The War of the Roses Part 1
By William Shakespeare
Adapted By Tom Wright and Benedict Andrews
As the culmination of their three years together, Sydney Theatre Company’s renowned resident ensemble, the STC Actors Company, are joined by Cate Blanchett and Robert Menzies to present an audacious epic of language and history - The War of the Roses.
The War of the Roses spans eight of Shakespeare’s History plays, from the elegance and melancholy of Richard II through to the barbarity and catastrophe of Richard III, via some of Shakespeare's most startling and inspired creations. The bittersweet underworld of Falstaff’s nights, the boy-failure who becomes a war hero in Henry V, the nightmare world of a child-king in Henry VI, the incisive language of Queen Margaret, all refracted by a creative team acclaimed for their vivid re-imaginings.
Condensed to four distinct acts, performed in two parts, this landmark production examines what it means to rule, to enact war, to take power and to lose power. It is the story of the failure of a civilisation and its replacement with a new world order.
Renowned for his distinctly bold interpretations of classic texts, The War of the Roses marks internationally-lauded director Benedict Andrews’ second collaboration with the STC Actors Company, following their award-winning production of Patrick White’s The Season at Sarsaparilla in 2007.
Warning: This production contains theatrical smoke and haze, loud music, strobe-like effects and material that may offend some patrons.
For more information on The War of the Roses Part 2 click here
Sydney Theatre
3 hours 45 minutes, including interval
Bookings: (02) 9250 1777
Hickson Road Bistro will be open from 5pm to 8.30pm throughout the season of The War of the Roses. For menu and contact details, please click here.
Reviews
"From the stunning opening... to the grim conclusion... this epic story of warfare and civilisation carries us, completely gripped, through eight hours of superb theatre." The Australian
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"...adapted by Tom Wright and Andrews in a version that is lucid, immediate and bright.... Andrews's spare production celebrates the splendour and poetry of Shakespeare, and affirms the imagination." The Sydney Morning Herald
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