FACE TO FACE

by David Williamson

​A Mockingbird Theatre Company production

MOCKINGBIRD’s 32nd PRODUCTION

Director: Céline Oudin

Venue: Mockingbird Studio, Belconnen Arts Centre
Season: 7-17 October 2026

About the Play:

From the Director:

I first discovered restorative justice through Jeanne Herry’s 2023 French film Je verrai toujours vos visages (All Your Faces). I was fascinated by the process: people sitting in a room, confronting harm, responsibility and consequence simply by speaking – and, just as importantly, by listening. So when Chris Baldock approached me about directing David Williamson’s Face to Face, something immediately clicked.

Williamson became interested in community conferencing in the late 1990s, as restorative practices gained international attention. Face to Face, based partly on four real conferences, became the first play in his Jack Manning Trilogy.

Restorative justice can operate alongside conventional justice or sometimes as an alternative. What interested me most was what happens when people are placed in a room and required to face one another: the person who caused the harm and those affected by it. Suddenly, an apparently simple event becomes anything but simple.

That is what makes Face to Face so fascinating. The premise could hardly be simpler: ten people, a room, some chairs, a conversation. Yet the text reveals layers of relationships, resentments, loyalties, humiliations, secrets and shifting alliances. Through Glen’s story, Williamson explores workplace bullying, masculinity and mateship, class and power, domestic violence, sexual harassment and industrial relations.

He threads it all with the humour he does so well. His characters can be infuriating, touching, ridiculous and painfully recognisable. Their language, humour and awkwardness around emotion offer an unmistakably Australian slice of life. Williamson’s observation of his fellow Australians is both affectionate and unsparing.

I have kept the staging deliberately simple, reflecting the neutral environment of a restorative conference. The focus remains on the people: their words, silences, reactions and evolving relationships. They are face to face with one another – and with the audience, who becomes a witness to the process. There is nowhere to hide. Less is more.

This production is not intended to suggest restorative justice is better than conventional justice, or appropriate in every situation. Rather, I hope it offers an opportunity to consider what restorative justice can be. Whether you find it convincing, troubling, idealistic, pragmatic or somewhere in between is for you to decide. If it prompts discussion afterwards, all the better.

More than twenty-five years after Face to Face premiered at Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre in 1999, its questions about responsibility, power, humiliation, accountability and our capacity to listen remain remarkably relevant.

I am extremely grateful to Chris Baldock for entrusting me with this Australian classic and once again giving me the opportunity to direct, and to this wonderful cast for their generosity, commitment and trust. Thank you also to my assistant, Io Hogan, for her invaluable support; to Peter Fock, Rachel Hogan and Claire White for generously stepping into rehearsals when actors were unavailable; to Rhiley Winnett for his lighting advice; and to Aoife McFoley for her help during these final weeks and for operating the lighting.

And finally, thank you for joining us. I hope you enjoy being in the room with us.

Céline Oudin

CAST:

Jack Manning – Sachin Nayak

Glen Tregaskis– Joshua Nicholls

Greg Baldoni – Terry Johnson

Maureen Tregaskis – Anna Hemmings

Claire Baldoni – Victoria Tyrell Dixon

Barry McLean – Zade Fainstein

Julie Rossiter – Chloe Smith

Luka Mitrovic – Ryan Hedley

Richard Halligan – David Yates

Therese Martin – Sophia Castello

PRODUCTION TEAM:

Director/Designer – Céline Oudin

Assistant Director – Io Hogan

Stage Manager and Lighting/Sound Operator – Aoife McFoley

Lighting Design – Rhiley Winnett and Céline Oudin

Set Design/Concept – Chris Baldock

Sound Design – Céline Oudin and cast

Costumes and Props – Céline Oudin, cast and Production Team

FOR MOCKINGBIRD THEATRICS:

Artistic Director & Head Tutor: Chris Baldock

Technical Manager: Rhiley Winnett

Company Stage Manager – Aoife McFoley

Publicity, Graphics and Photography: Chris Baldock

Associate Directors: Zac Bridgman, Steph Evans, Céline Oudin

THANKS TO:

Paul Portelli & the Belconnen Arts Centre staff, Nick Fuller & Canberra Daily,

Helen Musa & CityNews, Goodwin Village Ainslie, 2CA Capital Radio, Artsound

MOCKINGBIRD SUPPORTERS:

Season Supporter: Sarah Byrne & Peter McDonald, Anonymous, Paul Sweeney

Patron: Liz St Clair Long

BIOS:

Director – Céline Oudin

Céline was born in France and has lived in Australia for 23 years. She worked in the film industry in France for 7 years (as producer’s assistant, director’s assistant, co-script writer, producer and director). 

