SA Premiere for Hannie Rayson Drama

SA Premiere for Hannie Rayson Drama

There could hardly be a more topical issue than the one at the heart of celebrated Australian playwright Hannie Rayson’s play, Two Brothers. Lesley Reed reports on Red Phoenix Theatre’s upcoming production of this thought-provoking drama, one in which a refugee tragedy at sea pitches two very different siblings against each other.

Adelaide’s Red Phoenix Theatre launched in 2016 with a mission to create fresh and inspiring theatre experiences through brand new plays, unexplored classics and fresh adaptations. The company is dedicated to producing only SA premieres.

Unusual for the Adelaide theatre scene is Red Phoenix’s approach to its mission; each season is devoted to a theme. The 2018 theme will be ‘Religion & Faith’, 2019 ‘Money’, while the 2020 season theme is ‘Sex’. Importantly, the 2017 theme is ‘Politics’ and commences this month with Australian playwright Hannie Rayson’s Two Brothers, which is possibly the most powerful and controversial political drama of the past twenty five years.

The Benedict brothers are on opposite sides of the political divide. Eggs is the Minister for Home Security and also Prime Minister-in-waiting. Tom is a refugee advocate and the head of a charitable foundation. The brothers have a relationship based on affection and respect and until now they have managed to accommodate their ideological differences.

When, on Christmas Day, an Indonesian fishing boat packed with refugees goes down in the Indian Ocean and two hundred and fifty people drown, the tragic incident leaves one survivor and pitches powerful, passionate and socially-committed brothers Eggs and Tom against each other.

Hannie Rayson crafts a gripping thriller inTwo Brothers, examining how strongly-held but incompatible views can exist within a functioning and united family. Rayson explores the potentially thin line between power and evil as she tackles the controversial issues inherent in government policy on immigration and refugees.

The award winning Australian playwright and newspaper columnist is recognised as one of Australia's most significant playwrights. Her major works include Hotel Sorrento, Falling From Grace, Scenes From A Separation (co-written with Andrew Bovell), Inheritance and Life After George.

However, the playwright got more than she bargained for when Two Brothers was first produced, with the reaction demonstrating that live theatre still has the power to influence and inflame public opinion. 'Right Wing' columnists, including Andrew Bolt, savagely attacked not just the play but also Rayson herself.

Extracts from Andrew Bolt's attacks include: "this vomit of smug hate.....proof of how far up its own fundament our artists have crawled....hate-filled barbarian artists of the Left....Shame on Rayson...."

Rayson was both bemused and amused by this vitriol and said she was, quote, "...heartened by the discussion that the play had provoked. I'd rather the debate be out there, robust and rigorous instead of something insidious going on in the background."

The two brothers referred to in the play's title were originally inspired by well-known brothers Tim and Peter Costello, a fact clearly reflected in the play’s text, with Eggs Benedict being the Prime-Minister-in-waiting and Tom Benedict the CEO of a high profile charity organisation. This further inflamed the ire of several politicians and columnists, who saw it as a blatant attack on individual ministers and on government policy in terms of refugee deaths at sea.

In fact, Hannie Rayson was not so much interested in the Costellos, but rather in creating a theatrical device to explore the relationship between two influential brothers with contradictory political views.

Adding another layer of complexity to the Red Phoenix Theatre production, director Robert Kimber has cast real life brothers, each fine actors. Brant Eustice plays Eggs Benedict and Artistic Director of Red Phoenix Theatre, Michael Eustice is Eggs’ sibling Tom.  

"It definitely adds a fascinating dimension to building these characters,” Michael said. “In many ways it feels as if we are exploring the extremes of our own sibling relationship. But these characters are much crazier and certainly far more exciting than we are."

In addition to the Eustice brothers, Two Brothers features Josh Coldwell, Cheryl Douglas, Fahad Farooque, Josh Mensch, Lyn Wilson, Tracey Walker and Alicia Zorkovic.

Sadly, tragedies like the one at the heart of Two Brothers continue to unfold around the world and opinions about how society should address the core issues potentially divide many families across the globe, just as happens in the play.

Red Phoenix Theatre’s production is Adelaide’s chance to be immersed in a highly contemporary and thought-provoking theatrical event.

When: Thurs-Sat,May18-20andWed-Sat,May24-27@7.30pm.MatineePerformance:Sun,May21@2pm.

Where: Holden Street Theatres - The Studio, 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh (next to Coopers Stadium). PARKING AVAILABLE.

Tickets: $24.50 Full / $17.50 Concession / $19.50 Group Concession (6+)

Bookings: Online at  www.holdenstreettheatres.comor www.redphoenixtheatre.com(follow the links) or call 8225 8888.

Tickets at the door subject to availability.

Photographer: Richard Parkhill

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