Spectrum Theatre bringing holiday fun and family drama to the stage with final production of the year

Spectrum Theatre is preparing to open their final show of the year, with Albany playwright Aaron Murray’s debut show A Composite Arrangement celebrating its red carpet opening night on Friday.

Albany playwright Aaron Murray took his pen to paper after Spectrum’s 2024 production of Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None, in which he played Philip Lombard.

Murray said A Composite Arrangement’s simple, situational premise made it perfect for a fun night out with friends or date night with someone special.

Set on the Greek holiday island of Mykonos, the play follows the mishaps that ensue when a widower and a trio of women: Stephanie, her teenage daughter Lily and outspoken mother Dawn, who accidentally book the same holiday home and decide to share it.

Murray said audiences could expect a few laughs thanks to the characters’ amusing and relatable complicated family dynamics and some slapstick comedy moments, a few tears, and maybe even some sparks flying on-stage.

The new playwright describes the performance in a nutshell as delving into family, love and the messy parts of life that lie in between.

A Composite Arrangement is Murray’s first play to be performed on-stage, and the new playwright said seeing his characters and scenes come to life with Spectrum’s acting troupe was a new and exciting experience.

Maddi Sharpe stepped into the role of co-director, a decision Murray said was a natural one that has made the pair into a creative working duo, putting their heads and combined theatre experience together to work out tricky scenes and keep the show running smoothly from behind the scenes.

The play opens at Spectrum Theatre on Friday night, with a special red-carpet event to be held before the opening-night performance gets underway.

Guests are encouraged to wear their Sunday best to strut the red carpet, with complimentary champagne offered as audience members come through the door, a photographer on hand to capture the night and the chance to meet the directors before the show starts.

The red carpet will be open from 6pm, with the performance beginning at 7pm.

The show will be on for a limited run of eight performances over November, with 7pm shows on Friday and Saturday nights until November 29, and two 2pm Sunday matinees on November 16 and 23.

Tickets are available online on the Spectrum Theatre website and in-store at Paperbark Merchants on York Street.