
Riverside
Productions and Phil Bathols present
SHAKESPEARE'S R&J
Adapted by Joe
Calarco
Four testosterone-pumped schoolboys
decide to stage 'Romeo and Juliet' in this sexy new interpretation of Shakespeare's
classic love story, directed by Craig Ilott, starring Julian Curtis, Ben Gerrard,
Garth Holcombe, and Tom Stokes.
Following a three state tour, this passionate,
masculine and highly physical adaptation comes to Sydney's Seymour Centre from
June 29 until July 3, 2010. Directed by highly acclaimed Craig Ilott (Hedwig and
the Angry Inch, STC's The Pig Iron People, and recently Smoke and Mirrors for
the Sydney Festival.), Shakespeare's R&J is a raw, unadorned, and true to
the source production.
Staged in the background of a repressive Catholic
boys' boarding school where the play has been banned; four students sneak out
at night to secretly explore the roles for their own enjoyment. At first it's
just for laughs, but as the young men discover themes of secret and forbidden
love, they gradually immerse themselves.
"I wanted to get to the essence
of what I think Shakespeare is: passionate, violent, thrilling and theatrical,"
says playwright, Joe Calarco. "By cutting the cast to four guys we've been
able to explore the way men interact and how they view women, sex and masculinity.
The concept of students in a private school was created in order to mirror Shakespeare's
Verona and the stifling, repressive, forbidden world that Romeo and Juliet inhabit,"
he says.
Starring young NIDA graduates, Julian Curtis, Ben Gerrard, Garth
Holcombe, and WAAPA graduate Tom Stokes - a group well versed in performing Shakespeare
amongst their many other theatre, television and film credits; Shakespeare's R&J
promises a powerful, electric and physical performance.
A hit worldwide,
Shakespeare's R&J has played over four hundred performances in New York and
won the prestigious Lucille Lortel Award.
WHERE: Seymour Centre - Corner
Cleveland Street and City Road, Chippendale
DATES/TIMES: 29 JUN-3 JUL TUE-THU
10.30AM, WED 10.30AM & 6.30PM, FRI 10.30AM & 8PM, SAT 2PM & 8PM
BOOKINGS:
Box Office P: 02 9351 7940 W: http://www.seymourcentre.com
PRICE:
ADULT: $32 CONC:$28 GROUP: (8+) $25
OTHER: The Seymour Centre wishes
to advise patrons that this production is also a part of our Education Season.
Please note that our 11am performances are also offered to school-age audiences,
however patrons are most welcome to attend. For more information about our education
program and to download teachers' resources visit http://education.seymourcentre.com.
For your chance to win a double pass
to the 30 June show at 6:30pm, simply tell us in 25 words or less, why you should
win. Winners will be notified via email. Good luck!