TWO
Written by Jim Cartwright
Directed by Mark Kilmurry
Jim Cartwright’s Two is a timeless classic – a much-loved two-hander that famously includes fourteen diverse characters. Kilmurry’s version, skillfully adapted for Australian audiences and set in a typical country pub, features two consummate actors who are up for the challenge: sit back and get ready to meet the locals. You’re in for a roller coaster ride.
Meegan is comedy gold…strong stuff beautifully performed…two exceptional actors…very fine and dazzlingly versatile.
Two is an audience hit. Presented at Ensemble Theatre in March 2017, Jim Cartwright’s classic comedy is deftly and joyously brought to life by Brian Meegan and Kate Raison.
Set in a country pub, the lives of our middle-aged, landlord and landlady couple have literally become their work. They met as children outside the pub, were engaged in the pub, had their wedding reception in the pub, and eventually bought the pub. Over the years they have served every type - and you're about to meet them. They all have their own story to tell.
As various members of the local community pull up a stool and let us into their lives it becomes clear that Two is essentially about relationships, and as they bicker their way through the night, none on display is more fascinating than that of our landlord and landlady. How will their story end?
Ensemble Theatre is the longest continuously running professional theatre in Australia, celebrating 60 years of continuous operation in 2018. Their extensive history of touring productions include the 20-venue tour of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks in 2007 which won a Helpmann Award for Best Regional Touring Production, and David Williamson's plays Flatfoot, A Conversation and Face to Face to regional NSW, Victoria and Queensland.
The 2019 tour of Two sees Ensemble Theatre return to stages around the country with a quintessentially Ensemble work - high quality, accessible and entertaining.
FROM THE DIRECTOR
I love Jim Cartwright's work and when I saw this work with its original cast in 1989 I remember the joy and the shock of the play and how real yet funny and universal it was - and how well it would transfer to an Australian setting. When we had a Q&A during the Ensemble run someone asked if the writer had been to his local pub to research it - his local pub being country NSW. With these assortment of characters we see life’s challenges, we feel frustration, boredom, love, longing and even death. Yet instead of a numbing grim play we get a celebration in comedy of what it is to be human.
Mark Kilmurry
reviews
“Actors Brian Meegan and Kate Raison are both excellent, playing diverse characters with precise timing and considerable nuance”
Jack Teiwes, Australian Stage Online full review
“Warmly comic…character portraits are sharp…”
Jason Blake, Sydney Morning Herald full review
“Director Mark Kilmurry has chosen well in casting real life husband and wife"
Sydney Arts Guide
TOURING TO
MACKAY ENTERTAINMENT AND CONVENTION CENTRE, MACKAY 21 FEB
PILBEAM THEATRE, ROCKHAMPTON 23 FEB
EMPIRE THEATRES, TOOWOOMBA 27 FEB
QUT GARDENS THEATRE, BRISBANE 1 MAR - 2 MAR
RIVERSIDE THEATRES, PARRAMATTA 5 MAR - 7 MAR
GLASSHOUSE, PORT MACQUARIE 9 MAR
CAPITAL THEATRE, TAMWORTH 12 MAR
CESSNOCK PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, CESSNOCK 16 MAR
LAYCOCK STREET COMMUNITY THEATRE, GOSFORD 19 MAR
BATHURST MEMORIAL ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, BATHURST 21 MAR
DUBBO REGIONAL THEATRE AND CONVENTION CENTRE, DUBBO 23 MAR
SHOALHAVEN ENTERTAINMENT CENTRE, NOWRA 26 MAR
MITTAGONG PLAYHOUSE, MITTAGONG 28 MAR - 30 MAR
WAGGA WAGGA CIVIC THEATRE, WAGGA WAGGA 2 APR
QUEANBEYAN PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, QUEANBEYAN 4 APR - 6 APR
PORTLAND ARTS CENTRE, PORTLAND 9 APR
WHITEHORSE CENTRE, NUNAWADING 12 APR - 13 APR
COLAC OTWAY PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE 16 APR
FRANKSTON ARTS CENTRE, FRANKSTON 18 APR
KALAMUNDA PERFORMING ARTS CENTRE, KALAMUNDA 27 APR
RED EARTH ARTS PRECINCT, KARRATHA 30 APR
GLEN STREET THEATRE, BELROSE 7 MAY - 12 MAY
Previous Tour
February 2019 - April 2019
CREDITS
Director Mark Kilmurry
Designer Alicia Clements
Lighting designer Matthew Marshall
Sound designer Neil Mclean
Cast Brian Meegan and Kate Raison
If you are interested in touring get in contact!
Arts on Tour
02 8038 1880
touring@artsontour.com.au
Arts on Tour is based in Redfern NSW and we respectfully acknowledge the Gadigal people as the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the unceded land on which we work.
As we tour artists and productions across these vast lands, we pay our respect to all First Nations Elders, past, present and future.
We celebrate their continuing connection and contribution to culture, country and community, and thank all First Nations peoples for their wisdom in caring for the land, the sky, the rivers and the sea.