Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre has announced its 2016 Season with Artistic Director, Mark Kilmurry solely at the helm, following Sandra Bates’ pending retirement in January 2016, after 30 years in the role.
“I am enormously pleased and proud to present the Ensemble’s new season,” says Kilmurry. “As ever, we bring you the best of new Australian plays, international plays and cherished classics, plus an exciting new co-production with ATYP.”
“In the past 30 plus years, Sandra has done an incredible job of building Ensemble Theatre to what it is today. I thank her for her trust, mentoring, the knowledge she has graciously passed on over the last 10 years, and for her blessing in taking over the reins. We will miss her, but Sandra still plays an important part in 2016, directing the return of one of our favourite hits.”
Kilmurry’s 10-play season opens with a brand new play from the master of social comedy, David Williamson’s Jack of Hearts and featuring The Chaser’s Chris Taylor and Craig Reucassel. Next off the blocks will be the eagerly awaited return of Ensemble Theatre’s smash hit comedy, Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks starring Nancye Hayes and Todd McKenney.
David Lindsay-Abaire’s wonderfully whip-smart comedy of manners, Good People featuring Tara Morice and Zindzi Okenyo makes its Sydney premiere, alongside The History of Falling Things – a beautifully realised comedy about love, fear and modern technology, and Jane Cafarella’s e-baby starring Angie Milliken.
A first time co-production with Australian Theatre for Young People and based on the best-selling novel by Tony Davis, the World Premiere of The Big Dry, directed by Fraser Corfield, promises to be an event not to be missed for young or old.
Other highlights include the runaway hit in London and off-Broadway, Tribes featuring Ana Maria Belo; the all-star cast of Guy Edmonds, Ursula Mills and Matthew Zeremes in Harold Pinter’s Betrayal; Neil Simon’s Barefoot in the Park featuring Daniel Mitchell and Georgie Parker; and Alan Ayckbourn’s Relatively Speaking.
Also new will be the Boatshed Project – an engaging program including lunchtime readings, directorial workshops and backstage tours, and 2016 will also see the introduction of two new awards to help up-and-coming creatives get a start in the industry.
The Ensemble Theatre New Writing Commission supported by David Williamson and the Australian Writer’s Guild; and The Sandra Bates Director’s Awards sponsored by the Seaborn Broughton and Walford Foundation, allowing two recipients the opportunity to work as an Assistant Director on two of Ensemble Theatre’s mainstage productions in 2016.
Kilmurry says: “My vision for Ensemble Theatre’s future is not particularly radical – if it ain’t broke – but our aim always is to enrich Sydney’s creative landscape, and to be a place where theatre connects to people of all ages.”
2016 Subscriptions are now on sale, with single tickets on sale in early November. For more information, visit: www.ensemble.com.au for details.