ROMANCE, SIN, SALVATION… & HEAVENLY MUSIC
Endangered Productions presents the Australian premiere of the original PEER GYNT
From 30 June at Paddington RSL
Endangered Productions brings Henrik Ibsen’s folkloric world to life with PEER GYNT –
as it was meant to be performed: by a troupe of singers, actors, dancers, a 30-piece orchestra… and a dreamy chorus!
And it all happens from 30 June at the iconic Paddo RSL – home of INXS, Midnight Oil, Rose Tattoo, Boom Crash Opera… and Bob Downe!
Following its critically acclaimed 2020-21 debut (sandwiched between covid lockdowns!) with Nordic Noir,
Bach’s Coffee Cantata and Mozart’s uber-romantic Bastien & Bastienna…
this passionate company of volunteers and theatre, music and opera veterans
now presents an Australian premiere that blends Ibsen’s sexy story with Edvard Grieg’s much-loved score!
Ibsen wrote Peer Gynt – the story of the downfall and subsequent redemption of a Norwegian peasant anti-hero and braggart – in 1867 as an allegorical poem.
But six years later he changed his mind and asked his friend and compatriot Grieg to compose incidental music for a production of the play.
The music remains an all-time classical favourite to this day.
Directed by Christine Logan, with musical direction by Peter Alexander and all-new translation by May-Brit Akerholt,
Peer Gynt features Philippe Klaus in the title role, with soprano Emily Turner as Solveig, Peer’s long-suffering love
and Elaine Hudson is Peer’s widowed mother Aase. Multi-talented Katherine Munro plays the Woman in Green, Ingrid and Anitra,
versatile Jack Elliot Mitchell takes on several roles including the mysterious Stranger,
while David Kerslake and Alan Faulkner bring gravitas to the roles of Button Moulder and the Troll King respectively.
Jessica Manclark, Karen Lambert, Ed Suttle, Glennen Fahey, Fawad Mahdavi, Wei Jiang and Antony Gleeson round out the cast
with Coro Austral forming the chorus – all accompanied by a 30-piece orchestra led by SSO veteran Fiona Ziegler.
Serial seducer, Peer Gynt, – a folk hero in Scandinavian culture – has a surprising contemporary resonance
and this innovative production explores this with music, song, drama and dance set in spellbinding,
faraway places and a fantasy world of trolls and mythical creatures.
Conductor Peter Alexander, has arranged Grieg’s score for a 30-piece orchestra that boasts many of Sydney’s finest professionals
blended with a sprinkling of top Sydney Conservatorium students.
“Likewise”, says director Christine Logan, “the cast has the collaborative esprit de corps of a troupe of repertory players;
its senior performers (with the knowledge of a lifetime in the theatre) are both an incredible asset to the company and an inspiration to its emerging performers.”
Ibsen and Grieg’s PEER GYNT
Paddington RSL 220 Oxford Street Paddington (opposite Paddington Town Hall)
Thur 30 June, Fri 1 July and Sat 2 July 6.30pm | Sun 3 July 2pm
Tickets: $30-$60 Bookings: www.trybooking.com/893296 (Dine & Discover vouchers also accepted)
More information: www.endangeredproductions.org.
