2017 SEASON 2017 3 A message from Kip Williams 5 Top benefits of a Season Ticket 11 Insight Events 13 Enhance your Season Ticket experience THE PLAYS 16 The Testament of Mary 18 Away 20 Chimerica 22 The Bleeding Tree 24 Talk 26 The Popular Mechanicals 28 Black is the New White 30 1984 32 Cloud Nine 34 Australian Graffiti 36 The Father 38 Dinner 40 Three Sisters 42 Muriel’s Wedding SPECIAL OFFER 45 The Wharf Revue HOW TO BOOK AND USEFUL INFO 48 Podcast 49 How to book checklist 50 Let us help you choose 52 How to book your Season Ticket 53 New and improved features 54 Ticket prices 56 Venues and access 57 Key dates for your diary 58 STC and the community 59 Join our donor family 60 Walsh Bay Kitchen 61 The Theatre Bar at the End of The Wharf 62 Thank you 64 Contact details 1 Roslyn Packer Theatre A MESSAGE Drama Theatre The Wharf FROM KIP WILLIAMS A great piece of theatre is like a great Dinner. Lucy Kirkwood’s gripping Chimerica is conversation. It always involves a passionate a sensational text and I can’t wait to direct it, exchange of ideas, jokes, arguments and a along with two plays very close to my heart – sharing of deep-seated emotions. The same can Cloud Nine and Three Sisters. be said for putting together a season of plays. And, like any good conversation, you never quite Bringing this myriad of stories to life will be know to which exciting places it might lead. a fabulous roll call of acting talent, from the legendary John Bell to STC favourites including Here on The Wharf, the 2017 conversation Paula Arundell, Eryn Jean Norvill, Mark commenced during former Artistic Director Leonard Winter and Alison Whyte, to great Jonathan Church’s time with the company from young actors like Harry Greenwood, Rarriwuy September to May. Many of the thoughts, Hick, Shari Sebbens and Charles Wu. partnerships and aspirations he brought to the table will play out on our stages in 2017, 2017 is a year of ideas and energy, of political alongside contributions from STC’s artistic engagement, of laughter, reflection and team, all of which stem from conversations with revelation. We’ve had great conversations the broader Australian theatre community. bringing it together, and we look forward to Those conversations haven’t finished either you joining us as the – they continue with you in the theatre, they conversation continues. continue in the bar afterwards, they continue long into the night. Kip Williams Interim Artistic We have a lot to look forward to in 2017. From Director Mary to Muriel, from Beijing to Moscow, there’s a breadth and depth to the season that runs from the epic to the intimate, from the classic to the contemporary. Twentieth-century titans like Chekhov, Churchill and Orwell sit alongside superb new Australian voices like Angus Cerini, Nakkiah Lui and Disapol Savetsila, as well as new work from Jonathan Biggins and a new adaptation from Andrew Upton. I’m excited to see a classic like Michael Gow’s Away from a fresh perspective and it’s a thrill that Muriel’s Wedding, one of our country’s greatest gifts to the world, is finding a new life on stage. We welcome the wonderful Imara Savage as our new Resident Director, bringing us two very different shows – the beautifully crafted The Testament of Mary and the viciously funny 2 3 THE TOP BENEFITS OF A SEASON TICKET A Season Ticket is made up of 6 to 14 plays. Along with significant savings on tickets, Season Ticket Holders get many more benefits through the year. EXCLUSIVE RENEWAL WINDOW UNTIL 11 OCT Existing Season Ticket Holders get first choice on all plays during an exclusive renewal window from Tue 13 Sep to Tue 11 Oct. SAVE 20% ON TICKETS Your Season Ticket is the best value for money, saving you at least 20% on full-price single tickets. See all ticket prices in detail on pg 54–55. MORE SAVINGS ALL YEAR Season Ticket Holders get an exclusive year- round discount on tickets. Use your discount price to share the savings with family and friends – great for gifts! BEST AVAILABLE SEATS Get first access to the best available seats to all plays. Many of our plays sell out, so a Season Ticket guarantees your seats to the LOTS OF EXCLUSIVE most exciting and in-demand theatre of 2017. REWARDS Your Season Ticket Holder Benefits Card unlocks discounts on wine, SUSAN GEORGE cinemas, hotels, parking, cultural PLAN FOR GOOD TIMES AHEAD SEASON TICKET HOLDER outings and more. Additional Quality time with family and friends is one exclusive offers and invitations of the best things about a Season Ticket. are sent through the year in the Get your