Category: The Playhouse

Bell Shakespeare presents, HENRY V, in the Playhouse, at the Sydney Opera House, 21 Oct – 14 Nov, 2014. Some children and their teachers are trapped in a classroom/bunker in London during the German Blitzreig of World War Two. The teachers provide the children the text of HENRY V, by William Shakespeare, to read and rehearse in an improvised manner, to distract them from the surrounding chaos. With a concussive Sound Design (Composer and Sound Design, Steve Francis), and Lighting Design (Sian James-Holland), an atmosphere of alarm outside the room brings a reality of war to the environment. Anne Gardiner…

Peach Theatre Company presents THE HISTORY BOYS – A Comedy by Alan Bennett in the Playhouse at the Sydney Opera House. THE HISTORY BOYS by Alan Bennett is, I reckon, already – it was only first presented in 2004 – a modern classic. The National Theatre of Great Britain toured it’s premiere production to Sydney in 2005 (or, 06?) at the Sydney Theatre. It was a lavishly designed work with video whizz-bangery and more, designed by Bob Crowley, directed by Nicholas Hytner. The company of actors had been playing it for months and months, into years, I think, in repertory…

  Bell Shakespeare presents THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES – a Comedy by Moliere in The Playhouse at the Sydney Opera House. THE SCHOOL FOR WIVES (1642) was written by Moliere for performance at the French Court of King Louis XIV (the Sun King) who was the patron of Moliere’s company of actors. TARTUFFE (1664); THE MISANTHROPE (1666); and THE IMAGINARY INVALID (1673), were to follow, as the acknowledged masterpieces, amongst other works. Moliere is considered the author of some of the most popular comedies in all theatrical history. The major obstacle to the success of these plays in English is,…