Party before the storm
Date: 23/04/1995
Publication: Sydney Morning Herald


THEATRE
AFTER celebrating his 40th birthday on Saturday, the theatre director Neil
Armfield will today begin rehearsals for The Tempest, the inaugural
production of his Company B ensemble.

The Tempest was first staged by Armfield at Belvoir Street in May 1990,
with John Bell and Max Cullen headlining.

This year's version will feature Barry Otto (Prospero) and Kevin Smith
(Caliban), with Cate Blanchett, Ralph Cotterill, Gillian Jones, Keith
Robinson, Peter Carroll, Jacek Koman and David Wenham. Opening night is
May 30.

"It is our intention to develop several large-scale works conceived and
written for the ensemble while also performing significant works from the
classic Australian and world repertoire and reviving one or two
productions from our past," Armfield writes in a booklet issued last week
promoting a subscription season of four productions. Apart from The
Tempest, the season consists of:

* Jean Genet's Splendid's (opening in July), with Wenham and Koman in a
cast directed by Jim Sharman.

* The Blind Giant Is Dancing (August); director Neil Armfield; cast
Blanchett, Carroll, Jones and Kerry Walker.

* Emma by Graham Pitts (November); director Rosalba Clemente; cast to be
announced.

Richard Roxburgh and Geoffrey Rush will join the company when it tours
Hamlet and The Tempest to Melbourne and Adelaide from September to
November.