Bette and Joan hit the Ensemble stage and they still got it… sort of 

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31 March 2026

Bette Davis and Joan Crawford were super stars of the screen throughout the 1930s and 40s, but do they still shine in 2026? Absolutely! The Ensemble is bringing audiences a story of two iconic actors but not at the peak of their powers, rather as they have one last run at a hit on the set of 1962 film What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? 

Director Liesel Baddorrek and assistant director Jessica Fallico take the audience backstage on the set of the film to gain an insight into the dynamic between actors who are polar opposites but have banded together to show the world that they still have what it takes to make a blockbuster film.

The production team has transformed the Ensemble stage into the dressing rooms of a run down B-lot studio. The directors creative yet paired down approach to the set and staging provides the environment the exploration of these two larger than life personalities. 

Bright and early as always Joan Crawford (Lucia Mastrantone) is the first to enter the dressing room. An air of grace fills the stage mix with a feeling of flittering glamour. Mastrantone is nothing short of phenomenal. From her articulation to every little flick and flutter of expression, she captures the very essence of the silver screen star. It really is a methodical performance…. well maybe until the Vodka Pepsi starts to set in. Even so, Mastrantone balances the power, gravitas and grace of Crawford with mastery. 

Crawford is almost overly indulgent in her own mythology, transcending the title of actor for the more fitting cultural force. Be it a facade or sincere, she is proper and by the book. After discovering the manuscript for What ever happened to Baby Jane? Crawford approached fellow ‘fading’ actress Better Davis (Jenetter Cronin), put their differences aside and made the film. 

Davis is not a princess of the pictures, rather an actor who through sheer talent and hard work to go along with her mesmerising eyes, managed to carve out a place as one of the top talents in cinema. Well, at least she was. Cronin is a force on stage, who grabs the audience to bring them face to face with a character who may be simple on the surface but embodies deep complexity. Once simply has no choice but to admire Cronin’s performance; there is never a down moment on stage. Out of the spotlight or on centre stage, the audience can see the thoughts and feelings of Davis coursing through Cronin, mannerisms and all.

Though rough around the edges, Davis is a lovable character who starkly contrasts Crawford model celebrity personality. Put simply, the two don’t like or respect each other. But there might be a little more to their much publicised feud, which is fully explored throughout the production. 

There is a degree of inception happening on stage as actors play actors playing actors. In What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? Davis is cast as the unstable younger sister living in the shadow of Crawford’s character. The idea of imagining their interaction backstage was too intriguing to resist for playwright Anton Burge and makes for an enthralling story. 

Set and costume designer Grace Deacon deserves serious credit for the helping to space that allowed for deeper insight into the two movie stars. Especially the mirrorless frames, which give the audience a very real look into the way both Joan and Bette see themselves.

Moreover, the use of a video on the backwall, showing snippets of the actors in interviews and closer ups of their monologues gives the production another rich dimension. After all these are people who are famous for their skills on the silver screen. Kudos to video designer Cameron Smith and lighting designer Kelsey Lee for deepening the experience with this creative element.

What ever happened to Bette and Joan? The Ensemble will bring you closer than ever before to the story of these stars.