CANBERRA Repertory Society launched its 2023 season at its home theatre in an event for subscribers, members, and friends with a dramatic bit of news for patrons – shows will henceforth start at 7.30pm, not the traditional 8pm!

In a very odd piece of reasoning, they argue that because they moved into their present home on the edge of the ANU campus in 1973 they would henceforth start at 7.30pm – “in recognition of 1973.”

A further reason presented at this evening’s launch (October 28) by Rep president Antonia Kitzel was that with public transport consideration and upgrades to the tram network, the move to a 7.30pm performance time will keep the theatre “accessible for all.”

In 2023, the six plays to be produced and presented by Rep are themed to explore “what happens when imagination and interpretation weave together to confront the past in the face of the future”.

That leaves the field wide open to almost anything, so the opening play, “Agnes of God” by John Pielmeier, to be directed by Rachel Hogan, about a novice accused of murdering her newborn.

Next up, directed by Karen Vickery, is the comedy “Crimes of the Heart” by Beth Henley, where the three MaGrath sisters are together for the first time in a decade in their Mississippi hometown, where sun, past resentments bubble to the surface.

In June, Alexandra Pelvin returns to stage “Home, I’m Darling” by Laura Wade, in which Judy, on a quest to be the perfect ’50s housewife to her husband Johnny, finds that being a domestic goddess isn’t as easy as it seems.

Veteran Rep director Cate Clelland will then direct an old Rep favourite, “Amadeus” by Peter Shaffer, a battle of jealousy between seasoned composer Salieri and youthful genius Mozart.

“Mr Bennet’s Bride” by Emma Wood sees Stephen Pike back as the director of a kind-of prequel to “Pride and Prejudice”, where Mr Bennet makes a decision he may come to repent.

And is there a Christmas farce? Not a bit of it.

The final show, directed by Ylaria Rogers, will be a 100-minute romp through the Bard’s comedies, histories, and tragedies by three actors – “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]” by Adam Long, Daniel Singer, and Jess Winfield.

AT A GLANCE

• “Agnes of God” February 16-March 4.
• “Crimes of the Heart” April 27-May 13.
• “Home, I’m Darling” June 15-July 1.
• “Amadeus” July 27-August 12.
• “Mr Bennet’s Bride” September 7-23.
• “The Complete Works of William Shakespeare (abridged) [revised]”, November 16-December 2.