The Serpents Teeth: Citizens and Soldiers

By Daniel Keen

Sydney Theatre Company, the Drama Theatre, Sydney Opera House

Directors:  Pamela Rabe and Tim Maddock
Assistant Director Cristabel Sved
Set design: Robert Cousins
Costume design: Tess Schofield
Lighting design: Nick Schlieper
Composer/sound design: Paul Charlier.

Cast: STC ACTORS COMPANY
Brandon Burke
Peter Carroll
Marta Dusseldorp
Eden Falk
John Gaden
Steve LeMarquand
Ewen Leslie
Hayley McElhinney
Amber McMahon
Luke Mullins
Pamela Rabe,
Emily Russell

And Narek Armaganian, Josh Denyer.

Photography: Brett Boardman

Cast: STC ACTORS COMPANY
Brandon Burke, Peter Carroll, Marta Dusseldorp, Eden Falk, John Gaden, Steve Le
Marquand, Ewen Leslie, Hayley McElhinney, Amber McMahon, Luke Mullins, Pamela Rabe,
Emily Russell and Narek Armaganian, Josh Denyer.

Reviews

Citizens and Soldiers are beautifully directed, by Pamela Rabe and Tim Maddock respectively; they reveal two different visions of theatrical possibility, each of which profoundly understands how the larger dynamics of space and time interact with the detail of performance and text. In each, the meanings and formal shapes of the plays emerge organically through the action on stage: nothing is inessential, nothing is signposted. Together, Rabe and Maddock have created a stern and deeply gentle beauty, a pure act of theatre that uncompromisingly reveals the impure complexities of human beings.

(theatre notes, Alison Croggon)

It is so refreshing to watch a piece of theatre that is not only polished and technically flawless but also daringly abstract and innovative.(Vibe Wire, Max Rapleay)
The arrangement of silhouetted figures and the huge chasms of light achieves an operatic dimension as the characters ponder the military ritual and summon the strength to endure their pain. Fine performances abound.

(Sydney Morning Herald, Bryce Hallett)