Do Not Go Gentle

Witness this moving exploration of human frailty at the ends of the Earth as performed by an all-star cast.

23 May - 17 Jun 2023

Roslyn Packer Theatre

The Play

★★★★★ "A richly layered work... a profound exploration of ageing and dementia" The Guardian ★★★★★ Stage Noise ★★★★★ Australian Book Review ★★★★ Time Out

Do Not Go Gentle

By Patricia Cornelius
Directed by Paige Rattray

"Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light." – Dylan Thomas

An all-star cast – Peter Carroll, Vanessa Downing, John Gaden, Josh McConville, Philip Quast, Marilyn Richardson and Brigid Zengeni – joins forces with STC Director, New Work & Artistic Development Paige Rattray to tell this lyrical story of resilience in the face of insurmountable adversity and an unflinching exploration of ageing and dementia. This is a modern Australian classic written by a true iconoclast, Patricia Cornelius.

Battered by screeching winds and blinded by snow, each member of Robert Scott’s Antarctic expedition party must face hunger, exhaustion and cold that defies imagination. But fractures appear in the tale of this epic journey, and another story emerges – of ordinary people coming to terms with human frailty, fading memories and what it means to have lived well.

Are these weary travellers really trudging through uncharted territory, or are they walking a path of inevitability set out before them? Are they really at the edge of the world, or is the perilous landscape obscuring pitfalls that would test even the most seasoned explorer?

Winner of both the NSW and Victorian Premiers’ Literary Awards, Patricia Cornelius’ Do not go gentle… is a delicately crafted story told in moving vignettes, that inhabits two worlds; one that illustrates the extremity of human ambition and another that dramatises the inevitable truths of our existence. 

Approx. duration 2 hrs and 10 mins (including interval). Subject to change.
Content Adult themes, descriptions of suicide, infrequent strong language, theatrical haze. Subject to change.

If you or someone you know needs information or support, these organisations are there to help. Beyond Blue, Lifeline and Dementia Support Australia.

VIVID SYDNEY

Please be aware that several performances of this production coincide with Vivid Sydney. Please check your performance date and, if affected, please plan your trip and allow additional travel time to reach the theatre. More info.

VISITOR SAFETY INFORMATION

The safety of our audiences, artists and staff is of paramount importance. For full details on our safety measures please visit our Visitor Safety Information page.

Dates

Previews 23 – 26 May 2023
Season 29 May – 17 Jun 2023

Night with the Artists
Mon 5 Jun, post-show Q&A

Captioned Performances
Tue 13 Jun, 6.30pm
Sat 17 Jun, 1.30pm 

Auslan-Interpreted Performances
Thu 15 Jun, 7.30pm

Performance start times
Preview performances 7.30pm
In-season evening performances Mon & Tue 6.30pm; Wed – Sat 7.30pm
Matinee performances Wed 1pm; Sat 1.30pm

Approx. duration 2 hrs and 10 mins (including interval). Subject to change.

Ticket Information 

Single tickets
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $104
Adult B Reserve $99
Seniors card holder $99
Concession $78
Under 30 $57

Fri & Sat performances
A Reserve $109
B Reserve $104

Preview performances
All tickets $57

Groups Discount (6+ people)
Monday – Thursday
A Reserve $94
B Reserve $89

The group discount will be automatically applied in the cart when you add 6 or more tickets.
For groups larger than 10 please call the Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book.

Corporate entertainment packages are also available for this production.

Season Ticket prices
Saturday evening A Reserve $98
Adult A Reserve $93
Seniors cardholder $89
Pensioner/Student $70
Under 30 $51
Preview $51

Mini Package prices
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $98
Adult B Reserve $94
Seniors cardholder $94
Pensioner/Student $74
Under 30 $54

Friday & Saturday performances
A Reserve $103
B Reserve $98

Preview performances
All tickets $54

Transaction fees may apply
Season Ticket bookings: no fees
Single ticket bookings: $8.50 online; $8.50 telephone; $0 Box Office counter

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

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. More info.

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

Director Paige Rattray
Designer Charles Davis
Lighting Designer Paul Jackson
Composer & Sound Designer James Brown
Assistant Director Bruce Spence
Fight, Movement & Intimacy Director Nigel Poulton
Associate Voice & Text Coach  Angela Nica Sullen

With
Peter Carroll, Vanessa Downing, John Gaden, Josh McConville, Philip Quast, Marilyn Richardson, Brigid Zengeni

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 enews.

"A richly layered work... a profound exploration of ageing and dementia" ★★★★★ The Guardian

"Boldly explores some of our biggest fears, in order that we may reach the greatest truths" Suzy Goes See

"It’s thrilling that under the astute direction of long-time admirer Paige Rattray, Cornelius gets the production she deserves"
"Charles Davis has worked wonders… [and] under Paul Jackson’s virtuosic lighting schemes and James Brown’s composition and sound design, which range from terrifying to ethereal, Do not go gentle… is an enchanting guide to life and death and the glorious bits in between." ★★★★★ Stage Noise

"This beautiful production does more than justice to the integrity and creativity of Cornelius’s vision."
"Do Not Go Gentle offers a profoundly moving experience to the audience... I have rarely seen theatre that is so very clever and so very humane at the same time." ★★★★★ Australian Book Review

"The cast is made up of the stuff of Australian theatrical legend, directed delicately by Paige Rattray…the kind of play that seeps into your bones" ★★★★ Time Out

"Charles Davis’ design is a thing of wonder" The Sydney Morning Herald

 

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