SAINT JOAN Opens At STC This Weekend

Joan of Arc is an icon of protest. From the age of twelve, she was convinced she would change the course of history. She did so before her seventeenth birthday. Joan of Arc's story is brought to life by the luminous Sarah Snook, directed by STC Resident Director Imara Savage, in the fast paced and riveting political drama Saint Joan which opens this weekend at the Roslyn Packer Theatre.

Joan's faith in herself and in her cause, which inspired an entire army to victory, were both her greatest strength and her downfall. She was radical in her individualism, a young woman leading men into battle, a beacon of light in a shadowy world of medieval establishment. She refused to be put in the box that her world constructed for her, no matter the consequences.

Shaw's dynamic classic is based on the transcripts from Joan's trial and the extraordinary political impact of her life. Savage's new, modern reworking of Saint Joan is a stripped-back version of Shaw's language with additional text by young Australian writer Emme Hoy, which reveals Joan's conviction, intelligence and fiery charisma.

This Saint Joan places a heroic young woman at the centre of her own story; the true story of Joan's fight - first for her country, then for her life against the monolithic might of the state, the military and the church.

The men who Joan leaves in her wake are played by a distinguished ensemble of actors including John Gaden (Orlando), Socratis Otto (Foxtel's Wentworth), Anthony Taufa (Cloud Nine), Brandon McClelland (The Present) and William Zappa (Arms and the Man).

Sarah Snook has starred in a number of award-winning feature films, theatre productions and television series both locally and internationally. In 2015 Sarah featured in Jocelyn Moorehouse's The Dressmaker and Neil Armfield's film Holding the Man. Sarah's other film credits include Danny Boyle's Steve Jobs; Sleeping Beauty, These Final Hours, Oddball, The Glass Castle and Predestination. Her television credits include The Secret River, The Moodys, Redfern Now, Spirited, Blood Brothers, Packed to The Rafters, My Place and All Saints. Sarah played the lead role in the Australian series The Beautiful Lie by Glendyn Ivin.

Sarah's theatre credits include King Lear for the South Australian Theatre Company, three productions for the Griffin Theatre Company: Lovely/Ugly: Transformer, Crestfall, and S27. In 2015 Sarah starred in Henrik Ibsen's The Master Builder alongside Ralph Fiennes at London's iconic Old Vic theatre. Sarah was part of the NIDA 3rd-Year Acting Students' ensemble for STC's Gallipoli, 2008 and was in the cast of Minusonesister, 2013 playreading of the Patrick White Playwrights' Award winner.

Imara Savage is a directing graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA), and University of Technology, Sydney. Previously with STC she has directed Caryl Churchill's Top Girls, Colm Tóibín's The Testament of Mary, Moira Buffini's Dinner, Noel Coward's Hay Fever, Andrew Bovell's After Dinner and Sophie Treadwell's Machinal and worked as an Assistant Director on Fury, Pygmalion, Like a Fishbone, The Mysteries: Genesis and The Wonderful World of Dissocia.

Director Imara Savage. Set Designer David Fleischer. Costume Designer Renée Mulder. Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper. Composer & Sound Designer Max Lyandvert. Additional Text Imara Savage, Emme Hoy. Assistant Director Clemence Williams.

With: Gareth Davies, John Gaden, Brandon McClelland, Sean O'Shea, Socratis Otto, Sarah Snook, Anthony Taufa, David Whitney, William Zappa.

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