Two Brothers may be the most politically controversial Australian play of the last 25 years. It created a media cyclone when it was first produced by the Melbourne Theatre Company. Andrew Bolt in particular launched a vitriolic attack on both the play and its author, Hannie Rayson herself.
On Christmas Day an Indonesian fishing boat packed with refugees sinks in the Indian Ocean. Two hundred and fifty people drown and one man survives. What happens when this tragedy spurs two powerful but politically opposed brothers to take sides against each other? Two Brothers is an explosive political thriller which never lets up as it draws together terrifying political secrets, family feuds and a wicked sense of humour to explore this gripping tale of power and evil.
Last year Holden Street Theatres’ resident theatre company, Red Phoenix Theatre burst onto the Adelaide scene with critically acclaimed, rip-roaring productions of Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus and David Williamson’s Don Parties On. They proudly launch their 2017 season with the Adelaide premiere of Hannie Rayson’s Two Brothers.
Rayson says Two Brothers is a fictional tale which provokes robust and rigorous debate. At the core of the controversy is a plot which implicates the Australian government in ordering the Navy to stand off and allow 250 refugees to drown at sea rather than bend policy and risk impacting the populist vote. Others view it as a personal attack which draws an insulting caricature of a satanic Peter Costello and feeds offensive conspiracy theories about the SIEV-X which sank in 2001. Andrew Bolt was so incensed by the play that he even attacked the audience for applauding it and seemed hell-bent on a media campaign to destroy Rayson’s career.
The plays director, Robert Kimber says, “The brothers referred to in the title of the play were inspired by the Costello brothers, Tim and Peter and the political and social gulf between them. In a neat twist of life imitating art, real life brothers, Brant and Michael Eustice will play the two brothers in this production.” Brant and Michael are well known to many Adelaide theatregoers. Brant has performed with Sydney Theatre Company, appeared in several State Theatre Company productions, and has won two Adelaide Critics Circle Awards.
Michael is the Artistic Director of Red Phoenix Theatre and is making his first onstage appearance for this new company.
Directed by Robert Kimber, featuring a popular and award winning cast of Adelaide actors including Joshua Coldwell, Cheryl Douglas, Brant Eustice, Michael Eustice, Fahad Farooque, Josh Mensch, Lyn Wilson, Tracey Walker and Alicia Zorkovic.
When: May Thurs 18 – Sat 20 Wed 24 – Sat 27 @ 7.30pm. Matinee Performance: Sun 21 @ 2pm.
Where: Holden Street Theatres – The Studio, 34 Holden Street, Hindmarsh (next to Coopers Stadium) PARKING AVAILABLE.
Tickets: $24.50 Full / $17.50 Concession / $19.50 Group Concession (6+) Purchase tickets online or call 8225 8888. Tickets at the door subject to availability.
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