Sydney Theatre Company Presents THE WHITE GUARD, Opening Tonight

7 June 2011 - 10 July 2011. Opening Night: 11 June 2011 at 8pm.

Sydney Theatre, 22 Hickson Road, Walsh Bay

Andrew Upton's adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov's 1926 novel turned play The White Guard, commissioned by London's National Theatre (where it played to five-star reviews last year), is presented in a new production directed by Upton at Sydney Theatre from 7 June to 10 July. Miranda Otto is the sole woman in a cast of 14 which includes Jonathan Biggins, Darren Gilshenan, Patrick Brammall and members of STC's permanent ensemble, The Residents. Set and costumes are by STC Resident Designer Alice Babidge; lighting by Nick Schlieper, sound design by Steve Francis and musical composition by Alan John.

In Kiev in 1918, Lena (Miranda Otto) presides over a chaotic, rambling household as the Turbin family and its numerous hangers-on eat, sing, squabble, fall in love and generally quaff copious amount of vodka in preparation for the arrival of the Bolshevik Red Army. But as her brothers prepare to fight for the White Guard and the near-farcical mayhem of war ensues, their way of life will be lost for ever.

Miranda Otto's theatre career began in 1986 with the Sydney Theatre Company production of The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant; later roles for the Company included 2002's A Doll's House and 2005's Boy Gets Girl. Nominated for five AFI Awards, her film work has included the acclaimed Doing Time for Patsy Cline, Love Serenade, The Well, The Lord of the Rings, Blessed and South Solitary.

Jonathan Biggins is well known to STC audiences for the annual Wharf Revue. His last performance in a play with the Company was in Travesties by Tom Stoppard in 2009. Last year Darren Gilshenan performed in STC's Our Town by Thornton Wilder as well as Steven Soderbergh's Tot Mom. Alan Dukes' STC credits include True West by Sam Shepard. In 2009 Ashley Lyons and Dale March performed in STC's The Removalist by David Williamson.

In 2011, two other adaptations by STC Co Artistic Director Andrew Upton are on international stages; at London's National Theatre his adaptation of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard is directed by Howard Davies, while at Washington's Kennedy Center his STC adaptation of Chekhov's Uncle Vanya is staged with the original Sydney cast. Earlier adaptations include Gorky's Philistines (for the National), Rostand's Cyrano de Bergerac (for STC and MTC), Moliere's Don Juan and Ibsen's Hedda Gabler (for STC). His directing credits include Long Day's Journey Into Night by Eugene O'Neill, Dissident, Goes Without Saying by Michel Vinaver, Reunion by David Mamet, Ruby Moon by Matt Cameron and part two of The Mysteries by Lally Katz and Hilary Bell.

Director: Andrew Upton. Designer: Alice Babidge. Lighting Designer: Nick Schlieper. Sound Designer: Steve Francis. Composer and Musical Director Alan John

Cast: Jonathan Biggins, Patrick Brammall, Yure Covich, Alan Dukes, Darren Gilshenan, Cameron Goodall, Alan John, Ashley Lyons, John Leary, Dale March, Miranda Otto, Richard Pyros, Tahki Saul, Aaron Tsindos

Box Office: 02 9250 1777. sydneytheatre.com.au Tickets: $40 - $130 (transaction fees may apply)

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