Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre’s 2019 season

Mark Kilmurry, Artistic Director for Sydney’s Ensemble Theatre announced the 2019 Season which, he said, promises to be an exceptional year with six comedies, three dramas and a musical. Three of the plays will be World Premieres, three Australian Premieres and there will be a return season of the sell-out play, Diplomacy. Fifty of Australia’s most talented actors, half of whom are women, will perform in 10 plays including a new David Williamson satire, The Big Time; a thrilling drama, The Last Wife; classic works from two of the greatest American playwrights including Arthur Miller’s A View From The Bridge and Tennessee Williams’ Baby Doll , Melanie Tait’s comedy The Appleton Ladies’ Potato Race, which is an all-female cast, directed by Priscilla Jackman, Folk starring Genevieve Lemon, Murder On The Wireless written and directed by Mark Kilmurry, Fully Committed directed by Kate Champion, The Odd Couple, also directed by Mark Kilmurry and the musical The Last Five Years directed by Elsie Edgerton-Till. SEASON 2019: THE PLAYS David Williamson’s THE BIG TIME 18 Jan – 16 Mar World premiere David Williamson’s trademark satirical pen finds razor-sharp form in this clever, stylish and sophisticated comedy set in the ruthless world of celebrity. Cast includes Claudia Barrie, Zoe Carides, Aileen Huynh and Jeremy Waters. Directed by Mark Kilmurry. By Melanie Tait THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE 22 Mar – 27 Apr World premiere This new Australian comedy, featuring a cast of five fabulous women, is a funny, honest and heart-warming story about upsetting the potato cart and standing up for your principles. Cast includes Sharon Millerchip, Valerie Bader, Amber McMahon and Merridy Eastman. Directed by Priscilla Jackman. Written and composed by Jason Robert Brown THE LAST FIVE YEARS 29 Mar – 27 Apr Featuring the incomparable talents of Elise McCann (Miss Honey – Matilda The Musical), this award-winning cult musical is a powerful story of modern love and relationships. Cast includes Elise McCann. Directed by Elsie Edgerton-Till. By Tom Wells FOLK 3 May – 1 June Australian premiere Bringing together a classic trio of misfits, this surprising and poignant comedy is brimming with heart, humour and song. Cast includes Gerard Carroll and Genevieve Lemon. Directed by Terence O’Connell. By Arthur Conan Doyle & Mark Kilmurry MURDER ON THE WIRELESS 7 Jun – 13 Jul World premiere Set in a 1950’s studio in the heyday of the radio play, tune in for an evening of suspense and intrigue and witness the world’s greatest detectives at their sleuthing best with atmospheric sound effects created before your very eyes. Cast includes Mark Kilmurry, Daniel Mitchell and Georgie Parker. Directed by Mark Kilmurry. By Arthur Miller A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE 18 Jul – 24 Aug After a sold out season at The Old Fitz Theatre, this thrilling production of Arthur Miller’s powerful family tragedy reunites the award-winning team on the Ensemble Theatre stage. Cast includes Ivan Donato, Giles Gartrell-Mills, David Lynch, David Soncin, Zoe Terakes and Janine Watson. Directed by Iain Sinclair. By Kate Hennig THE LAST WIFE 30 Aug – 29 Sep This stunning historical drama in the spirit of Hilary Mantel’s Wolf Hall, reimagines the dangerous sparring between King Henry VIII and Katherine Parr through a richly provocative contemporary lens. Cast includes Emma Harvie, Huw Higginson, Simon London and Ursula Yovich. Directed by Mark Kilmurry. By Becky Mode FULLY COMMITTED 11 Oct – 16 Nov In an updated version of Becky Mode’s Broadway smash, this hilarious and fast-paced comedy skewers our modern obsession with food and fine-dining. Cast includes Michelle Lim Davidson. Directed by Kate Champion. Tennessee Williams BABY DOLL Adapted for the stage by Pierre Laville and Emily Mann 18 Oct – 16 Nov Australian premiere In a brand new adaptation, heat and desire sizzle in Tennessee Williams’ Deep South tale of lust, jealousy and betrayal. Cast includes Kate Cheel, Maggie Dence and Jamie Oxenbould. Directed by Shaun Rennie. By Neil Simon THE ODD COUPLE 22 Nov – 30 Dec Comedy masters Darren Gilshenan and Steve Rodgers are the definitive odd couple in Neil Simon’s hilarious Tony Award winning play of divorce, friendship and (mis)understanding. Cast includes Darren Gilshenan, Christa Nicola, Nicholas Papademetriou, Olivia Pigeot and Steve Rodgers. Directed by Mark Kilmurry. ADD ON EVENT By Cyril Gély Translated and adapted by Julie Rose DIPLOMACY 21 Jun – 13 Jul Returning to Ensemble Theatre after a sold out 2018 season, theatre legends John Bell and John Gaden reprise their roles in this unmissable production of Cyril Gély’s WWII thriller. ADD ON EVENT AN INTIMATE EVENING WITH PAUL CAPSIS 8 Sep – 16 Sep Appearing for a strictly limited season, witness the magic of this iconic performer in a transformative night of story and song. ADD ON EVENT JOHN BELL: A FEW OF MY FAVOURITE THINGS 1 Dec – 10 Dec Spend an hour with Australian Living Legend John Bell as he rummages through his swag of Favourite Things and fishes out poems, stories and backstage gossip.