Australia's leading lady of musical theatre, Marina Prior, is set to return to the stage in a groundbreaking musical as part of Sydney Theatre Company's 2021 season.
Prior is joining Maggie McKenna, star of Muriel's Wedding The Musical, in Tony Award-winning Fun Home.
The musical, which comes to Sydney from April 27 after smash-hit seasons on Broadway and in London, is one of several shows which was forced to be cancelled in 2020 due to the pandemic.
The brand new production is a musical adaptation of Alison Bechdel's memoir. Winner of three Tony Awards, including Best Musical and Best Original Score, and a finalist for the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, Fun Home is a heartfelt story about coming out and coming of age.
After the unexpected death of her father, Alison is forced to confront his secrets that come to light. Shifting between past and present, we meet Alison, a successful graphic novelist; college-age Alison on the cusp of self-discovery; and precocious child Alison, who plays in coffins instead of sandboxes in the family's Bechdel Funeral Home.
Fun Home is one of five plays announced in STC's 2021 season, with the remaining shows to be announced in March.
The first production at STC's newly renovated home at The Wharf, will be a new adaptation of Ruth Park's Playing Beatie Bow from playwright Kate Mulvany (who most recently played Nazi-hunting nun Sister Harriet in the Amazon series Hunters, opposite Al Pacino), and STC artistic director Kip Williams.
Starring Catherine Vn-Davies as Abigail and Sofia Nolan as Beatie Bow, this moving story, set around The Rocks in Sydney, Playing Beatie Bow is a time-travel coming-of-age tale full of history and humour.
"To celebrate the exciting new creative possibilities of the theatres at The Wharf, I'm putting together a special collection of plays and I'm thrilled that the first of these is the beloved story Playing Beatie Bow - a favourite book from my own childhood," said Williams.
The season will also feature the Australian premiere of Branden Jacobs-Jenkins' dark comedy Appropriate directed by Wesley Enoch at the Roslyn Packer Theatre and the Olivier Award-winning Home, I'm Darling at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House.
Comedy juggernaut, The Wharf Review is also back, with Jonathan Biggins, Drew Forsythe and Phillip Scott reuniting for on last hurrah, joined by dazzling accomplice Mandy Bishop.
Williams said he was excited to be able to bring live theatre back after months of closure, due to the pandemic.
"I'm so happy to be bringing back some of the most anticipated shows of 2020 after they were heartbreakingly cancelled due to the pandemic," he said.
"Fun Home, bursting with wonderful music, is a chance for all of us to reflect on the things that really matter: our loved ones and being true to ourselves and; finally, it's wonderful to be able to remount the farewell iteration of The Wharf Revue because in times as difficult as these, laughter is more important than ever!
"We can't wait to welcome our audiences back and share this exciting new chapter in STC's history."
Tickets for the Sydney Theatre Company 2021: Act 1 go on sale to season ticket holders from November 10 and general sale from December 2.
For dates and ticket prices click HERE or phone (02) 9250-1777.
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Geraldine Cardozo
Features Editor at The Senior.
Features Editor at The Senior.
