Blockbuster Plays 2013
Australia will see some blockbuster plays in 2013. For those who want star-power there is a lot to get excited about.
War Horse.
The most breath-taking drama event of 2013 will no doubt be War Horse. At the launch in Melbourne Lucy Graham reports the media pack were literally gasping when the life size puppet of Joey made his entrance.
Crafted from cane and stretched georgette, three puppeteers manipulate Joey: one at the head, one at the heart, and one at the hind. Strong enough to be ridden, Joey is semi-transparent and a little ghostly.
Passers-by in St Kilda Road stood entranced as Joey stood beside a flesh-and-blood horse called Charlie, in the bright sunshine on the Arts Centre lawn. Animal behaviourists have reportedly advised the creative team on how horses react and respond to various stimuli, right down to the pivoting ears, and tail twitches.
Nick Stafford’s stage adaption of Michael Morpurgo’s 1982 children’s novel War Horse is about Joey, the beloved horse of a boy, Albert, sold to the cavalry in World War 1. Shipped to France, Joey is involved on both sides of the fighting. But Albert can’t forget Joey and sets out to bring him home.
The West End and Broadway hit opens on December 31, 2012 at Arts Centre Melbourne’s State Theatre followed by a Sydney at the Lyric Theatre from March 23, 2013 and a Brisbane season at Lyric Theatre from July 11.
Driving Miss Daisy
There’ll be so much star power in this production you may need sunglasses.
A timeless American play which inspired the beloved Academy Award® winning film, Driving Miss Daisy tells the affecting story of the decades-long relationship between an elderly Southern Jewish woman, Daisy Werthan, and her compassionate African-American chauffeur, Hoke Colburn.
Driving Miss Daisy stars acting legends Angela Lansbury, James Earl Jones and Boyd Gaines. Their mantelpieces groan under the weight of Tony Awards.
Fresh from sell out season on the West End and Broadway, it opens in Brisbane and will tour to Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide.
“This is a once in a lifetime opportunity for Australian audiences to see three of the finest actors in the world today, Broadway and Hollywood royalty, in one of the most enduring and popular stage plays of our time. Rarely in our lifetime do we get to see such experience, such talent, on an Australian stage,” says Producer John Frost.
One Man, Two Guvnors
The National Theatre of Great Britain’s hit production of Richard Bean’s One Man, Two Guvnors will tour Australia in 2013.
Based on The Servant of Two Masters by Carlo Goldoni, One Man, Two Guvnors, is a huge British slapstick hit, directed by Nicholas Hytner.
In the glorious tradition of British comedy expect a fabulous on-stage band, satire and slapstick as Francis Henshall deals with cross-dressing mobsters, star crossed lovers, falling trousers and flying fish heads while trying to keep his two guvnors apart.
The Adelaide season will be part new Adelaide Festival Artistic Director David Sefton’s first festival program.
“I’m a firm believer that art doesn’t have to be ‘high’ to be great. Great entertainment and great art are about execution, quality and excellence. One Man, Two Guvnors is an example of something that is excellent, hilarious, and incredibly accessible for everybody,” said Sefton.
It will premiere at the Adelaide Festival between February 28 and March 9, 2013, then playing at the Sydney Theatre Company from March 30 to May 11, before a Melbourne season from May 17 to June 22 at Arts Centre Melbourne as part of the 2013 MTC season.
A Clockwork Orange
Action to the Word’s acclaimed all-male theatrical West End production of Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange will tour Australia in 2013, direct from the London’s Soho Theatre.
The ensemble, lead by actor Martin McCreadie (as Alex), treats the ultraviolent and highly sexual text in an entirely new and exciting fashion.
Action to the Word was formed in 2008 to create exciting theatre for a wide audience.
Artistic Director Alexandra Spencer-Jones says, “In the wake of the London riots, A Clockwork Orangehas a new power of its own, asking once again, ‘Is it better to be forced to be good or better to choose to be bad?’”
A Clockwork Orange features a soundtrack of Gossip, David Bowie, The Scissor Sisters, Placebo and of course Beethoven.
A Clockwork Orange will have its Australian premiere season at Melboure’s Malthouse from April 6 – 21, then playing Sydney’s Seymour (April 23 – May 5), Subiaco Arts Centre, Perth (May 8 – 19), The Playhouse, Canberra Theatre Centre (May 22 – 25) and QPAC Cremorne Theatre, Brisbane (May 28 – June 9).
Brief Encounter
Kneehigh Theatre's Broadway and West End hit adaptation of Noël Coward's classic romantic drama Brief Encounter will tour Australia, commencing in Adelaide on September 10, 2013.
Brief Encounter promises to take Australian audiences back to a bygone era of romance and the silverscreen with its classic Noël Coward tale.
Local Blockbusters
Australia’s flagship state theatre companies are also rolling out their own blockbuster productions big stars.
The Sydney Theatre Company is rolling out one blockbuster after another in the final year under the joint artistic direction of Cate Blanchett and Andrew Upton. Sure to sell out is Waiting for Godot starring Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh, while Cate Blanchett returns to the stage herself, head to head with acclaimed French actress Isabelle Huppert in the psychosexual thriller The Maids by Jean Genet.
Melbourne gets its opportunity for star-gazing when David Wenham stars opposite Anita Hegh in the MTC production of Arthur Miller’s masterpiece The Crucible. Sure to get international attention will be David Williamson’s take on the greatest media mogul of all time in the world premiere of Rupert. This political fantasia commissioned by MTC and directed by Lee Lewis is guaranteed to hit the headlines.
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