'They were writers, dreamers and free spirits. In the 1950s, Australian authors Charmian Clift and George Johnston fled halfway across the world to the idyllic Greek island of Hydra, determined to carve out a bohemian living as artists.
'As they revel in their picturesque community, far off the world’s literary map, inspiration for the great Australian work strikes. But a many-headed monster of jealousy, infidelity, illness and alcoholism also rises from the crystal blue waters of their sun-kissed island home.
'Award-winning Sue Smith weaves the original writings of two of Australia’s literary icons into a moving relationship drama. She conjures the passion and intensity of the near mythical ‘King and Queen of Hydra’ as they follow their dream, only to end up in a Greek tragedy of their own making.'
Source: Publisher's blurb.
Co-produced by the Queensland Theatre Company and the State Theatre Company of South Australia, 9 March - 6 April 2019 (Bille Brown Theatre, Queensland) and 1-19 May 2019 (Dunstan Playhouse, South Australia).
Director: Sam Strong.
Designer: Vilma Mattila.
Lighting Designer: Nigel Levings.
Cast includes Anna McGahan, Nathan O’Keefe, and Bryan Probets.
'During the 50’s and 60’s Hydra’s turquoise-blue ocean water had a magnetic effect on bohemians, artists, writers and musicians such as Leonard Cohen.' (Introduction)
'Alcoholism, terminal illness, suicide, infidelity and a self-obsessed couple of writers marooned on a barren island in the Aegean. What’s not to love if you’re a writer writing about writers and inspired by the grand tradition of Greek tragedy?' (Introduction)
'Running through Hydra, the new play by Australian playwright Sue Smith, is the myth of Icarus, the boy who flew so high that his wings melted and he crashed to his death in the sea near the Greek island of Samos.' (Introduction)
'Alcoholism, terminal illness, suicide, infidelity and a self-obsessed couple of writers marooned on a barren island in the Aegean. What’s not to love if you’re a writer writing about writers and inspired by the grand tradition of Greek tragedy?' (Introduction)
'Running through Hydra, the new play by Australian playwright Sue Smith, is the myth of Icarus, the boy who flew so high that his wings melted and he crashed to his death in the sea near the Greek island of Samos.' (Introduction)
'During the 50’s and 60’s Hydra’s turquoise-blue ocean water had a magnetic effect on bohemians, artists, writers and musicians such as Leonard Cohen.' (Introduction)
