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Belvoir & Black Swan State Theatre Company
The Sapphires
Australia
Wednesday 2 – Saturday 12 March 2011
Press night: Wednesday 2 March, 7.45pm
The Barbican brings The Sapphires to London in March 2011, following a tour in Australia and Korea in 2010. The Sapphires is a co-production by two of Australia's leading theatre companies, Belvoir and Black Swan State Theatre Company, and has been redirected by Neil Armfield and Wayne Blair for the London run, based on a production originally directed by Wesley Enoch. A feature film version of The Sapphires is due for release next year.
The Sapphires is a feel-good musical about four Koori women working in a factory but dreaming of stardom as Motown divas and features music that defined a generation. It is based on a true story written by former Neighbours actor Tony Briggs (a descendant of the Dhulan Yan clan from the Yorta Yorta region) about his own family, and follows the protagonists’ search for fame and fortune which leads them unexpectedly to Vietnam performing as a Supremes cover band for troops on the front line.
The cast includes Casey Donovan, winner of Australian Idol 2004, and the production features a live band who play classic Motown hits including Stop in the Name of Love, Heatwave, Respect and Chain of Fools, along with traditional music such as the hymn Bura Fera. The dazzling costumes are created by the award-winning costume designer Tim Chappel, who worked on the film and stage version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
The full cast is: Aljin Abella, Jimi Bani, Casey Donovan, Markus Hamilton, Lisa Maza, Ngaire Pigram, Megan Sarmardin and Oliver Wenn.
Murri -born Enoch, one of Australia’s most senior Indigenous directors, has carved himself a reputation with productions that deal with the complexity of Australia's relationship with its Aboriginal heritage. Enoch was last in London in 2001 with Stolen at The Tricycle Theatre, about the continuing and devastating repercussions of Australia’s Stolen Generation. Among his other works are Black Medea (based on Euripides’ Medea) and The Cherry Pickers.
Armfield, directing the Barbican run of The Sapphires, was Artistic Director of Sydney-based Belvoir theatre from 1994 – 2010, and has directed landmark productions for the company such as The Diary of a Madman, which later this year tours to New York’s Brooklyn Academy of Music, and Exit the King, both starring Geoffrey Rush. Belvoir is known for showcasing Australia’s prominent and up and coming actors, directors and playwrights and its local, national and international touring program forms a key part of its activities.
Blair, Associate Director for this production, has recently appeared on stage in Sydney Theatre Company’s Tot Mom directed by Stephen Soderberg and True West directed by Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Black Swan is Western Australia’s flagship theatre company and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Infused with the unique culture of the state, Black Swan’s work includes landmark productions Bran Nue Dae, Sistergirl, Corrugation Road (winner of the prestigious The Age Critics’ Award), Cloudstreet (Perth, Sydney, London and Dublin seasons) and The Odyssey. It presents a broad ranging program including new commissions, contemporary international works and reinterpretations of classic plays that reflect life in Western Australia.
The Sapphires is presented in association with UK Arts International, and its touring partner is Rio Tinto.
Notes to Editors
A Koori is an Aboriginal person from the south-east of Australia. Murri are Indigenous Australians from the South East Queensland region.
The film version of The Sapphires will be directed by Wayne Blair and begins production in Australia early this year. It has been adapted for the screen by Tony Briggs, in collaboration with Keith Thompson.
LISTINGS INFORMATION
Belvoir & Black Swan State Theatre Company
The Sapphires
Venue: Barbican Theatre
Dates and time: Wednesday 2 – Saturday 12 March
7.45pm, except Sunday 6 March, 5pm
Also 2pm on Saturday 5 and 12 March
No performance on Monday 7 March
Running time: 140 minutes, including interval
Press performance: Wednesday 2 March, 7.45pm
Tickets: £16.00 - £28.00
Tickets to all bite events can be booked 24 hours a day with Barbican’s secure online ticketing system: www.barbican.org.uk/bite
Barbican box office 0845 120 7550
9.00am – 8.00pm Monday – Saturday; 11.00am – 8.00pm Sundays and Bank Holidays
In order to monitor the Box Office telephone numbers used by the public, we have set up a tracking exercise. We are publicising different numbers for different types of print (i.e. editorial, advertising, direct mail). Please help us with our tracking research by printing 0845 120 7550 as the box office/information number in all editorial.
DISCOUNTS
Bite Multi-Buy: save 10% when buying tickets for three or more performances in the bite season in the same transaction.
Barbican Corporate Membership:25% off ticket price.
Barbican Members: 20% off all performances
Groups of ten or more: 20% off ticket price.
Students: 50% off ticket price on Wednesday performances. Advance booking advised. Proof of eligibility must be shown.
Families: 50% off ticket price for up to three under-16s with each full paying adult
Members of the Barbican Access Membership Scheme: May be eligible for discounted tickets. Advanced booking advised.
Schools (Barbican Theatre): £12.00 Stalls, £8.00 Circle.
The Barbican's freeB scheme offers 16 - 25 year-olds free tickets to many bite11 January - July productions. Anyone interested should go to www.barbican.org.uk/freeb for further information.
All discounts are subject to availability and cannot be combined to make greater saving.
For further information please contact Ella Minton, Media Relations Officer – bite on 020 7382 7399 or email ella.minton@barbican.org.uk . Visit www.barbican.org.uk or www.ukarts.com
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