A funny, full-hearted and devastating piece of theatre by one of the country’s leading playwrights, Tom Holloway, Red Stitch Actors Theatre presents the world premiere season of Sunshine from Friday 14 October 2016.
The night creeps in and rain buckets down on the streets of Melbourne. Music blasts from hotted-up hatchbacks full of youths. Four people have a night they will never forget as two strangers are thrown together through one shocking event.
Sunshine marks Holloway’s return to the ‘choral style’ theatre, which earned him six Green Room Award nominations for Red Sky Morning, developed and produced at Red Stitch in 2008. In Sunshine, Holloway continues to explore this form as he intricately constructs four interweaving monologues to create a story about what it’s like to live through the tough times in life amongst the clutter of a big city.
On writing Sunshine, Holloway said, “Theatre should give us an experience we can’t get anywhere else. It should be exciting, surprising and moving. Something I love about seeing theatre is that you’re both completely alone, and surrounded by others. “
Under the direction of Kirsten von Bibra, Sunshine will feature Red Stitch ensemble member and artistic director Ella Caldwell, guest actors Phil Hayden and Caroline Lee, and making his Red Stitch debut, George Lingard.
Tom Holloway is an award winning playwright whose works have been staged extensively both in Australia and internationally. Holloway and Red Stitch continue their successful relationship following on from 2008’s Red Sky Morning and 2015’s Dead Centre/Sea Wall. His other plays include Beyond The Neck (2007 winner AWGIE Award for Best Stage Play), Don’t Say The Words, Love Me Tender and Double Indemnity for MTC in 2016.
Kirsten von Bibra is a theatre director whose body of work has always reflected a passion for the linkage between language, the spoken word and meaning in the theatrical context. Recent directing credits include Point8Six at La Mama; The Servant Of Two Masters for Peking University, Beijing; and Love and Information for The Arts Academy at Federation University.
In 2014 von Bibra directed Grounded (2014 Green Room Award Best Direction; 2015 Sydney Theatre Award Best Actress in Independent Theatre – Kate Cole) which enjoyed a hugely successful season at Red Stitch and received rave reviews.
Director: Kirsten von Bibra Featuring: Ella Caldwell, Phil Hayden, Caroline Lee, George Lingard Set & Lighting Design: Matthew Adey Costume Design: Matilda Woodroofe Sound Design & Composition: Elizabeth Drake Stage Manager: Sarah Tulloch Assistant Stage Manager: Madison Lyman
Sunshine
Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Rear 2 Chapel Street, St Kilda
Season: 14 October – 5 November 2016
Information and Bookings: www.redstitch.net
Image: Ella Caldwell and Phil Hayden feature in Sunshine (supplied)