| The Seed | Company B |
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 “The play was written as an exploration of my own family's spectres of war, and as a response to military commitments being made by my country. The Seed is not so much a political piece however, as it is a deep exploration of family, loyalty and betrayal. It is a play for anyone who lives in a country currently at war, recovering from war, anyone who is part of a family. And in Australia, that's pretty much all of us right now.”
- Kate Mulvany
Award-winning playwright Kate Mulvany took the independent theatre world by storm in the 2007 B Sharp Season with her Philip Parsons Young Playwright’s Award commission, The Seed. Now, with the support of Company B and under the guidance of Neil Armfield, her acclaimed play, inspired by the impact of war on her not-so-typical Irish family, is making its way to the upstairs stage at Belvoir St Theatre in February 2008.
The story involves three generations of the Maloney family reuniting after thirty years. Brian – a stoic and devout IRA soldier; Danny, his ten-pound pom and Vietnam Veteran son; and Rose his granddaughter – a 30-year-old Australian writer desperately trying to report the repercussions of the war in order to escape her own scars.
The three come together for what is supposed to be a long-awaited celebration, yet as stories are told and histories revealed, the lines between truth and lies, war and peace and family and foe become increasingly blurred, and the Maloney family home becomes an explosive battle ground.
Director Neil Armfield is delighted that Company B has been able to nurture a new Australian work from its beginnings as, well, a seed of an idea, to an independent theatre commission, to its place in Company B’s main stage season. He says the production is also an example of the opportunities Company B is providing emerging directors, such as Iain Sinclair, who have been doing phenomenal work in the independent theatre scene in recent years.
“The Seed is a beautiful work that boldly brings together the pain and anguish of a family wrought with both physical and emotional memories of war, leavened by a tough and unsentimental vein of humour,” he said.
“Like many of the productions in Company B’s 2008 Season, The Seed runs deep, not only into one family’s history: it reaches out and becomes a parable of our nation. I have no doubt that this show is a classic in the making and we’re looking forward to bringing this further developed production back to Belvoir St Theatre in 2008.”
Directed by Iain Sinclair (Lord of the Flies, Hurlyburly) with Neil Armfield (Toy Symphony, Exit the King, Keating!), The Seed brings together for another season Kate Mulvany (Mr Bailey’s Minder, A Man With Five Children, Ruby’s Last Dollar, Buried Child), Danny Adcock (The Boyce Trilogy) and Martin Vaughan (Mr Bailey’s Minder, Buried Child).
“Kate Mulvany's story, her play about her story and her performance in her play are extraordinarily powerful and moving. This is an important work that deserves a long life.” – The Australian
“At this stage in her career, Mulvany is often described as an emerging playwright. The Seed suggests she’s close to fully fledged.” – The Sun-Herald
“The Seed is probably the best new Australian theatre work of 2007…and this production is a rewarding one for all kinds of reasons that need to be experienced to be believed and understood.” – Stagenoise
Company B presents
THE SEED
by Kate Mulvany
Directed by Neil Armfield and Iain Sinclair
With: Danny Adcock, Kate Mulvany and Martin Vaughan
Venue: Belvoir St Theatre, 25 Belvoir St, Surry Hills
Dates: 21 February – 30 March, 2008
Previews: Saturday 16 and Sunday 17 February, 2008. All preview tickets $33
Opening night: Wednesday 20 February, 2008
Times: Tuesday 6.30pm, Wednesday to Friday 8pm, Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 5pm.
Tickets: Full $54. Seniors (excluding Fri/Sat evenings) and Groups 10+ $45. Concession $33.
Student Rush $25 for Tuesday 6.30pm, available from 10am on the day (subject to availability)
Bookings: 9699 3444 or www.belvoir.com.au
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