Sydney Theatre Company presents acclaimed British playwright Moira Buffini's Dinner for the first time this September at the Sydney Opera House. This award-winning play has won critical acclaim around the globe and was nominated for an Olivier Award for Best New Comedy following its premiere in London.
Dinner is a devilishly black satire on middle-class assumptions. Paige is a socialite extraordinaire with a nasty streak that runs a mile deep. Tonight, she is reluctantly celebrating her husband's best-selling book. The usual suspects have been invited for dinner - an artist, a scientist and a newsreader amongst them.
The evening quickly turns into the dinner party from hell. The vengeful host sets the tone with courses such as apocalypse of lobster and primordial soup. In a night of sinister intentions and poisonous undercurrents, secrets will be spilled. As the entrées quiver on their plates, a stranger knocks on the door and the evening takes an unexpected turn.
"I see Dinner as a kind of tragedy," says Director Imara Savage. "At its heart, it's about successful people with a serious spiritual and moral vacuum. There's not a lot that's funny about that, except that, there is something about other people's suffering that is perversely funny. This is the blackest kind of comedy, one with a dangerously sharp knife's edge to it."
Leading the fine-dining fireworks is Caroline Brazier (ABC's Rake), joined by BranDon Burke (Arms and the Man) and Bruce Spence (The Secret River). Completing this talented cast are Claire Lovering, Rebecca Massey, Aleks Mikic, and Sean O'Shea.
STC Resident Director Imara Savage completes a comedy hat-trick at STC, following the uproariously funny productions After Dinner (2015) and Hay Fever (2016).
Savage was appointed Resident Director at Sydney Theatre Company in 2016. Through its Resident Artists program, STC is committed to providing professional development opportunities, access to key personnel and resources, and encouragement and support to pursue interest and projects away from STC. Resident Artists play key roles in the day-to-day life of the company.
Creative Team and Cast:
Director: Imara Savage. Designer: Elizabeth Gadsby. Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper. Composer & Sound Designer: Max Lyandvert.
Cast: Caroline Brazier, BranDon Burke, Claire Lovering, Rebecca Massey, Aleks Mikic, Sean O'Shea, Bruce Spence
Pricing and ticket information:
Box Office: 02 9250 1777. www.sydneytheatre.com.au
Single Tickets
Preview performances $77.
A Reserve: Monday - Thursday performances: Adult $101, Seniors cardholder $92, Concession $81, Under 30 $79, Groups (10+ people) $86.
Friday night & Saturday matinee performances: Adult $102, Seniors cardholder $93, Concession $82, Under 30 $80, Groups (10+ people) $87
Saturday evening:$108.
Suncorp Twenties (tickets for just $20 for each STC performance) become available for Dinner from 7 September. Suncorp Twenties are released for sale every Thursday at 9am for the following week's performances (Mon to Sat).
Insight events:
Audi Night with Actors: Mon 25 Sep and Mon 9 Oct post-show
Pre-season Briefing: Mon 4 Sep at 6.15pm, Wharf 2 Theatre.
Audi Nights with the Actors: Mon 4 Sep and Mon 18 Sep (post show)
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