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27 April 2015
Sydney Theatre Company and Allens present
Battle of Waterloo
By Kylie Coolwell
1 – 27 June 2015. Opening Night: Friday 5 June 2015 at 8.00pm
Wharf 1, Sydney Theatre Company, Pier 4/5 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay
First time playwright Kylie Coolwell describes her debut work, Battle of
Waterloo, as a ‘love letter to her community’. At its heart, the play is a
joyful celebration of this community in all its boisterous, passionate
humanity. Directed by STC Resident Director Sarah Goodes, Battle of
Waterloo premieres at The Wharf from 1 -27 June (Opening Night 5 June
2015).
Told with poetic realism, Battle of Waterloo centres on a community of
people whose humanity, dignity and love binds them together, along with the
shared pain of dispossession and loss that they are trying to overcome.
Promising young fashion designer, Cassie (Shari Sebbens) is thrown off kilter
when her boyfriend Ray (Luke Carroll) returns from three years inside. With
a flair for dramatic writing, Coolwell’s characters swirl in and out of the
James Cook Estate with the force of a tornado.
The genesis of play came in early 2013, when Playwriting Australia teamed
Sarah Goodes with NIDA trained actress, Kylie Coolwell for a week-long
workshop as part of their Redfern Salon program. The play was then
developed through STC’s Rough Draft program, before being programmed as
part of STC’s 2015 main stage line-up.
Following her acclaimed direction of STC’s award-winning production of
Switzerland, as well as other new plays including Vere (Faith) and The
Splinter, Sarah Goodes has cemented her reputation for collaborating closely
with playwrights to bring new Australian work to the stage. For Battle of
Waterloo, she is reunited with Designer Renée Mulder, with whom she
collaborated on The Effect, The Splinter and Edward Gant's Amazing Feats
of Loneliness for STC.
Shari Sebbens (The Sapphires) makes her STC debut alongside Luke Carroll
(Redfern Now) and an exceptional cast of indigenous actors.
Cast: Luke Carroll, Shareena Clanton, Roxanne McDonald, Billy McPherson,
Shari Sebbens, Guy Simon, James Slee
2
Please note Hunter Page-Lochard, originally advertised to feature, has withdrawn
from the production.
Director: Sarah Goodes. Designer: Renée Mulder. Lighting Designer: Verity
Hampson. Composer & Sound Designer: Steve Francis
Box Office: 02 9250 1777. sydneytheatre.com.au Tickets: from $40 (fees
apply)
Suncorp Twenties become available from 26 May and are released for sale
every Tuesday at 9am for the following week’s performances (Monday to
Saturday).
Insight Events:
Pre-season Briefing: Monday 25 May 6.15pm. Wharf 2 Theatre
Audi Night with the Actors: Mon 15 June (post-show)
For further information: Georgia McKay (9250 1705
gmckay@sydneytheatre.com.au) or Tim McKeough (9250 1703
tmckeough@sydneytheatre.com.au)
Presenting sponsor