Touching the Void

17 Jan — 19 Feb 2022

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

Based on a true story, Touching the Void will transport you to the snow-capped peaks and glacial crevasses of the Peruvian Andes for a jaw-dropping adventure starring Helpmann Award winner Lucy Durack alongside Joe Klocek and Karl Richmond.

Approx. 1 hour and 40 minutes, no interval

Event Passed
Explore
This is rated 0 out of 5 stars

'A well-paced, visually splendid survival thriller with gutsy lead performances.'

The Age
This is rated 0 out of 5 stars

'It’s thrilling stuff.'

ArtsHub

ABOUT THE SHOW

After leaving overseas audiences on the edge of their seats, this exhilarating international smash hit comes to Melbourne for its Australian premiere. Based on a true story, Touching the Void will transport you to the snow-capped peaks and glacial crevasses of the Peruvian Andes for a jaw-dropping adventure starring Helpmann Award winner Lucy Durack (Private Lives) alongside Kevin Hofbauer (Macbeth), Joe Klocek (The Dry) and Karl Richmond (The Lifespan of a Fact).

Devastated by the loss of her brother Joe during an attempted summiting of Siula Grande in South America, Sarah wants answers. As Joe’s climbing partner Simon and their base camp manager Richard try to explain the allure of the alps, they retrace every breathtaking, agonising step on the side of the mountain; every life-or-death decision leading to that fateful moment. But there’s really only one question Sarah ultimately cares about: are you absolutely sure Joe’s dead?

Helmed by MTC Associate Director Petra Kalive (The Lifespan of a Fact), Touching the Void brings the bestselling memoir turned award-winning docudrama to the stage in a remarkable feat of imaginative storytelling and theatrical wizardry. An astonishing, often wryly humorous new play, it’s an awe-inspiring tale of mind over matter and the power of sheer human determination.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

  • Hearing Assistance

  • Audio Described

  • Tactile Tour

  • Open Captioning

Performance Type Performance Date(s)
Audio Described
by Vision Australia
Saturday 5 February at 2pm
Tuesday 8 February at 6.30pm
Tactile Tour
by Vision Australia
Saturday 5 February, before the 2pm performance
Open Captioning
via screen
Saturday 12 February at 2pm
Artwork for Lucy Durack

Lucy Durack

Sarah

Artwork for Kevin Hofbauer

Kevin Hofbauer

Simon

Joe Klocek.jpg

Joe Klocek

Joe

Artwork for Karl Richmond

Karl Richmond

Richard

Artwork for Petra Kalive

Petra Kalive

Director

Petra trained at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts and has extensive experience as a director, writer and dramaturg of new works for the stage. Her acclaimed adaptation of Peter Goldsworthy’s novel Three Dog Night toured nationally. She was Dramaturg at Red Stitch from 2009 – 2012, Assistant Dramaturg at The Malthouse in 2010.  Petra was Artistic Director of Union House Theatre (UHT) 2015-2020.

At Melbourne Theatre Company Petra has directed Laurinda, Touching the Void, The Lifespan of a Fact, Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (Green Room nom Best Direction), Hungry Ghosts, Melbourne Talam (Green Room nom Best Director) and Beached.

Petra has also worked for Belvoir Street, Sydney Theatre Company, Arena Theatre Company, Complete Works Theatre Company, Union House Theatre, St Martins Youth Arts Centre, La Trobe, Monash University & Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) performing arts programs. 

Her notable independent directing credits include the much-acclaimed Taxithi, which had two sell-out seasons at fortyfivedownstairs (Green Room nom Best Director), her own work Oil Babies at Northcote Town Hall (shortlisted for the NSW Premier Literary Awards 2019) and new Australian musical, My Brilliant Career by Miles Franklin adapted by Dean Bryant and Matthew Frank.

Andrew Bailey

Andrew Bailey

Set Designer

Artwork for Kat Chan

Kat Chan

Costume Designer

Katie Sfetkidis

Katie Sfetkidis

Lighting Designer

ADarius-Kedros-profile-pic.jpg

Darius Kedros

Composer & Sound Designer

Artwork for Xanthe Beesley

Xanthe Beesley

Movement Director

Artwork for Katie Cawthorne

Katie Cawthorne

Assistant Director

Artwork for Eddie Orton

Eddie Orton

Richard (Standby Cover)

The Sumner

140 Southbank Boulevard

Southbank, Victoria 3006