Sydney Theatre Company presents
A Barbican London and Fertility Fest production
AVALANCHE: A LOVE STORY
By Julia Leigh
World premiere
A compelling story of hope and longing
When a woman rekindles an early love in her late 30’s her whole life changes. Deeply in love, she and her new husband want to have a child together and they make an appointment at an IVF clinic. They are full of hope and shared commitment. So begins this story, inspired by the writers' own personal memoir.
Avalanche: A Love Story is Leigh’s riveting and exceptionally moving account of a profound and widespread experience. She lays bare the highs and the lows, the pull of maternal yearning, the toll on a relationship, and the daily oscillation between hope and doubt. It’s a story we can all relate to – about the dreams we have for ourselves, the hopes we have for our futures and the goals we have for our families.
Direct from London, this international co-production with the Barbican Centre sees Leigh adapt her memoir for the stage with acclaimed British actor Maxine Peake in the lead role of this highly-anticipated world premiere.
Praised for her “capacity for emotional directness and a fierce, uncensored honesty” (The Guardian), Maxine Peake is a prolific theatre, television and film actor. Australian audiences will know her from her astounding range of work, including Netflix’s Black Mirror, Channel 4’s cult favourite TV show Shameless, the award-winning biographical movie of Stephen Hawking The Theory of Everything and an extensive list of BBC dramas.
On the stage, Peake has notably played the title role in Hamlet at the Manchester Royal Exchange. As a playwright, Maxine has retold many fascinating stories of great women in history.
Avalanche: A Love Story marks Peake’s acting debut with Sydney Theatre Company. This powerful new work will foreground “Peake’s delicate ferocity, her particular mixture of concentration and lightness, [which] ensures that you want to follow her whenever she appears.” (The Guardian)
Sydney-born director Anne-Louise Sarks has been making waves in Europe and this production brings her back to her hometown for her first work with STC. These are artists at the top of their game, sharing a raw and insightful look at a universal tale.
Avalanche: A Love Story was co-commissioned by Barbican London, Fertility Fest and Sydney Theatre Company.
Approx. duration 1hr 40 mins (no interval). Subject to change.
Content warning Adult themes. Subject to change.
Ticket information
Single tickets
Single ticket prices
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $103
Adult B Reserve $93
Seniors cardholder $93
Concession $82
Under 30 $81
Fri & Sat performances
A Reserve tickets $108
B Reserve tickets $98
Preview performances
All tickets $81
STC 2019 Season Tickets
Choose 6 or more plays for savings of up to 20% and exclusive benefits. More info.
Season Ticket prices
Saturday evening A Reserve $86
Adult A Reserve $82
Concession $65
Seniors cardholder $74
Preview $64
Under 30 $64
Transaction fees may apply
Season Ticket bookings (packs of 6 or more plays): no fees
Single ticket bookings: $7.50 online; $8 telephone; $0 Box Office counter
Dates
Previews 29 - 30 Aug 2019
Season 2 - 14 Sep 2019
Performance start times
Preview performances 7.30pm
In-season evening performances Mon & Tue 6.30pm; Wed – Sat 7.30pm
Matinee performances Wed 1pm; Sat 1.30pm
Approx. duration 1hr 40 mins (no interval). Subject to change.
Pricing and ticket information
Single tickets
Single ticket prices
Mon – Thu performances
Adult A Reserve $103
Adult B Reserve $93
Seniors cardholder $93
Concession $82
Under 30 $81
Fri & Sat performances
A Reserve tickets $108
B Reserve tickets $98
Preview performances
All tickets $81
STC 2019 Season Tickets
Choose 6 or more plays for savings of up to 20% and exclusive benefits. More info.
Season Ticket prices
Saturday evening A Reserve $86
Adult A Reserve $82
Concession $65
Seniors cardholder $74
Preview $64
Under 30 $64
Prices correct at the time of publication and subject to change without notice. Exact prices will be displayed with seat selection.
Authorised ticket sellers
The only authorised ticket sellers for this event are Sydney Theatre Company and Roslyn Packer Theatre. Only tickets purchased by authorised agencies should be considered valid and reliable. More info
Transaction fees may apply
Season Ticket bookings (packs of 6 or more plays): no fees
Single ticket bookings: $7.50 online; $8 telephone; $0 Box Office counter
Concession, seniors and under 30 tickets
Suitable and valid identification must be provided for collection of tickets and at the venue, such as your concession or proof of age card. Alternatively, you may email a copy of your identification to boxoffice@sydneytheatre.com.au. Please quote your booking reference number.
Access requirements
For specific access requirements, please call Box Office on (02) 9250 1777 to book your seats.
Director Anne-Louise Sarks
Designer Marg Horwell
With
Maxine Peake
This listing is updated as cast and creatives are confirmed in the lead-up to the production, and if there are any changes to the team. Ensure you have the most up-to-date information about each play by opting in to STC's enewsletter.
Praise for Julia Leigh’s memoir Avalanche: A Love Story
“A tender and luminous work of consolation.” The Australian
“A riveting account... Avalanche examines unspeakable things and, by speaking of them honestly and clearly, renders them quietly luminous and bright.” The Sydney Morning Herald
Praise for actor Maxine Peake
Hamlet
“Peake brings to it all her characteristic direct emotional ferocity and commitment. She has that quality of drawing the eye whenever she is on stage.” The Independent
“What is fascinating is how Peake's performance develops in power in the course of the evening… a fine performance that confirms Peake's capacity for emotional directness and a fierce, uncensored honesty.” The Guardian
The Masque of Anarchy
“Sensational… Peake seemed like a fiery angel.” The Guardian
“Maxine Peake, good in everything she does… you felt at once her vulnerability and power.” The Telegraph
The Theory of Everything
“Charismatic.” Roger Ebert.com
“Redmayne, Jones, Cox and Peake portray the principals and their emotional web with delicacy.” The Guardian
Praise for director Anne-Louise Sarks’ work
“Anne-Louise Sarks’s direction is highly poised.” Time Out on The Testament of Mary (Malthouse Theatre)
“Mulvany and Sarks’ play has the other vital ingredient that makes astral objects glow. Heat.” Crikey on Medea (Belvoir Theatre)
“A brilliant theatrical event directed by Anne-Louise Sarks” The Conversation on Seventeen (Belvoir Theatre)
