The State Theatre Company of South Australia 2016 season

The State Theatre Company of South Australia has announced its 2016 Programme. Co-productions represent the defining feature of the season with 6 of the 10 shows made so; including a new partnership with the British company ‘Frantic Assembly’ which will take an Andrew Bovell authored production, Things I know To Be True, to London itself.

The Events at Her Majesty’s

The year kicks off in Her Majesty’s Theatre with a co-production with Belvoir Theatre and Malthouse Theatre, The Events (25^th Feb- 5 March) will star Catherine McClements and premiere’s at the Sydney Festival in January. It will also be a part of the 2016 Adelaide Festival of Arts before returning to Sydney for a Belvoir season and then finishing in Melbourne at Malthouse.

Lisa McCune in Machu Picchu

Following that (13 April – 1 May), Gold Logie award-winning actor Lisa McCune will make her State Theatre Company debut in a co-production with Sydney Theatre Company, Machu Picchu is another new Australian play written by Sue Smith. The play centres around two mid-life civil engineers who seem to have it all (Paul and Gabby). After a horrifying car accident Gabby walks away unscathed but Paul is badly injured and their lives are forever changed. Both are forced to reassess priorities, and re-evaluate long-held dreams. They must also fight to maintain their personal connection and in many ways learn not only how to love again but also how to simply “be”.

Things I know To Be True in London

In its first ever international co-production the STCSA takes to the boards in London with Things I Know To Be True (running at The Dunstan Playhouse from 13 May to 4 June). The show will also be co-directed by Frantic Assembly’s Tony and Olivier Award nominated Artistic Director Scott Graham with The STCSA’s CEO’s son Geordie Brookman.

Paul Capsis in Rumpelstiltskin

Paul Capsis returns to Adelaide in a world premiere of Rumpelstiltskin from 11 to 30 October. The show is Directed by Rose Myers who said “Writing with Paul Capsis in mind is an absolute inspiration. We love taking these classic fairy tales and making them come alive for today. Expect high fashion, high stakes and lots of Capsis’ trademark earth-shattering high notes”.

A West End production . . .

Directed by John Halpin, from his hit West End production, The 39 Steps runs from 19 August to 11 September in The Dunstan Playhouse. A comedy which features 4 actors playing 139 roles in 100 minutes, the show features the chameleon talents of Charles Mayer alongside Adelaide’s own Tim Overton.

Nescha Jelk directs Straight White Men

In The Space Theatre from 1-23 July Nescha Jelk will direct Roger Newcombe in Straight White Men, an Australian premiere in collaboration with Brisbane’s La Boite Theatre Company.

Moliére

Moliére’s 17^th century comedy Tartuffe runs from 4-20 November in an adaptation by local Phillip Kavanagh. The cast includes Paul Blackwell and Nathan O’keefe and will be directed by Brink’s Chris Drummond.

James Smith in A State Ed Production

In a State Ed show James Smith plays in a new production written by Elena Carapetis Gorgon in the Space Theatre from 3-7 May.

Lizzy is back!

The Red Cross Letters features Lizzy Falkland and Helpmann award-winning designer Geoff Cobham in The Space from 3-6 August.

Hooray for The Bakehouse Theatre!

As part of the State Umbrella Programme, the STCSA presents an independent production of Red Sky Morning by Tom Holloway at The Bakehouse Theatre from 8-30 September.

Some subscribers have expressed a “flatness” with the 2016 season, however there does seem to be enough interest in the Programme itself for the season to go one way or the other. With the current obsession on ticket sales as the ultimate meter of success, only time will tell.

Full details and tickets for the season are available at www.statetheatrecompany.com.au