From 2010, Celine attended acting classes in Sydney, directed No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre in 2013, and co-directed 2 comedy show projects in collaboration with author/director/producer David Perrin in 2014. After moving to Canberra in 2020, she attended acting and directing classes run by Chris Baldock from Mockingbird Theatrics. In 2024, she translated the French play 8 Femmes (8 Women) by Robert Thomas, which was then produced and directed by Chris Baldock. In 2025, she directed 6 monologues from Snatches (Pig Life by E.V. Crowe, Pritilata by Tanika Gupta, Multiples by Zonnie Harris, Reclaim The Night by Charlene James, Bovril Pam by Vicky Jones and Compliance by Abi Morgan), which Chris Baldock produced. Earlier this year, she directed No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre, revisiting the play 13 years later, and Bull by Mike Bartlett also produced by Chris Baldock. 

Céline also acted in independent theatre productions, including 8 Women by Robert Thomas (directed by Chris Baldock), No Exit by Jean-Paul Sartre (directed by Glen Hamilton), Dead White Males by David Williamson (directed by Gavin Vance), Corporate Vibes by David Williamson (directed by Glen Hamilton), Miss Margarita by Roberto Athayde (directed by Jean-Yves Brignon), La Clinica written & directed by Carolina Diaz, Théâtre sans Animaux/Tragédie by Jean-Michel Ribes (directed by Jean-Yves Brignon), We are the Ghosts of the Future by Verity Laughton (directed by Harriet Gillies), Le Faiseur by Honoré de Balzac (directed by Jean-Yves Brignon). 

Assistant Director – Io Hogan

Io comes from a family of performing arts enthusiasts. Her theatre career began when she was featured in her parents plays when she was young, and helped prompt scripts for those who would rehearse at her home. 

As she got older she started to stage manage some of her mother’s – Rachel Hogan’s – plays, such as The Art of Teaching (2018) and Pygmalion (2022). When Io got to College she began her Major-Minor in Drama, and performed in Lake Ginninderra College’s We Will Rock you (2022), alumni original Zetaclorm (2022), and Strictly Ballroom (2023). The Wolves (2025) was Io’s debut as an actor back into the Canberra theatre community theatre, and now returning to Mockingbird for a second year as Assistant Director for Face to Face.

Outside of theatre, Io is a first year student at University of Canberra studying Interior Architecture where she gets to exercise her creative and sociologically inquisitive mind.

CAST:

Sachin Nayak – Jack Manning

Sachin R Nayak is a Canberra-based actor with experience in theatre, film and television commercials across Australia and the UAE. His recent stage credits include Norm in Meteor Shower, Gryffin Walters in When He Cries, Edmund Tilney and Robert De Lesseps in Shakespeare in Love, and Max Halliday in Dial M for Murder.

His screen work includes a Mastercard commercial featuring Bollywood lead actor Hrithik Roshan, Once Upon a Trip to Dubai with Bollywood legend Anil Kapoor of Slumdog Millionaire fame, and the Canberra short film Thoughtless. Having also performed at Dubai’s Short & Sweet Theatre Festival, Sachin brings his international experience to the role of Jack Manning in Face to Face.

Joshua Nicholls – Glen Tragaskis

Joshua Nicholls is a Canberra-born actor and singer, and a graduate of QUT’s Bachelor of Fine Arts (Acting). Having first begun performing on Canberra stages, Joshua developed a passion for acting that would eventually take him to Brisbane to pursue his professional training. Joshua’s credits during his time at QUT include Hibernation, directed by Catarina Hebbard, and Very Fine People, directed by Wesley Enoch. His recent screen work includes the short film Boomgate, which was selected for the 2026 Canberra Short Film Festival. Joshua has trained with Chris Baldock at Mockingbird Acting Studio and has continued his screen training with Les Chantery Studio. After several years studying and performing in Brisvegas, Joshua returned home to Canberra and is delighted to be back on stage with Mockingbird Theatre, taking on the role of Glen.

