Possessions, the original ‘girl road story’, heads for Sydney’s King Street Theatre on March 27, following an acclaimed premiere season in Boston USA.
Thelma and Louise meets Dangerous Liaisons, this thought-provoking new play is conceived, written and performed by Jane Bergeron and Carrie Ann Quinn and presented by the Escape Artists Theatre Company.
In the 17th century, the Mancini sisters – beautiful, smart and wealthy beyond imagination – earned notoriety for abandoning their aristocratic husbands, dressing as men and travelling across Europe while behaving scandalously in and out of chateaux, courts and convents. Then, even more shockingly, they attempted to salvage their tarnished reputations by writing and publishing their memoirs.
The play weaves together the historical narrative of the Mancini sisters’ lives with original text and contemporary stories and songs that explore how these fearless and fascinating women resonate with women’s lives in the 21st century.
Jane Bergeron is a professional actor, director and theatre educator who currently heads the Theatre Studies program at the University of Notre Dame in Sydney. With 20 years stage experience in the US as well as London, her stage credits include lead roles in My Fair Lady, Twelfth Night and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
Carrie Ann Quinn is a professional actor, director and teacher who heads the acting and directing program a the University Massachusetts Boston and divides her time between Boston and New York City. Stage credits include An Ideal Husband, Tattoo You and Move Over Mrs Markham. The pair met when working as fellows at Boston University and discovered a shared interest in history’s ‘notorious women’ – and society’s double standards that labelled them as such.
Their international collaboration bore fruit with the debut of Possessionslast year in Boston. Now coming to Sydney, it features an ensemble cast of local actors
The play weaves together the historical narrative of the Mancini sisters’ lives with original text and contemporary stories and songs that explore how these fearless and fascinating women resonate with women’s lives in the 21st century.
Now coming to Sydney, it features an ensemble cast of local actors with directorial consultant Luke Mullins, costume design by Tess Evans, lighting by Stephen Hawker and sound by Jeremy Silver.
Possessions is at the King Street Theatre, 644 King Street (cnr Bray St) Newtown March 27 – April 5 (Thursday-Saturday 7.30pm). The April 3 performance will feature an expert panel and audience talkback. Tickets $25/$15 at www.kingstreettheatre.com.au. More information at www.escapeartiststheatreco.com
