The company was offered the opportunity to take over the newly opened Downstairs Theatre at the Seymour Centre, a three-theatre complex on the University of Sydney campus. For the third season, their premiere in the new theatre, the company staged two Australian premieres: Woody Allen`s “Play it Again, Sam” (with Les Asmussen as Allen) and E.A.Whitehead`s “The Foursome”, as well as a late-night show “Brecht on Brecht”. A search led her to the Esme Hackett Memorial Hall in the downtown suburb of Ultimo. It was a versatile meeting place from the 1950s, poorly served by public transport – but it was available and cheap. In early 1976, “The Golden Pathway Annual” toured Queensland and then played a short season back in Sydney as the opening production of what is now the Actors Company Theatre. An American program with David Robison`s “Promenade, All” (another Australian premiere) and Eugene O`Neill`s little-seen “Desire Under the Elms” was performed in April and May. At the same time, “The Golden Pathway Annual” and “Play It Again, Sam” were relaunched in Adelaide, South Australia, at the invitation of the Adelaide Festival Centre. [15] In June, “Hamlet” with Matthew O`Sullivan in the title role was performed at the Bondi Pavilion Theatre. Official recognition also came with a one-time grant of $8,000 from the Australian Council and $1,000 from the New South Wales Government. [Citation needed] In July, there was a return season of “Play It Again, Sam,” followed by the company`s first children`s show, “The Happy Apples.” [16] A double interpretation of Ionesco`s “The Lesson” and Olwyn Wymark`s “Lunchtime Concert”, played from September to October; Samuel Beckett`s “Waiting for Godot” was performed from October to November. The year ended with a review, “And Now at Last the Nibble Nobby`s Nuts Show”, designed and directed by Rodney Delaney (who was also in the cast) and during the day the adaptation by Matthew O`Sullivan (he also directed) of “Winnie The Pooh”. [17] The company consisted of a group of five people – Rodney Delaney and Matthew O`Sullivan (the two art directors), director Michael Tobin, Sonia Lester (pr and marketing) and stage manager Tony Wright (who also directed “The Happy Apples”). Guest directors have been hired for “Hamlet”, “Lunchtime Concert” and “Waiting for Godot”.
For 50 years, The Acting Company has been committed to its founding mission of developing excellent young actors by producing a mix of classic and new plays on tour and in New York. Make a tax-deductible donation today to propel the company into the next half century by bringing the theater to audiences across America. The company entered its third year with a major reconfiguration of the actor room. In the middle of the room, a triangular stage was created with benches raked on two sides, accommodating about 100 people. [18] The year began with a revival of Harold Pinter`s “The Caretaker” in March, this time under the direction of Alan Faulkner, but the two-piece repertoire resumed in June with “The Naked` Hamlet,” the radical overhaul of Joseph Papp`s “Hamlet” and Tom Stoppard`s “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead.” The latter piece had not been seen since its original production in Sydney and became one of the company`s biggest hits. Both plays were directed by Rodney Delaney with a total of twelve actors – the largest cast to date. The cast played the same roles in both productions with Peter de Salis as Hamlet, Les Asmussen and Scott Lambert as Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. [19] In September and October, there was a children`s play during the day, “The Tails of Koalaroo,” and Stephen Poliakoff`s “Ghosts” and “City Sugar” by Ibsen with Bevan Wilson (another Australian premiere) alternating at night. [20] November-December brought another play by Pinter, the Australian premiere of “No Man`s Land” starring Rodney Delaney, who directed veteran British actor Alexander Archdale.
Critics and audiences were divided on the merits of the somewhat confrontational “The Foursome” (for the time), but “Play It Again, Sam” was a resounding success that lasted another two weeks. [10] [11] [12] [13] The company was unable to cover the operating costs of an essentially commercial theatre. By the end of their first year of operation, with three seasons in three different locations, they were back looking for a home. Between 1975 and 1979, the company directed more than 40 productions at various locations in Sydney, many of which went on to tour New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia. The company was founded in late 1974 by four actors and directors – Rodney Delaney, Matthew O`Sullivan, Betty Cheal and Lynne Porteous. The young company, with Rodney Delaney and Matthew O`Sullivan as co-artistic directors, secured the King`s Cross building for their opening productions, which had been the Nimrod Street Theatre, after the Nimrod Company moved to its new space on Belvoir Street, Surrey Hills. The Nimrod Street Theatre was renamed Loft. (Currently home to the Griffin Theatre Company, it is now known as the Stables Theatre.) [4] The Acting Company is the only professional theatre dedicated to the development of young actors and was founded in 1972. Through its national touring repertoires of classical and new plays, the company has given two generations of drama school graduates the opportunity to refine their art in challenging roles while bringing theatre to small towns and large cities. We provide a player (all our players are actors!), shoot on a Canon 7D, use professional sound and lighting technology and take care of all the editing to provide you with high quality tape. CLICK HERE to make an appointment! On Monday night, alumni of the acting company and friends from the Broadway community gather to read forgotten works, new plays, or titles that will be considered for future seasons. .