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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The Bet trailerby GerrycanFilms3,659 views
Love Drayton Morley's work.
sarantakis 2 years ago
just saw it tonight, it was awesome
PolishedMahogany 3 years ago