Breaker Morant
The TheatreTroupe presents a new stage version of Australia’s most compelling war-time drama
Breaker Morant
featuring Mark Lee and Andrew George
April 12 to 21 Reginald Theatre, Seymour Centre
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In the lead up to ANZAC Day (April 25) The Theatre Troupe will perform a new stage version of Breaker Morant at the Seymour Centre in Chippendale from (April 12 to 21) directed by Gareth Boylan, starring Mark Lee and Andrew George, with a newly revised script by Kenneth G Ross.
February 17 2012, marked the 110th Anniversary, of the execution of Morant and Handcock. Sydney Lawyer Commander Jim Unkles, believes that Morant, Handcock and Witton were not tried in accordance with the law of 1902 and had suffered injustice as a result.
Based on a true events, Breaker Morant is about Australian lieutenants who were court martialled for executing prisoners as a way of deflecting attention from war crimes committed by their superior officers. A powerful tale of wartime betrayal and injustice, when war breaks out in 1899 between Britain and the Boers.
Breaker Morant is a wonderfully intricate and complex play where all the drama of the battlefield is condensed into one small room, says director Gareth Boylan. It’s clear why audiences are so drawn to these stories, because all the moral complexities of war — and not just the conduct of the defendants — are eventually teased out and laid bare. And the questions raised by these kinds of inquiries don’t have simple answers.
The 1980 Oscar nominated film, directed and written by Bruce Beresford, was based on the play by Kenneth G. Ross amd starred Edward Woodward, Lt. Harry ‘Breaker’ Morant, Jack Thomson as Maj. J.F. Thomas and Jack Waters as Capt. Alfred Taylor.
Mark Lee will play Major Thomas at the Seymour Centre. He has worked extensively in Australian film, television and theatre for over thirty years and was a two time AFI Nominee for his role of Archy Hamilton in the 1981 feature film Gallipoli.
Andrew George will play Harry the Breaker Morant, in his debut performance in Sydney. He appeared recently in short film War Profit and the role of Amundsen in Starlight Theatre’s production of Terra Nova in Brisbane. Andrew comes from a direct linage of military service (his Great Grandfather, and namesake, Andrew Kelly served as a trooper in the Lighthorse in Palastine 1916-1918) He is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy, the Royal Military College of Australia (Duntroon) and the Actors Conservatory in Brisbane.
Breaker Morant
- Venue: Reginald Theatre Seymour Centre, Cnr Cleveland Street and City Road, Chippendale
- Preview: Thursday April 12, 2012
- Opening: Friday April 13 2012
- Times: Tuesday & Friday 8pm, Thursday & Saturday 2pm & 8pm, Sunday 5pm
- Prices: $20–$30 (a transaction fee may apply)
- Bookings: 9351 7940 or seymourcentre.com
- Director: Gareth Boylyn
- Producer: Erica J Brennan
- Production Assistant: Kiri Pedersen
- Costume/Set: Jess Martin
- Composer: Kyls Burtland
Richard Cotter Most Recently Appeared In The Television Series Underbelly: Razor, Deadly Women And Behind Mansion Walls. Stage Work Includes Undercover Lawyer, The Last Days Of Judas Iscariot And The Musical Byjeeves.
Sam Haft appeared in Underbelly 2, Tough Nuts, Jim Sharman’s production of What The Butler Saw for Company B and played Alcock in Sport For Jove’s recent award winning production of The Libertine and Taming of the Shrew.
Dave Kirkham is currently nearing the end of a run of Twelfth Night and Macbeth for Bard on the Beach at Balmoral. The Barber in 2007 Cannes Short Film Corner winner.
James Lugton performed in Libertine (Sydney Theatre Award — Best Independent Production) and Monkey Baa’s Helpmann Award winning production of Thursday’s Child.
Richard Mallet is a Colonel in the Australian Army in charge of Health at the Headquarters of Forces Command at Victoria Barracks. He transferred to become a Lynx helicopter pilot and was commissioned. He subsequently transferred to the Australian Army as a Blackhawk pilot. He has served in numerous operational theatres, most recently being in Afghanistan.
Peter Maple Is A Graduate Of Theatre Nepean: Actor Writer Director. Recently Performed /Co Created With Shh Hybrid Arts Centre In How To Lose Sight. Tv Appearances Include, Cops L.A.C. Rescue Special Ops.
Chris Miller is a graduate of the Performance Program at Wollongong University who has had recent success as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing (Shakespeare in the Park – Wollongong Botanic Gardens), Manchester in Night Blind (The Old Fitz) and as Stan the Devil in The New Deal (The New Theatre).
Campbell Smith is son of Colonel David Smith, who recently returned from Afghanistan as the Commanding Officer of the Mentoring Task Force. He will play Army kid in Breaker Morant marking his first Sydney role as a Lieutenant. Campbell has a unique insight into life of a soldier in insurgency conflicts. Graduated Year 12 2010. This is his debut performance in Sydney. He recently relocated from Townsville where he played Fenton in Merry Wives with the Shakespeare under the Stars company and Craig Prince in Sleeping Beauty or a coma, with Full Throttle company and Theatre Restaurant.
Bob Stanton joined British Army 10 Oct 1977 as a soldier in Royal Signals. Posted (2 years or more) to Signals units in England, Cyprus, Germany and Northern Ireland, Exercised in Switzerland, France, Poland, Gambia, Cyprus, Wales and Scotland. Operational Tours: First Gulf War 1991, Northern Iraq and Southern Turkey 1991 (Twice) and Second Gulf War in 2003 as well 2 years in Northern Ireland (previously stated.) Served a Regimental Sergeant Major 1998-2000.
Will Usic is an actor, Producer, Director. NIDA graduate with 25 years experience. For two years running he was a Tropfest finalist and received an ADG nomination for best comedy director, Stupid, Stupid, Man (Director). Recent acting credits include Bikie Wars, East West 101 and Blackjack.
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