Venture Capital Theatre presents its debut show, Joe Penhall’s Love and Understanding, a darkly comic three-person piece exploring relationships in the modern city.

At 29, Neal and Rachel have life sorted: relationship, successful careers as doctors and a mortgage on a trendy flat. Then an old friend, Richie, arrives after years away; he is envious, lazy, bitter, manipulative, fragile and on a downward spiral. Neal and Rachel are jolted into examining their lives for the first time in many years.

From its deeply ironic title to its colourful, evocative close, Love and Understanding explores the ennui of modern-day couplings, underscored and illustrated by the vivid underbelly of Melbourne’s stencil art.

The opening piece of Venture Capital’s 2008 season, Love and Understanding is a brutal yet tender piece, an urban tale about the fragility and resilience of love when exposed to uncomfortable truths.

Venture Capital Theatre is dedicated to urban drama that engages with different artistic forms – with a commitment to reach across artistic borders and steal for the good of theatre.

Joe Penhall is the award-winning author of the play Blue/Orange, the screen version of Enduring Love, and the upcoming adaptation of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road.

The show runs from June 6th to 21st @ Dante's @ 8pm (6pm Sun.)

150-156 Gertrude Street, Fitzroy, VIC

Tickets @ $18 concession or $25 full.

www.venturecapitaltheatre.com