Counting and Cracking
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The Times – Time Out – Reviews Hub
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The Guardian – Financial Times – The Scotsman – The Herald
A vital tale for our times…a touching and gorgeously-staged tale” – The Scotsman
Featuring a world-class cast of 19 performers hailing from six different countries, Counting and Cracking follows the journey of one Sri Lankan-Australian family over four generations, from 1956 to 2004. This epic production is a story of break up and reunion across two nations.
Counting and Cracking is a theatrical event not to be missed – as part of the experience, and included in the ticket price, audience members will enjoy a taste of Sri Lanka during the interval with small food bowls of vegetable curry, roti and rice.
This is rich, heady, memorable stuff” – Financial Times
Winner of 14 major awards including Helpmann Awards for Best Production and Best Direction, Counting and Cracking is written by Sri Lankan Australian S. Shakthidharan and directed by Eamon Flack, Artistic Director of Belvoir, one of Australia’s most celebrated theatre companies.
An absorbing journey” – The Guardian
On the banks of a suburban Sydney river, Radha and her son Siddhartha release the ashes of Radha’s mother – their final connection to the past, to Sri Lanka and its struggles. Now they are free to embrace their lives in Australia. But a phone call from Colombo brings the past spinning back to life, and we’re plunged into an epic story of love and political strife, of home and exile, of parents and children.
A beautiful spectacle” – The Herald
The Rep is thrilled to be bringing this multi-award winning play to Birmingham, presented by Birmingham 2022 Festival.
If you see one play this summer, make it this one. You won’t be disappointed, I’m so proud to host this award-winning play in our city, in your theatre.”
Sean Foley, Artistic Director
Presented by
Birmingham 2022 Festival
Writer & Director
Shakthidharan Writer and Associate Director
Eamon Flack Director and Associate Writer
Produced by
Belvoir
Executive Produced by
Sue Donnelly
Age
14+
Content
This production utilises theatrical haze, strobe lighting and loud noise effects (to simulate thunder, rioting and an explosion) and contains on-stage smoking.
Performed in English, Tamil and Sinhalese, with live translation into English.
Price
From £12.50
Digital Programme
View and download your Digital Programme here.
Access Performances
BSL Interpreted performance: Wed 24 Aug, 7.00pm
Relaxed performance: Thu 25 Aug, 7.00pm
Audio described performance: Fri 26 Aug, 7.00pm
Captioned performance: Sat 27 Aug, 1.00pm
Access Pack
You can view and download our access pack here.
Running Time
Approximately 3 hours 30 minutes including 2 intervals.
Act 1 – 1 hour
20 minute interval
Act 2 – 1 hour 5 minutes
20 minute interval
Act 3 – 50 minutes
Fees & Charges
Please note there is a transaction fee of £2.50 on all payment types. Please click here for more information.
