The Promise asks that magnificent Russian question that has set the Belvoir St stage spinning time and again over the years: How do we live the life we yearn for?

... stunningly beautiful.
The Sun Herald

The Promise takes you on a powerful, poignant journey.
The Sunday Telegraph

Bell, Leslie and Ryan turn in finely nuanced and illuminating performances ...
The Sydney Morning Herald

... Arbuzov's emotional drama of ordinary people is ... beautifully done here in a tightly focused production ...
The Australian

Alexei Arbuzov

A new version by
Nick Dear

Based on the translation by
Ariadne Nicolaeff

Simon Stone

Alison Bell, Ewen Leslie and Chris Ryan

Heartbreaking Russian masterpiece of teenage hopes and disillusion

Outside, Leningrad is besieged. It’s 1942. Inside, a teenage girl huddles in a freezing apartment. A boy comes home to find out what’s become of his relatives and all the furniture. Both are gone. They become family; survive by clinging to each other. Until another stray teenager turns up, and both boys begin to struggle for Lika’s love.

Simon Stone has been forging a path as a director in Melbourne with acclaimed productions of Wedekind’s Spring Awakening (part of the 2008 B Sharp Season) and Chekhov’s Platonov. He directs three of Australia’s strongest young actors in this Company B unearthing of Alexei Arbuzov’s great play.

Passionate, wonderful and terrible; The Promise will engage students as only watching other teenagers grapple with the big questions can. For the next 17 years of their lives we see these three lured by the hopeful idea that the future will be a better place.

The Promise asks that enduring Russian question that has set the Belvoir St stage turning time and again over the years: How do we live the life we yearn for?

Preparing to see The Promise

Download Teacher's Notes (2MB*)

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... Arbuzov's emotional drama of ordinary people is ... beautifully done here in a tightly focused production ...
The Australian

Bell, Leslie and Ryan turn in finely nuanced and illuminating performances.
The Sydney Morning Herald

Recommended for...

• Yrs 7 – 12
• DRAMA HSC & 7 – 10: Realism & Intercultural Drama & Theatre
• ENGLISH HSC: Belonging
• ENGLISH 7– 10: Historical Fiction, Hero’s Journey
  

All schools performances start at 11.30am