A story about frazzled hopes and parental anxiety, Australian comedy icon Jane Turner and rising star Brenna Harding play mother and daughter in April De Angelis’ West End hit, Jumpy in an Australian premiere at the Southbank Theatre from 5 February.
Turning fifty isn’t the worst of it for Hilary. Nor is it the feeling that life has passed her by, that her marriage is failing, or that her job is going nowhere. It’s not even the feeling of suffocation and panic that overcomes her at unexpected moments.
Oh no, the worst of it is her fifteen year-old daughter, Tilly, wayward, precocious and contrary, driving her to hair-clutching despair. But perhaps it’s not even that. Could it just be that young Tilly insists on grabbing every freedom that passing time has denied her mother?
Directed by Pamela Rabe, Jane Turner (Kath & Kim) returns to MTC to tread the boards as Hilary, a modern woman coming to terms with middle age and the trials of dealing with her wayward daughter Tilly, played by Logie Award-winning Brenna Harding (Puberty Blues).
Rounding out the cast of this domestic comedy is Marina Prior (Mary Poppins), Caroline Brazier (Rake), David Tredinnick (The Secret Life of Us), Laurence Boxhall (Deadline Gallipoli), John Lloyd Fillingham (The Secret River), Tariro Mavondo (Belleville) and Dylan Watson (The Beauty Queen of Leenane).
April De Angelis is a British playwright and librettist. Her play Jumpy premiered at the Royal Court Theatre in 2012 to critical acclaim and is currently being developed as a television series. De Angelis’ other work includes A Gloriously Mucky Business, Calais, Country, Playhouse Creatures, Wild East, A Laughing Matter, The Warwickshire Testimony, The Positive Hour, an adaptation of Wuthering Heights, and Catch, which was a collaboration with four other female playwrights for Royal Court. Her librettos include Flight for Glyndebourne Opera and The Silent Twins for Almeida Theatre.
Director: Pamela Rabe Cast: Laurence Boxhall, Caroline Brazier, John Lloyd Fillingham, Brenna Harding, Tariro Mavondo, Marina Prior, David Tredinnick, Jane Turner, Dylan Watson Set Designer: Michael Hankin Costume Designer: Teresa Negroponte Lighting Designer: Matt Scott Composer & Sound Designer: Drew Crawford Voice & Dialect Coach: Leith McPherson
Jumpy
The Sumner – Southbank Theatre, 140 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank
Season: 13 January – 14 March 2015 (Opening Night: 5 February 2015)
Bookings: (03) 8688 0800 or online at: www.mtc.com.au
For more information, visit: www.mtc.com.au for details.
Image: Jane Turner – courtesy of MTC