It was announced today that NIDA graduate Andrea Demetriades will replace Jessica Marais in the cast of Sydney Theatre Company’s Pygmalion next year in the role of Eliza Doolittle.
NEWS FLASH It was announced today that Andrea Demetriades will replace Jessica Marais in Sydney Theatre Company’s Pygmalion next year, taking the role of Eliza Doolittle. Pygmalion marks Andrea Demetriades Sydney Theatre Company debut, as she steps into the iconic role of Eliza. Jessica Marais has withdrawn from the show following the news that she is expecting her first child. Rehearsals for Pygmalion, directed by Peter Evans, commence before Christmas and the production is at Sydney Theatre from 31 January to 3 March 2012 (Opening Night: Saturday 4 February 2012). Andrea Demetriades is a Western Australian born NIDA graduate (2006) and has most recently toured with the Bell Shakespeare Company as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet directed by Damien Ryan and is currently appearing in the ABC TV series Crownies as Lina Badir. George Bernard Shaw’s enduring classic, Pygmalion, is set to be a summer highlight of Sydney Theatre Company’s 2012 Main Stage season. When a young flower seller glimpses an opportunity to elevate herself in society she boldly snatches at it, naïve to the potential costs. Peter Evans’ production blows away the clichés sometimes associated with the brutal and hilarious play that has inspired interpretations as diverse as My Fair Lady, Educating Rita and the 80s Hollywood film Pretty Woman. Prior to her role in Romeo and Juliet, Demetriades starred as Viola in Twelfth Night directed by Lee Lewis (for which she received a nomination for Best Actress in the 2010 Green Room Awards) and as Marina in Pericles directed by John Bell, both for the Bell Shakespeare Company. She has also appeared as Helly in Helly’s Magic Cup directed by David Mealor for the State Theatre Company of South Australia and has appeared on Think Tank and All Saints for the Seven Network. Andrea’s other television credits include Think Tank and All Saints for the Seven Network. The cast also includes Marco Chiappi, Vanessa Downing, Harriet Dyer, Kim Gyngell, Wendy Hughes, Deborah Kennedy, Tom Stokes and David Woods. Box Office: 02 9250 1777sydneytheatre.com.au