New Theatre Presents Dorothy Hewett's THE CHAPEL PERILOUS

"We can go wrong in our minds, but what our blood feels and believes and says is always true"

This iconic masterpiece of Australian theatre charts the painful, crazy, hilarious life of defiant young poet and sexual rebel Sally Banner, as she searches for artistic and personal freedom.

Set against a background of Australia's changing social landscape, we follow Sally's coming-of-age as a communist, feminist, bohemian, lover, wife, mother, and writer.

At the heart of the play is the conflict between Sally's journey through adolescence to womanhood and self-discovery, and the constricting attitudes of a conservative society.

Hewett's semi-autobiographical play is a heady cocktail of drama, comedy, vaudeville, musical theatre and panoramic social realism: ground-breaking, daring, confronting and hugely entertaining.

We're pleased to welcome recent NIDA graduate Carissa Licciardello (MFA in Directing, 2016) to bring this wonderful play to life.

"The Chapel Perilous immediately grabbed my attention because of both its subject matter and its epic, hyper-theatrical form," says Carissa. "Though written 45 years' ago, it is no 'museum piece' - what Hewett explores and realizes so poetically here is the same journey, the same series of challenges that today's young women are faced with, and it resonatEd Strongly with me as a young female (and a young female artist in particular).

"The vast majority of what Sally encounters during the play are things myself, my friends, so many women I know have encountered and often still do encounter. Feminism is very much still alive and kicking, because there's still a long way to go in terms of how women are perceived, represented and treated by society at large.

"This production is an opportunity to direct a play that deals with politics that I feel very passionately about in a way that is really fun, entertaining and touching and I'm really grateful to New Theatre for giving me the opportunity to bring Hewett's amazing play to Sydney audiences."

The Chapel Perilous brings together both experienced creatives and those at the start of their careers: Mathilda Robba (costume design) graduated from NIDA in 2016 with a MFA in Design for Performance, while production designer Kyle Jonsson is completing his NIDA training this year whilst gaining practical experience on this production. Other team members include Martin Kinnane, one of Australia's most accomplished lighting designers, together with Clemence Williams (sound design) and Alexander Lee-Rekers (musical director).

The cast includes actors returning to the New and a number of young performers working here for the first time, including 2015 NIDA Acting graduate Julia Christensen taking on one of the great female roles of Australian theatre in 'Sally Banner'.

CREATIVE TEAM:
Director Carissa Licciardello
Production Designer Kyle Jonsson
Lighting Designer Martin Kinnane
Costume Designer Mathilde Robba
Sound Designer Clemence Williams
Musical Director Alexander Lee-Rekers
Stage Manager Shushannah Anderson

CAST:
Courtney Bell, Alison Chambers, Julia Christensen,
Meg Clarke, Jasper Garner-Gore, Brett Heath,
Madeleine Osborne, Tom Matthews, James Wright

SEASON:
25 April - 27 May 2017

PERFORMANCES:
Previews Tue 25 and Wed 26 April 7:30pm
Thu - Sat 7:30pm, Sun 5pm
Final performance Sat 27 May 2pm

TICKETS:
$35 full
$30 concession, groups (6+)
$20 previews, student rush, Thrifty Thursdays

BOOKINGS:
www.newtheatre.org.au

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