LOOT

by JOE ORTON

 

10 October – 4 November 2023

 

“Euthanasia is against my religion so I decided to murder her.”

Young thieves (and lovers) Hal and Dennis need a place to stash the cash from a bank robbery.

The coffin of Hal’s recently-deceased mother, currently at home awaiting burial by her bereaved husband Mr McLeavy, is the perfect solution.

There’s only one hitch: where can they hide the body?

The arrival on the scene of Inspector Truscott, a corrupt and nosy policeman investigating the heist, puts a spanner in the works.

To get out of the jam, the boys are forced to trust Fay, the late Mrs McLeavy’s much-married nurse, and enlist her help in return for a share of the loot.

This blistering queer black comedy eviscerates the hypocrisies of church, state and social niceties, the farce bouncing wildly between the ordinary and the outrageous.

Coming after the success of Entertaining Mr Sloane, it confirmed Orton as one of the most daring and original voices of his generation.

Winner: 1966 Evening Standard Award for Best Play

“Rude, blasphemous, corrosive, articulate, verbally dextrous and howlingly funny”  Sunday Express

Content guidance: this production contains strong language, adult themes and use of theatrical haze

 

creative team

Director Johann Walraven
Set Designer David Marshall Martin
Lighting Designer Paris Bell
Costume Designer Kathleen Kershaw
Sound Designer Glenn Braithwaite
Dialect Coach Nick Curnow
Fight Director Tim Dashwood
Stage Manager Rosane McNamara
Operators Atlas Andrews,
Sarah Djurichkovic, Ricci Costa

 

cast

Ali Davies
Saro Lepejian
Oliver MacFadyen
Nicholas Papademetriou
Shannon Ryan
Alexander Spinks
Andrew Waldin

dates/times

Preview Tue 10 Oct 7:30pm
Opening Night Wed 11 Oct 7:30pm
Thu – Sat 7:30pm, Sun 2pm
Final performance Sat 4 Nov 2pm

Running time: 2 hrs including interval

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

 

tickets

Full $35
Concessions, Groups (6+) $30
New Theatre Members $25
Thrifty Thursdays $25
Preview $20

By Arrangement with ORiGiN™ Theatrical
On Behalf of Samuel French
A Concord Theatricals Company

★★★★ “Johann Walraven’s production is a good one, realising plenty of laughter from the audience … A great set design by David Marshall-Martin … The cast is excellent … An entertaining night in the theatre.” Sydney Arts Guide

“Nearly 60 years after it was written, Orton’s trenchant, uproarious comments on love, death and crime are still spot on.”  Stage Whispers

Patrons please note: New Theatre is now EFTPOS-only
at Front of House for both ticket and bar sales.

COVID- Safe protocols:
QR code and vaccination checks are no longer required.

Face masks are not mandatory, but recommended.

Main image: © Aleksandar Kosev/Adobe Stock
Production images: © Bob Seary