By Laura Oliver Graham

The Nowra Players, a non-profit community organisation, have been bringing live theatre to the Shoalhaven community since 1951.

They present four productions each year which incorporate a wide variety of styles. 

Their second production of 2025 is "Bloom"; by Andrew Morton, a beautiful, funny and uplifting play that deals with grief and the bonds between people. 

The play revolves around a teenage boy, Daniel (Sean Leach) whose life has been suddenly uprooted and he acts out.

After getting suspended from school, he is placed in a sort of involuntary work experience situation with Bob (Paul Fraser), a retired urban garden hobbyist.

As these two men build this on-stage garden, they slowly build a beautiful bond that supports each other through their personal grief with time and purpose.

“What I love about the play is how immediately familiar it feels," Bloom director Amber Van Dusen said.

"Each of the characters feel like someone you actually know, and all their delightful and funny dialogues are conversations you'll swear you've had with someone before.”

The set for this production is a complicated collection of props.

The production has an actual garden bed in the middle of the stage that evolves during the show in symbolic tandem with the growth of the characters.

This was achieved with the amazing work of the Nowra Players volunteer crew.

WIN: The Bugle is giving one lucky reader the chance to win tickets to see Bloom. Send an email to [email protected] with Bloom competition in the subject line and you will go into the draw to win two tickets to a performance of your choice.

Where: The Players Theatre, 27 Meroo St, Bomaderry. 

When: June 6, 12, 13, 19, 20 at 7:30pm

June 7, 14, 21 Saturday matinees at 2:00pm

June 8, 15 Sunday matinees at 2:00pm

Tickets prices are $30 concession and $32 full price and available at nowraplayers.com