HAKAWATI is an Arabic word which translates to “teller of tales”. Stay with me now as, oddly, I quote Dolly Parton from Facebook in 2010 “My weaknesses have always been food and men – in that order”. Go Dolly!
Moving on. We all have our weaknesses and I also have food at the head of my own list. But next in line for me is stories… old, new, sad, uplifting, about my world, about other lives … I don’t have a preference. How intrigued was I then to hear about HAKAWATI, playing in Parramatta as part of the Sydney Festival!
Nathan Bennett from Belvoir, Sylvie Payne MTC, Mike Rodriguez Time Out, Stephanie Hui and Patrick Goodwin.
Emma Diaz, Tyler Hawkins and Felix Johnson.
Playwright Katherine Thomson and producer Gil Appleton.
Robert Love from Parramatta Riverside Theatres, Joanne Kee, Executive Producer of National Theatres Parramatta, and John and Patricia Azarias, sponsors of the Lysicrates Prize presented by the Griffin Theatre
Karen Rogers General Manager, Lee Lewis Artistic Director and Simon Wellington former GM.
Actors Emily Gruhl and Anthony Gooley
The inimitable composer Max Lambert.
Lucia Mastrantone (actor), Karen Rogers (GM Griffin), Gavin Robins (actor) and John Bashford (head of movement at NIDA).
Actors Ben Winspear, Catherine Davies, Faysal Bazzi and Olivia Rose.
All images by Ben Apfelbaum
Artistic Director Lee Lewis launched Season 2017 at a well attended industry function held on Monday night at the Cell Block Theatre within the National Art School in Darlinghurst.
Three new plays by Australian playwrights will have their premieres. Ross Mueller navigates the world of office politics in A Strategic Plan, Declan Greene takes farce to new extremes in The Homosexuals and Michele Lee explores the different relationships that migrants of different generations and backgrounds have with Australia in Rice.
The fourth Australian play will be a revival of one of the classics of the Australian theatre, Diving For Pearls, written by Katherine Thomson some twenty years ago with Darren Yap directing and Ursula Yovich in the lead role.
Griffin will also feature a number of independent productions around its main season. Legendary cabaret performer Robyn Archer will display her extraordinary talents bringing to life music from the classic cabaret repertoire.
Playwright David Williams will combine his talent for storytelling with his passion for football in Smurf in Wonderland which explores the worlds of sport and tribalism.
For more information about the season and to subscribe visit the Griffin Theatre online at http://www.griffintheatre.com.au or call 93613817.
SYDNEY REVIEWS OF Screen + Stage + Performing Arts + Literary Arts + Visual Arts + Cinema + Theatre +
