State Greats: June 2022 Update

What a huge first half of this Golden Jubilee year for State Theatre Company South Australia!

Since our last update, the beautiful Girl From the North Country rolled its slow train through Adelaide, bringing an extraordinary cast of talent and a transcendent theatre experience. We were so proud of the South Australian talent showcased through the production including performers Terence Crawford, Elizabeth Hay and James Smith; Associate Director Corey McMahon; Associate Lighting Designer Gavin Norris, Head of Wardrobe Kellie Jones and all of the State Theatre Company South Australia Workshop and Wardrobe teams who have built this monumentally lavish production for its national and international tour throughout 2022.

As you read this, the exquisite Cathedral is out on the road through regional South Australia, beginning with a special stop in Mount Gambier, whose Limestone Coast is so completely rendered in the production through playwright Caleb Lewis’s poetic script and the design work of Set and Costume Designer Kathryn Sproul, Sound Designer Andrew Howard and Lighting and AV Designer Mark Oakley led by Director Shannon Rush.

Caleb and the whole creative team have visited the Limestone Coast numerous times through the creation of Cathedral, to talk with divers and other locals and experience the natural environment so that the region is brought authentically into the work. Taking the production to the region brings the creative journey full circle. With the help of our co-producers Country Arts SA, the regional tour will also take in Renmark, Port Lincoln, Port Pirie and Port Augusta and allows us to connect with secondary students around the state. Enormous thanks to our Education Giving Circle for helping us to make that happen!

Antigone, by Elena Carapetis, this week enjoys its world premiere at the Odeon Theatre in Norwood, challenging the patriarchal power structures of contemporary society. This production is supported by our long-standing Commissioning Collective giving circle, without whose support it wouldn’t be possible.

As we arrive at the beginning of Winter, though, we are only just warming up! We are so excited for the second half of 2022 and the string of remarkable theatre we’re about the present in our spiritual home the Dunstan Playhouse. That begins with Chalkface and Sunshine Super Girl through July and September. These are big, fun and joyous Australian shows you won’t want to miss, and we can’t wait to share them with you!

See you at the theatre,

Julian Hobba
Executive Director, State Theatre Company South Australia

Mitchell Butel
Artistic Director, State Theatre Company South Australia