Season 2012 

 

 

 

 

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Play 1: Becket
by Jean Anouilh
translated by Lucienne Hill
   
 

Henry II of England and his chancellor, Thomas Becket, are best friends. They share a love of hunting, wine, women - and fighting the church. When the old Archbishop of Canterbury dies, Henry hits on a brilliant scheme to bring the church under royal control. He will appoint his friend as the new archbishop!

Becket is horrified, and begs Henry not to do it. "If I become archbishop, I can no longer be your friend." Henry, laughingly dismisses Becket's fears, and proceeds with his plan, thus setting in motion one of the most titanic power clashes in mediaeval England, and culminating in Becket's murder in Canterbury Cathedral by four of Henry's barons.

Anouilh's play had its London premiere in 1961, with Christopher Plummer and Eric Porter in the cast. It was then famously filmed, in 1964, with Richard Burton and Peter O'Toole, both at the height of their fame (O'Toole from Lawrence of Arabia and Burton from Cleopatra) as king and archbishop. In more recent times, the play has been revived in London with Derek Jacobi and Robert Lindsay in the roles.

This powerful play, with its two compelling central characters and its clash of ideologies, is every bit as pertinent today as when it was written. Above all, it is a brilliant piece of theatre

Such a play needs two powerhouse performances at the helm. IT is thrilled to announce Stephen Tongun as Becket, and Samuel Rogers, as Henry II.

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

  
Where:Odeon Theatre
  Queen Street, Norwood
  
When:April 20, 21, 25, 26, 27, 28 at 7:30
 Matinees April 22 at 4:00 and April 28 at 2:00pm
 Early April 24 at 6:30pm
  
Tickets: $35 (adult) / $30 (concession) / $25 (groups) / $18 (student) / $15 (children)

To purchase tickets, press here or phone 1-300-889-702
 
Phone (08)8338-0828 for assistance
  
   
Play 2: To Kill a Mockingbird
by Harper Lee
adapted by Christopher Sergel
   


 

Scout Finch and her brother Jem live in a small Alabama town in the 1930s. The biggest issue confronting them is how to get the local recluse, Boo Radley, to come out of his seemingly haunted house. That is, until their lawyer father, Atticus, is appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a young black man accused of raping a white woman.

Through the young eyes of Scout and Jem, we see the irrationality of adult attitudes towards race and class, and how the conscience of a community steeped in prejudice, violence and hypocrisy is pricked by the quiet heroism of one man's struggle for justice.

Harper Lee's best-selling novel burst onto the world scene in 1960. Based on her own childhood in the Deep South, it has sold over 30 million copies. It won the Pulitzer Prize, and was made into one of the world's favourite movies, starring Gregory Peck.

In 2007, Independent Theatre produced the play's Australian Premiere. It was a total sell-out, and - despite extra performances - hundreds of people were turned away.

Well now, due to public demand, the company has decided to remount this landmark production. David Roach will reprise his towering performance as Atticus, with Lyn Wilson as Jean Louise Finch (the adult Scout), and Shedrick Yarkpai as Tom Robinson.

Where: Arts Theatre
53 Angas Street, Adelaide
a
When: July 27, 28, August 1, 2, 3, 4 at 7:30pm
Matinees July 29 at 4:00 and Aug 4 at 2:00pm
Early July 31 at 6:30pm
a
Tickets: $35 (adult) / $30 (concession) / $25 (groups) / $18 (student) / $15 (children)

To purchase tickets, press here or phone 1-300-889-702
 
Phone (08)8338-0828 for assistance
   
Play 3: Pride and Prejudice
by Jane Austen
adapted by Simon Reade
   
 

When Elizabeth Bennet first meets eligible bachelor, Fitzwilliam Darcy, she thinks him arrogant and conceited, while he struggles to remain indifferent to her good looks and lively mind. When she learns that he has scuppered the relationship between his friend Bingley and her sister Jane, she is determined to dislike him more than ever.

Meanwhile, her mother, the irrepressible Mrs Bennet, is desperate to see her five daughters married off before her long-suffering husband dies, and the house passes to an odious relative - the slimy clergyman, Mr Collins.

In the sparkling comedy that follows, Jane Austen shows the folly of judging by first impressions, and hilariously evokes the friendships, gossip and snobbery of provincial middle-class life.

One of the world's best-loved novels, Pride and Prejudice has been adapted for stage and screen (big and small) for much of its 200 years of life.

This brand-new stage version, by playwright, director and Shakespearean scholar Simon Reade, was commissioned by the Theatre Royal, Bath in 2009, and starred Susan Hampshire as Mrs Bennet.

While being smart, modern and spiky, the adaptation remains totally faithful to the spirit and text of Austen's hilariously subversive novel.

AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE

   
Where: Odeon Theatre
Queen Street, Norwood
a
When: November 9, 10, 14, 15, 16, 17 at 7:30pm
Matinees November 11 at 4:00; 17 at 2:00pm
Early November 13 at 6:30pm
a
Tickets: $35 (adult) / $30 (concession) / $25 (groups) / $18 (student) / $15 (children)

To purchase tickets, press here or phone 1-300-889-702
 
Phone (08)8338-0828 for assistance
   
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