It is a delight for us to welcome back one of our favourite
directors Benedict Andrews, who will direct a production of Jean
Genet's The Maids, starring Cate Blanchett and Isabelle
Huppert, here at STC in 2013. To mark the occasion, we take a look
back at his long and distinguished career working at The
Wharf.
Benedict's first production for STC was La Dispute,
which was produced in 2000 following a series of workshops
and featured a cast including Leeanna Walsman (pictured),
Rose Byrne and Rhys Muldoon. (Photo: Tracey Schramm)
Later the same year Martin Crimp's Attempts on Her
Lifein 2000, which was initally developed as part
of STC's artist development program. (Photo: Tracey
Schramm)
The following year he directed Fireface, by Marius von
Mayenburg, as a co-production between STC and Sydney
Festival, by arrangement with the Royal Court Theatre, London.
(Photo: Heidrun Lohr)
Also in 2001, Benedict directed a production of Anton Chekhov's
Three Sistersstarring Paula Arundell, Melita Jurisic and
Rose Byrne. (Photo: Heidrun Lohr)
Benedict's last production in 2001 for STC was the world premiere
of Beatrix Christian's Old Masters, starring Jacki
Weaver and Robyn Nevin. (Photo: Heidrun Lohr)
Sophie Lee performed alongside Tim Richards, Felix
Williamson, Simon Burke and Rita Kalnejais in Benedict's
production of Mr Kolpert, produced in 2002 as part of
STC Blueprints season. (Photo: Tania Kelley)
Also in 2002, Benedict directed a production of Pedro Calderon de
la Barca's Life is a Dream, which he co-adapted
with Beatrix Christian. (Photo: Heidrun Lohr)
The following year, Benedict directed Lynne Murphy, Peter
Carroll and Jacek Koman in a STC and Sydney Festival co-production
of Samuel Beckett's Endgame. (Photo: Heidrun
Lohr)
In 2004, he directed Caryl Churchill's challenging dystopian drama
Far Away, starring Sacha Horler and Brendan Cowell.
(Photo: Tania Kelley)
In 2005, Benedict turned his hand to the work of William
Shakespeare, directing a vast cast in a production
of Julius Caesar. (Photo: Tania Kelley)
In 2007, he teamed up with the STC Actor's Company for a
spectacular production of Patrick White's suburban
drama The Season at Sarsaparilla, which
featured surveillance video projected on screens, a three
dimensional revolving house designed by Robert Cousins and
memorable performances by the cast, which included Pamela
Rabe and Amber McMahon. (Photo: Tania Kelley)
Benedict took the idea of scale even further with The War of
the Roses, which was produced with the Sydney Festival in
2009. The eight hour epic, which featured the Actors Company plus
guest artists Cate Blanchett and Robert Menzies, was staged in
Sydney Theatre before touring to the Perth International Arts
Festival. (Photo: Tania Kelley)
From the vast to the intimate, later in 2009 Benedict directed a
beautifully scaled down production of Martin Crimp's The
City, starring Colin Moody and Gigi Perry (pictured), plus
Belinda McClory, Anita Hegh and Georgia Bowrey, and was
performed in Wharf 2 on a magical set designed by Ralph
Myers. (Photo: Emma Furno)
Benedict's most recent production at STC was Gross und Klein
(Big and Small), which was staged at Sydney Theatre in 2011
and toured to Paris, London, Vienna and Recklinghausen in 2012.
Written by Botho Strauss, this production featured an adaptation by
Martin Crimp, set design by Johannes Schutz and performances by a
large cast lead by Cate Blanchett as Lotte. (Photo: Lisa
Tomasetti)
The Maids, Sydney
Theatre, 8 June - 20 July, 2013.
Archive: Benedict Andrews
Date posted: 7 Sep 2012Author: STC