New Theatre to Reopen with Neighbourhood Watch

New Theatre in Newtown, NSW, will reopen its doors to audiences from Tuesday 8 September, with COVID-safe restrictions in place and subject to government directives regarding public gatherings.

The theatre has decided kick off their 2020 season return with the cancelled production of Neighbourhood Watch by Laly Katz, which was due to open in March just as they had to go into lockdown. The team has been back in rehearsals since early July, observing health and safety protocols, and they're so excited to be returning to the creative process, as are we at the prospect of welcoming back audiences.

Ana is a battle hardened Hungarian-Australian veteran of the twentieth century. Catherine is her neighbour: a 20-something aspiring actress waiting for a better world.

As their unlikely odd-couple friendship develops, Catherine’s life is transformed by Ana’s stories of the traumas of war, the desolation of the refugee experience, and the struggle of settling in a foreign land.

In turn, Ana is granted one last great friendship at a time when the journey to her life’s end was looking to be a lonely one.

This comedy about hope, death and pets, takes on a sense of enormity in the midst of the ordinary, questioning whether we really know what’s out there in the ‘burbs’.
The theatre will be maintaining strict social-distancing practices in accordance with government advice, with a maximum capacity of 44 people in the audience per performance, contactless ticketing, deep cleaning of the venue, and hand sanitising stations. Patrons will be encouraged to wear masks for the protection of themselves and fellow audience members.

New Theatre believe “Neighbourhood Watch is the perfect show to reopen with, given its emphasis on the importance of community, something we've all become very aware of over the past few months as we deal with these strange and challenging times. Lally Katz's play has become a classic of contemporary Australian theatre, proving to be an audience favourite, and this revival will give people the opportunity to revisit this funny, heartwarming and deeply humane story - or encounter it for the first time.”

New Theatre's Artistic Director, Louis Fischer, has taken over the directorial reins, and the set is being designed by Tom Bannerman. Other members of the team include lighting designer Mehran Mortezaei (Pygmalion, My Night With Reg), costume designer Claudia Lafoy making her New Theatre debut, and sound designer Patrick Eades (The Lieutenant of Inishmore, Pygmalion).

Heading the cast as 'Ana' is Colleen Cook (Pygmalion, The Clean House) and opposite her as 'Catherine' is Kelly Robinson, most recently seen at New Theatre in The Angry Brigade last year.

CREATIVE TEAM
Cast: Cathy Bates, Colleen Cook, Joshua Horwitz, Susan Jordan, Stephen Lloyd-Coombs, Eloise Martin-Jones, Kelly Robinson, Harry Taylor, John Van Putten, Caitlin Williams, Tricia Youlden
Remount Director: Louise Fischer
Remount Set Designer: Tom Bannerman
Lighting Designer: Mehran Mortezaei
Costume Designer: Claudia Lafoy
Sound Designer: Patrick Eades
Assistant Director: Victoria Lewis
Production Manager: Madeleine Picard
Stage Manager: Rosane McNamara
Operators: Ole Borch, Ricci Costa
Original Production Director: Trudy Ritchie
Original Production Set Designers: Sophie Lanigan and Max Volfneuk

SEASON
8 September - 3 October

PERFORMANCE TIMES
Preview: Tue 8 September 7:30pm
Press Night: Wed 9 September 7:30pm
Thur – Sat 7:30pm
Sun 5pm
Final performance: Sat 3 October 2pm

TICKET PRICES
Full $35
Concessions, Groups (6+) $30
Preview, Thrifty Thursdays $20

EVENT URL
https://newtheatre.org.au/neighbourhood-watch/