The creative team that spun theatrical gold with the Helpmann Award-winning Pinocchio in Adelaide, Melbourne, Sydney and New York, reunite in the world premiere season of Rumpelstiltskin at the Dunstan Playhouse – Adelaide Festival Centre from 11 October 2016.
Starring multi-award-winning actor and singer Paul Capsis, this brand new production based on the tale by the Brothers Grimm is a rocking family musical full of twists and turns for audiences aged 8 – 108. “Rumpelstiltskin was the first live show I ever saw as a child,” said Capsis. “It left a mark on me. The magic of the theatre. Storytelling. I was bedazzled.”
In this co-production between Windmill Theatre Co and State Theatre Company, Director Rosemary Myers, Co-Writer Julianne O’Brien, Composer, Musical Director and Sound Designer Jethro Woodward and Designer Jonathan Oxlade take on a classic fairytale with their unique style of theatrical spectacular, inventive music and extravagant performance to create a brand new family musical.
Spinning straw into gold is a party trick that will take you far. It can buy you a big house full of beautiful things, a wardrobe of designer clothes and a life of total luxury. But money, as they say, can’t buy you… Two people, once best friends, torn apart by desire for the things they cannot have. This is the story of the ultimate price of greed.
Renowned cabaret artist Paul Capsis stars as Rumpelstiltskin, a shape-shifting imp, whose thirst for vengeance may well bring him undone. The five-time Helpmann Award-winner and star of films such as Head On and The Boy Castaways, Capsis is best known to Adelaide audiences for his many solo performance in State Theatre Company’s Little Bird, as well as his shows at the Adelaide Cabaret Festival and his role as Stromboli in the New York season of multi award-winning Pinocchio.
“Writing with Paul Capsis in mind is an absolute inspiration and in the development of the work, ideas have been flowing thick and fast,” said Director Rose Myers. “We love taking these classic fairytales and making them come alive for today with great contemporary twists. Expect high fashion, high stakes and lots of Paul Capsis’ trademark earth-shattering high notes.”
“It is really exciting to be getting back together again, taking everything we learnt making our first original musical Pinocchio and pouring it (and more) into Rumpelstiltskin.”
Capsis is joined on stage by International Cabaret Contest winner and star of the successful stage show Exposing Edith, Michaela Burger, State Theatre Company Resident Artist Elena Carapetis (Machu Picchu), Matt Crook (Volpone), Ezra Juanta (The Wizard of Oz), Ashton Malcolm (Othello) and Alirio Zavarce (Pinocchio).
Windmill Theatre Co and State Theatre Company’s previous collaboration, Pinocchio won multiple awards including the prestigious Chass Australia prize, Ruby Award and Helpmann Award for Best New Australian Work and Best Presentation for Children, before touring to New York for a sell-out season at the New Victory Theater.
Director / Co-Writer: Rosemary Myers Featuring: Michaela Burger, Paul Capsis, Matt Crook, Elena Carapetis, Ezra Juanta, Ashton Malcolm, Alirio Zavarce Co-Writer: Julianne O’Brien Composer / Musical Director: Jethro Woodward Designer: Jonathon Oxlade Lighting Designer: Gavin Norris Technical Manager: Chris Petridis Sound System Designer: Andrew Howard Animation: Chris Edser Choreographer: Carol Wellman Kelly
Rumpelstiltskin
Dunstan Playhouse – Adelaide Festival Centre, King William Road, Adelaide
Season: 14 – 30 October 2016 (previews: 11 – 13 October)
Information and Bookings: www.statetheatrecompany.com.au
Image: Paul Capsis stars in Rumpelstiltskin (supplied)