Mainstage Theatre Seasons 2013
All the season brochures for mainstage theatre companies in Australia now out. Of course you can’t see everything. Who has the time or the money? To help, Stage Whispers asked the theatre companies to select shows for different theatre ‘types’.
Theatre Tragics. For someone who goes to the theatre often, and wants to see a stand out production.
Something Edgy. For theatregoers whose priority is challenging and innovative theatre.
Just Entertain Me. Lots of laugh please.
Younger Audiences. I’m 21 or younger; speak to my generation.
Sydney Theatre Company
Andrew Upton – Co-artistic Director (pictured above Cate Blanchett. Photographer: Lisa Tomasetti).
Theatre Tragics:The Secret River and Waiting For Godot. Stunning casts in great writing, realised by internationally acclaimed directors, Neil Armfield and Tamas Ascher.
Something edgy:Laser Beak Man and The Maids. Two of the most significant theatrical innovators - Bruce Gladwin and Benedict Andrews - working absolutely in their element with wonderful casts.
Just Entertain Me: Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Deadand One Man, Two Guvnors. Two great comic directors, Simon Phillips and Nick Hytner, grappling with two hilarious writers and featuring great casts.
Younger audiences:Romeo and Juliet and Mrs Warren’s Profession. Exciting young directors, Kip Williams and Sarah Giles, with classic material tackling the generation gap head on.
Pictured right: Cate Blanchett and Isabelle Huppert, Photographers, Michele Aboud/Kate Barry.
Black Swan State Theatre Company
Kate Cherry - Artistic Director
Theatre Tragics: I have wanted to direct Other Desert Cities by Jon Robin Baitz for several years now. It’s a moving, revealing, compassionate drama with a sharp eye for US politics and society. And Shrine, the third play by Tim Winton. It’s excavates the joys and perils of being young, and is deeply entwined with the landscape and coast of Western Australia.
Something edgy: Try The Motherf**ker with the Hat. It’s a hip, foul-mouthed comedy that is as contemporary as it gets. And Midsummer [A Play with Songs] will be a fabulous, madcap evening of theatre with lots of music – this play has been a hit around the world.
Just entertain me: You can’t go past The Importance of Being Earnest, the quintessential Edwardian rom-com with some of Oscar Wilde’s most sparkling bon mots. And also don’t miss Day One, A Hotel, Evening, the new comedy by Joanna Murray-Smith. Directed by the iconic Bruce Beresford, this play will be a gem!
Younger audiences: I think everyone – especially young people, should see classics like Death of a Salesman at least once in their life, so I’d definitely recommend this timeless father-son drama. And in contrast, my second choice would be The Motherf**ker with the Hat (again) – that play is simply written for them.
Full Black Swan Season Coverage
Griffin Theatre Company
Sam Strong - Departing Artistic Director
Theatre tragics: I would recommend The Floating World. This is a neglected masterpiece of Australian Theatre, last staged at the SBW Stables in 1975. It’s unique combination of rowdiness and power, comedy and tragedy.
Also Return to Earth. Lally Katz has been carving out an impressive reputation lately but so far only Melbourne audiences have seen this great example of her wonderful imagination.
Something edgy: Dreams in White deals with the darker parts of human nature, in particular the secrets people keep from those closest to them. But it’s completely thrilling – think Speaking in Tongues on speed.
And Summertime in the Garden of Eden. Think Tennessee Williams in drag on acid and you’re about half way there. This is our version of a Christmas panto.
Just Entertain Me: The Bull, the Moon and the Coronet of Stars is a shamelessly sentimental and hilarious rom com by the normally fiery and political Van Badham. It’s incredibly playful and will be directed by Griffin’s new Artistic Director, Lee Lewis.
And Girl in Tan Boots. This is a charming story set very firmly in Sydney. It combines a love story, a detective story and a magic act.
Younger audiences: Beached by young writer Melissa Bubnic has a razor sharp comic wit and a very gen y sensibility. Here she takes on reality TV and morbid obesity and the results are hilarious and moving.
