MopHead Productions in association with Red Line Productions presents Rainer Werner Fassbinder’s The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant at the Old Fitz Theatre from 11 October 2016.
Fassbinder’s preoccupations with the themes of love, mortality, sexuality, power and vanity are all on display in this seminal work from the renowned German filmmaker and playwright. Perhaps more well known as a daring German classic cult film, The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant is an analysis of feminine psyche and a brilliant exercise in melodrama.
Petra Von Kant’s life is fantastic. She’s fashion’s latest success and it’s about f##kingtime. The divorce is done, she’s as hot as she’s ever been and she’s cashed up. Her obsessive PA does everything for her, her mother’s about to bugger off on a six-month holiday and her daughter has been shunted off to boarding school. Even old friends can’t bring her down. But then she meets Karin…
Shane Bosher (Cock, The Pride, Straight) directs an all female cast led by A Place to Call Home’s Sara Wiseman with support from Taylor Ferguson (Good Works, Miss Julie), Matilda Ridgway (Jasper Jones, A Doll’s House), Eloise Snape (4000 Miles, The House of Ramon Iglesia), Judith Gibson (The Strip, Macbeth) and introducing Mia Evans Rorris.
“I’ve wanted to direct The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant since I saw Fassbinder’s film as a plucky young drama school student,” says Bosher. “It’s a glorious melodic drama which talks about the ways we can let ourselves be destroyed by love and desire. I’m thrilled to be working with a kickass all-women ensemble led by ferocious talent Sara Wiseman.”
“It’s startling, sexy and viciously funny. Expect frenemies, frocks, tantrums, mothers, daughters, lesbians, bisexuals, career-climbers and a wild hootenanny of a ride.”
Director: Shane Bosher Featuring: Sara Wiseman, Taylor Ferguson, Matilda Ridgway, Eloise Snape, Judith Gibson, Mia Rorris Set Design: Georgia Hopkins Lighting Design: Alex Berlage Costume Design: Daniel Learmont Couture Sound Design: Alistair Wallace Stage Manager: Rebecca Poulter
The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant
Old Fitz Theatre, 129 Dowling Street, Woolloomooloo
Season: 13 October – 12 November 2016 (previews: 11 & 12 October)
Information and Bookings: www.oldfitztheatre.com
Image: Sara Wiseman stars in The Bitter Tears of Petra von Kant – photo by Alexander James