Playhouse Theatre
21 June - 6 July 2008
By Joanna Murray-Smith
Directed by Tom Gutteridge
Set & Costume Design by Caitlin Ryan
Lighting Design by Jon Buswell
Sound Design by Kingsley Reeve
Fight Director Andy Fraser
Starring: Deborah Kennedy with Tony Briggs, Matt Dyktynski, Natalie Holmwood, Alison van Reeken and Igor Sas.
GET READY FOR A NIGHT OF RIOTOUS LAUGHTER!
“…Generational conflict, given a feminine twist… There’s no denying that The Female of the Species is funny…” The Australian
Best-selling author Margot is 'sprinting for a deadline' in her country home when she is confronted by Molly. What appears to be hero-worship slowly takes on a sinister edge as it emerges that Molly blames Margot's ever-changing feminist perspective for ruining her life. Then Margot’s family arrives…and her world comically begins to unravel as her family debates the virtues of her best-sellers, her inconsistent world view, and her distinctly un-motherly touch. The upshot of this 'show down' is never predictable and always hilarious.
Inspired by real events, Joanna Murray-Smith’s feminist farce sparkles with intelligence, confidence and humour that will keep you laughing until the end.
A UK production of The Female of the Species is set to premiere in the West End in mid July – don’t miss your chance to see this play in Perth before it becomes the talk of the town in London.
Originally commissioned by Melbourne Theatre Company.
Venue: Playhouse Theatre, 3 Pier Street, Perth
| Preview 1: | Sat 21st June | 7.30pm |
| Preview 2: | Mon 23rd June | 6.30pm |
| Opening Night: | Tues 24th June | 7.30pm |
| Wed 25th June | 7.30pm | |
| Thurs 26th June | 11am | |
| Thurs 26th June | 7.30pm | |
| Fri 27th June | 7.30pm | |
| Sat 28th June | 2.15pm | |
| Sat 28th June | 7.30pm | |
| Tues 1st July | 6.30pm | |
| Wed 2nd July | 7.30pm | |
| Thurs 3rd July | 7.30pm | |
| Fri 4th July | 7.30pm | |
| Sat 5th July | 7.30pm | |
| Sun 6th July | 5.00pm |
Duration: Approx. 1 hour 45 minutes [no interval]
SINGLE TICKET PRICES
Preview Performances
Tickets: $35Students: $20
Season Performances
Standard: $45
Concession (Senior, Pensioner, Unemployed): $40
Groups 6+ (plus get 1 free ticket when you book 10 or more): $38
Students (full time students with photo ID): $20
Black Swan Theatre Company is proud to be a partner of the City of Perth Winter Arts Festival
WA REGIONAL TOUR
The Female of the Species will also be going on tour to five regional centres in the winter of 2008. Details below:
BUNBURY REGIONAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE
Thursday 24 July 2008 8:00pm
Bookings: (08) 9791 1133
www.bunburyentertainment.com
MARGARET RIVER CULTURAL CENTRE
Saturday 26 July 2008 8:00pm
Bookings: (08) 9758 7316
www.artsmargaretriver.com
ALBANY TOWN HALL THEATRE
Tuesday 29 July 2008 8:00pm
Bookings: (08) 9841 1661
www.albanytownhall.com.au
ESPERANCE CIVIC CENTRE
Thursday 31 July 2008 8.00pm
Bookings: (08) 9083 1566
www.civiccentre.esperance.wa.gov.au
MANDURAH PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE
Saturday 2 August 2008 8:00pm
Bookings: (08) 9550 3900
www.manpac.com.au
Regional Tour Ticket Prices:
Standard: $35
Groups 8+: $33
Concession (Senior, Pensioner, Unemployed): $27
Students (full time students with photo ID): $20
JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH
Joanna is one of Australia's most successful playwrights and her plays have been performed all over the world. Honour has been produced in over two dozen countries, including productions at the Royal National Theatre in London, on the West End and on Broadway and has recently been adapted for BBC radio drama. In addition to Australian productions, Love Child has been produced throughout Asia and toured the UK. Nightfall has been produced in New York and by the English Speaking Theatre of Rome and has recently completed a tour of the UK. Rapture has had a workshop production in New York and two large productions in Tokyo. Redemption has been adapted for BBC radio drama. After two successful seasons in Australia, Bombshells was the hit of the Edinburgh Fringe in 2004 and had a production on the West End in 2005. Other plays include Atlanta, Ridge's Lovers, Angry Young Penguins and Flame which was adapted for SBS television. Many of her plays have been adapted for Australian radio drama. Both Rapture and Honour won the Victorian Premier's Literary Award. Joanna's most recent play, The Female of the Species has been optioned for a Broadway production in 2008. Her new play, Ninety will be produced at the Melbourne Theatre Company in 2008. She is currently adapting Ingmar Bergman's film Scenes from a Marriage for Sir Trevor Nunn, to premiere in the UK in January 2008.
Joanna's acclaimed novels include Truce, Judgement Rock which won Braille Book of the Year, and the recent Sunnyside (all Penguin), which made the final list of twelve for the 2006 Miles Franklin Award.
Joanna's screenwork includes the mini-series Cassidy for the ABC, as well as teleplays in the ABC's Seven Deadly Sins series (Greed) and Mimi Goes to the Analyst in the SBS series "Sixpack".
Her opera, composed by Paul Grabowsky, Love in the Age of Therapy, was produced by Opera Australia at the Melbourne International Arts Festival in 2002 and at the Sydney Opera House in 2003.
