Mosquitoes

Science, sibling rivalry and the meaning of life weave together in a mind-bending family drama.

Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

The Play

“Witness two exceptional performances and a playwright knocking on the door of brilliance.” Sydney Morning Herald

 

MOSQUITOES

By Lucy Kirkwood
Directed by Jessica Arthur

 

Australian premiere

 

Can sisterly love survive the chaos of the universe?

 

The Australian premiere of this international hit is a spellbinding tale of sibling rivalry set against a backdrop of scientific discovery.

 

Alice (Jacqueline McKenzie) is a scientist working towards an important new discovery. Jenny (Mandy McElhinney) is her sister, and believes any conspiracy she reads on the internet. They couldn’t be more different. So, when tragedy forces them together, the impact has unexpected consequences.

 

It’s 2008 and Alice’s team of physicists at the Large Hadron Collider are searching for the Higgs Boson, stitching together the fabric of the cosmos. But at home, Alice’s family is falling apart at the seams.

 

Mosquitoes is a story of facts and feelings that reaches to the edges of time and space without ever losing touch with its very human heart.

 

The Guardian said “Lucy Kirkwood has proved that she is a dramatist of dauntless ambition. She pushes the boat out even further with her new play [Mosquitoes].” Likewise, Australian audiences raved about STC’s acclaimed productions of Kirkwood’s intelligent, affecting and ambitious work; Chimerica in 2017 and The Children in 2018.

 

Mosquitoes is perhaps her best yet – a perfectly focused family drama woven together with big questions about the universe and our very existence. This moving and witty story “tackles giant themes with a swaggering showmanship” (The Telegraph, UK).

 

Two of Australia’s most beloved screen and theatre actors, Mandy McElhinney (Channel 9’s Love Child and Bad Mothers, ABC’s Paper Giants) and Jacqueline McKenzie (The Present, Orlando) come together as the sisters at the centre of the story, with the award-winning Annie Byron (Hedda Gabler) as their mother.

 

STC’s Resident Director Jessica Arthur (Lethal Indifference) leads this Australian premiere production. The superb cast includes STC favourites Jason Chong (Chimerica) and Charles Wu (Chimerica, Channel 9’s Doctor Doctor).

 

Production Patrons The Donor Syndicate

 

Approx. duration 2hrs 35mins (including interval). Subject to change. More info
Content warning Strong language, adult themes, use of theatrical haze and herbal cigarettes. Subject to change. More info

 

TICKETS

 

Mon – Thu performances
Adult $103
Seniors cardholder $93
Concession $82
Under 30 $75

 

Fri & Sat performances $108

 

Preview performances $75

 

Transaction fees may apply
$7.50 online; $8 telephone; $0 Box Office counter

 

 

DATES

 

Previews 8 - 11 Apr 2019
Season 13 Apr - 18 May 2019

 

Performance start times
Preview performances 8pm
In-season evening performances Mon & Tue 6.30pm; Wed – Sat 8pm
Matinee performances Wed 1pm; Sat 2pm

 

Approx. duration 2hrs 35mins (including interval). Subject to change. More info

 

TICKET INFORMATION

 

Mon – Thu performances
Adult $103
Seniors cardholder $93
Concession $82
Under 30 $75

 

Fri & Sat performances $108

 

Preview performances $75

 

Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.

 

Transaction fees may apply

$7.50 online; $8 telephone; $0 Box Office counter

 

Authorised ticket sellers
The only authorised ticket sellers for this event are Sydney Theatre Company and Sydney Opera House. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. More info

 

General terms and conditions for tickets and attendance at Sydney Opera House events
For further information on general terms and detail on resale restrictions please visit the Sydney Opera House website.

 

Concession, seniors and under 30 tickets
Suitable and valid identification must be provided for collection of tickets and at the venue, such as your concession or proof of age card. Alternatively, you may email a copy of your identification to [email protected]. Please quote your booking reference number.

 

Access requirements
For specific access requirements, please call Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book your seats.

 

ACCESS PERFORMANCES

 

Captioned performance
Tue 7 May 6.30pm
Fri 17 May 8pm

 

Audio described performance
Sat 11 May 2pm

 

Auslan interpreted performance
Thu 16 May 8pm

 

 

Director Jessica Arthur
Designer Elizabeth Gadsby
Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper
Composer and Sound Designer James Brown
Assistant Director Jennifer Rani

 

With
Annie Byron, Jason Chong, Mandy McElhinney, Jacqueline McKenzie, Angela Nica Sullen, Louis Seguier, Nikita Waldron, Charles Wu

 

Marketing image Rene Vaile

 

This listing is updated as cast and creatives are confirmed in the lead-up to the production, and if there are any changes to the team. Ensure you have the most up-to-date information about each play by opting in to our enewsletter.

 

 

INSIGHT EVENTS

 

We offer a range of free and ticketed events designed to give you further insight into our plays. Find out more about our Insight Events.  

 

Pre-season Briefing
Mon 18 Mar 6.45pm
Richard Wherrett Studio
FREE, but bookings are essential as capacity is limited.
Past event

 

Night with the Actors
Mon 6 May post-show
Mon 13 May post-show

THE CRITICS ARE SAYING...

 

“Witness two exceptional performances and a playwright knocking on the door of brilliance.” Sydney Morning Herald

 

"A thrilling emotional ride, cranked to maximum tension by fabulous performances from all on stage" Daily Telegraph

 

★★★★ "Mandy McElhinney is outstanding ... Jacqueline McKenzie is excellent... and the two are terrific across the spectrum of their relationship." Stage Noise

 

“[Mandy] McElhinney wrings every laugh from Kirkwood’s spiky dialogue” Limelight Magazine

 

★★★★"Mosquitoes combines the epic sweep of Chimerica with the depth of characterisation of The Children and makes one fascinated to see what Kirkwood comes up with next." Australian Book Review

 

“Director Jessica Arthur brings excellent amplification to personal emotions for the characters we meet.” Suzy Goes See

 

"Seeking compassion and care along with understanding that people are different and that just because someone may not be book smart does not mean that we should treat them with any less humanity, this is a contemporary human story, relatable regardless of your own family circumstances." Broadway World

 

PRAISE FOR LUCY KIRKWOOD'S MOSQUITOES

 

★★★★ “Lucy Kirkwood has proved, with Chimerica and The Children, that she is a dramatist of dauntless ambition. She pushes the boat out even further with her new play.” The Guardian

 

★★★★“[A] characteristically bold and wide-ranging new play.” Independent

 

★★★★ “Lucy Kirkwood is a playwright who tackles giant themes with a swaggering showmanship.” The Telegraph

 

“Mosquitoes, a story of truth and communication, of belief and faith, of family ties and particle physics, is an act of conceptual bravura from a writer approaching the top of her game.” New Scientist

 

"Very funny. A wildly ambitious new play.” Time Out London

 

"Kirkwood is a writer of reach, intelligence and ambition… explores a whole slew of ideas." The Stage UK

 

 

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