victoria must determine whether her legacy is more than just the trophies.
Victoria and Sam take us on their journey to becoming international tennis stars, the media’s portrayal of their rivalry, and how they have learnt to meet “triumph and disaster and treat both as the same imposter”(1).
Peppered throughout are the comments and opinions from the Chorus, one actor playing multiple roles of coach, umpire, audience and journalists, all creating their own narratives they impose upon the players.
The story unfolds while we are entertained by the back and forth battle of the match Victoria and Sam are about to play.
(1) (“If”, Rudyard Kipling)