New Theatre Presents THE REAL THING

Henry, a successful playwright, has fallen deeply in love with Annie, an actress, and they have left their respective spouses to embark upon a life together.

But Henry is becoming riddled with doubts - is what he feels 'the real thing' or merely an illusion? While Annie, taking up the political cause of a soldier arrested for an anti-war protest and pursued by a young co-star, is starting to feel the pressures of fidelity.

Having blithely written a hit play about adultery, Henry gradually comes to an awareness of the torment that love and betrayal can bring in their wake.

In this brilliant, funny and provocative exploration of commitment - to lovers, children, causes, ideas - Stoppard brings together head and heart, life and art in exhilarating style.

New Theatre is very excited to bring one of Stoppard's finest plays back to the Sydney stage.

Directed by Alice Livingstone (Privates on Parade, Top Girls, The Weir), the creative team is headed by set designer Sharina Matthews who comes with a wealth of experience in film, television, theatre, events and styling, joined by lighting designer Richard Whitehouse (Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them), costume designer Famke Visser (The Diary of Anne Frank, Privates on Parade) and sound designer Alistair Wallace (When the Rain Stops Falling, Punk Rock).

The cast includes WAAPA graduates Christopher Tomkinson, Emily Weare, Peter Eyers and Charlotte Hazzard, together with Ainslie McGlynn (ACA), Jordan Cordazzo (Flinders Drama Centre) and Benjamin Winckle (NIDA).

Christopher Tomkinson, who takes on the central role of 'Henry', has extensive experience ranging across many productions for Sport for Jove, including The Crucible, Cyrano de Bergerac, and Hamlet, plus appearances for Bell Shakespeare, STC and Ensemble, and most recently Snugglepot and Cuddlepie for Christine Dunstan Productions.

Of The Real Thing Christopher says "The play is extraordinary. It's laugh out loud funny, powerfully moving and gives us profound insights into the wonderful and tragic nature of human relationships. The characters are some of the smartest, silliest, bravest, most generous and horrible people who show bitter insight into others and ridiculous ignorance about themselves."

Emily Weare has been seen in The Importance of Being Earnest and The Dysfunctionals both for Darlinghurst Theatre Company, and most recently the role of 'Gertrude' in a production of Hamlet at Fort Denison. Ainslie McGlynn was in New Theatre's Top Girls (2013) and last year's A Moment on the Lips at the Old Fitz. Peter Eyers last appeared at New Theatre in Privates on Parade and Harvest (both 2014). Charlotte Hazzard was part of the extraordinary ensemble cast for ATPY's War Crimes earlier this year, while Benjamin Winckle appeared at the Old Fitz during the last Mardi Gras festival in Playing Rock Hudson. Jordan Cortazzo has recently relocated from Adelaide and makes his Sydney theatre debut in The Real Thing.