DISGRACED to Play Riverside Theatres

Following its Australian premiere sell-out season at Sydney Theatre Company (STC), Ayad Akhtar's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Disgraced, will be brought to the Riverside Theatres stage from 16 to 18 June.

Directed by STC Resident Director Sarah Goodes, with design by Elizabeth Gadsby, a stellar cast including Sachin Joab and Paula Arundell will explore this fiercely intelligent and entertaining drama.

Corporate lawyer, Amir Kappor, is living the Manhattan dream - he is happy, in love, and about to land a huge promotion, but to get there he has had to renounce his culture and faith. When he and his artist wife, Emily, host an intimate dinner party, it does not take long for the civilised surface to crack and urbane chit chat is abandoned in a tense battle.

Described by The New York Times as a "terrific, turbulent drama," Disgraced has been a sell-out hit on Broadway and across America. This intelligent, thought provoking play of urgency and relevance illuminates issues of prejudice, race, religion and the sort of modern demonisation that is simultaneously shocking and unsurprising.

"Sometimes a writer comes out and just nails an argument that everyone's been circling for a long time,' explains Sarah Goodes. 'Ayad Akhtar explores the politics of identity, in terms of Islam as a religion and a culture, in terms of how art can empower or exploit, and in terms of how secular and liberal ideals butt up against history and tradition."

Dates: 16 to 18 June at 8pm, 18 June at 2pm (Audio Described)Tickets: Adult $59, Conc $54, 30 & Under $45Bookings: From the Box Office (02) 8839 3399 or www.riversideparramatta.com.auVenue: Riverside Theatres - Corner of Church and Market Streets, Parramatta