Hydra
THE TRUE LOVE STORY OF CHARMIAN CLIFT, GEORGE JOHNSTON AND MY BROTHER JACK

A State Theatre Company of South Australia co-production
By Sue Smith
Directed by Sam Strong
09 March - 06 April [PAST EVENT]
Bille Brown Theatre, Queensland Theatre
They were writers, dreamers and free spirits. In the 1950s, Australian authors Charmian Clift and George Johnston fled halfway across the world to the idyllic Greek island of Hydra, determined to carve out a bohemian living as artists.
As they revel in their picturesque community, far off the world’s literary map, inspiration for the great Australian work strikes. But a many headed monster of jealousy, infidelity, illness and alcoholism also rises from the crystal blue waters of their sun-kissed island home.
Award-winning Sue Smith weaves the original writings of two of Australia’s literary icons into a moving relationship drama. She conjures the passion and intensity of the near mythical ‘King and Queen of Hydra’ as they follow their dream, only to end up in a Greek tragedy of their own making.
Production gallery
Photography by Jeff Busby






The reviews are in
Cast Includes Ray Chong Nee, Tiffany Lyndall-Knight, Anna McGahan, Nathan O’Keefe, Hugh Parker, Bryan Probets
Assistant Director Merlynn Tong
Designer Vilma Mattila
Lighting Designer Nigel Levings
Composer/Sound Designer Quentin Grant
Directorial Observation Hannah Barr, Ngoc Phan
Warning
This production contains coarse language, adult themes (references to suicide), sexual references and the use of e-cigarettes.
Running Time
Approximately 100 minutes with no interval.
Accessibility
Auslan Interpreted Mon 18 Mar, 6.30pm
Play Briefing
Mon 4 Mar, 6pm
Bille Brown Theatre
QT Club
Sat 16 Mar, 2pm
Night with the Artists
Mon 18 Mar, 6.30pm
Hydra has been supported by the Legal Chapter, through the Play Commissioning Fund
Supported by
