After acclaimed seasons in the West End and on Broadway, winning both the Olivier and Tony Awards for Best Play, The Inheritance by Matthew López (Red, White & Royal Blue) will make its Australian premiere at Melbourne’s fortyfivedownstairs this January.
Performed in two parts and inspired by E. M. Forster’s beloved novel Howards End, López’s landmark work spans generations in an “exquisitely truthful and funny” (The Telegraph) exploration of love, legacy, and what we owe to those who came before us.
Kitan Petkovski directs this bold, sexy, and deeply moving production, collaborating with the creative team behind his acclaimed Green Room Award-winning production of The Gospel According to Jesus, Queen of Heaven Bethany J Fellows (Set & Costume Designer), Katie Sfetkidis (Lighting Designer) and Rachel Lewindon (Sound Designer & Composer).
The Inheritance will also feature a stellar ensemble of 13 actors, including Iopu Auva’a, Rupert Bevan, Juan Gomez, Tomáš Kantor, Javon King, Joss McClelland, Dion Mills, Jillian Murray, Hunter Perske, Charles Purcell, Karl Richmond, Christian Taylor and Alex Thew.
“It’s rare to come across a project that delves so deeply into the search for a community, yet alone a queer one,” said Petkovski. “As a teenager, I didn’t have any gay elders to look up to as role models. I knew very few openly gay men.
“The Inheritance made me realise that I wasn’t alone in that. I hope the experience of this production will create a space for reflection, celebration, and healing,” said Petkovski.
“Considering the audience excitement generated by past durational productions at fortyfivedownstairs – The Leenane Trilogy by Martin McDonagh in 2014 and Angels in America by Tony Kushner in 2017 – this felt like the perfect way to begin our 2024 program,” says producer and Artistic Director of the theatre, Cameron Lukey (33 Variations at the Comedy Theatre).
“I devoured the script in one sitting. At the end of every scene, I just had to know what happened next for these characters. I can’t wait for audiences to experience this extraordinary epic in the intimacy of our theatre, where they’ll be able to watch the two parts across two nights or back-to-back on Sundays,” said Lukey.
“Perhaps the most important American play of the century so far.” – The Telegraph
Director: Kitan Petkovski | Featuring: Iopu Auva’a, Rupert Bevan, Juan Gomez, Tomáš Kantor, Javon King, Joss McClelland, Dion Mills, Jillian Murray, Hunter Perske, Charles Purcell, Karl Richmond, Christian Taylor, Alex Thew | Associate Director: Justin Nott | Set & Costume Designer: Bethany J Fellows | Lighting Designer: Katie Sfetkidis | Sound Designer & Composer: Rachel Lewindon | Stage Manager: Ashleigh Walwyn | Assistant Stage Manager: Tom Backhaus | Writer: Matthew López
The Inheritance
fortyfivedownstairs, 45 Flinders Lane,Melbourne
Season: 17 January – 11 February 2024
Information and Bookings: www.fortyfivedownstairs.com.
Image: The Inheritance – photo by Benny Capp