MEDIA RELEASE – Thursday 11 February 2010

MACBETH SHOWCASES FAR NORTH’S BEST AND EMERGING TALENT

This week JUTE’s largest ever assembled cast (11 actors) began productionL-R:  Cameron Hurry, Theresa O’Connor, Andy Lamb & Michael Elliott of Macbeth; its first play of the season. JUTE’s contemporary adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth will open on Friday 12 March following five weeks of rehearsal. 

A humorous Aussie take on Macbeth will showcase some of the Far North’s emerging talent as they perform alongside respected professionals in JUTE Theatre’s first production for the year.

Opening on March 12, Scott Witt’s madcap adaptation of Shakespeare’s Macbeth has proved the perfect vehicle for JUTE’s leading performers to mentor five budding actors and introduce them to the mechanics of a live show.

In this production, an avant-garde Australian theatre collective step into the limelight when the London Shakespeare Company fails to show on opening night. There are problems galore from Macbeth going missing to one of the actors wanting to take on every role – including Richard III!

Against a faithful re-telling of Shakespeare’s Macbeth, JUTE creates a modern masterpiece of ambition, inevitability and the acceptance of fate, undermined by comedy, clowns and chaos.

JUTE’s Artistic Director and CEO Suellen Maunder said a number of respected professionals had been secured for the production including director Scott Witt and lighting designer Ben Hughes, who has worked on numerous productions for the Queensland Theatre Company and the Queensland Ballet. Dominie Hooper is the highly regarded designer who has realized many beautiful designs for JUTE Theatre and Peter Matheson is the dramaturg.

“With this production, JUTE has given five young actors the opportunity to learn about the mechanics of professional theatre, the role of the director, set and light designers, production and stage managers and how they all interact to create a show,” she said.

“By performing alongside five professional actors, they will gain skills in acting technique, stage combat and clowning.”

Macbeth features Christopher Glover, Sue Hayes, Cameron Hurry, Peter Marshall, Suellen Maunder and Theresa O’Connor. It introduces Chris Ah Gee, Michael Elliott, Andrew Finlay, Liz Hurley and Andy Lamb.

The production is funded by the Australia Council and Arts Queensland with support from Cairns Regional Council’s Regional Arts Development Fund (RADF) and Queensland Theatre Company’s (QTC) regional program. 

Macbeth runs March 12-27, Tuesday-Wednesday 6.30pm, Thursday-Saturday 8pm, matinee on March 18 at 11am. Tickets $30, concession/QAC $27, groups of five or more $25 each, under 25yrs $25, Tuesday $17. To book call ticketLINK on 1300 855 835 or go to www.ticketlink.com.au

Ends

For more information:

JUTE Theatre Artistic Director and CEO

Suellen Maunder

T: 07 4050 9444, M: 0419 757 231

E: suellen@jute.com.au W: www.jute.com.au

Issued by:

Pip Miller PR   

M: 0419 681543   E: pip@pipmillerpr.com.au