On Tour in 2023: Girls & Boys by Dennis Kelly
State Theatre Company South Australia has opened 2023 with our critically acclaimed production of Girls & Boys by Dennis Kelly opening at the 2023 Sydney Festival.
The Sydney season, which played from 5-15 January at the Seymour Centre, saw all performances sold out, including an additional matinee. The show has been Sydney Festival’s breakout, must-see production of the year, just as it was in its similarly sold-out premiere season in the Adelaide Festival in 2022, with critics raving about Justine Clarke’s performance under the direction of State Theatre Company South Australia Artistic Director Mitchell Butel.
“The festival’s triumph was Girls & Boys, Dennis Kelly’s play for one actor about human disintegration, expertly directed by Mitchell Butel for State Theatre Company South Australia. Wry at first, as we saw the thinning patience and negotiated settlements of motherhood, the narrative gradually morphed from scattered fragments to pin-spot focus, and Justine Clarke’s performance shifted gears accordingly, until she left you emotionally scorched in a furnace of the unimaginable.” – The Sydney Morning Herald
“In a tour de force, Clarke is brilliant.” – Stage Whispers
“A brilliant piece of theatre. Justine Clarke captures brilliantly the comedy and drama of this play… direction by Mitchell Butel is first rate.” ★★★★★ – Sydney Arts Guide
“Justine Clarke’s use of the stage is astounding. Hand gestures, facial expressions, and her gaze captivate. Each of us feels like she is talking to us.” – Sydney Scoop
“Girls & Boys is ultimately a play that sings from the same books as Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin and Gadsby’s Nanette. It is an important play that sears itself into audiences’ hearts and minds.” ★★★★ – The AU Review
We are so excited bring Girls & Boys back to Adelaide for a special return season of five-shows-only in the Dunstan Playhouse, 2-5 August, before heading to Hobart’s Theatre Royal from 10-12 August. We’re proud to be touring State Theatre Company South Australia productions and collaborating with major companies and festivals across Australia, showcasing the excellence of South Australian theatre.
Don’t miss the chance to see this rare and brilliant production, a ticking time bomb that flicks from Fleabag-like wit and mischief to harrowing shock in seconds. Girls & Boys will bring you to the edge of your seat. Click here for more information and to book tickets.