Palace of the Endby Judith Thompson
Theatre Works 2013 CAST A Soldier | Hannah Norris David Kelly | Robert Meldrum Nehrjas Al Saffarh | Eugenia Fragos CREATIVES Director | Daniel Clarke Designer | Eugyeene Teh Lighting Design | Rob Sowinski Sound Design | Russell Goldsmith Photography | Sarah Walker AboutA blistering and unforgettable play, Palace of the End is a triptych of monologues that tell the stories of three people forever impacted by the wars in Iraq: "PVT. LYNNDIE", a U.S. soldier convicted of abusing detainees at Abu Ghraib prison; DR. DAVID KELLY, the British weapons inspector who allegedly committed suicide after being involved in a government scandal, and NEHRJAS AL SAFFARH, a leading member of the Communist Party of Iraq who suffered the greatest of losses during the Baathist coup that led to Saddam Hussein's rise to power.
Incendiary and haunting, this is searing theatre. |
Reviews• The Age
“Hannah Norris as the unrepentant torturer has the most complexity and dramatic impact… a performance that ripples with internalised misogyny and submerged self-hatred.” Cameron Woodhead • Herald Sun “Norris, portraying a frenetic, dim-witted, redneck ranting about her mistreatment by media and a battery of online hate, shows her to be deluded, conceited and cruel, with a frightening moral certainty based on twisted patriotism.” **** Kate Herbert • Crikey “Hannah Norris is totally believable as England, right down to the West Virginian accent, displaying all the ignorant cruelty of a red neck given the chance to inflict her power over weaker others.” Mark Pearce • Aussie Theatre “Norris, Meldrum and Fragos’s performances are stunning” Anne-Marie Peard • Theatre Press “the talented cast are more than able to convincingly draw us into their world. “ Myron My Social Media“Melbourne friends. See this. I saw it on Thursday and still finding myself thinking about it. The right and wrong of it. Iraq. I’m so grateful when a piece of theatre does that. Makes me think. Three monologues each asking me to see something from a different point of view. I recommend the Crikey review which captures the experience of the seeing this. Beautifully directed and designed and lit. And such truthful performances by Hannah Norris, Rob Meldrum and Eugenia Fragos.”
Andrew Bovell (playwright) “PalaceOTE at @Theatre_Works is amazing theatre; brilliant writing, gripping and human, impeccable performances and perfectly realized.” Dean Bryant (writer/director) “Last night I went to see “palace of the end” at Theatreworks. So proud of my friend, Eugenia Fragos for her magnificent performance- warm, transformative, commanding and utterly gut wrenching. A reminder of the power of great theatre.” Tony Ayres (producer/director) “Congratulations @Theatre_Works on a powerhouse performance of a moving, important work. Still shaking and prickly-eyed.” Lab Kelpie (theatre producers) “PALACE AT THE END is making us think about why we make theatre.” Sometimes Melbourne (theatre writer) “After last night, I can confidently say ‘Palace of the End’ is a gripping performance, get on down to @Theatre_Works & transport your mind.” Natalie Claire King (journalist/presenter) “The Palace At The End @Theatre_Works reminds me – again – why we need theatre. To tell the stories we hardly dare imagine.” Sian Prior (writer/broadcaster) “Absolutely beautiful and haunting performance of #PalaceOTE tonight @Theatre_Works.. Especially the last monologue. Wow #theatre #inspired Everyone, theatre buffs and novices alike should go and see #PalaceOfTheEnd @Theatre_Works. Eugenia Fragos is breathtaking! #PalaceOTE” Lauren Mass (actor/singer) “Just saw “Palace of the End” at Theatre Works. Wow. Daniel Clarke has perfectly directed a flawless trio of actors in this gut-wrenching piece about sacrifice, truth and humanity; all framed in Eugyeene Teh‘s spellbinding set of simultaneous antitheses – light/dark, dream/nightmare, sparkle/gore. Limited seating, so definitely book in and see it before it ends next week. I’m still shaken.” Lyall Brooks (actor) “Congratulations Dan, Hannah, Rob and Eugenia. Harrowing, shattering magnificence. Thank you to all.” Sue Strano (arts manager) “Kudos to @danioclarke and @HazzyNorris and everyone involved with PALACE AT THE END – riveting stuff” Keith Gow (playwright) “Hannah Norris and Daniel Clarke never fail to inspire me, and to finally see them working together (I know, what took me so long!) has me even more excited about theatre. Get to Palace of The End Theatre Works and you’ll see what I mean.” Cat Commander (actor/playwright) “Hey guys, went and saw Hannah Norris in A Palace of the End last night and was truely moved, the performances were astounding! Go and see it, support our friend and the arts. Congratulations to the cast and crew for last nights performance and chookas for the rest of the season! Xxx” Chloe Connolly (actor) “The preview performance of Palace of the End by Judith Thompson was seriously good theatre. Actors Eugenia Fragos, Robert Meldrum and Hannah Norris give life to three important stories. The stories they tell remind us that the Iraq War isn’t something that just happened in the easy-to-forget past. They make us listen, a remarkable gift from three generous actors. The performance is moving and disturbing in equal measure. Thank-you Daniel Clarke and especially to Rob Sowinski and Eugyeene Teh for reimagining the Theatre Works space in such spectacular fashion. To anyone who wants to learn or wants to think, don’t miss this show.” Bryce Ives (theatre maker/producer) “I saw this play last night. Hannah Norris was mesmerising. We couldn’t speak walking out of the theatre. You should see it.” Chrissie Brown (performer/publicist) “Terrific preview of Palace of the End(directed by @danioclarke) tonight at @theatre_works!” Gareth Trew (acting student) “Loved Palace Of The End! Congratulations Daniel, Hannah, Eugenia, Robert,Eugyeene and Russell!!” Nick Pelomis (actor) “I saw Palace of the End tonight and thought it was magnificent. Subtle and brutal, eye-opening and moving. Several people were sniffling by the end. Deft direction and beautiful set. Thank you for such a fantastic play!” Karin Muiznieks (performer) “If you have not been to see Palace of the End by Judith Thompson, Why not? Get to it. Magnificent production. Thanks to Daniel Clarke Hannah Norris Robert Meldrum & Eugenia Fragos.” Scott Gooding (actor/director) “palace of the end at theatreworks. Just go home after a much needed fast cycle. kind of a must-see really. It reminds one of why to do theatre. These are stories about the dreadful things people do to people in the name of something or other. As Rob Meldrum said to me after the show, ‘yes, people say I’ve heard it all before; but they haven’t heard it in the theatre;’ and I experienced it tonight. other people talked about it being harrowing it is that and more. Is ‘harrowing’ a bummer for a press release? Guess so. Only in as much as bit by bit, we are becoming numb, dumb and unable to feel anything. do yourself a favour, wake up, go see it.” Matt Crosby (actor) “Thank-you @Theatre_Works for a thoroughly devastating work… Palace of the End is exquisite. Beautiful, exceptional – go see this. @danioclarke you and your ensemble totally destroyed me. Exceptional stuff. Sublimely devastating. My eyes ran rivers. #palaceOTE“ Tim Wotherspoon (musician/writer/actor) |
Press• Palace of the End
Time Out, Melbourne • Palace of the End: A play by Judith Thompson St Kilda News • Palace of the End: Stories of three people forever impacted by the Iraq war Meld Magazine |
PromotionalPoster designed by Danny Brookes
Promotional pics by Sarah Walker
|