PRODUCTION HISTORY
Independent Theatre was founded in 1983. Its charter was to present neglected classics and new plays – and provide Adelaide audiences with high quality productions of plays that they would not otherwise have an opportunity of seeing.
The company presented its first production – Robert Bolt's Vivat! Vivat, Regina! – in St John's Church, Halifax Street, Adelaide, at the 1984 Adelaide Festival Fringe.
Since then, over 35 years, it has presented nearly 120 productions, including 19 South Australian Premieres, 36 Australian Premieres and 25 World Premieres. The new plays include works by several international playwrights whom the company has brought to Adelaide to work on their plays. Many of the company's Australian and World premieres are adaptations of classic novels, 20 of them of them by Artistic Director, Rob Croser.
The company was the first non-professional company ever invited to perform in The Space Theatre (in 1994), and, also in The Playhouse (in 1998). Over those years, it has performed 12 plays in The Space, and 4 in The Playhouse.
The year-by-year album of plays is testament to the company's output, repertoire and production values.
Its range extends from two-handers like Master Plan, Red and Old, Wicked Songs to epics like War and Peace, The Grapes of Wrath, Cry God for Harry!, A Passage to India, Lord of the Flies, Cry, the Beloved Country, and the six-hour, two-part The Blood of Agamemnon. All graced by performances by some of the state's best actors, surrounded by brilliant sets, costumes and graphic design, no other company in the State (and probably the country) can boast such an impressive history.
