Sydney Theatre Company's 30th Rough Draft to be Held in May

Sydney Theatre Company's 30th Rough Draft, Something For Cate, culminates in a free, one-off showing on Friday 6 May at 6.30pm in Wharf 2.

During a week-long creative development, director Priscilla Jackson will create and develop a new work based on the exquisitely turbulent life of Catherine McGregor, the 2016 Queensland Australian of the Year, and the world's highest ranking transgender military officer.

Cate's extraordinary career has taken her from rabble-rousing political operative in government's highest circles to cricket writer of national acclaim to decorated soldier, who was awarded an Order of Australia for exceptional service to the Australian Army in 2012. An expert in combat, Cate has also fought her own private battle. At the age of 56 she faced a turning point: suicide or transitioning as a woman.

Using transcripts from interviews with Cate, this original work will use a verbatim methodology to reveal a woman of extraordinary passion and unflinching courage.

STC's Rough Drafts support the development of new works by providing artists with opportunities to experiment and grow new ideas. Writers and directors are given access to rehearsal space, a team of actors and creatives and dramaturgical support. They may use the week and resources to embark on something currently unscripted or they might choose to develop a script that is already complete in draft form.

For their Rough Draft, Jackson and her team of actors will begin to sculpt transcripts from interviews with Cate into a performance script from which excerpts will be presented at the free public showing on Friday 6 May at 6.30pm in Wharf 2.