Conscience

July 16th - July 26th 2025

Click here to download the CONSCIENCE ~ Digital Programme

2025 season

CONSCIENCE by: Joe DiPietro

THE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

Washington D.C., 1950. The United States is gripped by fear of the Soviet Union and the spectre of Communism spreading throughout the country, with an enemy that can wear any face, a frenzied hunt begins for ‘Reds under the bed.’ Amidst the chaos, Joseph McCarthy, an overlooked, underhanded Senator emerges with a list. A list, he claims, of rats in the ranks. Within weeks, he has Congress and the American people dancing on a string.

Enter Margaret Chase Smith. First woman to serve in both houses of Congress. First to be nominated to run for the presidency. First to call Joe McCarthy’s witch-hunts for exactly what they were. But with the national spotlight shining brighter than ever before, McCarthy won’t let the truth get in the way of a good story.

Written in the dying days of the first Trump administration, Tony Award-winning playwright Joe DiPietro’s blistering play is a potent reminder of a woman who spoke out against tyranny and fought for truth when others stayed silent. CONSCIENCE asks us: can we remember her fight?

Matthew Abotomey offers a brilliant portrait of determination and fierce intelligence

Theatre Red

Directed by Madeleine Stedman and presented by Joining the Dots Theatre, this is a play that deserves a standing ovation.

Sydney Theatre Reviews

Jordan Thompson’s performance is mesmerising, a heart-rending journey of seduction and corruption.

Theatre Red

Images credit: Iain Cox Photography

CAST & CREATIVES

Cast

Matthew Abotomey

Bill Lewis

Matt Abotomey holds a Bachelor of Creative Arts (University of Wollongong). His performance credits include: (2025) Three Sisters – Virginia Plain, (2024) Timon of Athens – Sport for Jove, Parliament of Women – Queen Hades Productions (2023) Banging Denmark – New Theatre, Apocka-Wocka-Lockalypse – Tooth and Sinew, (2022) Labyrinth – Dream Plane Productions, UFO – re:group, (2021) The Sucker – independent, (2020) Molly Sweeney - Clock and Spiel Productions, Hotel Bella Luna - Ponydog Productions, (2019) The Grapes of Wrath - New Theatre, Ingle - Shopfront Theatre, (2018) Tom William Mitchell - Woodcourt Art Theatre, One Way Mirror, subtlenuance

Alison Chambers

Margaret Chase Smith

Alison graduated from acting school well into last century. Most recent theatre credits include The Front Page (New Theatre),The Children (directed by Madeleine Withington), It’s a Wonderful Life and Babette’s Feast (both directed by Nicholas Papademetriou), Relativity (directed by Johann Walraven), Rabbit Hole (Exit Game Productions), W;t (Joining the Dots Theatre), The Telescope (New Fitz), The Chapel Perilous (New Theatre) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf (Chester St). Her TV credits include All Saints, Home and Away, The Surgeon, Water Rats and A Country Practice and many forgettable TV commercials and yes, a couple of not-so-forgettable ones. In 2018 she co-founded Joining the Dots Theatre Company and is a proud member of MEAA.

Ben Dewstow

Joseph McCarthy

Ben Dewstow Studied Theatre at the University of Notre Dame, Sydney while completing his BA in Education. Ben completed short courses with The Hub Studio, Chopt Logic, Screenwise Australia and NIDA Open-Theatre Intensive. Ben’s recent theatre credits include playing Belleroche in ‘Dangerous Liaisons’ (New Theatre, 2025) Phillip in ‘Lurking’ (Independent, 2024), Alexander Kamishnikov, Mario Scaramella, Tim Reilly, FSB 2, Nurse Michena in ‘A Very Expensive Poison’ (New Theatre, 2023), Hans Andersen/various characters in ‘The Fairytale of my Life’ for Sydney Fringe (2022). Ben has performed in several features and short films, worked as an extra on Australian Television and featured in a number of commercials airing in Australia and abroad. Ben is with Sydney Creative Management and Proud MEAA Member.

Jordan Thompson

Miss Jean Kerr:

Jordan Thompson is a Sydney based actress who studied at Screenwise School of Film and Television with a focus on screen technique and character portrayal. Jordan made her theatre debut with The Americas Theatre Company in ‘L-O-V-E’ at KXT in 2024 followed by ‘No Direction Home’ as Ann in The Living Room, Surry Hills this past February, bringing her on-screen experiences to live audiences. Her Short Film credits include ‘The Valley 91’, ‘Rupture’, ‘Wasteland’ and ‘Rescue’. Most recently, Jordan took on a lead role as Kennedy in Independent Feature Film ‘The Last’. She is thrilled to continue her theatre journey with ‘Conscience’ as Miss Jean Kerr with Joining The Dots.

Creative Team

Madeleine Stedman

Director

Meg Anderson

Production Designer

Theo Carroll

Lighting Designer

Alex Lee-Rekers

Sound Designer

Noah Cohen-Stoddart

Stage Manager

Linda Nicholls-Gidley

Dialect Coach

Click here to download CONSCIENCE ~ Digital Program

The Greek Theatre, Marrickville

Location: Hellenic Art Theatre (The Greek Theatre), 36/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville

Ample FREE parking is available at The Greek Hellenic Art Theatre. You’ll need to enter the driveway entrance at 142 Addison Road. Follow the long driveway into the free car park. It is just a very short stroll to the theatre entrance.

The address for your device search is: Building 36/142 Addison Rd, Marrickville NSW 2204.

Whilst we do love a late night catch up and look forward to seeing you after the show we do have to let you know that the car park is locked at 10.15pm Sunday – Thursday and 11.45pm Friday & Saturday.

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