Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Blackbird by David Harrower opens this week at one of Europe’s most prestigious theatre festivals, the Rührfestspiele in Recklinghausen, Germany.
Directed by STC Co Artistic Director Cate Blanchett and featuring Paula Arundell, Danielle Catanzariti and Peter Kowitz, Blackbird was critically acclaimed during its season at STC’s Wharf 1 from December to February and at the New Zealand International Arts Festival in February 2008.
Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett, Co Artistic Directors of STC, said: “Taking an all-Australian production of a play by a Scottish playwright to a German stage brings great opportunities for STC and many of our artists. Its terrific to open in a week when STC also has three other mainstage productions on offer in Sydney; The Year of Magical Thinking, The Serpent’s Teeth and Rock ‘n’ Roll, plus a new Romeo and Juliet at Wharf 2.”
The raw and challenging Blackbird, focusing on issues of love and abuse while tackling one of society’s most unsettling taboos, plays at the Rührfestspiele Festival from 8 to 12 May 2008. Other highlights of the festival include Speed-The-Plow from London’s Old Vic featuring Kevin Spacey and Jeff Goldblum and Sombrero from the world-renowned Compagnie Philippe Decouflé.
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STC opens in Germany
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