Hotel Sorrento

By Hannie Rayson

1998 – 2000 National Tour

July 29 – August 15, 1998, 3 week Melbourne Season at The CUB Malthouse

May 29 – June 26, 1999 – 4 week tour to 12 venues in VIC & NSW
Bayswater, Ararat, Broken Hill, Mildura, Wangaratta, Shepparton, Wonthaggi, Warragul, Traralgon, Nunawading, Frankston & Preston.

February 10 – March 27, 2000-7 week tour to 21 venues in TAS, VIC, NSW, QLD, NT & WA
Launceston, Bairnsdale, Bathurst, Mittagong, Griffith, Albury, Parramatta, Taree, Toowoomba, Redcliffe, Caloundra, Mackay, Ayr, Townsville, Cairns, Mt Isa, Alice Springs, Karratha, Carnarvon, Esperance & Margaret River. 

A production by Christine Harris & HIT Productions

Hilary lives in the family home in Sorrento with her father and 16 year old son.  Pippa, a businesswoman, is visiting from New York and Meg, a successful writer, returns from England with her English husband.  When the 3 sisters are reunited after 10 years apart they again feel the constraints of family life and all the dramas that eventuate.

This comedy/drama by award winning playwright, Hannie Rayson which inspired the AFI award winning Australian film, is touring outer metropolitan and regional NSW, QLD, NT and WA.

The play boasts an exceptional creative team led by national and international director David Latham who directed both our initial season and the 1999 tour and returns for HIT Productions national tour of Hotel Sorrento. David has most recently worked for the National Theatre in Canada and directed Absurd Person Singular (MTC).  The set and costume design is by Judith A. Cobb who has worked extensively for The Playbox Theatre and MTC. The lighting design is by Rachel Burke, the winner of the 1998 Green Room Lighting Design Award for Hotel Sorrento (HIT Productions – The CUB Malthouse).  Score for the play was composed by Ric Formosa (Little River Band).

Hotel Sorrento is produced by Christine Harris of HIT Productions, winner of the 1997 Victorian Entrepreneur of the Year. This tour looks set to emulate this exciting company’s past successes including Duet for One, Crimes of the Hearttheir 1998 and 1999 seasons of Hotel Sorrento and their Australasian educational series Step Ahead Go, Follow Your Dreams and Make Your Mark.

Reviews

…this is a very strong ensemble performance, disciplined and very well crafted. Judith Cobb’s design is atmospheric…That has both a sweeping sense of landscape and domestic intimacy. Andrewartha’s performance is pretty well flawless.
Steven Carroll, The Sunday Age, VIC, 08/98

Hotel Sorrento is quality, well crafted theatre. This production is very well put together and well worth a look.
Rob Gravestocks, Melbourne Times, VIC, 08/98

This is an excellent revival of an important play…
Dina Ross, The Age, VIC, 08/98

In this first rate production by HIT, the cast were excellent. The set gave the feel of Sorrento – one could almost hear the waves and visualise the whirl of the seagulls.
Andrea Ford, Stage Whispers, 07/99

Hotel Sorrento is an engaging, even thought provoking piece of Australian theatre competently presented, skilfully acted and, good entertainment.
David Wadham, The Chronicle, Toowoomba, QLD, 03/00 

Cast 

Hilary: Janet Andrewartha (1998)

Hilary: Kate Hood (1999-2000)

Meg: Celia de Burgh (1998)

Meg: Heather Bolton (1999)

Meg: Jane Nolan (2000)

Wal: John Flaus

Marge: Jan Friedl (1998-1999)

Marge: Beverley Dunn (2000)

Pippa: Christine Harris (1998-1999)

Pippa: Michelle Offen (1999)

Pippa: Anne Burbrook (2000)

Troy: Samuel Johnson (1998)

Troy: David Hoflin (1999)

Troy: Den Geurens (2000)

Edwin: Brian Lipson (1998)

Edwin: Paul Wentford (1999-2000)

Dick: Ken Radley (1998)

Dick: Chris Connelly (1999)

Dick: Joe Petruzzi (2000)

Creatives

Playwright: Hannie Rayson

Director: David Latham 

Set & Costume Designer: Judith Cobb 

Lighting Designer: Rachel Burke 

Composition: Ric Formosa

PAST PRODUCTIONS

2006 “HOTEL SORRENTO” NATIONAL TOUR

2018 “HOTEL SORRENTO” NATIONAL TOUR