An Oak Tree – A play by Tim Crouch

05/12/2019 - 14/12/2019 - Murrah Hall, Murrah

Book Now

Ticket Price
$15

Door/Gate Price
$20

Concession Price
$15 on the door

Date/Time
05/12/2019 - 14/12/2019
7:30 pm - 9:00 pm

Location
Murrah Hall

Loading Map....

Event Details

An Oak Tree
A play by Tim Crouch

Directed by Howard Stanley
Featuring John Black as ‘The Hypnotist’

Murrah Hall
December 5, 6, 7, 12, 13, 14 at 7.30 p.m.
Matinees: Sat. 7 & 14 at 3.00 p.m.

In 2019, The Independent included An Oak Tree in its list of ‘The 40 best plays to read or see before you die.

An encounter between a stage hypnotist and a grieving father dealing with both sides of a tragedy as it explores the complications that arise when loss is unresolved.

While the hypnotist is played by the same actor, the father is always played by a different actor, male or female, old or young. This second actor, who knows nothing about the play before going on stage, is guided through the performance by the Hypnotist.

Murrah Prez and Theatre Director, Howard Stanley, says, “This is an engrossing piece of meta-theatre about ordinary people coping with the reality of death and simultaneously for both audience and actor playing The Father, the discovery of its narrative.

Background to An Oak Tree

AN OAK TREE first previewed at the Nationaltheater Mannheim and premiered at the Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh, in 2005. The play, initially, was co-directed by Crouch’s long-time collaborators, Karl James, and Andy Smith, the poet and performance artist known as ‘a smith’, who Crouch originally asked to play the father. Smith suggested, ‘Why don’t you get a different actor to play the father each time?’

If one researches the illustrious award-filled production history of An Oak Tree, one is confronted by a veritable who’s who of early 21st century male and female performers and luminaries appearing as The Father, from the UK, America, Europe and in 2006, at Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre.

This local production features Bermagui local John Black, playing The Hypnotist. John has performed professionally in New Zealand, Australia and Japan in theatre, film, TV and radio.

An Oak Tree is directed by Bermagui stalwart Howard Stanley who has a reputation for delivering sell out shows at the Murrah including: Under Milk Wood (Thomas), Equus (Shafer), The Lone Ranger Radio Show, Blackbird (Harrower) Kitty the Waitress (Durang), Hunter and Bird (Jean Claude Carrière) and 10 years of Premda Lowson shows. Since 2004, he has programmed and produced many Murrah Variety, Comedy and Music nights and fundraisers.

The Father will be played by a roll call of local luminaries, with a different actor for each show! As one wag commented, “if this show is as good as their Murrah Curries, it’ll be a top night.”

Share event