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EnsembleTV uploaded a new video
(1 month ago)
World Premiere - David Williamsons: LET THE SUNSHINE
With: JUSTIN STEWART...
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World Premiere - David Williamsons: LET THE SUNSHINE
With: JUSTIN STEWART COTTA, EMMA JACKSON, ANDREW McFARLANE, GEORGIE PARKER, KATE RAISON & WILLIAM ZAPPA
Director: SANDRA BATES
Designer: GRAHAM MACLEAN
Lighting Designer: MATTHEW MARSHALL
This brand new David Williamson, with trade-mark comedy bite, asks what happens when people of widely different political views are forced to co-exist.
Toby (William Zappa), a maker of hard hitting documentaries, flees Sydney in shame when the press finds out he inadvertently used a bogus witness in his latest film. He convinces his reluctant wife Ros (Georgie Parker) to travel north with him to Noosa, a haven in Queensland fondly remembered from visits in his youth. Problem is, it has now moved from a simple fishing village to a chic, upmarket, manicured playground of the wealthy and privileged. Ros meets an old school friend, Natasha (Kate Raison), who is married to Ron (Andrew McFarlane), a hugely wealthy property developer. Ros and Natasha had little in common even at school, and to say Toby and Ron are like chalk and cheese would be understating it. The connection between the two couples seems destined to be brief and acrimonious save for one thing. Power lawyer Emma (Emma Jackson), the daughter of Natasha, and drop-out musician Rick (Justin Stewart Cotta), son of Ros, happen to meet. And then, in typical Williamson fashion, its on for young and old.
Ensembles Artistic Director, Sandra Bates has assembled a stellar cast for this production, her 4th Williamson World Premiere, and her 12th Williamson production in her 24 years at the theatres helm. Bates is a huge fan of Williamsons work and has a long history of directing his plays. Previous World Premiere productions include Operator (05), A Conversation (01 & 03 tour) and Face to Face (99 & 2000 tour). Previous Sydney Premiere productions include Charitable Intent (06) and Birthrights (03). Sandra has directed many revivals of earlier Williamson plays including After The Ball (02), Travelling North (2000), Sanctuary (98), Money and Friends (96) and Emerald City (95). Ensemble also produced Flatfoot (04) directed by Jonathan Biggins, which then toured nationally.
Williamson announced Bates Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2008 Sydney Theatre Awards and was recently quoted in the SMH saying, "Sandra is a highly intelligent director who goes for the emotional truth of the piece. I've always felt comfortable working at the Ensemble; it's a theatre of narrative and I enjoy the intimacy of the space." (SMH story on launch of Ensembles 2009 season by Bryce Hallett.)
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EnsembleTV uploaded a new video
(3 months ago)
ABIGAILS PARTY
By Mike Leigh
With: Ben Ager, Julie Hudspeth, Brian Meegan,...
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ABIGAILS PARTY
By Mike Leigh
With: Ben Ager, Julie Hudspeth, Brian Meegan, Tara Morice, Queenie van de Zandt
Director: Mark KilmurryDesigner: Graham Maclean
Lighting Designer: Matthew Marshall
A sparkling, maliciously poison-toothed satire about keeping up with the neighbours.
Beverly and Laurence entertain their new neighbours, Angela and Tony, with drinks and snacks. Another neighbour, Susan, is also invited because her teenage daughter, Abigail, is having a party a few doors away and mums are definitely not welcome. Beverly wants to have fun, dance, drink. Laurence wants to have serious conversation about art, music, Dickens. Small talk, bad music and awkward dances follow in this hilarious, dark and biting comedy from the master of human foibles, Mike Leigh.
Abigails Party is a cult classic stage play and television play which was developed by director Mike Leigh and his actors through a series of improvisations. When it aired on television in 1979 it was watched by over 16 million viewers. A satirical take on the new middle class which emerged in Britain in the 1970s, Abigails Party has remained one of the most popular plays of the last 30 years with numerous revivals occurring in the UK and USA.
