Sydney news

Sydney Theatre Company’s production of Uncle Vanya by Anton Chekhov, adapted by Andrew Upton and directed by Tamás Ascher, will tour to the Kennedy Center in Washington, USA, with performances from 4 to 24 August 2011.

The entire original cast - John Bell, Cate Blanchett, Sandy Gore, Hayley McElhinney, Anthony Phelan, Richard Roxburgh, Andrew Tighe, Jacki Weaver and Hugo Weaving - will reprise their roles for the production which was a critical and box office triumph at Sydney Theatre in November and December 2010. More than 47,300 people saw the play during its Sydney run with every performance completely sold out.

Sydney Theatre Company’s last engagement at the Kennedy Center was in 2009 with A Streetcar Named Desire, which was subsequently awarded three prestigious Helen Hayes Awards including for Outstanding Non-Resident Production.

General Manager Patrick McIntyre said: “We’re thrilled to be taking the show to the US capital as part of Sydney Theatre Company’s ongoing commitment to international dialogue with artists and audiences around the world through collaborations and touring. There has been keen international interest in this production and we’re delighted that the very busy schedules of the exceptional cast and creative team will allow for this engagement at the Kennedy Center.”