Terry Johnson – Greg Baldoni

Terry has been acting all his adult life, and has recently played roles for Queanbeyan Players (The Sound of Music), and Canberra Rep (Home, I’m Darling; Mr Bennet’s Bride; Spider’s Web). He is also a regular singer with Canberra Opera.

Terry has been doing acting classes for three terms with Mockingbird Theatre. This is his first role with Mockingbird. He is looking forward to playing a crook boss who rips off his workers and cheats on his wife.

Victoria Tyrell Dixon – Claire Baldoni

Victoria recently appeared as Amanda Wingfield in The Glass Menagerie for Canberra REP, as Inès in No Exit for Mockingbird Theatrics, and in the world premiere of Baby Jane. She is delighted to be appearing as Claire Baldoni in Face to Face.

Previous credits include Hermia in Dead Man’s Cell Phone and Elaine in Last of the Red Hot Lovers (Helen Wilson Trophy for Best Comedic Performance), Hilary in Hotel Sorrento, Maggie Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, M’Lynn in Steel Magnolias, Kate in Emerald City, Helen of Troy in The Penelopiad, and Ruth Bucktin in Jasper Jones. She has also appeared in productions of The Importance of Being Earnest and numerous other works across Canberra’s theatre community.

Victoria was awarded Canberra REP’s Judi Crane Award for Best Female Dramatic Role in 2020, 2021 and 2025 for her performances as Kate Jerome in Brighton Beach Memoirs, Maggie Pollitt in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and Baby Jane respectively. An alumni member of the Royal British Legion’s Bravo 22 Company, she originated the role of Nicola in the Theatre Royal Plymouth production Boots at the Door.

Earlier theatre credits in Western Australia include Dolly in One Man, Two Guvnors; Linda Swan in Cash on Delivery; Evie Valentine in The Mozart Faction; and two seasons as Nurse O’Neill in The Sunshine Boys.

Sophia Castello – Therese Martin

Sophia was born and raised in Canberra to Peruvian and German parents. She began her journey with Mockingbird Theatrics in 2021, initially joining classes to build confidence and work through anxiety. Since then, she has discovered not only a love for theatre but also a wonderful community.

Her acting experience includes extra roles in the short films Till Undeath and They’re Ready For You, as well as Austin Series 2 for ABC. In 2026, she was the Assistant Director, Stage Manager, and Lighting, Sound & Projection Operator for No Exit and the Assistant Director for Bull. 

Face to Face marks her first time acting on a theatre stage.

Outside of theatre, she enjoys singing, reading, creating art, and playing video games. At home, she cares for a lively menagerie of two cats, three frogs, a bearded dragon, and a python.

 Ryan Hedley – Luka Mitrovic

Ryan is a Canberra-based actor making his professional stage debut in Face to Face. Drawing on a background in elite athletics and extensive on-camera experience, he brings a grounded physical presence and natural instinct for complex, layered characters. Ryan trained with ImproACT and is currently studying at Mockingbird Acting Studio.

Anna Hemmings – Maureen Tragaskis

Anna Hemmings is local Canberra actress whose recent onstage credits include Snatches (Mockingbird Too, 2025), Book of the Month (Tempo Theatre, 2023) and Great Expectations (Budding Theatre, 2022). Anna has also been honing her skills through acting classes with Chris Baldock at Mockingbird for over 4 years and working behind the scenes as Assistant Director with Zac Bridgman on 3 Mockingbird productions this year.

Anna is excited to be working again with Celine (after Snatches) and with the rest of the amazing cast and crew on Face to Face. She is also looking forward to being part of the final Mockingbird production for the year in Posh.

David Yates – Richard Halligan

Chloe Smith – Julie Rossiter

Zade Fainstein – Barry McLean

Zade Fainstein is a Canberra Based actor. Noticeable credits toward him include Tony (Bull) and Peter (Shakespeare in Love). As a third year University of Canberra student undertaking a Batchelor of Science in Psychology, Zade is very interested in the prospect of a play centred around counselling in dispute resolution. He is very grateful to be part of this incredible cast. He is also grateful for the opportunity to bring one of David Williamson’s works to life on a Canberra stage.