Mark Kilmurrys most recent directing credits include Mary Stuart, Tuesdays With Morrie and Little Nell. He has assembled a stellar cast including Tara Morice (Strictly Ballroom, Grass Roots) who returns to the Ensemble stage where her appearances include the plays Spinning Into Butter, Sweet Road and the World Premiere production of Nick Enrights Mongrels. Queenie van de Zandt has won accolades for her self-created character Jan van de Stool in the hit comedy I Get the Music In You: An Evening with Jan van de Stool which has played seasons in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne. Queenie won the Glugs Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the Ensembles production of Rabbit Hole and has been nominated for many awards including The Green Room, The Helpmanns and the Mo Awards. Ben Ager and Julie Hudspeth were most recently seen in the Ensembles production of Mary Stuart and Brian Meegans work for the Ensemble includes Chapter Two, The Boys Next Door, Art and Wrong for Each Other.
be sure to save an evening for Abigails PartyExquisite, in fact, sums up the whole of Abigails Party, despite the grotesque depiction of men and women striving desperately to have fun. Failing spectacularly, they ensure that the audience, at least, has a very good time. Cheers to that! NEW YORK TIMES
you feel the exhilarating, voyeuristic rush that accompanies not watching a play but secretly viewing a group of ordinary people behind a partially collapsed wall. TALKIN BROADWAY
SEASON DETAILS: ABIGAILS PARTY
VENUE: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli, NSW, 2061
DATES: Previews: Mar 19 25, opens Mar 26, plays to 2 May 2009
PERFORMANCES: TueFri 8.15pm, Sat 5pm & 8.30pm, Sun 5pm, Thurs 11am
PRICES: $39 - $63 (booking charges may apply)
BOOKINGS: 02 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au
FURTHER INFORMATION / INTERVIEWS / IMAGES please contact:
Merran Doyle 0419 999 607 or Kate Raison 0402 080 443 at Merran Doyle Publicity:
(02) 9905 4644 email: merran@merrandoyle.com.au or kate@merrandoyle.com.au
NB: PRODUCTION PHOTOS DOWNLOADABLE from Ensemble Theatre website:
www.ensemble.com.au - media password to download images: Emedia
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EnsembleTV uploaded a new video
(5 months ago)
Australian Premiere - Little Nell
By Simon Gray
With: Gary Baxter, Katie F...
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Australian Premiere - Little Nell
By Simon Gray
With: Gary Baxter, Katie Fitchett, Lee Jones, Olivera Jovanoska,
Mark Lee & Drayton Morley
Director: Mark KilmurryDesigner: Brian Nickless
Lighting Designer: Peter Neufeld
An astonishingly true account of one of the worlds greatest writers and his love affair with a young actress thirty years his junior.
Charles Dickens fell in love with the young actress Nelly Ternan. He was at the height of his success, happily married, one of the best loved authors in the world, Englands most respected moralist, and yet he had this desire that potentially could have ruined him. Only when Nellys son, Geoffrey, resolves to uncover the truth do we find out what really happened. Simon Grays beautifully written and seductive play examines the nature of affairs, wealth, fame and the legacy for the children left behind. This is part love story, part detective story, but all true.
Mark Kilmurry has assembled a stellar cast for this production including Mark Lee as Charles Dickens. Mark Lee last appeared at the Ensemble Theatre in Men of Honour as William Shakespeare. Best known for his role as Archy Hamilton in Peter Weirs Gallipoli Mark has had an extensive career in Australian film, television and on stage. He recently appeared in The Good German at the Seymour Centre and in 2007 made his directorial debut with the feature film, The Bet starring Matthew Newton, Aden Young and Sibylla Budd. Katie Fitchett appears as Nelly Ternan, Dickens muse and obsession, in her second appearance with the Ensemble Theatre following her 2005 debut in Arthur Millers, A View From the Bridge. Katie was most recently seen as Ismene in Company Bs production of Antigone. Drayton Morley is returning to the Ensemble Theatre following performances in Darlinghurst Theatres production of The Memory of Water and Q Theatres Sunday in the Park with George. Gary Baxter was last seen in the Ensembles production of McReele and Lee Jones appeared in the 2008 production The Busy World is Hushed. Olivera Jovanoska makes her professional debut in this production, having graduated from the Ensemble Studios in 2008.
