Sydney Theatre Company's ARMS AND THE MAN Begins in September

Sydney Theatre Company presents the George Bernard Shaw classic, Arms and the Man, at Sydney Opera House from 14 September 2015. With a cast featuring Andrea Demetriades, Mitchell Butel, Charlie Cousins, Deborah Kennedy and William Zappa, director Richard Cottrell collaborates with the design team of Michael Scott-Mitchell, Julie Lynch and Damien Cooper to create a sumptuous fairytale version of 19th century Bulgaria.

As the Serbo-Bulgarian War of 1885 rages, the lovely Raina (Demetriades) is engaged to the gallant and posturing war hero Sergius (Cousins). When a fugitive Swiss soldier, Bluntschli (Butel), abruptly lands in her bedroom, he initially seems threatening. But he quickly reveals he'd prioritise chocolate bullets over real ones any day and Raina, against her will, finds herself falling in love.

George Bernard Shaw's play takes its title from the opening line of Virgil's Aeneid - which begins "of arms and the man I sing..." Like Aeneas, Shaw's Swiss officer is a man wandering away from defeat, but with trademark verbal dexterity, wit and sparkling dialogue, Shaw turns it all on its head. While ramping up the romance and keeping plenty of room for irony, he creates a playful love story of brilliantly drawn characters, while also poking fun at the vanity, false heroism and supposed nobility of the 19th century battlefield.

Andrea Demetriades' credits include the role of Lina Badir in the television series Crownies and Janet King. She has also featured in the films Nerve and Around the Block. Theatre credits include roles in Bell Shakespeare's Pericles (for which she was nominated for a 2009 Green Room Award) and Twelfth Night in 2010. Her most recent performance for STC was in last year's Perplex by Marius von Mayenburg and she is no stranger to Shaw, having played Eliza Doolittle in STC's 2012 production of Pygmalion.

Mitchell Butel has received Helpmann Awards for performances in The Venetian Twins, Avenue Q and The Mikado, as well as nominations for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Little Me, Summer Rain and The Republic of Myopia, Green Room Awards for Hair and Piaf. He has also received AFI nominations for roles in Gettin' Square and Strange Fits of Passion. STC credits include performances in Romeo and Juliet, Face to Face and The Republic of Myopia.

Melbourne actor Charlie Cousins makes his STC debut following performances in The Crucible and Cosi for Complete Works Theatre Company and in television's The Doctor Blake Mysteries and Winners and Losers.

Richard Cottrell has had a long and distinguished career as a theatre and opera director in Australia, Britain and North America. He was Artistic Director of the Bristol Old Vic, the Associate Director of the Stratford Festival, Ontario and Artistic Director of the Nimrod Theatre. Cottrell has most recently directed STC productions Australia Day, Loot, Travesties and Ying Tong - A Walk With The Goons.

Cast: Brandon Burke, Mitchell Butel, Charlie Cousins, Andrea Demetriades, Deborah Kennedy, Jason Kos, Oliver Rose, William Zappa

Director: Richard Cottrell. Set Designer: Michael Scott-Mitchell. Costume Designer: Julie Lynch. Lighting Designer: Damien Cooper. Sound Designer: Jeremy Silver.

Box Office: 02 9250 1777. www.sydneytheatre.com.au Tickets from $58 (fees apply)

Suncorp Twenties (tickets for just $20 for every performance by STC) become available for Arms and the Man from 8 September. Suncorp Twenties are released for sale every Tuesday at 9am for the following week's performances (Monday to Saturday).

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