{"id":358343,"date":"2025-03-12T14:43:35","date_gmt":"2025-03-12T04:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=358343"},"modified":"2025-03-19T16:41:01","modified_gmt":"2025-03-19T06:41:01","slug":"leah-brings-play-reading-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/03\/12\/leah-brings-play-reading-home\/","title":{"rendered":"Leah Brings Play Reading Home"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Leah Purcell’s play, “Is That You Ruthie?”, is based on the books by Dr Ruth Hegarty\u00a0 (Photo: QPAC)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

March 12, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon State High School will be hosting a special reading of Leah Purcell’s award-winning play, “Is That You Ruthie?”, next Tuesday (March 18).<\/p>\n

The free event will feature the two actors from the current production<\/a><\/strong> of the play at the Cremorne Theatre in Brisbane reading their lines, with Leah providing stage directions.<\/p>\n

“Is That You Ruthie?” tells the story of Dr Ruth Hegarty and her mother, the late Ruby-Anne Duncan.<\/p>\n

Leah based her play on Aunty Ruth’s memoir, “Is That You, Ruthie?\u201d, which won the David Unaipon Award in 1998, and its sequel, \u201cBittersweet Journey\u201d.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The books explore the enduring connection between a mother and daughter despite being separated by government policies.<\/p>\n

When Ruth turned five, her mother was sent out to work as a domestic servant and Ruth was moved into the Cherbourg Girls Dormitory.<\/p>\n

Ruth stayed in the Dormitory until she, too, was sent out to work, at the age of 14.<\/p>\n

The play reading is being held at Murgon State High School in conjunction with Oombarra Productions and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Murgon and Cherbourg residents are especially invited to attend the free 90-minute event.<\/p>\n

Doors open at 10:30am. Enter the high school grounds via the Dutton Street gate.<\/p>\n