Connections 2025: The Company of Trees

Performed by Hamilton District Youth Theatre

When new girl Willow moves into town, the popular gang at school don’t welcome her. But when gang leader, Taylor, has a spectacular gymnastic accident, leaving her bed-bound, her once loyal gang, begin to drop away.

Enter Willow, to share Taylor’s solitude, teach her about trees and poems that don’t rhyme and Taylor begins to heal.

A play about bullying, bravery, the power of nature, finding friendship, loneliness and Hanoi the giant tortoise.

Jane Bodie is a playwright, screenwriter and teacher. Her plays, including Lamb, Music, This Years’ Ashes, A Single Act, Ride and Fourplay have been performed worldwide. In 2020 she was shortlisted for the Women’s Playwriting Award and won The Victorian Premier Literary Award in 2006 for A Single Act.

Her writing for TV & radio, includes The Secret Life of Us and No Angels. Her short film Alice, directed by Garth Davis was selected for screening at Cannes Film Festival.

Jane worked at The Royal Court Theatre & Central School of Speech & Drama as a tutor. She was Head of Playwriting at NIDA from 2009 – 2012 and Associate Artist at The Griffin Theatre. She has written extensively with communities and worked as a dramaturg on many standout productions, including Rice by Michelle Lee.