My Zinc Bed

Ensemble My Zinc BedConsidered one of David Hare’s finest and most insightful plays, Ensemble Theatre presents My Zinc Bed – a darkly comic look at love and addiction for a limited season from 15 October 2015.

Paul Peplow, poet and ex-alcoholic, is on the straight and narrow. But one unforgettable London summer threatens to undo him. When Paul is sent to interview charismatic millionaire Victor Quinn, he’s invited into a new, enticing world.

But it’s a dangerous game. As he trades verbal blows with Victor – and flirts with his wife Elsa – the walls of Paul’s carefully constructed sobriety start to crumble… This witty, biting three-hander from award-winning British playwright David Hare puts addiction under the spotlight and asks: can you let yourself go without losing control?

Ensemble Theatre’s Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry most recently directed and acted in Educating Rita and Richard III, and directed Absent Friends, Other Desert Cities, Frankenstein and The Glass Menagerie. Mark has assembled a distinguished, hugely talented cast for this new 90 minute version of My Zinc Bed.

Danielle Carter has appeared in many Ensemble Theatre productions including as Queen Elizabeth opposite Mark Kilmurry in Richard III as well as The Gingerbread Lady, My Wonderful Day, Absurd Person Singular and Face to Face. Her many television credits include House Husbands, City Homicide, Satisfaction and regular roles on Medivac and Something In The Air.

My Zinc Bed marks Sam O’Sullivan’s debut with Ensemble Theatre. His other recent theatre credits include Kill The Messenger for Belvoir, Platonov for ATYP, Constellations for Darlinghurst Theatre and Music (Stories Like These) for Griffin. His recent television appearances include Wonderland and Packed to the Rafters.

Sean Taylor settled in Australia in 2000 after a distinguished career in South Africa in leading roles as diverse as Macbeth, King Lear (Best Actor 1999), Ray Cohn in Angels in America and the King in The King and I. His Australian theatre credits include Blue/Orange (Glugs Best Actor 2014), Death of A Salesman (Glugs Best Actor 2009) and Broken Glass – all for Ensemble Theatre, Uncle Vanya (Helpmann nomination) for SATC, Prisoner of Second Ave for QTC, August: Osage County for MTC, The Pianist for Belvoir and Last Cab To Darwin for Pork Chop. In 2002 Sean performed in Soulmates for STC with Jacki Weaver, marrying her in 2003.

Sir David Hare is a multi-award winning British playwright who has written more than 30 plays and over a dozen screenplays. He received Academy Award nominations for his films The Hours and The Reader, and his play Plenty (NY Drama Critics Award) was made into a film starring Meryl Streep. His best known plays include Skylight, Stuff Happens and The Judas Kiss. Other award winning plays include Behind The Beautiful Forevers, Licking Hitler, Wetherby, Racing Demon, Pravda and Via Dolorosa. Hare’s most recent play The Moderate Soprano opens at the Hampstead Theatre in London in October this year.

Director: Mark Kilmurry  Featuring: Danielle Carter, Sam O’Sullivan, Sean Taylor  Designer: Tobhiyah Stone Feller  Lighting Designer: Nicholas Higgins

My Zinc Bed
Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli
Season: 15 October – 22 November 2015
Bookings: (02) 9929 0644 or online at: www.ensemble.com.au

For more information, visit: www.ensemble.com.au for details.

Image: Sean Taylor in My Zinc Bed (supplied)