Sydney news

Sydney Theatre Company Artistic Directors Andrew Upton and Cate Blanchett yesterday announced their first Main Stage Season for Sydney Theatre Company, comprising 12 productions throughout 2009.

“True to its’ name, we want Sydney Theatre Company to have a place at the heart of our city. We hope plenty of variety, depth and humour can be found in the 2009 Main Stage Season and with our Open Day on 25 October, we welcome everyone in to discover ways to connect with and enjoy the Company.”

Highlights of the 2009 Main Stage Season include:
• The hilarious but chilling Australian classic The Removalists by David Williamson directed by Wayne Blair and featuring Steve Bisley in this groundbreaking depiction of Australian society that still resonates almost forty years on.

• The heart-warming Elling, based on the very funny Norwegian novel of the same name and adapted by Britain’s Simon Bent, is about people living on society’s fringe attempting to come to terms with the real world. Directed by Pamela Rabe, it is presented in association with Ambassador Theatre Group, operators of Trafalgar Studios, where Sydney Theatre Company is an Associate Company.

• Still under wraps as a major highlight of the Main Stage Season is a ‘secret’ production, directed by Academy Award-winner Steven Soderbergh whose films include the Ocean’s Eleven series, Traffic, Erin Brockovich and Sex, Lies, and Videotape.

• Poor Boy, by Australian playwright Matt Cameron, inspired by and featuring new and existing songs by Tim Finn, is co-produced with Melbourne Theatre Company and directed by Simon Phillips. At once darkly atmospheric and incandescently comic and uplifting, the play focuses on two fractured families thrown together by a gripping, unfathomable mystery.

• A Streetcar Named Desire by Tennessee Williams, is directed by the legendary Liv Ullmann and features Cate Blanchett as Blanche, Joel Edgerton as Stanley and Robin McLeavy as Stella. Following the Sydney season, this American masterpiece will also tour to New York and Washington.

• Gale Edwards makes a welcome return to the Company directing the Australian premiere of the brutally funny satire, God of Carnage, by France’s Yasmina Reza (Art, Life x 3). Jeremy Sims is already confirmed as one of four terribly civilised parents who meet to discuss a playground fracas between their children that rapidly reveals they’re no more evolved than their offspring.

To receive a 2009 Main Stage Season brochure SMS your name and address to 0427 016 327 | (02) 9250 1777 | www.sydneytheatre.com.au


SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY MAIN STAGE SEASON 2009

The Removalists
by David Williamson
Director Wayne Blair
Wharf 1. 31 January to 15 March. Opens 5 February.

Travesties
by Tom Stoppard
Director Richard Cottrell
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. 9 March to 18 April . Opens 13 March.

The Wonderful World of Dissocia
by Anthony Nielson
Director Marion Potts
Wharf 1. 14 April to 17 May. Opens 18 April.

When The Rain Stops Falling
by Andrew Bovell
Director Chris Drummond
A collaboration with Hossein Valamanesh and Brink Productions
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House . 7 May to 13 June. Opens 11 May.

Elling
based on a novel by Ingvar Ambjørnsen. Stage adaptation by Axel Hellstenius in
collaboration with Petter Næss.
Translated by Nicholas Norris. Adapted by Simon Bent
Director Pamela Rabe
Wharf 1. 30 May to 12 July. Opens 4 June.

The City
by Martin Crimp
Director Benedict Andrews
Wharf 2. 29 June to 9 August. Opens 3 July.

Poor Boy
by Matt Cameron in collaboration with music and lyrics by Tim Finn
Director Simon Phillips
Sydney Theatre. 6 July to 1 August. Opens 9 July.

Saturn’s Return
by Tommy Murphy
Director David Berthold
Wharf 1. 24 July to 30 August. Opens 29 July.

A Streetcar Named Desire
by Tennessee Williams
Director Liv Ullmann
Sydney Theatre. 1 September to 10 October. Opens 5 September.

God of Carnage
by Yasmina Reza, translated by Christopher Hampton
Director Gale Edwards
Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House. 3 October to 14 November. Opens 8 October.

The Mysteries: Genesis
Directors Matthew Lutton, Andrew Upton, Tom Wright
CarriageWorks . 20 November to 19 December. Opens 25 November

Untitled Project
Director Steven Soderbergh
Wharf 1. 18 December to 31 January. Opens 23 December.