MAY 22 - JUNE 13

MALTHOUSE THEATRE PRESENTS
A MALTHOUSE THEATRE,
EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL,
SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY AND SYDNEY FESTIVAL
PRODUCTION

OPTIMISM

BY TOM WRIGHT
AFTER VOLTAIRE
DIRECTOR MICHAEL KANTOR
SET AND COSTUME DESIGNER ANNA TREGLOAN
COMPOSER IAIN GRANDAGE
LIGHTING DESIGNER PAUL JACKSON
SOUND DESIGNER RUSSELL GOLDSMITH
CHOREOGRAPHER LUKE GEORGE
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR SARAH GILES

CAST
CAROLINE CRAIG
FRANCIS GREENSLADE
AMBER MCMAHON
HAMISH MICHAEL
BARRY OTTO
ALISON WHYTE
FRANK WOODLEY
DAVID WOODS

WITH MUSIC PERFORMED LIVE BY IAIN GRANDAGE

"GOD IS A COMEDIAN PLAYING TO AN AUDIENCE TOO AFRAID TO LAUGH."

VOLTAIRE (1694 – 1778)

Turning a quizzical eye to the woes of the heart and reeking with scandal and scurrilous vice, this world premiere production transforms Voltaire’s classic
satire of enlightened insanity, Candide, into a cutting commentary on the ‘no-worries’ bravura of the Australian swagger.

Brought up in the household of a powerful Baron, Candide (Frank Woodley) is an open-minded young man, whose tutor, Pangloss (Barry Otto), has instilled
in him the belief that ‘all is for the best’. But when his love for the Baron’s rosy-cheeked daughter is discovered, Candide is expelled from the land –
forced to make his own way in the world.

The irresistible Frank Woodley leads a wonderful bunch of clowns as Michael Kantor (Babes In The Wood, Vamp) directs this remarkable road trip. Through lands ravaged by Plague, and tests of religion and sex, our hero’s resolve never wavers as he travels across continents in search of his beloved.

Join the criminally cheerful Candide for a journey to Utopia and back.

BUY TICKETS

A MALTHOUSE THEATRE, EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL, SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY AND SYDNEY FESTIVAL COMMISSION.

THIS PROJECT IS MADE POSSIBLE WITH SUPPORT FROM ARTS VICTORIA, CELBRATING A MELBOURNE EDINBURGH CULTURAL EXCHANGE IN 2009-2010. THIS PROJECT HAS BEEN ASSISTED BY THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT THROUGH THE AUSTRALIA COUNCIL, ITS ARTS FUNDING AND ADVISORY BODY.