Black Swan State Theatre Company 2015 Season

Black Swan State Theatre Company’s 2015 season contains a mix of classics, comedies, a new Australian work, a musical and a family production. The year begins with Venus In Fur by David Ives as part of the FRINGE WORLD Festival, followed by Dinner by Moira Buffini, Glengarry Glen Ross by David Mamet and Noël Coward’s Blithe Spirit. The World Premiere of Extinction by Hannie Rayson follows with a first in family theatre for the company with Albert Lamorisse’s The Red Balloon, adapted by Hilary Bell and featured as part of the AWESOME Festival. The year concludes with the rock musical Next To Normal withbook and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt.

Highlights of Black Swan’s 2015 season include:

Five plays presented in the Heath Ledger Theatre, two in the Studio Underground.

• Directed by Kate Cherry, Tasma Walton returns to her home state and stars in the stylish black satirical comedy Dinner by Moira Buffini.

• Damian Walshe-Howlingleads a stellar cast in David Mamet’s multi- award winning and gritty drama Glengarry Glen Ross directed by Kate Cherry.

• Comedian Roz Hammond plays Madame Arcati in Noël Coward’s hilarious and fantastical comedy about astral bigamy- Blithe Spirit.

• The World Premiere of the environmentally aware Extinction by Helpmann Award-winning Australian playwright, Hannie Rayson (Hotel Sorrento,  Life After George).

• Music theatre star Rachael Beck will appear in the rock musical Next To Normal with book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey and music by Tom Kitt.

• In the Studio Underground, Black Swan Lab continues to provide dynamic opportunities for ambitious artistic collaborations. As part of the FRINGE WORLD Festival 2015, Black Swan presents a tale of the battle of the sexes in the WA Premiere of Venus In Fur by David Ives. Plus a World Premiere and a first in family theatre for the company with Albert Lamorisse’s The Red Balloon, adapted by Hilary Bell - a Rio Tinto Black Swan Commission that will be featured as part of the 2015 AWESOME Festival.

The Plays

Heath Ledger Theatre

Dinner

By Moira Buffini

14 - 29 March 2015

Paige Janssen, the hostess with the mostest, throws a glamorous dinner party to celebrate the release of her husband’s new self-help book. She is determined to have everything perfect and has gone to great lengths to prepare the menu, even hiring a waiter just for the occasion.

Glengarry Glen Ross

By David Mamet

23 May - 14 June 2015

Equal parts snappy dialogue, black humour and verbal abuse, Glengarry Glen Rossfollows four real estate agents presented with a dilemma: sell undesirable property to unwilling buyers or find a new job. Ricky Roma is the smooth talker, Shelly "The Machine" Levene is on a bad run, George Aaronow suffers from low self-esteem and Dave Moss is the bigmouth with dreams and schemes.

Blithe Spirit

By Noël Coward

18 July - 9 Aug 2015

While researching his next novel, Charles Condomine employs the services of a clairvoyant to see whether it is possible to contact souls in the afterlife. Unfortunately for Charles, the psychic summons the ghost of his dead wife, Elvira. It’s soon clear that the morally untidy Elvira wishes to reunite with her husband, much to the dismay of Charles’ new (and living) wife, Ruth.

Extinction

By Hannie Rayson

19 Sep - 4 Oct 2015

The death of an endangered tiger quoll is the critical backdrop to an Australian story about our very survival.

Andy Dixon is a vet who believes strongly in preserving the environment and our natural resources. When his lover, the determined conservation biologist Dr Piper Ross, agrees to undertake research paid for by the CEO of a mining company, he begins to question her methods and his feelings toward her.

Little does she know that Andy has been diagnosed with a rare illness, and his life is in as much danger as thespecies she is trying to save.

Next to Normal

Music by Tom Kitt, Book & Lyrics by Brian Yorkey

7 - 22 Nov 2015

Diana Goodman, loving wife and mother, wants nothing more than for her husband Dan and their two children to get along like one big happy family. But in a seemingly perfect suburban neighbourhood, their struggles, like most families, are anything but normal.

Black Swan Lab - Studio Underground

Venus in Fur

By David Ives

15 Jan - 8 Feb 2015

The play follows Thomas, a New York playwright so fascinated with fiery actress Vanda, he confuses fact with fiction, and becomes her willing slave, or does he? Things take a turn for the strange when Vanda comes to enjoy and abuse her newfound power.

The Red Balloon

By Albert Lamorisse. Stage Adaptation by Hilary Bell

1 - 17 Oct 2015 

On his way to school, a young boy finds a red balloon tangled around a lamp post. Soon after rescuing it, the boy discovers the balloon has a mind of its own! Together, the boy and his balloon wander the streets, exploring the neighbourhood and searching for adventure.

Subscriptions

Subscribers can choose between 3, 4 and 5 play and Opening Night 5 play and Closing Night 5 play subscription packages. Black Swan also offers an affordable 3 play preview/matinee package, enabling subscribers to see three previews and/or matinees of their choice for only $153. A 3 play student subscription package is also available for just $87. Subscribing comes with added benefits, like access to the best seats in the house, great prices, free ticket exchanges and exclusive discounts and experiences. And the opportunity for early subscribers to win one of 3 great prizes, including a return trip for two from Perth to Paris on Singapore Airlines.

www.bsstc.com.au

Images: Robert Frith Acorn Photo.