THE SAPPHIRES
WRITTEN BY: TONY BRIGGS
DIRECTED BY: WESLEY ENOCH
YORK THEATRE, SEYMOUR CENTRE
26 MAY – 20 JUNE 2010
WITH: ALJIN ABELLA, HOLLIE ANDREW, CHRISTINE ANU, JIMI BANI, CASEY
DONAVAN, KYLIE FARMER, KENNETH RANSOM, OLIVER WENN
In the year that Australia celebrates 50 years of Motown music, Company B Belvoir and Black Swan State Theatre
are bringing the 2005 hit musical The Sapphires back to Sydney.
Directed by Wesley Enoch, this feel-good musical features the soul hits that defined a generation. It sets the mood
by including performances of Motown classics such as Heard it on the Grapevine, Respect, Stop in the Name of Love
and Sex Machine.
MUSICAL DIRECTOR: PETER FARNAN
ASSISTANT MUSICAL DIRECTOR: SIMON BURKE
SET DESIGNER: RICHARD ROBERTS
SAXOPHONE: BEN COLLINS
COSTUME DESIGNER: TIM CHAPPEL
GUITAR: ANDREW WEIR
LIGHTING DESIGNER: TRENT SUIDGEEST
DRUMS: DANIELE DI PAOLA
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR: KYLE MORRISON
CHOREOGRAPHER: TONY BARTUCCIO
SOUND SUPERVISOR/ OPERATOR: TOM BRICKHILL
The Sapphires ‘brought the audience to their feet and with good reason… The energetic and exciting piece of theatre
featured four stellar voices and some of the best music ever produced.’
The Sunday Times, WA
In the year that Australia celebrates 50 years of Motown music, Company B Belvoir and Black Swan State Theatre
are bringing the 2005 hit musical The Sapphires back to Sydney.
Directed by Wesley Enoch, this feel-good musical features the soul hits that defined a generation. It sets the mood
by including performances of Motown classics such as Heard it on the Grapevine, Respect, Stop in the Name of Love
and Sex Machine.
This all-new production starring Hollie Andrew, Christine Anu, Casey Donavan and Kylie Farmer, has already played
sell-out seasons to rapturous audiences in Perth and Adelaide.
Written by Australian playwright Tony Briggs, and based on a true story, The Sapphires is a swinging celebration of
four inspirational sisters from country New South Wales. The show is set in 1969, when the world was protesting
against the Vietnam War. It follows the story of the McCrae sisters as they travel overseas for the first time and
perform for the troops on the front line.
Director Wesley Enoch said, ‘How exciting to see four beautiful Indigenous women on stage telling such an
empowering tale. The joy of the rehearsal room has infected this show and infects the audience with every dance
step and every song. I find it so energising and enjoyable... even after seeing it a hundred times!’
Writer Tony Briggs based The Sapphires on the experiences of his mother and her relatives. The production
enjoyed a triumphant original season and won Helpmann Awards for Best New Australian Work and Best Play in
2005. Tony also works as an actor in theatre, film and television. His theatre credits include The Memory of Water
(State Theatre Company of South Australia); The Female of the Species (Black Swan State Theatre Company) and
Twelfth Night (Melbourne Theatre Company). His film credits include Bran Nue Dae, Australian Rules, On the Nose,
Joey, The Life of Harry Dare, The Djarn Djarns and The Order. For television Tony has just completed filming the
second series of the acclaimed SBS drama The Circuit and has had roles in Stingers, Wicked Science, Blue Heelers,
Ocean Girl, The Man from Snowy River, Ratbag Hero, Gargantua, The Genie from Down Under, Pacific Drive,
Comedy Company and Neighbours.
Director Wesley Enoch has had a long association with Company B Belvoir. He has directed numerous productions
for the Company, including The Man from Mukinupin (co-produced with Melbourne Theatre Company), Yibiyung
(with Malthouse Melbourne), Paul, Parramatta Girls and Capricornia. He directed the 2005 production of The
Sapphires for The Melbourne Theatre Company in 2005 and his extensive directorial credits also include
productions for a number of the other major theatre companies in Australia. He has also been Resident Director at
Sydney Theatre Company and is currently a Trustee of the Sydney Opera House, a member of the NSW
Government Arts Advisory Council and sits on numerous other committees.
For more MEDIA information, contact Meera Hindocha at Company B Belvoir: meera@belvoir.com.au/
02 8396 6242.
NOTES TO EDITORS
SEASON INFORMATION:
PREVIEW SHOW: Wednesday 26 May
OPENING NIGHT: Thursday 27 May
SEASON DATES: Wednesday 26 May – 20 June
WHERE: York Theatre, Seymour Centre
TICKETS Full $62/65. Seniors (excluding Fri/Sat evenings) and Groups 10+ $55. Concession $47
BOOKINGS: 02 9699 3444 or www.belvoir.com.au
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