Photo credit, Brett Boardman
Photo credit, Brett Boardman
Photo credit, Brett Boardman
Photo credit, Brett Boardman
Cast
Ismet, Mr. Levi and others
Rodney Afif
Rodney Afif
Jailor, Vinsanda and others
Shanaka Amarasinghe
Shanaka Amarasinghe
Apah and others
Prakash Belawadi
Prakash Belawadi
Young Dhamayanthi, Swathi and others
Emma Harvie
Emma Harvie
Older Thirru and others
Antonythasan Jesuthasan
Antonythasan Jesuthasan
Older Radha
Nadie Kammallaweera
Nadie Kammallaweera
Sunil and others
Ahi Karunaharan
Ahi Karunaharan
Lily and others
Abbie Lee Lewis
Abbie Lee Lewis
Siddhartha and others
Shiv Palekar
Shiv Palekar
Priest, Hopper Cart Man and others
Gandhi McIntyre
Gandhi McIntyre
Hasanga and others
Sukhbir Singh Walia
Sukhbir Singh Walia
Young Radha
Vaishnavi Suryaprakash
Vaishnavi Suryaprakash
Young Thirru and others
Kaivalya Suvarna
Kaivalya Suvarna
Young Nihinsa
Nipuni Sharada
Nipuni Sharada
Fundraiser, Bala, Maithri and others
Rajan Velu
Rajan Velu
Older Nishinsa, Aacha, Older Dhamayanthi and others
Sukania Venugopal
Sukania Venugopal
Musician
Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda
Kranthi Kiran Mudigonda
Janakan Raj
Janakan Raj
Venkhatesh Sritharan
Venkhatesh Sritharan
Understudy
Kalieaswari Srinivasan
Kalieaswari Srinivasan
Harish Vijaya
Harish Vijaya
Biman Wimalaratne
Biman Wimalaratne
Creatives
Writer and Associate Director
S. Shakthidharan
S. Shakthidharan
Director and Associate Writer
Eamon Flack
Eamon Flack
Costume and Cultural Advisor
Anandavalli
Anandavalli
Set and Costume Designer
Dale Ferguson
Dale Ferguson
Lighting Designer
Damien Cooper
Damien Cooper
Composer and Sound Designer
Stefan Gregory
Stefan Gregory
Fight Director
Tim Dashwood
Tim Dashwood
Nigel Poulton
Nigel Poulton
Voice Coach
Laura Farrell
Laura Farrell
Amy Hume
Amy Hume
Travelling Crew
Head of Lighting and Programmer
Steve Hendy
Steve Hendy
Head Mechanist
Tom Houghton
Tom Houghton
Wardrobe Supervisor and Dresser
Chloe Greaves
Chloe Greaves
Producer and Company Manager
Zainab Syed
Zainab Syed
Executive Producer
Sue Donnelly
Sue Donnelly
Production Manager
Barry Searle
Barry Searle
Stage Manager
Georgiane Deal
Georgiane Deal
Assistant Stage Manager
Ayah Tayeh
Ayah Tayeh
Associate Sound Designer
Clive Meldrum
Clive Meldrum
Clive is also a visiting lecturer at University of Birmingham and BOA Stage & Screen.
Theatre credits include: Peter Pan the Musical (BOA Group), Love & Rebellion, Order & Chaos, Parklife, Uncommon Riches, GrimeBoy, The Play What I Wrote, Sky Comedy Rep, Blue/Orange, Stuff, Elephant, To Sir With Love, The Quiet House, The Rotters’ Club, Folk, Unknown Male, The Mother, Respect, Cling To Me Like Ivy, Last Easter, How To Tell The Monsters From The Misfits, Looking For Yoghurt, and Hopelessly Devoted (Birmingham Repertory Theatre). Faustus: That Damned Woman, Bad Roads, Serious Money, The Trojan Women, The Penolopiad, The Learning Lottery, How to Disappear Completely and Never Be Found, Byrthrite, Animal Farm (University of Birmingham).
As Associate Sound Designer: Counting & Cracking – UK tour (Belvoir), Family Tree – UK tour (Actors Touring Company)
Audio work: Chase Tales Trail (Cannock Chase Council & Birmingham Rep)
Head of Sound and FOH Mixer
Gaya de Mesa
Gaya de Mesa
Radio Microphone Technician
Clare Hibberd
Clare Hibberd
Presented by the Birmingham 2022 Festival. Generously supported by Arts Council England and The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Presented by Season Patrons, the Australian Government including through its Australian Cultural Fund and International Cultural Diplomacy Art Fund, the NSW Government through Create NSW and the British Council, as part of the UK/Australia Season 2021-22.
Originally co produced by Belvoir with Co-Curious, developed with the support of Curious Works.
And co-commissioned by Confederation of Australian International Arts Festivals Inc, Sydney Festival, Adelaide Festival and Belvoir.
The UK tour is supported by Sam Meers AO, David Gonski AC & Dr Orli Wargon OAM, Simon Mordant AO & Catriona Mordant AM. The Executive Producer is Sue Donnelly.
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