Simon Gray passed away in August 2008 and the Ensemble Theatre dedicates this production to his memory. Simon Gray was a prolific novelist and playwright whose stage works include Life Support, Japes, The Old Masters and Quartermaines Terms. Little Nell was Grays last theatrically produced work prior to his death. The play was produced by the Theatre Royal, Bath in 2007, directed by Sir Peter Hall and is based on the book The Invisible Woman by Claire Tomalin.
a theatricality that is both gripping and vibrant The Stage
Gray does an expert professional job informative and intelligent The Guardian
SEASON DETAILS: TUESDAYS WITH MORRIE
VENUE: Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli, NSW, 2061
DATES: Previews: Jan 29 Feb 5, opens Feb 6, plays to March 14.
PERFORMANCES: TueFri 8.15pm, Sat 5pm & 8.30pm, Sun 5pm, Thurs 11am
PRICES: $39 - $63 (booking charges may apply)
BOOKINGS: 02 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au
FURTHER INFORMATION / INTERVIEWS / IMAGES please contact:
Merran Doyle 0419 999 607 or Kate Raison 0402 080 443 at Merran Doyle Publicity:
(02) 9905 4644 email: merran@merrandoyle.com.au or kate@merrandoyle.com.au
NB: PRODUCTION PHOTOS DOWNLOADABLE from Ensemble Theatre website:
www.ensemble.com.au - media password to download images: Emedia
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EnsembleTV uploaded a new video
(6 months ago)
Off The Cuff Productions In association with Ensemble Theatre presents: ...
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Off The Cuff Productions In association with Ensemble Theatre presents: SHOWTIME! A Musical
Book, Music & Lyrics by Rebecca Kypri-Inacio
Director Jo-Anne CahillMusical Director Rebecca Kypri-Inacio
Choreographer Shondelle Pratt
Cast Nicola Cammell, Joel Nicholas Curtis, Andrew Cutliffe, Trent Gardiner,
Kate Maree Hoolihan, Shondelle Pratt, Melissa Rawlinson, Francesco Torrelli
SHOWTIME! is an original Australian musical written especially for children by
Rebecca Kypri-Inacio. It follows the journeys of an emu, kangaroo, cat, wombat, koala, possum & echidna as they audition for a musical in the Australian outback. Along the way they meet a centipede that is always late, a peacock who dances and a directing dingo. Throughout their journey they learn about confidence, tolerance, self belief and diversity. SHOWTIME! is a highly entertaining family show full of high energy fun & music. Suitable for all primary school children.
With music, book and lyrics by Rebecca Kypri-Inacio, an Ensemble Studios graduate who is currently studying a Bachelor of Music at UNSW and has previously composed music for Impulse Theatres productions of Oedipus the King and Lysystrata.
Director Jo-Anne Cahill has previously directed the childrens shows MERRY CHRISTMAS IS THE MAGIC WORD, THE SPIRIT OF XMAS and THE RAZZLE DAZZLE SHOW which toured throughout NSW, COCKTALES (the male answer to The Vagina Monologues) and THE LITTLE AUSSIE BATTLEAXE for the Cracker Comedy Festival. Shondelle Pratt will be taking on the role of choreographer as well as portraying Wilma the Wombat in the production. Shondelle has previously choreographed the Ensemble Theatres 2008 production of the childrens production of A YEAR WITH FROG AND TOAD and the 2007 production of GLORIOUS!. The talented cast also includes Kate Maree Hoolihan who has just completed the Kookaburra season of LITTLE WOMEN in the lead role of Jo March and is the winner of the Helpmann Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her role of Scaramouche in the hit musical WE WILL ROCK YOU and Francesco Torelli who has toured with The Wiggles performing as Captain Feathersword.
SEASON DETAILS
PERFORMANCES from 9 January 24 January 2009
PERFORMANCE TIMES 10am Mon, Tues, Wed, Fri & Sat
OPENING PERFORMANCE Saturday 10 January, 10am
VENUE Ensemble Theatre, 78 McDougall Street, Kirribilli
TICKET PRICES Full Price $35.00 / Concession $28.00 / Child under 12 $15.00 /
Family $80.00 (2 adults & 2 children)
BOOKINGS 9929 0644 or www.ensemble.com.au
FURTHER INFORMATION / INTERVIEWS / IMAGES please contact:
Merran Doyle 0419 999 607 or Kate Raison 0402 080 443 at Merran Doyle Publicity:
(02) 9905 4644 email: merran@merrandoyle.com.au or kate@merrandoyle.com.au
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