Margaret Thanos: Rising Talent in Australian Theatre

0:00In Sydney, it's March 14th. Here's what is happening. 25-year-old director Margaret Thanos just made her main stage debut with Amir at Belvoir St. Theatre in Sydney. The play explores censorship in an authoritarian world where artists hide their work behind a fake wedding. Right after opening in February, she jumped into rehearsals for her next show, The River, at the Sydney Theatre Company. The River is a three-person drama by Jess Butterworth, starring Miranda Otto, you and Leslie, and Andrea Dmitriates. It follows a man taking his new girlfriend fishing in the woods, with another woman showing up to stir things. This comes after Otto's first STC return since 2011. Thanos sees Amir as a warning about self-sensorship in any society, including places funded by grants. As a Cypriot Australian starting out directing university shows in 2018, she admits even she navigates these pressures daily. She faces everyday misogyny too, with people doubting young women leaders. Unlike the political satire of Amir, The River dies into relationship tensions

1:04and gender views. Thanos focuses on the women's sides, shaping the staging and design around them. Casting Otto as the star shifts expectations from past male-led versions with actors like Hugh Jackman, both shows highlight Thanos as a rising talent in Australian theatre. Amir runs at Belvoir until March 22nd, and The River opens March 30th at the Sydney Opera House drama theatre through May 16th. We'd like to thank our sponsor for making this episode possible. It looks like a pillow. It sounds like headphones, built for comfort and sound. S-O-L-I, solely pillow.com.