University Events Calendar

May, 2026

TWILIGHT OF THE GODS by Julian Doyle

Date/Time: Friday, 24 May 2013 - Saturday, 25 May 2013, 7:30 pm to 8:45 pm

Location: Little Theatre

Cost: All tickets $15

More information: Visit website

WAGNER v. NIETZSCHE - A clash of ideas between two titans!

The Theatre Guild continues its 2013 season with a staged play reading of 'Twilight of the Gods', presented in association with the Richard Wagner Society of South Australia to mark Wagner's 200th birthday.

On Christmas Day 1888, Friedrich Nietzsche working in Turin, completed his final piece of writing; a treatise attacking Wagner called 'Nietzsche contra Wagner'. Less than two weeks later on 3rd January 1889, Nietzsche suffered a mental breakdown. He was found in the street, weeping and embracing a horse.

'Twilight of the Gods' is set in the Lunatic Asylum in Turin and opens with Nietzsche strapped to a chair. The ghost of Richard Wagner appears in his tormented mind and thus begins a comic and dramatic clash of the egos between the former friends.

Director Warwick Cooper says "It is fitting that a celebration of Wagner's birth in May 1813 should take place in the Australian city that first successfully staged the 'Ring Cycle'. This is a play that will appeal to those who love opera, theatre, philosophy and those who just love a drama which is both historical and psychological".

Playwright Julian Doyle worked closely with the Monty Python team whilst continuing his successful career as a director of commercials and music videos. He is most famous for editing their films and is indeed 'infamous' as the policeman in 'Monty Python and the Holy Grail' whose hand abruptly concludes the film!

With Pythonesque imagination, rigour and vigour, Julian Doyle deftly weaves the words of Wagner and Nietzsche into a dialogue that is both historical and contemporary in its impact.

The Theatre Guild is delighted to welcome back to the Little Theatre stage John Edge, last seen as 'John of Gaunt' in Richard II in 2009 and Michael Baldwin who won an Adelaide Critics Circle award for his portrayal of 'Creon' in Antigone last year, as Wagner and Nietzsche respectively. They are joined by acclaimed local actor Anne Cooper.

A powerful psychological drama of ideas, passions, humanity and love.

TWO PERFORMANCES ONLY - FRIDAY 24 (7.30PM) & SATURDAY 25 MAY (2PM) 2013
TICKETS: All tickets $15
From www.adelaide.edu.au/theatreguild or cash on the door, subject to availability

Contact: Theatre Guild, Email: theatreguild@adelaide.edu.au, Website: http://www.adelaide.edu.au/theatreguild, Administrator, University of Adelaide Theatre Guild, Business: +61 8313 5999, Fax: 8313 5019

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