Tirra Lirra by the River adaptation premieres at Byron Theatre with Toni Scanlan

The world premiere of the stage adaptation of Jessica Anderson's 1978 Miles Franklin Award-winning novel, Tirra Lirra by the River, is being presented by Byron Theatre Company. Co-directed and co-written by Heather Fairbairn and Kate Wild, the show runs at Byron Theatre in Byron Bay until 13 June. The story centers on 77-year-old Nora, who reminisces about her marriage to Colin Porteous during the Depression, her painful divorce, an affair, and her quest for independence in London. Toni Scanlan portrays elder Nora, while younger Nora is played by Pirie Outridge, and Tom Anderson takes on multiple roles. The set, designed by Savanna Wegman, features a dynamic wall of archways, complemented by Aron Murray's lighting design incorporating photo projections. The adaptation alters Nora's profession from textiles to photography, though this aspect is not fully developed.