Sydney Theatre Company Presents David Mamet's SPEED THE PLOW

Sydney Theatre Company and Colonial First State Global Asset Management present Speed-the-Plow, by David Mamet, this 8 November - 17 December 2016. The opening night is Saturday 12 November 2016 at 7.30pm, at the Roslyn Packer Theatre, Walsh Bay.

Rose Byrne, Damon Herriman and Lachy Hulme appear in Sydney Theatre Company's production of David Mamet's excoriating satire on the ruthless nature of Hollywood and the movie industry, Speed-the-Plow, directed by Andrew Upton. Performances are at Roslyn Packer Theatre from 8 November to 17 December 2016 (opening night: Saturday 12 November 2016 at 7.30pm).

Movie producer Bobby Gould (Herriman) is faced with a life-changing decision. Should he greenlight a formulaic, commercial hit film sure to impress the top brass, as championed by his cohort Charlie Fox (Hulme)? Or will an enigmatic temporary secretary, Karen (Byrne), cause him to take a different course?

A master at hucksters and sharks - and there may well be a few of those in Hollywood - Mamet's tight, hilarious and unflinching dialogue ensures the stakes are always high in this late 20th-century modern morality play. The playwright's other critically acclaimed plays include Oleanna, Glengarry Glen Ross, Boston Marriage, Sexual Perversity in Chicago and American Buffalo.

Damon Herriman's most recent performance with STC was in Steven Soderbergh's Tot Mom. Recent television performances in the US have included roles in Justified, Flesh and Bone and the new show Quarry, currently screening on Foxtel. In Australia his recent performances include roles in TV's Secret City, Never Tear Us Apart, Offspring and Rake, and films including Down Under, The Water Diviner and The Little Death.

Lachy Hulme performed in STC's Elling directed by Pamela Rabe in 2009. Other theatre credits include MTC's The Speechmaker and Louie Louie Enterprises' Sexual Perversity in Chicago and Rinaldo 441. His numerous TV performances include roles in Offspring, Rush, The Secret River, Gallipoli, Jack Irish, Chandon Pictures, The Hollowmen, Howzat! Kerry Packer's War and Power Games: The Packer-Murdoch Story for which he won both Logie and AACTA/AFI Awards.

Rose Byrne's previous STC credits are La Dispute (2000) and Three Sisters (2001). Her many film and TV credits include the series Damages, for which she earned Golden Globe and Emmy nominations, and the movie Bridesmaids. This year she has reprised roles in both X-Men: Apocalypse and in Neighbours 2: Sorority Rising, as well as appearing in The Meddler. Other recent films include a remake of Annie, This is Where I Leave You, Adult Beginners, The Turning and the comedy Spy. Byrne made her Broadway debut in You Can't Take it With You in 2014.

As a director, former STC Artistic Director Andrew Upton's credits include David Mamet's Reunion, Eugene O'Neil's Long Day's Journey Into Night, Joanna Murray-Smith's Fury, David Williamson's Travelling North and Samuel Beckett's Endgame and Waiting for Godot, described in London's Daily Telegraph's five star review as "a theatrical experience as rare as it is wonderful". Amongst his many writing credits, his adaptations of Feydeau's A Flea in her Ear opens in Sydney on 4 November, and The Present, his adaptation of Chekhov's first play, begins performances on Broadway in December.

Director: Andrew Upton. Designer: David Fleischer. Lighting Designer: Nick Schlieper. Sound: David Gilfillan. Associate Lighting Designer: Chris Twyman

Box Office: 02 9250 1777. www.sydneytheatre.com.au

Ticket prices: Saturday eve A Reserve $116. Saturday eve B Reserve $106
Adult A Reserve $104. Adult B Reserve $94. Concessions $84. Seniors $95.

Previews $80. Under 30 $84

Transaction fees may apply

Suncorp Twenties (tickets for just $20 for every performance by STC) become available for Speed-the-Plow from 3 November. Suncorp Twenties are released for sale every Thursday at 9am for the following week's performances (Mon to Sat).

Insight Events:

Pre-season Briefing: Monday 31 October at 6.15pm Wharf 2

Audi Nights with the Actors: Mondays 21 Nov and 5 December post-show

Photo: Andrew Upton, Damon Herriman, Rose Byrne and Lachy Hulme on day one of rehearsals at STC for Speed-the-Plow. Credit: James Green.

To post a comment, you must register and login.