OBSERVER: Titus Andronicus
Th’Unguarded Duncan and Theatre Works invite audiences to the Australian premiere season of Titus Andronicus being presented from November 13-22 at Theatre Works, St Kilda.
Described as ‘a surreal telling of Shakespeare’s most violent play’, this season features international artist and Prague Shakespeare Company Associate Director Josh Morrison in the titular role.
Titus Andronicus is the tale of Titus; a Roman General who has just returned from war, victorious against the Goths. With their Queen, Tamora, and her sons in tow as prisoners, he publicly executes her eldest child as retribution for the death of his own sons.
Tamora, now filled with a bloody rage after the pleas for the life of her son fell on deaf ears, embarks on an obliterating journey of revenge that will leave few untouched.
This season by Th’Unguarded Duncan of Shakespeare’s rarely seen work will marry martial arts, ensemble movement pieces, and original music to bring the electric and dangerous world of the play alive.
“In 2019 and 2022 we worked with the Prague Shakespeare Company on a production of King Lear,” explains co-Director Claire Nicholls.
“The production employed quite a physical and ensemble-based style of working that used movement to tell certain elements of the story, and we’re really keen to further develop that way of tackling Shakespeare.
“Our staging of Titus Andronicus features several ensemble movement pieces at key moments to tell this tale, so while all of Shakespeare’s incredible characterisation and poetry is still very much in the foreground, it’s a physical exploration of his work that people may not have experienced before.”
“This is not a naturalistic production,” adds co-Director Kevin Hopkins.
With a 13-strong ensemble of local and international actors, the show features an original score by Max Hopkins and is supported by Theatre Works as part of the With Theatre Works 2025 programming.
Performance Season: Nov. 13 – 22 Tues. – Sat. at 7.30pm Preview: Thursday November 13. Opening Night: Friday, November 14.
Venue: Theatre Works – 14 Acland Street St Kilda
Tickets: $48 Full, $38 Concession, $28 Preview, $25 Mob Tix (+bf)
Bookings: www.theatreworks.org.au/2025/titus-andronicus
Enquiries: 9534 3388
Duration: 90 minutes no interval
Age suitability: 15+
Warnings: Mature themes, stylised depictions of violence and sexual assault, themes of racial discrimination, smoke/haze
Accessibility: Theatre Works is a wheelchair accessible venue. A full access guide will be available closer to the date
www.theatreworks.org.au
Cheryl Threadgold
Pictured: Claire Nicholls in Titus Andronicus.
Photo: Steven Mitchell Wright