In award-winning playwright Hilary Bell’s SUMMER OF HAROLD, the transformative power of everyday objects threads through three cracking comedic plays about adventure, obsession and hope.
Overview
WORLD PREMIERE
In award-winning playwright Hilary Bell’s SUMMER OF HAROLD, the transformative power of everyday objects threads through three cracking comedic plays about adventure, obsession and hope.
SUMMER OF HAROLD. Memories of 1984. London. Phil Collins on MTV. Cassette tapes. Janet and her backpacking mate Alison take a summer job as inexperienced housekeepers with the 20th century’s foremost British playwright, Harold Pinter. Will the summer of ‘84 be a triumph or end in disaster within the fastidious atmosphere of the Pinter household?
In ENFANT TERRIBLE Gareth, obsessed with his rival ceramicist, reflects on an evening of bitterness, triumph and discovery. A brash decision forces him to question whether or not he’s badly misjudged the night…
As the enchanting Blue Mountains expand before Jonathan and Rae, they take a last moment to connect before making some life-changing decisions. Is it time to let go or is there more to their view in LOOKOUT?
Ticket Prices
For group bookings of 10+, please call Box office on (02 8918 3400) or email boxoffice@ensemble.com.au
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice.
| SINGLE TICKETS | PREVIEWS | IN SEASON |
|---|---|---|
| FULL PRICE | $75 | $80 |
| SENIORS CARD | $72 | $77 |
| PENSIONER | $68 | $73 |
| 30 OR UNDER | $38 | $43 |
| FULL-TIME STUDENT | $38 | $43 |
| MEAA/AWG | $38 | $43 |
| SCHOOL GROUPS | $25 | $25 |
| GROUP 10-19 | $72 | $77 |
| GROUP 20+ | $68 | $73 |
Reviews
★★★★ "Ninety absorbing, unpredictable minutes of performance and writing. Recommended without hesitation." Stage Noise
"the trilogy bulges with intelligence, heart and skill." SMH
“Schwerdt bounds onto the stage with an electric energy and makes it his own, enrapturing all of the audience before he even says a line” Scribbles of Stage and Screen
"So what do the three pieces have in common? They’re all told with a captivating humour. They’re all superbly performed. And they’re all tightly constructed; each is like a little mousetrap (though without the ghastly consequences.)" Theatre Red
"Summer of Harold, Enfant Terrible and Lookout are beautiful vignettes of life, showcasing two excellent actors and Bell’s power of storytelling." Cultural Binge
"Bell’s depictions of humanity are certainly truthful, often with a gentle humour that makes her storytelling charming and resonant." Suzy Goes See
“a memorable return visit to the Ensemble” Stage Whispers
Cast & Creatives
Hilary Bell
Playwright
Francesca Savige
Francesca holds two degrees in Theatre and Acting from QUT Brisbane, and furthered training at RADA London (Shakespeare), and Shakespeare & Company in the US. In 2015 she received a Globe International Actors Fellowship to train at Shakespeare’s Globe, London. Frankie has pursued directing alongside her acting career since graduating. Experience includes directing SUCH SWEET SORROW for Bell Shakespeare’s Actors at Work; assistant directing ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO’S NEST, OTHELLO (Sport For Jove); CYMBELINE (Queensland University of Technology) and co-writing and directing Sport For Jove’s youth theatre program THE SECOND AGE PROJECT (2013, 2014 & 2016) as part of their summer outdoor season. A 2010 Churchill Fellow, Frankie travelled to Grahamstown, South Africa to co-direct ROMEO AND JULIET for Ubom Theatre Company, and toured the production nationally to Schools Festivals. As an actor, Francesca has worked with Sport for Jove, Bell Shakespeare, Queensland Theatre Company, Griffin, Parramatta Riverside and the Old Fitz. Frankie is a member of Equity and the proud recipient of a Sandra Bates Director’s Award for 2017.
Jane Fitzgerald
Jane is a freelance Sydney dramaturg. Recent work includes THE BIG DRY by Mark Kilmurry (co-production Ensemble and ATYP) and M.ROCK (coproduction ATYP and Sydney Theatre Company). She is one of Ensemble Theatre’s Literary Co-ordinators (shared position). For ATYP she has been a Mentor/Dramaturg for the Fresh Ink writers’ program and at the National Studio, and she has worked on National Script Workshops for Playwriting Australia. For Sydney Theatre Company she has worked as Literary Manager, Artistic Associate and Administrator of the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award as well as Dramaturg on mainstage productions including THE HERBAL BED, VOLPONE and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. She was also a dramaturg on STC’s Blueprints new writers’ program and has worked as a script reader for the Royal Court London, ANPC, Playworks and STC Young Playwrights’ Award. She also works as a Mentor with Year 12 students on HSC creative writing projects.
Berynn Schwerdt
Cast
Hannah Waterman
Cast
Jeremy Allen
Set & Costume Designer
Matt Cox
Mary Rapp
Sound Designer
Linda Nicholls-Gidley
Dialect Coach
Erin Shaw
Graduating from the Technical Theatre and Stage Management course at NIDA in 2016, Erin has previously worked in the industry as a dresser on GIRL ASLEEP (Belvoir, 2016); stage manager on LITTLE BORDERS (The 505, 2017), MOTH (ATYP, 2017), and LOVE, ME (The 505, 2018); and assistant stage manager on DIPLOMACY (Ensemble Theatre, 2018) and BLISS (Belvoir, 2018).
Erin feels privileged to have worked with such an incredible team on this production and looks forward to the season.
Mia Kanzaki
Assistant Stage Manager
Renata Beslik
Costume SupervisorSpecial performances
Audio Described
- Thu 28 Sep 11am
- Sat 30 Sep 2pm
Tactile Tours are available 1 hour prior to Audio Described performances, please contact the Box Office to book.
Q&A Session
- Sat 16 Sep 8.15pm
- Thu 5 Oct 11am
Free Teen
- Fri 6 Oct 6.15pm
Director at Work Session (with Francesca Savige)
- Thu 17 Aug 4pm – 5.30pm (+BOOK TICKETS)
Production Photos
Download the program
Discover more about SUMMER OF HAROLD with our digital program. It’s packed full of info about the show including writer’s and director’s notes, cast and creative bios, plus photos and more!