Lambert House Enterprises & Bryce Hallett Present Keith Bunin's THE CREDEAUX CANVAS

'One of the finest contemporary dramas to come out of the US . . . The brushstrokes are deft and expressive, and its aspiring characters are keenly-observed. The economy of the language is worth savouring'- The New York Times

AMBITION. SEX. LIES. ART. How far would you go to achieve your dreams? That is one of the burning questions at the heart of Keith Bunin's sexy and tantalising play The Credeaux Canvas* about relationships, obsession, desire and disillusionment.

Originally premiered in 2001 at the prestigious Playwrights Horizons in New York, the off-Broadway hit explores the close-knit lives of three young aspiring artists in the East Village of Manhattan.

In a hot and bold new production of The Credeaux Canvas an outstanding cast has been assembled to ignite Bunin's fast-paced tragi-comedy. Directed by Dan Eady (This Is Our Youth), the exhilarating production features a powerhouse of young talent - James Wright (November Spawned a Monster) as Winston, Felix Johnson as Jamie and Emilie Cocquerel as Amelia. They are joined by the popular star of McLeod's Daughters Lisa Chappell as the larger-than-life Tess.

In this sensual and seductive world the audience is drawn into the aspirations, obsessions and desires of young hopefuls struggling to make ends meet. In an act of inspiration and desperation Jamie, the disinherited son of a respected art dealer, convinces his roommate Winston to paint his girlfriend Amelia in the style of the obscure belle époque artist Jean-Paul Credeaux. During the creation of the painting, their relationships develop into a potent sexual triangle that explodes when the wealthy client comes to view the artwork.

Ultimately, Bunin creates a penetrating study of capricious human interactions and a world where dreams don't always come true.

"I feel like I'm running a marathon against my own disillusion and exhaustion, and lately I have the creeping suspicion that I'm going to lose..." - Amelia

Producer Les Solomon first saw The Credeaux Canvas in New York in 2000 and produced the play's Australian premiere in Sydney a year later. "Keith Bunin's play was one of the first theatre pieces to explore the whole question of entitlement, one of the main traits among what would become known as Generation Y. The play seems even more relevant a decade later as we have seen some of the failings of this generation and their desire to have everything financially with the minimum effort for the maximum profit. But as we prepared the show, we came to see that much of the appeal comes from the witty writing, the fully-fleshed characters and that mix of comedy and drama where laughs turn to tragedy in a short time."

Director Dan Eady said: "The Credeaux Canvas is an intelligent, tragic and funny story of four fantastic characters contained inside the one intimate setting. These kinds of plays can be the most powerful in the way they immerse audiences in a simmering cauldron of desire and desperation."

Co-producer Bryce Hallett said: "The first time I saw The Credeaux Canvas I was captivated by its authenticity and vigour. There is light and shade, and beneath the play's well-written dialogue and swindle, it is troubling and surprisingly touching. The plot is simple enough on the surface but its musings about artistic and romantic ideals reveal dexterity and depth."

The Credeaux Canvas is produced by Les Solomon (Lambert House Enterprises) in association with Bryce Hallett, the writer of Rolling Thunder Vietnam and Freeway - The Chet Baker Journey.

*By special arrangement with Creative Artists Agency CA

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