Cirrus@Austlit

'A gothic masterpiece reimagined

'First came The Picture of Dorian Gray. Then Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde. Now comes the final and most ambitious part of Kip Williams’ already-legendary Gothic trilogy, and with it – one of the most iconic figures in world literature: the prince of darkness, Count Dracula.

'Williams reunites with Designer Marg Horwell and Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper to bring you this riveting study of the monster within. Starring the award-winning Zahra Newman (Fences, Julius Caesar) performing every single role, this sweeping, legendary adventure will combine live video, pre-recorded film and a superhuman live performance in the latest iteration of the hybrid-genre ‘cine-theatre’.

'In a ruined castle, high in the Transylvanian wilderness, a mysterious presence is lurking. Is it man or beast? Angel or demon? For centuries, Count Dracula has held his remote corner of the world in a vice grip of terror. But evil is on the move and the residents of Victorian London will soon fall under its bewitching, transformative spell.

'Experience the paragon of horror stories anew in this radical and stupendous combination of cutting-edge technology, exquisite design, herculean acting, and visionary storytelling. This will be an unmissable night of theatre and the final piece in one of the most innovative theatrical feats in recent history.' (Production summary)

'A classic mystery, a dazzling transformation

'The award-winning creative team behind the sold-out smash hit The Picture of Dorian Gray returns with another vivid adaptation of a Gothic classic, transformed for the stage through engrossing live video. Written and directed by STC Artistic Director Kip Williams, this spellbinding adaptation of Robert Louis Stevenson’s mystery for the ages is set to be an unmissable production on the cutting edge of theatrical and cinematic design.

'Penned by one of the English language’s greatest writers, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde follows London lawyer Gabriel Utterson as he attempts to unravel the mysteries surrounding his friend Dr Henry Jekyll and the shadowy new presence in his life: Mr Edward Hyde. One of the most gripping and intricate tales ever told, this chilling detective story has captivated artists and audiences alike for generations.

'Two virtuosic actors – Matthew Backer (Cloud Nine, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Chimerica) and Ewen Leslie (Julius Caesar, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, The War of the Roses) – will perform all the roles in the thrilling chronicle of the doomed and divided Jekyll, the rapacious Hyde, and the transfixed Utterson, caught in between, in a dazzling production that will blur the lines between good and bad, the self and the other, the public and the private, and the artist and the audience.' (Production summary)

'Oscar Wilde’s century-old moral fable, packed with witticisms, is as devilishly wicked today as on its debut.

'Seeing himself in a dazzling new portrait, an exquisite young man makes a Faustian wish for eternal youth. Dorian Gray throws himself into a life of wanton luxury drifting from the pampered salons of Victorian London to the darkest recesses of the capital, and revelling in the splendour of his beauty which remains forever golden. Meanwhile, the portrait – banished to an attic – becomes more and more grotesque.'

Source: Sydney Theatre Company.