Edna O'Brien's - HAUNTED June 8, 2011

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE – PLAYHOUSE ¬
JUNE 8 - 26
“Trio of wonderous performances” The Guardian, UK
“the writing is sublime” Daily Telegraph, UK
“A tour de force! Funny, wrenching, comforting and above all else enjoyable!” NY Press
“Two-time Academy award nominee Brenda Blethyn is expert!” New York Times
Dual Academy Award Nominee Brenda Blethyn stars as the formidable Mrs Berry in the poignant and enchanting memory play, Haunted written by leading Irish playwright Edna O’Brien.
Following a UK/ Irish Tour and an Off Broadway Season, Haunted is playing at The Playhouse Sydney Opera House for a strictly limited season from June 8 to 26. Hailed by The Guardian as a “trio of wonderous performances”, Haunted stars Brenda Blethyn, Niall Buggy and Beth Cooke.

Brenda Blethyn stars as Mrs Berry, acclaimed Irish actor Niall Buggy as Mr Berry and Beth Cooke as Hazel. Haunted begins when a captivating young woman, Hazel enters the life of the quixotic Mr Berry. Mr Berry’s desperation to ensure Hazel’s return sees him secretly giving away his wife’s clothes in exchange for elocution lessons. As Mrs Berry searches for an explanation to her fast diminishing wardrobe, Mr Berry soon discovers that both his relationships are increasingly under threat.
“It is a great thrill to be able to bring Brenda Blethyn back to Australia in this terrific production from one of the UK’s leading drama companies The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester.
Brenda Blethyn is one of the world’s great actors both on stage and on screen. She has entranced film goers around the world in her Academy Award nominated roles including Little Voice and Mike Leigh’s Secrets and Lies. On stage she most recently won the hearts of Australian audiences with her portrayal of Miss Fozzard in the Alan Bennett play Miss Fozzard Finds Her Feet, part of the Talking Heads series.
Haunted is a wonderful play by leading Irish playwright Edna Obrien and I am sure it will capture the hearts and minds of Sydney audiences.”

Edna O’Brien was born in County Clare, educated by the sisters of Mercy in Galway and graduated as a pharmacist before going on to write her first controversial novel The Country Girls in 1960. Since then she has written over twenty-five books, including Wild Decembers, In The Forest, a biography of James Joyce, Byron In Love and most recently Saints And Sinners. Her plays include A Pagan Place (Royal Court, London), Virginia (on the life and writings of Virginia Woolf at Haymarket, London), Iphigenia (Crucible, Sheffield), Our Father (Almeida, London), Family Butchers (Magic Theatre, San Francisco) and Triptych (Southwark Playhouse, London). Awards include Yorkshire Post, Los Angeles Times, Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, Irish Pen, the European Prize for Literature, Ulysses Medal from University College Dublin and American National Arts Gold Medal.
Brenda Blethyn has an impressive list of television, film and theatre credits to her name. Blethyn was with the Bubble Theatre and the Belgrade Theatre Coventry, before joining the National Theatre in 1975. She is the recipient of a Theater World Award, a Critics' Circle Theatre Award and a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her theatrical work. Blethyn has received two Academy Award nominations (1999 Best Supporting Actress for Little Voice and 1997 Best Actress for Secrets and Lies), two SAG Award nominations, two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one in 1996 for Secrets and Lies. In addition, she has won a BAFTA, an Empire Award and a Golden Lion.
Multi-award winning, Niall Buggy is the recipient of Laurence Olivier Award for Best Comedy Actor for Dead Funny, Obie Award for Aristocrats, New York Drama Desk Award, Irish Theatre Award for Best Actor for Uncle Vanya, Regional Theatre Award for Best Actor, Best Actor Regional Theatre Awards, Time Out Award, Clarence Derwent Award and was nominated For Helen Haynes Award. His film credits include Mamma Mia!, Alien 3 and Hellraiser to name a few.
Beth Cooke trained at The Drama Centre. Cooke was nominated for an Ian Charleson Award for her role as Irina in Three Sisters. Her theatre credits include; Arcadia, The Real Thing, Three Sisters, The Children’s Hour, The Gift, A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Le Grand Meaulnes.
Haunted premiered at The Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester in 2009 to critical acclaim.

The writing is sublime! In Braham Murray’s exemplary production Brenda Blethyn is just splendid… Niall Buggy is equally terrific… quirky and clever, lush and perfumed.
Daily Telegraph, UK
Together [Blethyn & Buggy] create a devastating portrait of a marriage gone sour that still retains touching hints of its former sweetness.
New York Times
Blethyn embodies every feisty fiber of her well-stuffed character.
Variety
Edna O’Brien’s HAUNTED
Sydney Opera House – Playhouse
Macquarie St, Bennelong Pt
Dates: June 8 – 26
OPENING NIGHT THURSDAY, 9 JUNE 7.30PM
Times: Mon – Sat 7.30pm; Sun 5.30pm Matinees Wed & Sat 1.30pm; Sun 12 at 1pm
Prices:
Thursday - Sunday & Matinee Performances
Adult: $119.90; Australian Pensioner: $114.90; Child under 12 years: $39.90; Students: $69.90
Friday & Saturday Evenings
All tickets: $129.90
Bookings: Sydney Opera House Box Office
on www.sydneyoperahouse.com or 02 9250 7777