MTC to Stage Harold Pinter's BETRAYAL

Acclaimed actress Alison Bell finds herself at the centre of a love triangle in Betrayal, Harold Pinter's most arresting relationship drama. Created by the State Theatre Company of South Australia and directed by its Artistic Director Geordie Brookman, Betrayal opens at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner on Saturday 29 August 2015 after seasons in Adelaide and Canberra.

Hailed for its economical writing and backward travelling plot, Betrayal is inspired by Pinter's real-life affair with a British TV presenter and the reaction of her husband. Regarded as one of Pinter's major works, this is MTC 's third outing of this remarkable play, following its premiere in 1980 and again in 2001 when it was a runaway hit.

Director Geordie Brookman said 'Betrayal is a play of great economy and power. It's full of blood, damage and the heavy consequence of in the moment choices. In Alison Bell, John Maurice, Nathan O'Keefe and Mark Saturno, I'm lucky enough to have four actors at the peak of their powers, ready to bring Pinter's yearning and dark humour to life.'

Emma and Jerry meet for the first time since the end of their affair, but the coals they rake over have long grown cold. Emma reveals she is finally going to leave Robert, the husband and best friend they betrayed. When, later that day, Jerry decides to confess all to Robert, he discovers that Robert found out about the affair years ago and said nothing. Was this secret his betrayal? Or his revenge? As memory reels backwards towards the moment the affair started, the lies tangle into a web of deception and betrayal begets betrayal.

Considered one of the most influential modern dramatists, Harold Pinter was a playwright, director, actor, poet and political activist. His acting and writing career spanned more than 50 years and in 2005 he won the Nobel Prize for Literature. His legacy includes twenty-nine plays such as The Birthday Party, The Caretaker, The Homecoming, The Dumb Waiter, No Man's Land, Moonlight, Ashes to Ashes, Betrayal, Party Time and Celebration; and twenty-four screenplays including The Servant, The Go-Between and The French Lieutenant's Woman.

Geordie Brookman is the Artistic Director of State Theatre Company. His directing credits for the Company include The Importance of Being Earnest, Little Bird, The Seagull, Maggie Stone, Hedda Gabler, The Kreutzer Sonata,Speaking In Tongues, romeo&juliet, Ghosts, Attempts on Her Life, The Dumb Waiter, Ruby Moon, Hot Fudge, Toy Symphony (co-production with QTC ), and Knives In Hens (co-production with Malthouse). Other directing credits include Spring Awakening: The Musical (STC ), Baghdad Wedding (Belvoir), Metro Street (Arts Asia Pacific, Power Arts, Daegu International Musicals Festival and State Theatre Company of South Australia), The City and Tender (nowyesnow), Marathon, Morph, Disco Pigs and The Return (Fresh Track), Tiny Dynamite (Griffin), Macbeth and The Laramie Project (AC Arts). His productions have won or been nominated for Helpmann, Greenroom, Sydney Critics Circle, Adelaide Critics Circle and Curtain Call Awards.

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