Farragut North, a play about dirty tricks and media fixers on the campaign trail

In a double election year for Victorians, what the public get to know about the respective candidates will be created in PR boardrooms around the country long before the campaigns commence.

Farragut North, set within Washington’s back corridors and bars, explores the compromised relationships between media managers, spin doctors and journalists on the campaign trail as the Democratic party decides on its presidential candidate.

Stephen, a young and extraordinarily gifted press secretary is working for a fastrising candidate. With confidence and power beyond his years, he’s convinced that he and seasoned campaign manager, Paul can steer their team into the west wing without breaking a sweat. But power demands the highest of integrity and someone must fall when a confidence is broken to the opposition.

With quick-witted banter and an inside look into the world of politics, Farragut North is a timely tale of hubris, loyalty and the lust for power.

“A morality tale about a ‘Crackberry’ generation mover and shaker…and the frenzied scheming and counter-scheming of would-be Washington kingmakers.” LA Times

Beau Willimon worked as a campaign aide in college, and graduated to working on campaigns for Hillary Clinton and Howard Dean. Farragut North captures the merciless pursuit of victory as well as the way political machinations have eclipsed what’s really at stake in elections.

“The subject of [Farragut North] is not politics,” Willimon says. “The subject is ambition, power, hubris … it’s a universal story.”

Starring Red Stitch ensemble members David Whiteley, Brett Cousins and Tim Potter alongside Lucy Honigman, Kurt Geyer, Karen Roberts and Adrian Dean, Farragut North is directed by Kim Durban.

Previews: Wednesday 3 & Thursday 4 February
Season: Friday 5 February – Saturday 6 March
Times: Wednesday – Saturday at 8pm, Sunday at 6.30pm
Bookings: (03) 9533 8083 or www.redstitch.net
Venue: Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Rear, 2 Chapel St, St Kilda, Melbourne, Australia

Tweet This Post 

In A Dark Dark House

In a Dark Dark House

Written by Neil LaBute
Directed by Wayne Pearn
22 July – 22 August, Red Stitch Theatre, Melbourne.

In A Dark, Dark House by one of America’s most provocative playwrights, Neil LaBute, is the latest offering by Red Stitch Theatre. An explosive drama full of twists, secrets and revenge, In A Dark, Dark House explores the depths of family loyalty and betrayal.

Terry is visiting his estranged younger brother Drew in the grounds of a psychiatric institution. Drew, a lawyer turned wealthy businessman, wants Terry to confirm a watershed event from their adolescence which may help make sense of his recent fall from grace.  But information has a price.  In A Dark, Dark House is a tense tale of fraught fraternal relationships, where male violence and vulnerability co-exist and where emotion can be seen as weakness.

Neil LaBute is one of the most prolific and provocative writers of our generation.  He adapted his first play for the big screen – In the Company of Men starring frequent collaborator Aaron Eckhart. Some of his other plays include Bash, Fat Pig and This is How It Goes. He wrote the screenplays The Wicker Man, and The Shape of Things, as well as directing Nurse Betty and Lakeview Terrace starring Samuel L. Jackson.

Wayne Pearn, founder of award winning theatre company, Hoy Polloy, makes his directorial debut with Red Stitch Theatre. Pearn’s previous productions include the much acclaimed play, Killing Jeremy, as well as last year’s The Real Thring and David Mamet’s Boston Marriage.

Red Stitch Ensemble member Dion Mills (Work of Wonder, Yellow Moon) stars as Terry alongside guest actors Geordie Taylor (This Wide Night) as Drew and Eloïse Mignon (Neighbours) as Jennifer.  Design is by Peter Mumford (Leaves Of Glass), with lighting design by Stelios Karagiannis (This Wide Night).

When: Wednesday 22 July  – Saturday 22 August 8pm (Sundays at 6.30pm)
No show Monday or Tuesday. Running time approximately 2 hours
Where: Red Stitch Actors Theatre, rear 2 Chapel St, St Kilda East (opp Astor), Melbourne
Tickets: $20 – $34 ($15 student rush)
Bookings: www.redstitch.net (discounted tix) or on 03 9533 8083

Tweet This Post