State Theatre hits reset button in Hibernation play for 2021 season
While the catalyst in State Theatre Company’s 2021 season play Hibernation is environmental rather than viral, the concept of society shutting down to save itself became frighteningly real.
Arts
Don't miss out on the headlines from Arts. Followed categories will be added to My News.
A global pandemic was the furthest thing from anyone’s mind when playwright Finegan Kruckemeyer first had the idea for Hibernation.
Now his play – in which the Earth’s population is put to sleep for a year to allow nature to reset – will be a centrepiece of State Theatre Company’s 2021 season.
“This was born from nothing and then started to become quite relevant as the world did what it did this year,” Kruckemeyer said.
While the catalyst in Hibernation is environmental rather than viral, the concept of society having to shut down to save itself became frighteningly real.
“There was this very weird paralleling going on,” said Kruckemeyer, who recently moved back to Adelaide with his family after 14 years in Tasmania.
Former Australian Dance Theatre performer Kialea-Nadine Williams will be part of Hibernation’s globe-spanning cast of characters at the Dunstan Playhouse from August 13-28.
State Theatre artistic director Mitchell Butel will launch the company’s full 2021 season on Thursday, October 29 at 6.30pm, streamed live on its Facebook page.
“Hibernation is certainly a big part of the season,” Mr Butel said.
“Finegan pitched it before COVID happened, but once it started to germinate we turned it into a full commission. It’s phenomenal.”
SA WEEKEND MAGAZINE ON SATURDAY: THE STAGE AWAKENS