Burnt by the Sun by Peter Flannery
Directed by Lisa Thomas
Auditions: Sunday 11th July 6pm, Monday 12th and Tuesday 13th July 8pm, 2010
Performances: Tuesday 2nd to Saturday 6th November 2010, Bell Theatre
It's 1936. Colonel Kotov, a hero of the Russian Revolution, is spending summer at his country dacha with his adored wife Maroussia, their daughter, Nadia and members of their extended family. When Mitia, Maroussia’s former lover, returns from a lengthy and unexplained absence, sexual jealousy, retribution and political backstabbing combine as Kotov is subjected to the terrifying reach of Stalin’s rule.
This brilliant play premiered at the National Theatre in 2009. It’s closely based on the 1994 film of the same name which has become a modern classic (and has in fact recently inspired a sequel). It combines both a powerful love triangle and a look at the paranoid politics that were already apparent prior to Stalin’s great terror. An apparently idyllic summer becomes the backdrop to fear, betrayal and ultimate disaster for the family.
This is a real ensemble piece with three fantastic lead roles plus lots of delightful secondary characters whose everyday antics are a crucial counterpoint to the tension at the heart of the story.
Music is an important part of this play and I would like to encourage any of the talented instrumentalists at SLT to get involved as the musicians provide important punctuation to the action throughout the play.
Characters
NADIA, nearly ten. A typical lively young girl.
MAROUSSIA, 29, Nadia’s mother and wife to Colonel Kotov. Beautiful and spirited.
KOTOV, 50, Maroussia’s husband. A hero of the Bolshevik revolution. Bluff, self-confident, used to inspiring respect, fear and love.
LIDIA, 70, Maroussia’s grandmother. A sharp and witty old woman.
ELENA, 70, Lidia’s friend. Clearly once a woman of some means, now in somewhat reduced circumstances.
MOKHOVA, 40, the maid. Shy and inexperienced in life. Constantly harassed by VSELVOLOD.
VSELVOLOD, 50, Lidia’s son. A university teacher, constantly on the lookout for pleasures of the flesh – wherever he can find them.
OLGA, 50, Maroussia’s mother and Vselvolod’s sister-in-law. A cultured lady, who dreams of her former life before the Revolution.
KOLYA, 20s, a tank officer. Initially officious but young and easily flustered.
ANDRUSHYA, 20s, a tank officer. Initially officious but young and easily flustered.
KIRIK, 40, Elena’s son. Somewhat cynical, a realist.
TRUCK DRIVER, 30s-40s. A bit of an everyman. Becomes friendly with Mokhova. Turns up at a number of key moments in the story. A bigger part than might at first appear.
MITIA, 36. Maroussia’s former lover. Handsome, charismatic, a singer and musician.
BLOKHIN, an NKVD officer, 30s-50s.
MIRONOV, an NKVD officer, 30s-50s
ARONIN, an NKVD officer, 30s-50s
All of the above are somewhat unknowable officers of the state, unblinking, brutal.
Also
A VOCALIST (male in the script but this isn’t essential)
Three MUSICIANS (ideally a guitarist, accordian and violin) but this can be adapted according to who is available.
Two little GIRLS, friends to NADIA – playing age 10-12.
A band of around 8 YOUNG PIONEERS
Two ADULT OFFICERS (the latter can double with the NKVD officers or the tank officers).
For more details or to borrow a copy of the script, please contact Lisa Thomas, Director
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