Sparkling with razor sharp wit and humour, CRUNCH TIME tackles pertinent social issues head-on in this tale of family and duty. Don’t miss Australian theatre heavy-weight David Williamson’s final play before retirement.

It is with great disappointment that we’ve taken the difficult decision to cancel the remaining season of CRUNCH TIME.

Ticket holders will be contacted directly. Please click here for more information.

Overview

WORLD PREMIERE

Steve is the typical Aussie bloke, self-assured, social and sports-mad. Recently retired from a high-flying career, he’s passed the family business over to his son Jimmy – a chip off the old block. But his eldest son Luke, an engineer with more of an interest in algebra than AFL, has never quite seen eye-to-eye with his dad and they haven’t spoken in eight years. When Steve suddenly falls ill, time is running out to repair their broken relationship – and Luke and Jimmy will have to go to extreme lengths to fulfil their father’s final wishes.

Sparkling with razor sharp wit and humour, CRUNCH TIME tackles pertinent social issues head-on in this story of family and duty. Directed by Mark Kilmurry with a cast including John Wood (BLUE HEELERS) and Guy Edmonds (BETRAYAL), don’t miss Australian theatre heavyweight David Williamson’s final play before retirement.

Reviews

"Williamson's trademark sense of dramatic irony is lively to the end" The Sydney Morning Herald

★★★★½ "Every actor nails the... quirks of their characters" State of the Art

★★★★ "Williamson’s wry humour ingratiates the family with their audience and punctuates their combat" Australian Book Review

"There is as much humour... as joy, tenderness and disappointment" Sydney Arts Guide

"A fine swan song for the finest playwright Australia has ever seen... a show you cannot miss" State of the Art

"The performers bend and expand them [the characters] into rich individuals" Australian Book Review

"All of them deliver lively performances... Director Mark Kilmurry has gathered a strong cast" Limelight

Cast & Creatives
David Williamson

David Williamson

Playwright

David Williamson is Australia’s best known and most widely performed playwright.

Some of his more than forty-five produced plays include THE REMOVALISTS, DON’S PARTY, THE CLUB, TRAVELLING NORTH, THE PERFECTIONIST, SONS OF CAIN, EMERALD CITY, MONEY AND FRIENDS, BRILLIANT LIES, DEAD WHITE MALES, AFTER THE BALL, THE JACK MANNING TRILOGY, THE GREAT MAN, UP FOR GRABS, SOULMATES, SCARLETT O’HARA AT THE CRIMSON PARROTT, NOTHING PERSONAL, WHEN DAD MARRIED FURY, MANAGING CARMEN, CRUISE CONTROL, RUPERT, DREAM HOME, JACK OF HEARTS and ODD MAN OUT. His plays have been translated into many languages and performed internationally, including major productions in London, Los Angeles, New York and Washington (THE CLUB in 1979 and RUPERT in 2014 at the Kennedy Centre as well as a season at the Theatre Royal, Sydney). UP FOR GRABS went on to a West End production starring Madonna in the lead role. David’s screen adaptations of his own plays include THE REMOVALISTS, DON’S PARTY, THE CLUB, TRAVELLING NORTH, EMERALD CITY, along with his original screenplays for feature films including LIBIDO, PETERSEN, GALLIPOLI, PHAR LAP, THE YEAR OF LIVING DANGEROUSLY, and BALIBO (as co-writer) and for television he adapted ON THE BEACH.

Some of David’s many awards include 12 Australian Writers’ Guild Awards, 5 Australian Film Institutes’ Awards for Best Screenplay and, in 1996, the United Nations Association of Australia Media Peace Award. David has been named one of Australia’s Living National Treasures.

Mark Kilmurry

Mark Kilmurry

Director
Janine Watson

Janine Watson

Assistant Director

Janine was a recipient of the inaugural Sandra Bates Directing Award. For Ensemble Theatre she was Assistant Director on Nina Rayne’s TRIBES and Alan Ayckbourn’s RELATIVELY SPEAKING. She also directed a rehearsed reading of Michael Gow’s AWAY. Janine will direct Bell Shakespeare’s 2018 In-Theatres education production of ROMEO AND JULIET which will be performed at the Sydney Opera House and Vic Arts Centre. She has been a director for Bell’s ACTORS AT WORK program from 2014-2017. She has directed abridged versions of ROMEO AND JULIET, A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM, HAMLET and MACBETH. For The Old Fitz Janine has directed CRIMES OF THE HEART (2017), DOLORES (2015 co-directed with Kate Box) and INFINITY TASTER (2015). For Melbourne Fringe she directed AGATHA (2010).

