Afterplay by Brian Friel
Theatre
October 15 - 18, 2015
Substation Theatre, 150 Enogerra Terrace
Paddington, QLD
Website: http://: http://tix.yt/afterplay
Description
Brisbane-based Director and Founder of Room To Play productions and the Brisbane Youth Theatre company, Heidi Manchė presents award-winning Irish dramatist’s Brian Friel’s poetic one act play, Afterplay, at Substation Theatre’s new independent and intimate local theatre space in Paddington Thursday 15 through Sunday 18 October.Afterplay revisits the lives of two characters: Sonya, Uncle Vanya’s dutiful niece and Andrey, the downtrodden intellectual brother of The Three Sisters created by Chekhov 100 years ago. From two different fictional backgrounds we meet them again after 20 years.
They meet by chance in a late night cafe' in 1920s Moscow. The concert violinist and determined estate owner cannot escape their origins and those circumstances furnished by their creator are still determining their lives. Part of Andrey is still an only boy, confused, motherless, reared in a remote provincial town by a domineering father and his 3 restless sisters. Sonya is still wrestling with a difficult estate and is still deeply and hopelessly in love with the local doctor as she was all those years ago. There is promise in their meeting until their stories unfold and the glow of their fantasies make way for reality.
Playwright Friel is widely celebrated for his portrayal of social and political life in Ireland, his theatrical masterpiece Dancing at Lughnasa and translations of famed Russian playwright and author Anton Chekhov. Directed and produced by Heidi Manchė and featuring Emma Skelton as Sonya and Wayne Bassett as Andrey.
The Substation Theatre marks this debut with special preshow festivities including drinks and tapas, live music, and lucky door prizes for ticketed guests. One of Brisbane’s few remaining tramway substations from the 30’s, The Substation will be launching officially in early 2016 with a full season lineup of local theatre & arts productions.
7.30pm Thurs-Sat, 5pm Sun (60 minutes)
1 hr before show time for drinks, nibbles and live music
Tickets: Full $25, Concession & Groups (6+) $20
“A treat for Chekov fans, Afterplay is a long overdue catch-up with some of the author’s most favourite characters.” Arts Hub
“It feels a lot like eavesdropping on a somewhat raucous table next to you” Stage Review
“We can all look forward with intrigue and anticipation what (Director)
Heidi Manchė does next in the theatre” Sydney Scoop