The Doctor

The Doctor description

Robert Icke has been described as “the brightest directing talent British theatre has produced in a generation”. This, his final production for the Almeida Theatre as Associate Director, is a brilliantly skilful update of Arthur Schnitzler’s 1912 Viennese drama Professor Bernhardi, which has just been performed to packed houses and uniformly rave reviews in London.

The original play’s male protagonist is now Dr. Ruth Wolff (in a towering performance by British stage and screen legend, Olivier-award winning Juliet Stevenson). On an ordinary day, at a private hospital, a 14-year old fights for her life. A priest arrives to save her soul. Dr. Wolff refuses him entry. In a divisive time, in a divided nation, a society takes sides.

Icke’s production, gripping as a thriller, navigates the contemporary minefield of freedom of religion issues, identity politics, medical ethics, gender and class with remarkable eloquence, fairness and humour, constantly upending our perspectives and sympathies.

As the debate charts its catastrophic course through, The Doctor reveals itself as a major and urgent contemporary tragedy.

Exclusive to the Adelaide Festival, don’t miss the most talked-about theatre event of the year.

the air positively crackles… It is a play entirely made up of ethical argument, yet it is so tense there are moments when you stop breathing… It's an astonishing, gripping evening – and a testimony to Icke's unparalleled ability to make theatre that you can't turn away from.

WhatsOnStage

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Icke’s production yields a performance by Juliet Stevenson that is one of the peaks of the theatrical year.”

The Guardian, UK

★ ★ ★ ★ ★ Intellectually dazzling… the result is a piece of theatre of the highest calibre.

The Telegraph, UK

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Credits

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Presented by Adelaide Festival by arrangement with Ambassador Theatre Group, Almeida Theatre and Benjamin Lowy, Fiery Angel, Glass Half Full Productions, Scott Rudin and Sonia Friedman Productions.

By Robert Icke

Very freely adapted from Arthur Schnitzler's Professor Bernhardi

 

Design Hildegard Bechtler

Light Natasha Chivers

Sound and Composition Tom Gibbons

Casting Julia Horan CDG

Additional Composition  Hannah Ledwidge

Associate Director Anthony Almeida

Resident Director TD Moyo

Associate Costume Designer  Deborah Andrews

Associate Lighting Designers – Nic Farman

Associate Sound Designers – Johnny Edwards and Andrew Josephs

Assistant Set Designer – Ella Callow

Costume Supervision Megan Doyle

 

Cast

Ruth Wolff Juliet Stevenson

Sami Liv Hill  

Junior Millicent Wong

Murphy Daniel Rabin

Roberts Mariah Louca

Flint Shelley Conn

Ebenwald Naomi Wirthner              

Charlie Joy Richardson 

Copley Chris Colquhoun            

Cyprian Anni Domingo  

Father Jamie Parker     

Drummer Hannah Ledwidge           

Partners

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