Jasper Jones comes to Civic Theatre

Described as Australia's own To Kill a Mockingbird, Jasper Jones is a coming of age story set in Western Australia which follows a teenager over the summer of 1965 as he gets caught up in the aftermath of a murder in a small town.

Now, the stage adaptation of Craig Silvey's much-loved novel is coming to the Civic Theatre Newcastle from 1-4 March. Part of Season 2017, the play, which delighted Sydney audiences in 2016, marks the welcome return of Belvoir St Theatre to the Civic main stage.

Civic Theatre Manager Vanessa Hutchins says she is delighted to have secured this smash-hit piece of modern Australian story telling for Newcastle's theatre-loving audience.

"This show played to a sold-out Belvoir season in 2016," she said. "We haven't had a Belvoir production in Newcastle in many years, so we are pleased to offer Jasper Jones to our Season subscribers and general audience.

"The show returned to Belvoir by popular demand in early 2017 before heading to Wollongong and Newcastle, the only two stops on its selective road tour. The show is brilliantly cast, and we will have the three lead actors from the Sydney production - Tom Conroy, Matilda Ridgway and Guy Simon joining us for the Newcastle season."

It’s summer, 1965 - the backblocks of Western Australia. Overseas there’s war in Indochina, Civil Rights marches, the stirrings of women’s liberation – but at home Charlie Bucktin dreams of writing the Great Australian Novel and kissing his first girlfriend.

Charlie’s 14 and very smart - perhaps too smart. But when blamed-for-everything Jasper Jones appears at his window one night, Charlie’s out of his depth. Jasper has stumbled upon a terrible crime, and he knows he’s the first suspect – that goes with the colour of his skin. He needs every ounce of Charlie’s bookish brain to find the truth before the town turns on Jasper.

Jasper Jones is a coming-of-age story for a generation, and a nation too.

"There is something for everyone in this brilliant adaptation," said Hutchins. "We can all remember being Charlie's age and relate to many of his feelings, and it's a fantastic show for teens who are still in that experience.

"Can we imagine ourselves in Charlie's situation? Can we also empathise with Jasper Jones? The story raises challenging issues of racial and gender inequity through warm and lively story-telling, alternately bringing the audience to laughter and tears."

Tickets are on sale now through Ticketek.

JASPER JONES

VENUE: Civic Theatre Newcastle
DATES: Wed 1 March, 8pm
Thurs 2 March, 11am
Fri 3 March, 8pm
Sat 4 March 2pm & 8pm

DURATION: 2hrs 15 mins including interval
NOTE: Recommended for ages 13+. Jasper Jones contains the death of a young person in the first scene and contains adult themes.

DIRECTOR: ANNE-LOUISE SARKS


CAST:

• TOM CONROY as Charlie Bucktin
• MATILDA RIDGWAY as the Wishart sisters
• GUY SIMON as Jasper Jones
• STEVE LE MARQUAND as Mr Bucktin
• KATE BOX as Mrs Bucktin
• HARRY TSENG as Jeffrey Lu