Over 150 years after it was written, Émile Zola’s story of murderous star-crossed lovers is a carnal, cruel and corset-filled masterpiece of French realism. Gary Abrahams stage adaption of Thérèse Raquinopens at the National Theatre Wednesday 31 May – Thursday 1 June 2017.
Set in the notoriously dingy backstreets of Paris in the late 1800s, Thérèse lives a life of servitude and desperation. After being married off to her sickly cousin in an arranged marriage, Thérèse’s melancholy is marred by the arrival of Laurent, her husband’s friend, with whom she begins an illicit affair. Dangerously in love, their selfish passions unite in a hatred for Thérèse’s husband, which eventuates his cruel and brutal murder at the hands of damaged lovers.
Causing great controversy when first published – it was labelled as “obscene” by many – Thérèse Raquin is a superb examination of corrupted morals and turns the city of love into the sinister setting for murder.
Written and Directed by Gary Abrahams (after Emile Zola) featuring Jessica Clarke as Thérèse, Andre Jewson as Camille, Marta Kaczmarek as Madame Raquin, Emily Milledge as Suzanne, James O’Connell as Laurent, David Ross Paterson as Michaud and Mark Wilson as Grivet. Set by Jacob Battista, Costumes by Chloe Greaves, Lighting by Katie Sfetkidis, Composition and Music by Christopher De Groot.
Originally commissioned by Simon Philips for MTC before his departure, Gary Abrahams’ adaptation has reinvigorated the text’s shocking power, re-created the visual splendour of 1800s Paris with its set and costumes, and created a terrifying mood with an original piano composition performed live by Christopher De Groot. It premiered in Melbourne at Theatre Works in 2014.
Gary Abrahams is an Award-Winning theatre director and writer with a masters in adaptation from the Victorian College of the Arts. Recently, Gary directed the world-premiere of Joanna Murray-Smith’s Day One. A Hotel. Evening for Red Stitch) and was assistant director on many popular MTC productions, including Songs for Nobodies with Bernadette Robinson.
Dirty Pretty Theatre is a Melbourne-based independent company, led by Artistic Director Gary Abrahams, which rose to critical acclaim in 2010 with two theatrical adaptations at La Mama: Acts Of Deceit (Between Strangers in a Room) and Something Natural but Very Childish. Written and Directed by Gary Abrahams and produced by Dirty Pretty Theatre these works won Abrahams the Green Room Award for Best Director as well as multiple further nominations.
Gary Abrahams is available for interview as is the cast. Bios for the cast follow the media release.
A Dirty Pretty Theatre & Critical Stages present Thérèse Raquin at The National Theatre, 20 Carlisle St, St Kilda, Wednesday 31 May – Thursday 1 June 2017. Tickets (03) 9525 4611 orwww.nationaltheatre.org.au
