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The highs and lows of Robyn
Nevin's time at STC
November 9: In the wake of Robyn Nevin's decision to
stand down from her position as Artistic Director at the Sydney Theatre Company, Troy
Dodds looks back at the highs and lows of Robyn Nevin's time with Australia's premier
theatre company...
 Good
times, bad times. She's had them all, and everything inbetween as well. Robyn Nevin's
decision to stand down as the Artistic Director of the Sydney Theatre Company certainly
stunned and surprised the theatre company, but the announcement of her replacements - Cate
Blanchett and Andrew Upton - was indeed a bigger surprise. Robyn Nevin's time at the STC
has indeed been a roller coaster ride. Let's look back at some of the highs and lows of
Robyn Nevin's time with the STC.
Highlight
The formation of the STC Actor's Company in 2006 was one of Robyn Nevin's
big goals and it finally came to fruition this year, partly thanks to funding from the
State Government. It's an interesting concept that received wide praise across the media.
The initial Actor's Company was: Martin Blum, Brandon Burke, Peter Carroll, Marta
Dusseldorp, Eden Falk, John Gaden, Hayley McElhinney, Amber McMahon, Deborah Mailman,
Colin Moody, Pamela Rabe and Dan Spielman. It is one of the few acting ensembles employed
by a theatre company in the world. The Actor's Company has been a major passion of Robyn
Nevin's for some time and she's been clearly pleased with its progress.
Lowlight
When Robyn Nevin took her production of Hedda Gabler to New York
earlier this year, critics were less than enthusiastic. Nevin and the company's new
Artistic Director, Cate Blanchett, were slammed by one of New York's most respected
writers, Charles Isherwood. Isherwood was
questioning the power of celebrity and said he "witnessed Cate Blanchett and the
Sydney Theatre Company merrily desecrate Ibsen’s Hedda Gabler before an
audience that didn’t seem to notice (or care) that a classic play was being publicly
kneecapped". Isherwood suggested the play had essentially only found success because
of the pulling power of Blanchett, one of the world’s most popular actors. "Avid
theatregoers who have not managed to obtain a ticket shouldn’t lose any sleep,"
Isherwood said. "What they’re missing is Ibsen transformed into a three-ring
circus, with Ms Blanchett presiding in the centre ring, giving a performance that would be
merely silly and self-indulgent if it were not also scandalous." Isherwood said a
case can be made that "the responsibility for Ms Blanchett’s undisciplined
performance here belongs to Ms Nevin and perhaps also to Mr Upton, whose new adaptation is
over-explicit and unwisely steeped in a heavy-handed, jarringly contemporary sense of
irony".
Highlight
David Williamson has been a Nevin favourite for years, and in 2005 she produced
his "farewell play", Influence. The season was a smash hit and a major
success for the STC and for Nevin, who had shown faith and loyalty to the country's
premier playwright for years. Nevin was very aware of the general public's love of
Williamson and always looked at opportunities to work with him. On May 5 last year, we
reported: "Sydney Theatre Company today announced that its current production of
David Williamson's Influence will this week break the box office record for the
Sydney Opera House Drama Theatre, selling over 31,000 tickets to date and taking over $1.5
million at the box office. All but a handful of the 60 performances of Influence have had
the "House Full" sign up and the season has already been extended by a
week." Influence finished as one of the highest selling shows in STC
history.
Lowlight
Nevin's artistic choices in the 2004 season were slammed by many, indeed many
called it the worst season under her directorship. Sun Herald theatre columnist
gave the "worst show of the year" award to the STC in general for its 2004
season, which became a major talking point. The Unlikely Prospect of Happiness,
starring Pia Miranda, received a negative response, as did the new musical The
Republic of Myopia. Hedda Gabler was seen as the saving grace of the 2004
season.
Highlight
In 2004, Nevin oversaw the opening of the Sydney Theatre, a new major theatre
located near the STC's traditional home at Walsh Bay. STC manage the theatre, and it
continues to emerge as a success.
Highlight
Indeed, there's been highlights right to the end. Her involvement in getting Cate
Blanchett and Andrew Upton involved in the company has indeed been extremely smart. Nevin
says:
“I love these two Australian artists. They
are true theatre creatures, each wonderfully gifted, and I am thrilled they will bring
these gifts to the Company. I’m looking forward to the year’s handover. I
couldn’t be more excited. Lucky Sydney!" |
