Sapphires Sparkle at Barbican London
London Theatre and Cultural complex, The Barbican played host to The Sapphires to in March 2011, following a tour in Australia and Korea in 2010. The Sapphires is a co-production by two of Australia's leading theatre companies, The Black Swan State Theatre Company from Western Australia and Belvoir from New South Wales. The show has been redirected by Neil Armfield, former Artistic director of the Belvoir and Wayne Blair for the London run, based on a production originally directed by Wesley Enoch.
The Sapphires is a feel-good musical about four Koori, Indigenous Australian people from the South-East of the country, women working in a factory but dreaming of stardom as Motown divas and features music that defined a generation. It is based on a true story written by former Neighbours actor Tony Briggs (a descendant of the Dhulan Yan clan from the Yorta Yorta region) about his own family, and follows the protagonists’ search for fame and fortune which leads them unexpectedly to Vietnam performing as a Supremes cover band for troops on the front line.
The production features a live band who play classic Motown hits including Stop in the Name of Love, Heatwave, Respect and Chain of Fools, along with traditional music such as the hymn Bura Fera. The dazzling costumes are created by the award-winning costume designer Tim Chappel, who worked on the film and stage version of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.
Black Swan is Western Australia’s flagship theatre company and celebrates its 20th anniversary this year. Infused with the unique culture of the state, Black Swan’s work includes landmark productions Bran Nue Dae, Sistergirl, Corrugation Road (winner of the prestigious The Age Critics’ Award),Cloudstreet (Perth, Sydney, London and Dublin seasons) and The Odyssey. It presents a broad ranging program including new commissions, contemporary international works and reinterpretations of classic plays that reflect life in Western Australia.
Wayne Blair will direct a feature film version of The Sapphires, adapted for the screen by Tony Briggs, in collaboration with Keith Thompson, due for release in 2012. The Sapphires is presented in association with UK Arts International, and its touring partner is Rio Tinto.
The Sapphires runs from Wednesday 2 – Saturday 12 March 2011 at the Barbican in London. Visit www.barbican.org.uk For more information and tickets.