Also This is Where we Live. This is an explosive and poetic immersion into the lives of two teenagers in the tradition of Silent Disco. Like that play, it also won the Griffin Award.
Images: Beached and Dreams in White (Photographer: Katie Koars).
Melbourne Theatre Company.
Brett Sheehy – Artistic Director (pictured right).
Theatre Tragics: David Williamson takes on the greatest media mogul of all time in the world premiere of Rupert. This political fantasia commissioned by MTC is guaranteed to hit the headlines.
Robyn Nevin stars in Other Desert Cities by American playwright Jon Robin Baitz, creator of the hit TV series, Brothers and Sisters. This play – an Australian premiere mixes a nation’s politics with a family in crisis
Something edgy: In a first, MTC will present Zeitgeist. A space has been deliberately kept open to bring audiences the freshest Australian or international work hot off the playwright’s desk.
Two unlikely people meet in a single moment sparking infinite possibilities as quantum theory hits the stage in Constellations.
The Cherry Orchard Simon Stone’s radical re-working of a Chekhov classic.
Just Entertain Me: One Man, Two Guvnors - two guvnors means two meal tickets and two pay days, only if Frances Henshall can keep them apart! Direct from London’s West End.
The world premiere of Joanna Murray-Smith’s new play True Minds is a witty story about love and dysfunctional family relationships.
Younger audiences: Richard Tulloch’s stage adaptation of Dutch author Guus Kuijer’s classic book, The Book of Everything.
Malthouse Theatre
Marion Potts – Artistic Director (pictured left)
Theatre Tragics: Hate, Back to Back’s new production Laser Beak Man and Shadow King. These productions represent an extremely diverse series of ideas, aesthetics and talents sure to satisfy any theatre lover.
Something edgy: Persona, White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, Bloody Chamber and Dance of Death. Dealing with topics such as identity, censorship, feminism and marriage and working across a range of genres and art forms, these productions will all push the boundaries of live performance.
Just entertain me: The Dragon features comic trio Tripod, who have created original songs to accompany the production, Hard Rubbish is a fantastic new family show, and Stories I want to Tell You in Person is written by created, and stars the hilarious Lally Katz.
Younger audiences: Created by the award-winning object puppeteers Men of Steel, Hard Rubbish will be an exciting and innovative family production that sees an entire lounge room come alive!
Full Malsthouse season coverage
Queensland Theatre Company
Wesley Enoch – Artistic Director
Theatre Tragics: A 7-play subscription package!
Something edgy: Definitely the season openers – The Pitch and The China Incident; and of course TROLLOP in The GreenHouse.
Just entertain me: End of the Rainbow – starring Christen O’Leary as Judy Garland in her final days. Powerful and poignant with 11 classic Garland songs.
Younger audiences: Wow we have a heap here – Venus in Fur; The Pitch and The China Incident; Design for Living; Mother Courage and Trollop.
But if you must choose only two, Stage Whispers notes Wesley’s owns words making special mention of “Red - that won six Tony Awards including Best play in 2010, as well as the Drama Desk Award for Most Outstanding Play and Other Desert Cities was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize for Drama, plus has five nominations for Tony Awards with year, including Best Play.”
Image: Mother Courage.
Ensemble Theatre
Theatre tragics: Frankenstein - a spine-tingling new adaption of the classic Mary Shelley novel by British playwright Nick Dear, and a smash hit sellout success for the National Theatre in London, which will tour nationally after its Sydney season. Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry describes Frankenstein as “Thrilling, moving, scary and beautiful – a man born as an adult has to survive on his wits, learning fast. This is a rollercoaster ride of a story, fast, furious, haunting and entertaining… a Frankenstein with a mission.”
Something edgy: Liberty, Equality Fraternity by Geoffrey Atherden. Director Shannon Murphy says, “What Geoffrey does so cleverly is put Australian politics and culture under the microscope - but of course he does this in a very comedic way. It’s one of the most fascinating reads I’ve had in a long time; it raises so many questions that are very contemporary. It’s the kind of show that’s going to leave people buzzing in the foyer, talking about all the different issues in the play for a long time afterwards.”
