New Australian play Thirty-Three makes UK debut at Leicester Square Theatre
Preview by Lizzie Guilfoyle
THIRTY-Three, a new critically acclaimed Australian play, is to make its UK debut at Leicester Square Theatre (The Lounge), where it runs from June 8 (previews from June 5) to June 24, 2017.
Audiences will be immersed into the heart of a birthday party that spirals out of control in what is described as an intense piece of new writing.
Saskia is a teacher living in inner western Sydney and by all accounts her life appears to be going well; a career she loves, friends she adores and the freedom to enjoy it. To celebrate her 33rd birthday, she invites a handful of her closest friends into her Sydney terrace for an evening of food, music and laughter.
But when her estranged little brother mysteriously shows up, the proceedings take on a decidedly different turn, and a friendly evening ignites into a wild night of booze, games, and shocking revelations.
Thirty-Three was written by Sydney based Australian playwrighting duo Michael Booth and Alistair Powning and premiered in 2011. A feature film adaptation is being made this year.
The production is directed by Kai Raisbeck, who said: “It’s hard to read this play without recognising one of the characters, either in yourself, or amongst your friends. Thirty-Three perfectly captures the chaos, peaks, troughs, turns and reveals of Saskia’s tumultuous 33rd birthday party. The writers have created a story in an unashamedly Australian setting with nuanced drama and comedy that draws us into the story and carries us along until the chaotic end.”
The cast includes Christopher Birks, Ben Dalton, Amy Domenica, Corinne Furlong, Doug Hansell and Shannon Steele. Designer is Charlotte Henery.
Thirty-Three is presented by Red Scarf Theatre, which was founded in 2015 by Australian performer and producer, Corinne Furlong. Red Scarf Theatre are an Australian company based in London championing new writing and supporting the role of women in theatre. Their first show opened at Rada Club Theatre to four and five star reviews.
Thirty-Three is suitable for ages 16+.
Tickets: £18 – available from the box office on 020 7734 2222 or online at www.leicestersquaretheatre.com/.
Times: Monday to Saturday at 7.15pm, with 3pm matinee on Saturdays.
Running Time: 80 minutes.
Also at Leicester Square Theatre: Magnificent Bastard Productions’ Shit-faced Shakespeare: Much Ado About Nothing (until September 16, 2017).