The Credeaux Canvas: Live Theatre Returns to Sydney

The Credeaux Canvas: Live Theatre Returns to Sydney

Lambert House Enterprises is presenting Sydney’s first play after lockdown, a season of Keith Bunin’s play The Credeaux Canvas at El Rocco Café and Theatre, Kings Cross from Thursday July 23rd.

The production – believed to be the first post-lockdown play to open - will be presented under strict Health directives with audiences - initially at least - limited to 24 people per performance, all socially distanced.  
All COVID-associated instructions will be in place, with the venue thoroughly cleaned upstairs and down, hand sanitiser available and audiences advised to wear masks - depending on health regulations closer to the time.  Audiences will also be placed at the back of the room, considerable distance from the actors.

Originally envisaged as a totally immersive theatrical experience (like the company’s season of Relative Merits in the same venue last year), current conditions forced a rethink for this production … and much creative resourcefulness. Initial rehearsals – and even a meeting with the playwright - all took place by ‘Zoom’ conferencing. Recent easing has allowed for live – socially distanced – rehearsal. But the prime consideration has been audience’s experience - and safety. Producer-director Les Solomon says that – as restrictions change and ease - it’s ‘a moveable feast’ and more adjustments will be made as the season goes. “I’m confident this brilliant cast of actors will deliver a highly intimate, bold and totally absorbing version of this great play.”

The Credeaux Canvas is the story of three twenty-somethings struggling to survive. There is a promising bi-sexual artist, his room-mate (a disenchanted and disinherited real estate agent) and this character’s girlfriend- a promising singer. They hatch a plan to dupe a wealthy art connoisseur into buying a forged painting, purportedly by French artist Jean-Paul Credeaux. A window into the disillusionment of generation Ys in the early 2000s, the play is generously laced with humour, sexual tension and a famous, very unusual nude scene! There are great moments of both irony and tragedy that have kept audiences around the world enthralled for nearly twenty years. Solomon is assisted by Isaac Broadbent and the cast features Samson Alston, Jasper Bruce, Rachel Marley, Tom Kelly and Beth Daly as Tess.

The Credeaux Canvas was first produced off-Broadway in 2001 and given its first non-American premiere in Sydney under Lambert’s company banner at the Stables Theatre in February 2002. There was subsequently a revival of the play at the Seymour Centre ‘Reginald’ in early 2015. This new production brings a totally new approach with the play placed within a small café-like setting. When the audience come down the stairs into the historic El Rocco room they will be entering the world of ‘Winston’, with his art decorating the walls. “They will feel they are almost intruding into the world of a burgeoning New York artist in turn of the millennium New York!”

The Credeaux Canvas by Keith Bunin
Directed by Les Solomon, assistant director Isaac Broadbent

Cast: Samson Alston, Jasper Bruce, Rachel Marley, Tom Kelly and Beth Daly as Tess

El Rocco Café and Theatre, 154 Brougham Street, Kings Cross
Playing time: 1 hour 50 mins with 10 min interval | Seating capacity: 24 (more As Restrictions Ease*)

From 23-26 July Thurs-Sun 7pm (plus 2pm Sun) | Then from 28 July Tues, Wed, Thurs 7pm, Sun 5pm

Season Previews July 23rd & 24th at 8pm |  Season from July 25th to 23 August (more to be added ARE*) Adults $35 | Concessions $25  Bookings www.trybooking.com/BKFGC

This production features adult themes including suicide, strong language & some explicit nudity. No children under 16 years admitted.

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