Just Entertain Me: Happiness by David Williamson. Director Sandra Bates says "It’s very funny – you’ll laugh and laugh – but you’ll also empathise with the characters. What I love is the irony of this professor of happiness surrounded by unhappiness when he’s done everything right. Only David can bring us this kind of irony."
Younger audiences: A Year with Frog and Toad. Director Anna Crawford says, " A Year with Frog and Toad is the only children’s musical ever to be nominated for a TONY for Best Musical in the Adult Category, and I think that really speaks of how touching this show is for kids but also for adults as well. It’s funny and charming – there’s a lot of singing and dancing and it’s just a really sweet bit of escapism that teaches really good values about friendship and courage. I just can’t wait to work on it again."
Pictured: Sandra Bates and Mark Kilmurry
State Theatre Company of South Australia
Geordie Brookman: Artistic Director (pictured)
Theatre Tragics: One of Australia’s great actors playing one of theatre’s great roles, Alison Bell in Joanna Murray-Smith’s contemporary adaptation of Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler and Adelaide legend Paul Blackwell in the title role of John Doyle’s new playVere, our co production with Sydney Theatre Company.
Something edgy: Living legend Barry Otto in Sue Smith’s adaptation of Tolstoy’s‘The Kreutzer Sonata’. The piece will be created in a purpose built venue inside our scenery workshop with a score developed by Gabriella Smart. And The Dark Room by Angela Betzien. An excellent chance to see some brilliant new Australian writing and to connect with some of the best the SA independent sector has to offer.
Just Entertain Me: For pure theatrical inventiveness and the chance to see a world famous company – Kneehigh’s production of Noel Coward’sBrief Encounter and Imara Savage’s anarchic production of Shakespeare’sThe Comedy of Errors, our national touring coproduction with Bell Shakespeare.
Younger audiences: Debbie Tucker Green’s heart stopping and brilliant monologue,Random, starring Zindzi Okenyo and one of the most exciting new voices of the Australian stage, Rita Kalnejais, with her heartbreaking but uplifting play Babyteeth.
Company B Belvoir.
Artistic Director Ralph Myers was on holidays when our survey was underway. Here are Stage Whispers’ recommendations.
Theatre tragics: Simon Stone directs Hamlet, with Toby Schmitz (pictured) in the title role and Eamon Flack will direct both parts of Angels in America, a piece of such breadth and ambition that it commands two nights in the theatre.
Something edgy: Ros Horin has spent the last 18 months with an extraordinary group of African women who now call Australia home. Their story, Baulkham Hills African Ladies Troupe, is the result.
Just Entertain Me: Lally Katz will appear on stage in Things I Want to Tell You In Person.
Young Audiences: Artistic Director Ralph Myers kicks off the year with Peter Pan, a work for adults and children alike with a team of fabulous clowns.
Bell Shakespeare.
Theatre Tragics: King Henry IV - John Bell directs this new production and stars as Shakespeare's greatest comic creation, Falstaff. Lord of misrule, life of the party, corrupter of youth. And his Australian take on English history, with its monarchy, class system and civil unrest teeters on the edge of anarchy. This age-old story of a rebellious son and a domineering father is bursting with dramatic tension interspersed with riotous, bawdy comedy, music and violence set to recapture the boisterous atmosphere of Shakespeare's Globe for a modern audience.
Something edgy: Peter Evans directs Racine's tragic love story Phèdre, from Ted Hughes' passionately wrought translation of love, betrayal, humiliation, despair and death. And takes a fresh look at one of the most important tragedies in French theatre.
Youth and Entertain Me: Imara Savage takes on one of Shakespeare's earliest comedies, The Comedy of Errors, with style. Sharp banter and comical word-play lure us into a contemporary world where characters are reinvented, individuality is fluid, and bigger themes lie just below the surface. Over the course of this fast-paced comedy, truths are increasingly unstable, accidents more unfortunate and the boundary between what's real and what isn't becomes even more tenuous.
Originally Published in the November / December 2012 edition of Stage Whisppers.
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