A Fool in Love

Equal parts delightful rom-com and razor-sharp spoof, this seventeenth century farce has been ingeniously infused with a dose of twenty-first century oomph.

6 Feb - 17 Mar 2024

Wharf 1 Theatre

The Play

★★★★ "A brilliant bash that will keep you laughing from beginning to end" Time Out

A FOOL IN LOVE

By Van Badham
After La dama boba by Lope de Vega
Directed by Kenneth Moraleda

Falling in love is a no-brainer

From the deliciously wicked pen of Van Badham, who most recently had you in stitches with Banging Denmark, comes an uproarious night out at the theatre that brilliantly lampoons our contemporary obsession with wealth and status, whilst leaving enough time for a selfie session by the pool!

In the well-heeled seaside town of Illescas, the beautiful Otavio sisters – the smart and social climbing Vanessa (Melissa Kahraman, Hubris & Humiliation) and the loveable and, perhaps, not-so-smart Phynayah (Contessa Treffone, On the Beach) – are desperate to save their family from financial ruin. In order to inherit her eccentric uncle’s fortune, Phynayah must get engaged before she turns 30. The catch? These days, suitors don’t just want beauty, they expect brains as well.

Featuring the comedic talents of Arkia Ashraf, Alfie Gledhill, Johnny Nasser (Grand Horizons), Aaron Tsindos (The Tempest), and Megan Wilding (The Importance of Being Earnest), A Fool in Love is an adaptation of Spanish Golden Age playwright Lope de Vega’s classic comedy La dama boba, refreshed and ingeniously infused with a dose of twenty-first century oomph.

Equal parts delightful rom-com and razor-sharp spoof, this production will retain all the joy and revelry of a seventeenth century farce at the same time as putting contemporary gender and class politics under the microscope. Bold, bawdy and gut-bustingly funny, A Fool in Love is social satire at its very cheekiest.

Approx. duration 2 hrs 30 mins (including interval). Subject to change.
Content Frequent strong language, sexual references, flashing lights and strobe lighting. Subject to change.

DATES

Previews 6 – 9 Feb 2024
Season 12 Feb – 17 Mar 2024

Night with the Artists
Tue 20 Feb, post-show

Captioned Performances
Tue 5 Mar, 6.30pm
Sat 9 Mar, 1.30pm

Audio Described Performances
Sat 2 Mar, 1.30pm

Auslan-Interpreted Performances
Thu 29 Feb, 7.30pm

Performance start times
Preview performances 7.30pm
In-season evening performances Mon & Tue 6.30pm; Wed – Sat 7.30pm; Sun 5pm
Matinee performances Wed 1pm; Sat 1.30pm 

SINGLE TICKET PRICES 

Mon – Thu
Adult/Seniors Premium Reserve $115
Adult/Seniors A Reserve $105
Adult/Seniors B Reserve $90
Student/Concession Premium Reserve $85
Student/Concession A Reserve $75
Student/Concession B Reserve $60
Under 30s Premium Reserve $65
Under 30s A Reserve $55
Under 30s B Reserve $40

Fri & Sat evening
Premium Reserve $125
A Reserve $115
B Reserve $100

Sat Matinee & Sun
Adult/Seniors Premium Reserve $125
Adult/Seniors A Reserve $115
Adult/Seniors B Reserve $100
Student/Concession Premium Reserve $95
Student/Concession A Reserve $85
Student/Concession B Reserve $70
Under 30s Premium Reserve $75
Under 30s A Reserve $65
Under 30s B Reserve $50

Preview performances
Premium Reserve $63
A Reserve $55
B Reserve $50

Groups Discount (10+ people)
Monday – Thursday
Premium $104
A Reserve $95
B Reserve $81

Please call the Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book groups.

Season Ticket Prices

Book this play as part of a Season Ticket and save*. Plus, pay no transaction fees, and enjoy exclusive benefits all year round.

  • Book a Platinum Season Ticket of 10 – 13 plays and save up to 20%
  • Book a Gold Season Ticket of 6 – 9 plays and save up to 15%
  • Book a Silver Season Ticket of 3 – 5 plays and save up to 10%

Seniors discounts
Seniors discounts are an exclusive benefit for Season Ticket Holders. Seniors card holders (excluding Senior Savers Cards) save $5 for all performances except Previews, Friday and Saturday evenings.

Prices are correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
*Discount is off full-price tickets, excluding preview performances.

Transaction fees may apply
Season Ticket bookings: $0
Single ticket bookings: $8.50

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 seller for this event is Sydney Theatre Company. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. More info.

Director Kenneth Moraleda
Designer Isabel Hudson
Lighting Designer Benjamin Brockman
Composer & Sound Designer Michael Toisuta
Dramaturg Ruth Little
Assistant Director Eve Beck
Fight Director Tim Dashwood
Intimacy Coordinator Chloë Dallimore

With
Arkia Ashraf, Alfie Gledhill, Melissa Kahraman, Johnny Nasser, Contessa Treffone, Aaron Tsindos, Megan Wilding

Understudy
Shirong 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 enews.

CREATIVE WORKSHOPS

 

How to Write a Rom-Com with Van Badham Thu 7 Mar, 6.30 – 8.30pm

A fun, fast and furious workshop for writers, aspiring writers or interested fans of romantic comedy with Van Badham, the writer behind STC’s successful and subversive hits, Banging Denmark and A Fool in Love.

How to bring Design to Life with Isabel Hudson

Thu 11 Apr, 6.30 – 8.30pm

Calling all designers, architects and fashion aficionado – learn how to turn abstract concepts into fabulous sets and costumes. Award-winning designer Isabel Hudson is renowned for her work with as a designer for STC's Constellations and Hubris & Humiliation, and her work as Australian Set Associate for Moulin Rouge! The Musical.

Book now

Note: Both workshops include an exclusive backstage tour of STC's Costume, Set and Props to really get your creative juices flowing.
"This is not an 'exhale air from your nose while watching a funny scene' kind of show – be prepared to discover how you truly laugh (and wheeze, and snort) in this fantastic performance."

[The set] "is so fantastically 'Barbiecore' that it would make Greta Gerwig jealous" ★★★★ Time Out 

"Electric and funny... as bold as it is delightfully ridiculous and sharp-witted. Social satire at its finest." The Conversation 

Buy tickets for {% week.daySelectedInfo.formattedDate %}

{% formatPerformanceDateTime(performance.dateTime) %}
{% 'Add to my cart' %}
  • Tickets available
  • Multiple performance times
  • Limited availability
  • Allocation Exhausted