INK

by JAMES GRAHAM

29 May – 29 June 2024

SYDNEY PREMIERE

“I want to tell you a story. And it’s true. That’s what makes it a good fucking story, right, ‘cause all the best stories are true.”

They called him ‘The Dirty Digger’. In 1969, freshly-landed in London’s Fleet Street, bursting with ambition and an Aussie’s desire to shaft the British establishment, he took ownership of a flagging daily newspaper and turned it into a media phenomenon.

His name was Rupert Murdoch. The paper was The Sun. Together with its maverick editor, Larry Lamb, he was on a mission to give the people what they want – which turned out to be screaming headlines, celebrity gossip and Page Three girls!

Award-winning writer James Graham (Dear England – 2024 Olivier Award Best Play; and tv including Sherwood and Quiz) reveals the inner workings of the tabloid press, as the upstart rag and its staff of underdog reporters engage in a circulation war of attrition with the best-selling newspaper in the world, The Mirror.

It’s a fast and furious, blisteringly funny exposé of how two men changed print media forever.

“A gripping piece of theatre” The Guardian

Patrons please note: this production features adult themes, coarse language, strobe lighting, smoking on stage and nude imagery.

Please note: Thu 20 Jun performance of Ink has been cancelled due to cast illness.

creative team

Director Louise Fischer
Set Designer Tom Bannerman
Lighting Designer Peter Ross
Costume Designer Aibhlinn Stokes
Sound Designer Kevin Davidson
Vision Designer Verica Nikolic
Assistant Director Spark Sanders Robinson
Dialect Coach Benjamin Purser
Assistant Costume Designer & Dressmaker Burley Stokes
Stage Manager Rosane McNamara
ASM Marc Monnet-Demarbre
LX/SX Operators Alice-Rose Nolan Lucchetti, Matthew Forbes

cast

Adrian Adam, Les Asmussen
William Baltyn, Simon Bolton
Nick Curnow, Sophie Highmore
Brycen Horne, Gerry Mullaly
Jack Elliot Mitchell, Emmanuel Nicolaou
Charlotte Sherston, Mariah Stock
Parker Texilake, Daniel Tompson
Chad Traupmann, Jane Wallace
Emily Weare

dates/times

Preview Wed 29 May 7:30pm
Opening Night Thu 30 May 7:30pm
Thu – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Final performance Sat 29 Jun 2pm

Running time: 2 hrs 50 mins including intermission

Please note: latecomers will be admitted at a suitable break in the performance

tickets

Full $37
Concessions, Groups (6+) $32
New Theatre Members $25
Thrifty Thursdays $25
Preview $20
(Booking and transaction fees apply)

BOOK TICKETS

DOWNLOAD COLOUR PROGRAM

★★★★★ “An excellent production. Don’t miss it!” Sydney Arts Guide

★★★★ “A riveting and powerful play … Strong performances, striking sound and visuals …The first act is bright and breezy, drawing laughs aplenty. But it’s not all fun and froth – far from it. Soon things take a very dark turn … Audience members will come to their own robust conclusions about the “Murdochrasy”, arguably the most powerful force in the history of the mass media.” Arts Hub

★★★★ “Director Louise Fischer has taken an excellent script and worked wonders. The beauty and curse of independent theatre is that you can’t hide behind the wizardry of the theatre; it lives or dies on the writing and the performances. And these performances are, frankly, stunning … If any of our mainstages are looking for something to add to their 2025 season, they could do a lot worse than grab this director and cast and restage ‘Ink’, giving it the budget to really elevate this already excellent production.” Cultural Binge

★★★ “A rollicking tale of culture change and tabloid morality” Limelight

“This is quasi documentary theatre done with dash, a compression of a year delivered in an entertaining three hour narrative with a large ensemble creating a rich and colourful cavalcade of characters.” Australian Stage

“Raw and riveting, electric and eviscerating” That Show Blog

“A grand piece of storytelling” Theatre Red

“A dark, slick story that excels in showing the pitfalls and toxicity of Fleet Street” Stage Door Podcast

“Another highlight for the New. James Graham’s insightful writing, Louise Fischer’s sure, perceptive direction, and a very experiences cast make this a production not to be missed.” Carol Wimmer