David Williamson’s trademark satirical pen finds razor-sharp form in this clever, stylish and sophisticated comedy set in the ruthless world of celebrity.

★★★★½ “Hilarious and incisive” ArtsHub

Overview

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World premiere

Celia and Vicki were best friends at drama school, but the game of life has dealt them very different hands.

Celia is a high profile soap star earning ridiculous amounts of money and the requisite harbourside views. Meanwhile Vicki is scraping by in gritty, critically acclaimed roles in independent theatre.

When Vicki proposes they collaborate on an ambitious new film project, it could be a big opportunity for both of them to prove their mettle in the industry. But are Vicki’s motives as well-intentioned as they seem, or will jealousy rear its ugly head?

David Williamson’s trademark satirical pen finds razor-sharp form in this clever, stylish and sophisticated comedy set in the ruthless world of celebrity.

Ticket Prices

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SINGLE TICKET PRICESPreviews & weekday matineesEvenings & weekend matinees
Adult$75$84
Seniors$72$81
Pensioners$68$73
Under 30s & Full-time students$38$43
MEAA members$43$43
Groups 10-19$72$77
Groups 20+$68$73
School groups$25$25
Reviews

★★★★½ "Another hilarious and incisive theatrical experience" ArtsHub

"A snakes-and-ladders game of shattered dreams, backs for climbing on or stabbing, glints of inspiration and reward" The Sydney Morning Herald

“Credible, often funny and finally, surprisingly touching… Recommended” Stage Noise

“The Big Time is one of his [David Williamson’s] best in recent years… Director Mark Kilmurry achieved his ambitions to cast the play well and let the words fly” Stage Whispers

“The betrayals and backstabbing come thick and fast in the second half, leaving the audience gasping at Williamson’s rapier wit... Director Mark Kilmurry evokes terrific performances from his cast and, once again, Williamson’s satire can be applied to life beyond the world of the theatre.’ ” Altmedia

"Humorous and stinging satire... a theatre experience not to be missed" The Culture Concept Circle

"The entire cast is strong... Williamson continues his rich vein of theatrical creativity" Sydney Chic

"A tightly scripted comedy of treachery… His [David Williamson's] lightness of touch balances our laughter with our disgust" Canberra Critics Circle

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
Felicity Nicol

Felicity Nicol

Assistant Director

Felicity is an award-winning Performance Director and Artistic Director from Sydney, Australia. A graduate of NIDA, she has gone on to work with some of the most prominent artists around the world, including Ontroerend Goed (BEL), Punchdrunk & Gecko Physical Theatre (UK), Illutron (DEN) and Mammalian Diving Reflex (CAN). Felicity holds a particular interest in working with young people, specifically queer young people & young people experiencing mental health issues. This interest has led her to working with Australian Theatre for Young People (AUS), Mit Ohne Alles (GER), The Torontonians (CAN) and Company3 (UK).

Felicity’s mission as an artist is to interrupt people’s assumptions about the world and the people we share it with in order to bring these assumptions into question. She does this through humour, debate, gaming dramaturgy and play. These take their forms through a combination of social media, projection, drag (dress-ups), physical theatre, dialogue and virtual reality technologies.

Her favourite career highlights include directing at The Sydney Opera House, creating a one-on-one performance for audiences in a moving car, and directing a non-verbal performative memorial via clowning, beer and a slide-show.

Claudia Barrie

Claudia Barrie

Cast
Zoe Carides

Zoe Carides

Cast
Aileen Huynh

Aileen Huynh

Cast
Matt Minto

Matt Minto

Cast
Jeremy Waters

Jeremy Waters

Cast
Ben Wood

Ben Wood

Cast
Melanie Liertz

Melanie Liertz

Set and 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!

Bronte Schuftan

Bronte Schuftan

Stage Manager
Renata Beslik

Renata Beslik

Costume Supervisor
Director's Note

It is always a pleasure working on a new David Williamson play and particularly one that deals with issues underlining the make it or break it world of entertainment. THE BIG TIME has at its core loneliness, desperation, jealousy, ambition, betrayal while creating a world of likable characters that make us laugh. Quite an achievement given the themes. The play also has a sense of hope, struggling to make itself heard over the noise of ego. David is very good at finding the heightened essence of the world, at once allowing us to laugh and sympathise while recognising the truths of who we are. I feel my job as director is to do two things; cast really well and secondly; let the words fly. David Williamson has, as ever, done the hard work already .

Mark Kilmurry – Artistic Director

 

Watch the video
DOWNLOAD THE PROGRAM

Our downloadable program is filled to the brim with THE BIG TIME information! Check out David Williamson’s insightful writer’s note, Artistic Director Mark Kilmurry’s, synopsis and more.

DOWNLOAD PROGRAM (PDF)

PHOTO GALLERY