Janine is a graduate from the National Theatre Drama School. Her most recent acting credits include, for Television: THE CODE (Shawn Seet). Feature Film: THAT’S NOT ME (Gregory Erdstein). Theatre: A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE (Iain Sinclair); ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA, THE DREAM (Peter Evans) ANTIGONE (Damien Ryan), THREE SISTERS (Kevin Jackson); THE HAPPY PRINCE, DRACULA, DANGEROUS LIAISONS (Stephen Nicolazzo); Janine won the GLUG Award for Best Supporting Actress for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE, and was nominated for a Sydney Theatre Award for the same show. She was nominated for a Green Room award for Best Actress for her work in MKA’s TRIANGLE.

Diane Craig

Diane Craig

Cast
Megan Drury

Megan Drury

Cast
Guy Edmonds

Guy Edmonds

Cast
Matt Minto

Matt Minto

Cast
Emma Palmer

Emma Palmer

Cast
John Wood

John Wood

Cast
Lauren Peters

Lauren Peters

Set & Costume Designer
Nicholas Higgins

Nicholas Higgins

Lighting Designer

Nick has been an independent lighting designer since graduating from WAAPA in 1999. He has worked across all genres in all states and for most companies. Nick is not only a Lighting Designer, but a photographer and film-maker. He has worked extensively for Ensemble Theatre and was a nominee for the Best Lighting Design Award, Sydney Theatre Awards for his design for FRANKENSTEIN. Nick and his partner moved to Tasmania after working on a show and falling in love with the state. He just hopes that no-one else finds out how wonderful it is here!

Anthony Lorenz

Anthony Lorenz

Sound Realiser
Brooke Kiss

Brooke Kiss

Stage Manager
Stephanie Lindwall

Stephanie Lindwall

Stage Manager

Stephanie is a graduate of the Australian Academy of Dramatic Art.

As Stage Manager: THE RASPUTIN AFFAIR, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, GOOD PEOPLE (Ensemble Theatre), HOOTING AND HOWLING (Critical Stages Regional Tour), SENIOR MOMENTS (Return Fire Productions), PRIDE, THE HORSES MOUTH FESTIVAL, BONDI FEAST (TRS), SET: THE PLAY (NIDA Independent), A VIEW FROM MOVING WINDOWS (Riverside Theatres), ON THE RAZZLE (AADA). As Swing Technician: THE REMOVALISTS (TRS), SAY HELLO FIRST (Cupboard Love). As Production Manager: (& Mentor) PLAYHOUSE CREATURES (AADA), SAY HELLO FIRST (Cupboard Love), BODY LANGUAGE (107 Projects), BEFORE/ AFTER (AADA). As Assistant Stage Manager: EMPIRE (TRS), THE WIZARD OF OZ (Packemin), THE WOODSTOCK EXPERIENCE (AIM), THE THREE LIVES OF LUCY CABROL (AADA). As Producer: GODS AND GAMES: NEW SHORT WORKS (AADA). As an Actor: TALKING WITH (Bare Productions), VARIOUS TVC, EMPIRE (TRS), HOME COOKING, SEX- ED (Eastside Radio), GRIMM TALES (Customs House), BEFORE/AFTER, GODS & GAMES: NEW SHORT WORKS, A MIDSUMMER NIGHTS DREAM, THE SKRIKER (AADA).

Renata Beslik

Renata Beslik

Costume Supervisor
Writer's Note

“I always return to writing about families because they shape us and give rise to our most intense emotions, be they tears of joy or tears of rage. CRUNCH TIME is about a family at crisis point, with no easy way out. It’s often blackly funny but hopefully doesn’t dodge life’s biggest and most pressing question – ‘What’s it all about?’ ” – Playwright David Williamson

Watch the Trailer

PHOTO GALLERY

Photography: Prudence Upton

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM

Want to know more about CRUNCH TIME? Our downloadable program is full of exciting extra tidbits about the show. You’ll find a message from playwright David Williamson, a director’s note from Mark Kilmurry, a timeline of David Williamson’s productions at Ensemble Theatre, synopsis, photos of the rehearsals and more!

DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM (PDF)