Arcadia (STC 2016)

*Arcadia* was a production of Tom Stoppard's *Arcadia* that was produced by the Sydney Theatre Company. It was performed at the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House between 13 February - 2 April 2016 (with previews from 8 - 12 February). The production was directed by Richard Cottrell and starred Blazey Best, Ryan Corr, Honey Debelle and Andrea Demetriades.

## Creative Team

### Crew

 Costume Designer
 Lighting Designer
 Composer & Sound Designer

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## Production

### Staging and performance

#### Mathematical and scientific theme

Many of the cast and crew involved in this production cited difficulty in interpreting the science and mathematics in the script and translating this into their performance. At the Sydney Theatre Company pre-season briefing for *Arcadia,* director Richard Cottrellsaid the play offers "a challenge for the actors to make sense of all the science for the audience. Lots of chaos theory." In countering this difficulty, actress Honey Debelle said in an interview that a teacher from Sydney University attended a rehearsal to explain to them the mathematical concepts. Debelle stated that this helped their performances, because "Even when the characters aren't discussing maths explicitly, the theories permeate so much of the play."

## Promotion

During the production of *Arcadia*, the Sydney Theatre Company had the following on their website:

> **Fall in love with the wit, intelligence, chaos and romance**
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> Tom Stoppard’s much-loved Arcadia is recognised as one of the 20th century’s greatest plays – a cocktail of ravishing comedy, literary sleuthing, romantic entanglements and scientific discoveries.
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> In a stately home in the British countryside, poets, tutors, academics and lovers roam the corridors some 200 years apart, each uncovering their own particular mystery. In April 1809, bright young Thomasina and her tutor Septimus are inventing chaos theory a century too early – or perhaps they are simply falling in love? Two hundred years later, two scholars try to piece history together from the puzzling fragments that remain. Along the way, there will be indiscrete affairs, mistaken identities, hermits, duels and …horticulture.
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> Often picked out as audiences’ favourite play, Arcadia at the Sydney Opera House promises to be a thrilling night at the theatre. With tickets selling fast, this is an event not to be missed.
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> Directed by Richard Cottrell, whose production of Stoppard’s Travesties was a hit in 2009, Arcadia brings back to STC the delightful talents of Ryan Corr (Sex with Strangers), Blazey Best (Travesties), Andrea Demetriades (Arms and the Man), Glenn Hazeldine (After Dinner) and Josh McConville (Noises Off) in a play that will entrance, stimulate and illuminate.
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### Ticket Prices

Saturday evening A Reserve $109

Adult A Reserve $103

Concession $83

Seniors cardholder $94

Preview $81

Under 30 $83

## References

1. ↑ 2016, "Pre-season briefing: Arcadia." Retrieved March 15, 2016: Cottrell's statement appears as a live-tweet.
2. ↑ Sydney Theatre Company (February 3, 2016) "Feature: Honey Debelle," Sydney Theatre Company. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 https://www.sydneytheatre.com.au/whats-on/productions/2016/arcadia

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