Brutal Utopias by Stephen Carleton
‘I’m not abandoning my principles; I’m coming here to apply them.’
1971. The height of the Cold War. The Socialist Republic of Yugoslavia is opening up to Western tourism after breaking away from the Soviet Bloc. Branislav and Valentina Radovic have been compelled to design a hotel complex for the government after forging a reputation for designing ultra-modern concrete structures, triggering their lofty utopian political and architectural ideals.
Present-day. New York City. A talented Australian Geo-Engineer, Natalia Hoskings, has been asked to join the team designing New York’s ‘Big U’ – the sea wall mitigation project that will cradle Manhattan’s financial district from rising sea levels. But building a sea wall around the world’s iconic home of big business, is forcing her to ask herself; is she really saving New York, or just working for the bad guys?
Brutal Utopias examines the intersection between lofty ideals and realpolitik, and the search for perfection in a world that is tilting imminently toward chaos.
TICKETING INFORMATION
GENERAL ADMISSION: $45
CONCESSION/PREVIEW: $39
GROUP BOOKINGS 6+: $39
SCHOOL BOOKINGS: $29*
All tickets attract a $0.50 booking fee.
*1x complimentary ticket provided for accompanying teacher per 10 students.
More Information
SEASON DATES
Wed 18 May – Sat 28 May
PREVIEW DATES
Wed 18 May – Thu 19 May
OPENING NIGHT
Fri 20 May
VENUE
New Benner Theatre, Metro Arts
DURATION
90 minutes, no interval
AGES
Suitable for 15+.
WARNINGS
Contains low level coarse language and some adult themes. 'Brutal Utopias' has references to war and conflict.
STYLE/GENRE
Non-Linear, Theatre for Social Comment
PLAYWRIGHT
Stephen Carleton
DRAMATURG
Saffron Benner
DIRECTOR
Matt Scholten
DESIGNER
Bill Haycock
SOUND DESIGNER
Guy Webster
LIGHTING DESIGNER
Geoff Squires
COSTUME MAKER
Leigh Buchanan
STAGE MANAGER
Tiff Lane
CAST
Ashlee Lollback
Anthony Standish
Kate Wilson
Michael Mandalios
Nikhil Singh
Stephen Carleton
Stephen Carleton is one of Australia’s leading and award-winning playwrights. Based in Brisbane, where he teaches drama and playwriting at the University of Queensland, he also maintains close ties to his hometown, Darwin, and to Cairns and Far North Queensland, where he was born. Stephen’s work is frequently anchored in northern landscape, imagery and politics, and is often lauded for the black humour that runs throughout. He is co-artistic director of Knock-em-Down Theatre with Mary Anne Butler and Gail Evans.
Stephen is one of only three playwrights nationally to win both major theatre industry awards for new writing: the Patrick White Playwrights’ Award in 2004/5 (Sydney Theatre Company) and the Griffin Award for Best New Australian Play in 2015 (Griffin Theatre Company).
He was Chair of the National Playwrights Committee for the Australian Writers’ Guild in 2015/16 (with Mary Anne Butler), and his company Knock-em-Down Theatre has received a Sidney Myer capacity building grant to promote his work in the US.
His major plays include: Constance Drinkwater and the Final Days of Somerset (2006), The Narcissist (2007), Bastard Territory (2014), all published by Playlab Theatre, The Turquoise Elephant (2016), New Babylon (2021), and the musical with Paul Hodge, Joh for PM (2017).
His plays have been produced by companies including Queensland Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, La Boite Theatre Company, Griffin Theatre Company, JUTE Theatre Company, Brown’s Mart in Darwin, La Mama, and the Brisbane Powerhouse.
Acknowledgements
A Playlab Theatre production presented in partnership with Metro Arts. Playlab Theatre is supported by the Queensland Government through Arts Queensland. Brutal Utopias is also supported by the Restart Investment to Sustain and Expand (RISE) Fund – an Australian Government initiative.