A deeply moving and enigmatic tale of friendship, of promises made and bonds sealed in blood, Black Swan State Theatre Company presents the Australian premiere of Let the Right One In at the Heath Ledger Theatre from 15 November 2017.
Let the Right One In tells of a friendship between a boy and a centuries-old vampire. Oskar is a bullied lonely teenager living with his mother on a housing estate on the outskirts of town. Eli is the young girl who has just moved in next door. She doesn’t go to school and never leaves the flat by day.
Sensing in each other a kindred spirit, the two become devoted friends. What Oskar doesn’t know is that Eli has been a teenager for a very, very long time. When a spate of sinister killings rock the neighbourhood, their lives become further entwined. How will they survive in a world that seems destined to tear them apart?
Based on the acclaimed 2004 Swedish novel Låt den rätte komma in by John Ajvide Lindqvist, and the 2008 film directed by Tomas Alfredson (The Snowman, 2017), this stage adaptation by Jack Thorne for the National Theatre of Scotland, received rave reviews when it premiered in London in 2013.
New Artistic Director Clare Watson marks her Black Swan directorial debut, assembling an extraordinary cast in this beguiling myth and coming-of-age love story. Sophia Forrest (Love Child) and Ian Michael (HART) make their Black Swan debut as Eli and Oskar. They are joined by Stuart Halusz (Angels in America, Dinner), Rory O’Keeffe, Clarence Ryan, Maitland Schnaars, Steve Turner, and Alison van Reeken.
When I first saw the Swedish film version of Let the Right One In, I knew it was ripe for an exhilarating stage adaptation,” said Watson. “We are thrilled to be presenting the Australian premiere of Let the Right One In, and a play about bullying feels particularly pertinent now given some of the current cast of characters on the world stage.”
“We have talked about bullying from the perspective of racism in Australia, and our nation’s invasion history. This vampire story, derived from ancient myth, asks us who should we invite it, and what befalls those who arrive uninvited?”
Jack Thorne is an English screenwriter and playwright, who has written for radio, theatre and film, most notably for the TV shows Skins, Cast-offs, This Is England ’86, This Is England ’88, This Is England ’90, The Fades, The Last Panthers and the feature film, The Scouting Book for Boys.
In addition to Let the Right One In, Thorne’s works for stage include: Woyzeck, Junkyard, Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, The Solid Life Of Sugar Water, Hope, Greenland, Stuart: A Life Backwards, Mydidae, The Physicists, Bunny (2010 Fringe First Award), Red Car Blue Car, Two Cigarettes, When You Cure Me, 2 May 1997, Burying Your Brother in the Pavement, Stacy, Fanny and Faggot, and is currently writing a new adaptation of A Christmas Carol for the Old Vic.
“The National Theatre of Scotland’s adaptation of the adolescent vampire story Let the Right One In … marries the feeling of an Ingmar Bergman film with the usual ingredients of a toothy tale.” – The Seattle Times
Director: Clare Watson Featuring: Sophia Forrest, Stuart Halusz, Ian Michael, Rory O’Keeffe, Clarence Ryan, Maitland Schnaars, Steve Turner, Alison van Reeken Set & Costume Designer: Bruce McKinven Lighting Designer: Richard Vabre Sound Designer/Composer: Rachael Dease AV Designer: Michael Carmody Movement Director: Claudia Alessi Fight Director: Andy Fraser Aerialist: Paul Digby (JPS Rigging) Set & Costume Design Secondment: Rozina Suliman
Let the Right One In
Heath Ledger Theatre – State Theatre Centre of Western Australia, 174 – 176 William Street, Perth
Season: 15 November – 3 December 2017 (previews: 13 & 14 November)
Bookings: www.ticketek.com.au
For more information, visit: www.bsstc.com.au for details.
Image: Sophia Forrest and Ian Michael feature in Let the Right One In – photo by Robert Frith