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Preview by Jack Foley
THE new artistic director of Southwark Playhouse opened
his inaugural season with a production of Toby Farrow’s Kangaroo
Valley, which will continue playing until April 10.
Gareth Machin arrived at the prestigious Southwark venue after
several years as an associate director at Bristol Old Vic, where
he also served as acting artistic director.
Other season highlights include a visit from Tour de Force and
Machin’s own Southwark directorial debut, a revival of Arthur
Miller’s The Archbishop’s Ceiling.
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Kangaroo Valley, meanwhile, tells the story of pro-swimmer,
Jez Brenneman, who arrives from Cape Town and checks into an Aussie-filled
Earl's Court hostel, where he prepares to embark on a whistle-stop
tour of self-destruction.
It will be followed by Tour de Force's staging of Jean Genet's
The Maids, from April 13 to May 1, which places the 1947
classic in a contemporary setting, exploring the modern desires
of people with money, fame and glamour.
Tour de Force was founded by Peter Joucla and has earned a name
for itself for touring new physical theatre productions of classic
texts, in both French and English, for the past six years.
Machin's interpretation of The Archbishop’s Ceiling
runs from May 5 to 29 and features the story of a leading dissident
writer, who must decide whether to remain in the country after
the only copy of his new novel is stolen by the secret police.
Miller's play examined the erosion of personal integrity in the
face of an colossal, unseen power.
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