Sarah Giles Directs ‘The Herbal Bed’ at New Theatre
A WORLD FILLED WITH WHISPERS AND SUSPICION WHERE YOUR REPUTATION IS EVERYTHING.
“Director Sarah Giles shows how fine dramatic results can be obtained from a small budget and a lot of grossly underpaid talent. All seven actors look their parts and play them well, on a set of such austere simplicity it seems natural, even though we see through non-existent walls to the faces and attitudes of characters absent from the scene.” – Jason Catlett, Time Out Sydney
“Sarah Giles brings Susanna’s story to life in innovative and compelling style.” Sandra Bowden, Oz Baby Boomers
“With a uniformly fine cast and some excellent, inventive direction by Sarah Giles (who similarly impressed with her graduating piece at NIDA late last year), the calibre of this production would not seem out of place at Belvoir Street or Wharf 1.” Jack Teiwes, Australian Stage Online
“Giles’ deceptively simple direction contains many stylised touches that frame the action in ways one imagines are not scripted, yet never seem contrived or out of place. On the contrary, they considerably enhance the play…” Jack Teiwes, Australian Stage Online
“Sarah Giles brings Susanna’s story to life in innovative and compelling style.” Sandra Bowden, Oz Baby Boomers
Peter Whelan’s The Herbal Bed is a brilliant retelling of a scandal involving Shakespeare’s daughter Susanna Hall. Inspired by the few documented facts available, The Herbal Bed explores the clash between personal freedom, desire and the need to conform in order to survive.
Click here to read Sunny Burns atricle in the Sydney Star Observer.
19 March – 11 April, 2009
8:00pm, Thursdays to Saturdays, 5:00pm Sundays
(6:30pm, Wednesday 8 April)
Bookings at 1300 306 776 | mca-tix.com.au (no additional booking fee)
The Herbal Bed, by Peter Whelan
Directed by Sarah Giles
Designed by Renee Mulder
Lighting Design by Joshua Emanuel & Matthew Tunchon
Composed by Brent Hill
Voice Coach Emma Harris
Movement Daniella Lacob
With Keith Agius, Rick Cosnett, Jamie Irvine, Dave Kirkham, David McLaughlin, Fiona Pepper and Gemma Yates-Round.
Click here for additional information
Meanwhile, everyone’s been keeping busy…
In February, David Harmon directed a new staged reading of A Doll’s House for the New Theatre’s Education Program. He is currently working as Assistant Director on Darren Gilshenan’s production of The Popular Mechanicals at the Parade Theatre, NIDA (tickets).
Following David’s New Theatre reading is the next in the series – The Country Wife – directed by Kate Revz (infomation and tickets). Kate is also working on the launch of her production company, Cry Havoc! who’s premire production, Julius Caesar will be staged at the Malt Shovel Factory in Camperdown in November. Kate is also taking a group of collaborators on retreat as part of the Bundanon Trust’s Artist in Residence program to complete the 3rd draft of Any Other Name a new play based on the ill fated Rosaline from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet.
Imara Savage has been busy; completing a secondment with Opera Australia on Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk. She is about to begin production as Assistant Director on Marion Pott’s production of The Wonderful World of Dissocia at the Sydney Theatre Company, with another assisting role lined up on The Mysteries for later in the year.
Mark Grentell is currently in production for Grease! on the Beach (Manly Daily) to be performed at Clontarf Beach in aid of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Appeal. Mark is also working on a new Australian screenplay and new play based on the girls from Arthur Miller’s The Crucible.
In addition to rehearsals for Peter Wheelan’s The Herbal Bed, Sarah Giles is working on the second stage of development on the new Australian play K.I.J.E by Joanna Erskine. Sarah will be the Griffin Theatre Company’s New Director in Residence from July 2009.
Morgan Dowsett is set to fly to Queensland later in the year with an Assitant Director role with QTC‘s Michael Gow. Whilst in the sunshine state Morgan with work with students from QUT on new rehearsal methods and actor training. Morgan is currently Assistant Director to France’s Jean-Luc Prevost on A Journey Through the World of Moliere (tickets) which opens in April.