diary organised with plenty of monthly enewsletter. Visit outings to look forward to in 2017. sydneytheatre.com.au/benefits 5 MORE REASONS TO LOVE YOUR SEASON TICKET PURCHASE ALL PLAYS AND GET A FREE TICKET Book all 14 plays in our main season before 5 Dec, and get a free ticket so you can introduce a friend to a show of your choice. PRE-SALE WINDOW ON UNLIMITED FREE THE WHARF REVUE EXCHANGES Season Ticket Holders can purchase discounted We understand your plans may change. You tickets for one of the most in-demand shows of can swap to another date of the same show the year, The Wharf Revue, months before they fee-free, subject to availability. Some go on sale to the public. See pg 46 for details. conditions apply; check with Box Office. PAY IN INSTALMENTS NO EXTRA FEES Spread the cost of your Season Ticket across There are no transaction fees on any four instalments. Choose the deferred Season Ticket booking. payment option online or on your booking form before 30 Dec. Some conditions apply; see booking form or website. BOOK BY 5 DEC TO WIN A LUXURY WEEKEND AWAY Purchase your Season Ticket before 5 Dec winemaker, which includes a mixed case and you could win a luxurious weekend to take home. Dinner is a three-course for two to Orange FOOD Week (7–9 Apr). feast at Lolli Redini, featuring the best of local produce. Sunday is for relaxing – Travel to Orange in style in a enjoy a continental breakfast in your suite complimentary Audi, which will be yours and take in the sights of the area before for the weekend (Fri–Mon). On arrival, cruising home in your Audi. “There are always great quality, interesting, check into your luxurious Studio Suite thought-provoking productions. We always at the De Russie Boutique Hotel – your Thanks to our friends at Audi and home for two nights. On Saturday head Cumulus Estate Wines. See pg 64 enjoy the experience, especially local and to Cumulus Estate Wines’ pop-up Cellar for terms and Door for a full wine tasting with the conditions. diverse plays.” STEPHANIE KETTLER, SEASON TICKET HOLDER 6 7 LOYALTY BENEFITS FOR SEASON TICKET HOLDERS All Season Ticket Holders get a Benefits Card and other bonuses. In addition, we recognise the loyalty of those who have been with us for three or more consecutive years with tiered benefits. A lifetime of loyalty benefits Better still, we continue rewarding you for life. Once you’ve earned Star status (3–10 years) or Legend status (11+ years), you have access to those benefits every year that you are a Season Ticket Holder, even if you take a year or two off. * “I FEEL SO FORTUNATE TO BE A VETERAN STARS LEGENDS People who have been a Season Ticket Holder People who have been a Season Ticket Holder SEASON TICKET HOLDER – for 3–10 years receive: for 11 or more years receive the same benefits as our Stars, plus the following: THAT BIT EXTRA, ALWAYS!” The Theatre Bar at the End of The Wharf ANNE SAWSTUK, SEASON TICKET HOLDER A free glass of selected wine with any main Exclusive access to best available seats course purchased. We have reserved an exclusive allocation of best available seats during the priority renewal Walsh Bay Kitchen window for you to access as a thank you for your Reserve a table for any main meal and get a loyalty.** complimentary glass of sparkling wine on arrival. Includes pre-theatre specials Adina Apartment Hotels (see pg 60 for how to book). Receive a 10% discount from our accommodation partner Adina Apartment Hotels, plus the choice Sydney Festival of unlimited wifi, late check-out or room upgrade. Take advantage of three exclusive ticket offers from Sydney Festival, which you’ll hear about The Theatre Bar at the End of The Wharf after its program is announced. A free cheese platter for two with any wine purchase after a show. Walsh Bay Kitchen * The priority renewal window, exclusive seating allocation, and Reserve a table for any main meal and receive benefits are available to current Season Ticket Holders only and valid for the season to which you are subscribed. a complimentary antipasti plate. Includes ** Bookings are processed in order of receipt. Renew early to avoid pre-theatre specials (see pg 60 for how to book). disappointment. For full terms and conditions of the Season Ticket Holder Benefits Card, and the Stars and Legends program, visit sydneytheatre.com.au/benefits 9 “As a family we attended the pre-season briefing last night. E What a fantastic opportunity. YOU’RE INVIT D TO OUR Thank you for letting us into N the creative process, history and I SIGHT EVENTS inspiration for this play.