Strangers in Between May 27, 2008

Griffin Theatre Company in association with Riverside Theatres proudly presents Tommy Murphy’s STRANGERS IN BETWEEN at Riverside Theatres from Tuesday 27 May for six shows only. Written by the director and writer of the huge box office hit Holding the Man comes this insightful comedy about a country boy in a big city.
STRANGERS IN BETWEEN, winner of the 2006 NSW Premier’s Literary Award, is a warm and generous comedy from one of Australia’s most talented emerging playwrights and was a hit at Griffin in 2005. This new production, directed by David Berthold, stars two of the original cast, Anthony Phelan and Sam Dunn, along with recent NIDA graduate Anthony Gee.
Shane has run away from his family in Goulburn and finds himself alone in Kings Cross. He is unsure of his sexuality, more unsure of how to find intimacy and completely thrown by having to choose between laundry liquid and powder. A lost boy in a loopy neighbourhood.
He meets two strangers - the very-Sydney Will who offers brotherhood, sex and something unexpected; and the beguiling Peter, a 50-year-old gay man whose mother is dying in a nursing home. After Shane's brother Ben makes a baffling appearance, a surprising relationship is forged- a relationship that will cleanse and heal.
“I was commissioned to write a play about Kings Cross,” says writer Tommy Murphy. “I assumed that the setting would be a trashy and dangerous world. Perhaps it is. But I was surprised to discover a comedy that’s also about something precious, about family and lessons in saying ‘I love you’.”
Tommy Murphy is a graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art and the University of Sydney. He was the winner of the Sydney Theatre Company Young Playwrights’ Award and the ACT Young Writers Award for his first play, For God, Queen and Country. His second play Troy’s House was performed in Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne, and his most recent play, Holding the Man, has played across Australia continuously since it opened two years ago.
Sam Dunn has previously been seen onstage for atyp in Kinderspiel (with The Carrousel Theatre Berlin for the 2002 Sydney Festival) and 17 Musicians (a collaboration with London’s National Theatre for the 2004 Sydney Festival). Sam’s film and television credits include appearances in Outriders and Love My Way.
Anthony Gee graduated from NIDA in 2006. Since graduating, his film and television credits include All Saints, Home and Away and the short films Awful (director Paul Alexandria) and Shot Open (AFTRS- director Scott Pickett). In 2007 Anthony appeared in the TRS production Capture the Flag, written and directed by Toby Schmitz.
Anthony Phelan has extensive experience in stage, television and film. He has previously been seen in Julius Caesar, The Tempest and Holy Day for Sydney Theatre Company and The Marvellous Boy for Griffin Theatre Company. Television work includes the renowned Australian dramas Love My Way and All Saints and he also featured in the film Danny Deckchair.
“Bitter and sweet and replete with raw emotion... entertaining an forceful”- The Sydney Morning Herald
“Full of laughs... a charming and often exhilarating experience” – The Sunday Telegraph
“Murphy's writing is irresistibly heart-warming.. three very special performances and Dunn's performance is quite simply the most assured debut by a young actor that I have ever see”- Sun Herald
Director David Berthold
STANGERS IN BETWEEN
VENUE: Riverside Theatres, Cnr Market and Church Streets, Parramatta
DATES: Tuesday 27 - Saturday 31 May
TIMES: Tues, Wed, Fri, Sat at 8.15pm; Thu 6.30pm and Sat matinee at 2.15pm
SINGLE TICKET PRICE:
Tues-Thu Eve & Sat Matinee Adults $42, Conc $37, Under 30 is $27, Under 16 $22
Fri & Sat Eve Adults $45, Conc $40, Under 30 is $30, Under 16 $25
RIVERSIDESAVER:
Tues-Thu Eve & Sat Matinee Adults $35, Concessions $30, 30 and under $22, 16 and under $17
Fri & Sat Eve Adults $38, Conc $33, Under 30 is $25, Under 16 $20
BOOKINGS: Riverside Box Office 02 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.au

Official Website: http://www.riversideparramatta.com.au