Theatre
Café Scheherazade
By Therese Radic, directed by Bagryana Popov
Following its sold out premiere season Café Scheherazade will return to fortyfivedownstairs.
Café Scheherazade, written by Thérèse Radic, directed by Bagryana Popov and based on Arnold Zable’s novel, shares the stories of Eastern European migrants in Melbourne whose journeys and experiences of displacement and survival are universally resonant of refugee lives.
The original Café Scheherazade in St Kilda was an Acland Street icon, the memories of its founders and regulars are extraordinary and their life experiences have contributed significantly to Melbourne’s cosmopolitan landscape.
Café Scheherazade is a reminder to celebrate and embrace those refugees who continue to arrive in Australia from very diverse backgrounds of distress and displacement.
The production features Melbourne actors Jacob Allan, Richard Bligh, Jim Daly, Marta Kaczmarek, Bruce Kerr and George Werther and klezmer musicians lead by Ernie Gruner under the musical direction of Elissa Goodrich.
Adrienne Chisholm (designer) and Richard Vabre (lighting designer) will transform fortyfivedownstairs’ intimate theatre ambience to recall the charm and warmth of the original, iconic Acland Street café.
Café Scheherazade is produced and presented by fortyfivedownstairs and its premiere was supported by the Sunraysia Foundation, Arts Victoria, City of Melbourne, the Besen Foundation, the Kronhill Pletka Foundation, the Pratt Foundation and private donors.
Cafe Scheherazade in the media, please see our in house production page for articles and interviews.
Special announcement, 4PM Matinee, Saturday 10th just released, don’t miss out!
Image:Jeff Busby, design by Millimetre
