Following his revelatory productions of Macbeth and Romeo and Juliet, STC’s Interim Artistic Director, Kip Williams continues his exploration of Shakespeare with a bold new staging of A Midsummer Night’s Dream at the Sydney Opera House throughout September and October 2016.
Bringing particular emphasis to the exhilaration, terror and danger associated with sexual awakening, in STC’s Dream, Williams tracks the explosion of yearning and desire that is unleashed as four young people defy parental expectations and go running into the darkness to pursue a different kind of future for themselves.
The sense of magic and enchantment is as heightened as ever but this is no fairy tale. The forest-realm is a place of liberation and exploration, of both dream and nightmare, of transgression, and ultimately transformation, for the quarrelsome quartet of lovers.
Rob Collins, currently starring in ABC TV’s acclaimed Cleverman series plays Lysander. Honey Debelle, last seen in STC’s Arcadia and known for ABC’s Anzac Girls is Helena. Brandon McClelland plays Demetrius, before stepping onto the Broadway stage alongside Susan Prior (Quince) in STC’s The Present.
Rose Riley, following excellent reviews in Belvoir’s The Glass Menagerie, is Hermia. Paula Arundell, nominated for a Helpmann Award for Best Actress for Griffin’s The Bleeding Tree plays Titania opposite STC favourites Robert Menzies as Oberon, and Josh McConville as Bottom.
This year Williams has already directed two acclaimed productions at STC: Arthur Miller’s All My Sons and Louis Nowra’s The Golden Age. Having won last year’s Helpmann Award for Suddenly Last Summer by Tennessee Williams, he was nominated again this year for his production of Love and Information by Caryl Churchill.
Director: Kip Williams Featuring: Paula Arundell, Matthew Backer, Rob Collins, Honey Debelle, Emma Harvie, Jay James-Moody, Brandon McClelland, Josh McConville, Robert Menzies, Susan Prior, Rose Riley, Rahel Romahn, Bruce Spence Set Designer: Robert Cousins Costume Designer: Alice Babidge Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper Composer: Chris Williams Sound Designer: Nate Edmondson
A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Drama Theatre – Sydney Opera House, Bennelong Point (Sydney)
Season: 16 September – 22 October 2016 (previews: 13 – 15 September)
Information and Bookings: www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Image: A Midsummer Night’s Dream – photo by Cybele Malinowski