Not so according to James Kable, director of latest production from Elephant Juice Theatre Company, 'Lunch with Vincent River'.

The two separate plays are being staged at Metro Arts back-to-back - and while many directors would find this to be a tough juggling act, Kable has embraced the challenge.

“I have had to keep two separate rehearsal schedules but it has been pretty good … I don't feel drained at all,” Kable says.

“I had both plays sitting on my bedside table for more than a year, and I was searching for why I wanted to do these two plays that are essentially different.

“But the more I got into them; I saw that the themes were the same. Like all good theatre, indeed all good art, they are about sex and death, and there were also other points of similarity.”

'Lunch' is “black romance” centred on an encounter on the beach between two strangers which leads to seduction, while 'Vincent River' sees a mother confronting the person who last saw her son alive.

Both plays are written by English playwrights - with the first of the plays, 'Lunch' penned by playwright Steven Berkoff, who is well known for his theatrical and heightened style.

The suspenseful 'Vincent River' however, showcases Phillip Ridley's more naturalistic writing.  

“There are the theatrical fireworks and firepower of Berkoff, and the subtle writing of Ridley,” Kable says.

“Both have the basic couple at the centre … and each is unself-consciously English, so we have turned that into being unself-consciously Australian.”

The actors in the works - Peta Ward as Mary and Robbie O'Brien as Bill in 'Lunch' and Jane Cameron as Anita and Andy Townsend as Davey in 'Vincent River' - were not made to audition for their roles with Kable handpicking the performers.

“I knew the actors from my work with Zen Zen Zo (Physical Theatre) and as soon as I read the plays I know who should be in it,” Kable says.

“I think directing is 90% casting and … I thought these would be good opportunity for them to display their ability.”

‘Lunch with Vincent River’ plays at Metro Arts Theatre until December 11.