Sexual adventurers, angst-ridden adolescents, deranged Irishmen, little black cats, drug-addled matriarchs, squabbling siblings, idiot gulls, lecherous princes, feisty actresses, cross-dressing coppers, blackmailing secretaries and wannabe comics, are all featured in New Theatre’s 2018 Season.
Showcasing some of the best local and international writing, ranging from recent hits to contemporary classics, the season includes two Australian premieres, one Sydney premiere, winners of Pulitzer, Tony and Olivier awards, plus the return of an award-winning contemporary Australian drama.
“These are plays that will make you think, plays that will make you blush, plays that will make your belly ache from laughing, and plays that will give you a warm fuzzy glow,” said Artistic Director, Louise Fischer.
Presented as part of the 40th Sydney Gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, the season kicks off with the Australian premiere of Joe DiPietro’s Fucking Men – a sharp, provocative and very funny play dealing with a chain of hook-ups amongst a group of gay men; illuminating a world of disenfranchised Sydney teens, of absent mothers, missing fathers, and struggling teachers, and reveals a society that has seemingly lost its way in dealing with its troubled youth, New Theatre presents a revival of Silent Disco by award-winning Australian writer Lachlan Philpott.
Next comes a slew of international plays: Martin McDonagh’s brazen and unapologetically blood-curdling farce, The Lieutenant of Inishmore; and the Australian premiere of Jessica Swale’s exhilarating take on the heady world of Restoration theatre, Nell Gwynn – winner of the Olivier Award for Best New Comedy in 2016.
Tracy Letts’ insightful and compassionate study of a family in meltdown is explored in August: Osage County; the Sydney premiere of Stupid Fucking Bird – Aaron Posner’s irreverent update of Chekhov’s The Seagull; and rounding out the year, New Theatre presents two very different classic comedies: Joe Orton’s What the Butler Saw, and Neil Simon’s Broadway Bound.
In 2018, New Theatre will continue to fulfil their mission statement to give both emerging and established artists – actors, directors, designers and technical crew – the chance to display their work, stretch their skills and have their talents seen and appreciated.
The directorial team for 2018 includes five women: Artistic Director Louise Fisher (August: Osage County), Deborah Mulhall (The Lieutenant of Inishmore), Deborah Jones (Nell Gwynn), Rosane McNamara (Broadway Bound), and Danielle Maas (What the Butler Saw) – making her New Theatre main-stage debut; while Johann Walraven (Silent Disco) returns, following his acclaimed production of Consensual earlier this year.
NIDA directing graduate Warwick Doddrell (Stupid Fucking Bird) will make his New Theatre debut, and Mark Nagle (Fucking Men) takes on a main-stage production after directing for us during Sydney Fringe Festival last year.
Tickets to all shows are now on sale, as well as Spend & Save packages. For more information, visit: www.newtheatre.org.au for details.
Image: New Theatre’s 2018 Season (supplied)