Australian Premiere: Tuesdays With Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher & Mitch Albom. Playing from Dec 18. From the best-selling novel by Mitch Albom comes a tender uplifting comedy about a life-altering friendship. Mitch’s favourite teacher was his college professor, Morrie Schwartz, but they haven’t seen each other in twenty years. When Mitch catches Morrie on a television interview talking about having Lou Gehrig’s disease, he decides to pay him a visit. Directed by Mark Kilmurry with Glenn Hazeldine as Mitch and 81 year old veteran actor Warren Mitchell as Morrie, returning for his swansong performance on the Ensemble stage.
Australian Premiere: Little Nell by Simon Gray. Playing from January 29. An astonishingly true account of one of the world’s greatest writers and his love affair with a young actress thirty years his junior. A beautifully written and seductive play directed by Mark Kilmurry with Mark Lee as Charles Dickens, and Katie Fitchett as the young actress with whom he was intoxicated, Nelly Ternan, (Little Nell). A gripping, intelligent love story.
Abigail’s Party by Mike Leigh. Playing from March 19. A sparkling maliciously poison-toothed satire about keeping up with the neighbours. Before Kath and Kim there was Abigail’s Party. Set in the seventies. There’s small talk, bad music and awkward dances. Mark Kilmurry directs this wonderful comedy from the master of human foibles, Mike Leigh. Cast includes Queenie van de Zandt and Brian Meegan as husband and wife, Beverly and Laurence, with Tara Morice as their new neighbour, Angela.
World Premiere: Let The Sunshine by David Williamson. Playing from May 7. This brand new David Williamson with trade-mark comedy bite asks what happens when people of widely different political views are forced to co-exist. A play about families set in Noosa, the upmarket, manicured playground of the wealthy and privileged. Sandra Bates directs a fine cast of six including Georgie Parker, Kate Raison and William Zappa.
Australian Premiere: The Little Dog Laughed by Douglas Carter Beane. Playing from July 9. A fairy tale of glamour, love and truth – Hollywood style. Andrew Doyle directs Alexandra Fowler as hard bitten LA agent, Diane, with James Millar as her client, award-winning actor and rising Hollywood star, Mitchell Green. The trouble is, Mitchell has a ‘slight, recurring case of homosexuality’ and Diane is concerned that if word gets out, it will affect his career. When he falls for a rent boy with a girlfriend, things get complicated. An infectious, satirical comedy.
World Premiere: And The Cow Jumped Over The Moon… by Mark Kilmurry. Playing from July 30. A brand new comedy about Barnaby Johnson, a relationships counselor, and 23 of his clients. They confess, accuse and make promises while Barnaby listens to their problems so he doesn’t have to deal with his own. Writer/director Mark Kilmurry will workshop this production, Mike Leigh style, with real life counselor and actor Michael Ross as Barnaby, alongside Catherine Moore and Jamie Oxenbould playing all the clients.
Australian Premiere: Duets by Peter Quilter. Playing from August 20. From the writer of End of the Rainbow and Glorious, Peter Quilter has written a wonderful new two hander, a gloriously funny examination of love, relationships and why the grass is never greener. Five sets of characters, all played by two actors, the brilliantly funny Noeline Brown and Barry Creyton, in a fast, furious and hilarious tribute to humankind. Sandra Bates directs.
Australian Premiere: The Ruby Sunrise by Rinne Groff. Playing from October 8. From the birth of television to the McCarthy era’s censorship, The Ruby Sunrise charts the phenomenon of television, its ability to tell great stories, distort them and give them happy endings. Amanda Muggleton returns to the Ensemble stage (last seen in Losing Louis) alongside Ensemble regulars Catherine McGraffin and Jonathan Prescott. Sandra Bates directs.
Australian Premiere: The Sunset Limited by Cormac MaCarthy. Playing from October 22nd. A compelling and powerful play about compassion, faith and the value of life. Award winning novelist Cormac MaCarthy’s (No Country For Old Men, All The Pretty Horses) powerful, thrilling new play about two men trying to figure out the reason we live the way we live. Depressed and at the end of his tether, White throws himself in front of a train. A black man saves him. But ultimately who is saving who? Inspired by a true story. Jennifer Don directs with Mark Kilmurry as White.
Christmas Comedy: Absurd Person Singular by Alan Ayckbourn. Playing from November 26. A classic comedy of manners, class and kitchen sinks from Britain’s master of satire. Alan Ayckbourns irresistible, hilarious, dark comedy classic concerning three married couples over three Christmas Eves. This is Ayckbourn at his sharpest and funniest. Cast includes Mark Owen-Taylor with Andrew Doyle as director.
Further information: www.ensemble.com.au