Gate Theatre's MEDEA, Starring Emma Beattie, Extends Through December 5

The Gate Theatre announces today that its critically acclaimed production of MEDEA will extend by an extra week. The production, in association with Belvoir, Sydney and directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, will now run until Saturday 5 December.

The Gate's Artistic Director, Christopher Haydon, said today, "Demand for tickets to see this wonderful new approach to the classic Greek tragedy has been deservedly enormous, so I'm delighted to give London audiences more opportunities to see it. Anne-Louise Sarks is one of the most significant new talents in Australian theatre-making and she's created a playful yet chilling world for the Gate's stage."

Two boys are playing a game. They fight, they laugh, they jump up and down, they play dead.

Downstairs, their parents -- MEDEA and Jason -- are arguing. As the shouting gets louder, their bedroom will no longer be able to protect them from the violence of the outside world. Their iconic fate, at the hands of their mother, will ensure that they enter mythology as two of the most tragic siblings of all time.

The production turns Euripides' classic tale on its head -- presenting the tragedy from the children's perspective.

When first produced at Belvoir, Sydney, MEDEA was awarded five 2013 Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction, Best Mainstage Production and Best New Australian Work. It was also awarded a prestigious Australian Writers Guild Award for Best Stage Play and nominated for four 2013 Helpmann Awards including Best Direction, Best New Australian Work and Best Play.

Emma Beattie plays MEDEA. He theatre credits include The Distance, The Ruffian on the Stair (Orange Tree Theatre), The Odyssey (Derby Playhouse), The Last of the Haussmans (National Theatre), Death of a Cyclist (Hotbed Festival - Soho Theatre), Four for Jericho (Pleasance Courtyard), Great Expectations (Watermill Theatre), The Song of Deborah (Lowry Theatre), The Potting Shed (Finborough Theatre), Ivanov (Donmar West End), John Gabriel Borkman, The Cut (Donmar Warehouse), and Hysteria (UK Tour). Her television credits includes Catastrophe, The Wives Did it and Mr Selfridge. Her film credits include Legacy.

Samuel Menhinick plays Jasper. His credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert (UK Tour).

Bobby Smalldridge plays Jasper. His theatre credits include Oresteia (Almeida Theatre), God Bless The Child (Royal Court), Billy Elliot The Musical (Victoria Palace Theatre). For television his credits include Crossing Lines, Cockroaches, Harry and Paul's Story Of The Two's, Robbie Williams - One Night At The London Palladium, Topsy And Tim, Deadbeats and What Shall We Do Today?. His film credits include The Lost City Of Z, What We Did On Our Holiday and Foster.

Keir Edkins-O'Brien plays Leon. His theatre credits include Charlie Bucket in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Theatre Royal Drury Lane), and Waiting for Godot (Barbican). For film his credits include Abduct.

Bili Keogh plays Leon. His film credits include The Lady in the Van.

Kate Mulvany is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter. Her most recent play, Masquerade, a reimagining of the much-loved children's book by Kit Williams, was performed at the 2015 Sydney Festival and will be seen later this year at the State Theatre Company of South Australia as well as Melbourne Festival. Her autobiographical play The Seed, commissioned by Belvoir Street Theatre, won the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Independent Production. With Mulvany performing in the play, it received great critical success and toured nationally and is currently being developed into a feature film. She also recently adapted Jasper Jones from Craig Silvey's novel, which premièred for Barking Gecko Theatre Company in 2014. In 2013 her play The Rasputin Affair was shortlisted for the Griffin New Play Award and for The Patrick White Award. Other plays and musicals include; The Danger Age (Deckchair Theatre and La Boîte), Blood and Bone (The Stables/Naked Theatre Company), The Web(Hothouse and Black Swan Theatre Company), Somewhere (co-written with Tim Minchin for the Joan Sutherland PAC) and Storytime (The Old Fitzroy Theatre) which won her the 2004 Philip Parsons Award.

Anne-Louise Sarks directs. She is the Resident Director at Belvoir in Sydney, Australia. In 2011, Sarks held the positions of Associate Artist for Belvoir, Director in Residence at the Malthouse Theatre Company in Melbourne and from 2010-2013 Artistic Director of The Hayloft Project. For Belvoir, Sarks co-wrote and directed Elektra/Orestes, A Christmas Carol andNora, as well as MEDEA. Sarks also directed Stories I Want To Tell You In Person. Sarks assistant directed on Belvoir productions The Wild Duck and Thyestes. Her other theatre credits include The Seed (Melbourne Theatre Company), The Nest and By Their Own Hand (The Hayloft Project).

Belvoir Sydney Since 1984 Belvoir's position as one of Australia's most innovative and acclaimed theatre companies has been determined by such landmark productions as The Glass Menagerie, Angels in America, The Wild Duck, The Diary of a Madman, The Blind Giant is Dancing, The Book of Everything , Cloudstreet, Keating!, Parramatta Girls, Exit the King, The Alchemist, Hamlet, Waiting for Godot, The Sapphires, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Stuff Happens and MEDEA. Belvoir engages Australia's most prominent and promising playwrights, directors, actors and designers to realise an annual season of work that is dynamic, challenging and visionary. As well as performing at home, Belvoir regularly takes to the road, touring both nationally and internationally, including 2014's production of Wild Duck (Barbican). Belvoir receives government support for its activities from the Federal Government through the Major Performing Arts Board of the Australia Council and the state government through Arts NSW.

IF YOU GO:

MEDEA

Gate Theatre

Above The Prince Albert Pub, 11 Pembridge Road, London, W11 3HQ

Box Office: 020 7229 0706

www.gatetheatre.co.uk

Performance times: Monday - Saturday at 7.30pm; Saturday matinees at 3pm

Previews and matinees: £10
Full price: £20
Concessions: £15

Captioned performances (followed by post-show Gate Debates): 19 November

Reimaginging Classic: Gate Debate with Emma Cole - There will be a post-show discussion with Classics Scholar Emma Cole following the performance on MEDEA on 25th November.

In person booking and ticket collection is only available on the day of performance from one hour before the performance begins.

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