State Theatre Company of South Australia’s 2014 season opens with simply one of the greatest plays of the modern era – Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull.
In this new adaptation by celebrated Australian playwright Hilary Bell, The Seagull will be presented as part of the Adelaide Festival and performed in traverse in the Company’s Scenic Workshop.
Following the romantic and artistic conflicts between four characters: the famous middlebrow story writer Boris Trigorin, the ingénue Nina Zarechnaya, the fading actress Irina Arkadina, and her son the symbolist playwright Konstantin Tréplev, The Seagull explores emotion, creativity and romantic conflict with the incisive clarity of a doctor and the passionate heart of a poet.
A successful actress visits her brother’s isolated estate far from the city, throwing the frustrated residents’ unfulfilled ambitions into sharp relief. As her son attempts to impress with a self-penned play, putting much more than his pride at stake, others dream of fame, love and the ability to change their past.
Dissatisfaction is rife. Some desire love. Some desire success. Some desire artistic genius. No one, however, ever seems to attain happiness.
Xavier Samuel (The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, Anonymous, Drift) returns to Adelaide and his first love, the stage, to play the tortured Konstantin and, after a decade long absence, Rosalba Clemente returns to our stage to play the formidable Arkadina. Joined by a cast of Adelaide’s finest actors, they will deliver a sparkling new version of Chekhov’s classic by celebrated Australian playwright Hilary Bell.
The creative team behind The Kreutzer Sonata – director Geordie Brookman and set and lighting designer Geoff Cobham – return to the atmospheric surrounds of the Scenic Workshop in the heart of State Theatre Company for this special Festival event.
“I’ve been waiting a long time to direct Chekhov and when the combination of Xavier, Rosalba, Hilary Bell, the Festival and the intimate setting of the Workshop came together it was irresistible,” says Artistic Director, Geordie Brookman.
Director: Geordie Brookman Featuring: Matilda Bailey, Paul Blackwell, Rosalba Clemente, Terence Crawford, Lizzy Falkland, Lucy Fry, Matthew Gregan, Renato Musolino, Chris Pitman, Xavier Samuel Set & Lighting Designer: Geoff Cobham Costume Designer: Ailsa Paterson Composer / Musician: Matthew Gregan Assistant Director: Nescha Jelk
The Seagull
State Theatre Company Scenic Workshop, Adelaide Festival Centre
Season: 21 February – 16 March 2014
Bookings: 13 12 46 or online at: www.bass.net.au
For more information, visit: www.statetheatrecompany.com.au for details.
Image: by Kris Washusen – courtesy of State Theatre Company