Written in 1984 by ABBA songwriters Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus, and Tim Rice, Chess tells a story of love and political intrigue, set against the background of the Cold War in the late 1970s/early 1980s, in which superpowers attempt to manipulate an international chess championship for political ends.

Two of the world’s greatest chess masters, one American, one Russian, are in danger of becoming the pawns of their governments as their battle for the world title gets under way. Simultaneously their lives are thrown into further confusion by a Hungarian refugee, a remarkable woman who becomes the centre of their emotional triangle. This mirrors the heightened passions of the political struggles that threaten to destroy lives and loves. Includes the international hit singles ‘I Know Him So Well’ and ‘One Night In Bangkok’. Other well-known songs from the score include ‘Anthem’, ‘Someone Else’s Story’, ‘Heaven Help my Heart’ and ‘Pity The Child’.

Directed by
Trinette Avery

Musically Directed by
Jacqueline Atherton

Choreographers
Trinette Avery and Julianne Clinch

Costumes
Trinette Avery, Blake Russell, Rowena Orculla Ryan & Ainslie Ryan

Stage Manager
Paige Williams

Lighting Design
Chris Art

Sound Design/Operation
Perry Sanders

Lighting/AV Operator
Tiarnii Richardson

Follow Spot Operators
Tim Avery and Arabelle Chang

Stage Crew
Lionel Habler, Tyson Habler, Charlie Habler and Emma Thomas

Sets and Props Construction
Glen Heriot, Trinette Avery, Tahnya Bella, Paige Matthews, Serena and Alan Bardsley, Tim Avery, Lavender Nightingale, Ainslie Ryan & Rowena Orcullo Ryan

Music by

BENNY ANDERSSON & BJORN ULVAEUS

Book and Lyrics by

TIM RICE

Original Orchestrations and Arrangements by
Anders Eljas

Chess The Musical

Licensed exclusively by Music Theatre International (Australasia).
All performance materials supplied by Hal Leonard Australia.

Sophia Dimopoulos as Florence Vassey
Adam Goodell as Freddie Trumper
Tyler Stevens as Anatoly Sergievsky
Jade Enright as Alexander Molkov
Andrew McArthur as Walter DeCourcey
Amy Petty as Svletlana
Jackson Muir as The Arbiter

Dylan Clarke as Leonid Viigand
Clayton Ellis as Mayor/Freddie Cover
Julianne Clinch as Dancer/Co-Choreographer
Jemma Skelly as Dancer/Dance Captain

Ensemble:
Serena Alter
Brooke Garwell
Ebony Gwynne
Wyatt Johnson
Isabel Kraemer
Patrick Lockyer
Emma Longstaff
Andrea Vincita
Ian Woodhill

Booth Singers:
Larissa Bilston
Adele Dickman
Nicolette McMahon
Lavender Nightingale

Band:
Alex Angus/Michael Ware – Keys 1
Anna Bui/Tamara Gibb – Clarinet/Bass Clarinet
David Chivers – Keys 2
Sally Faint/Monique Matthews – Flute, Piccolo
Lucas Fisher – Guitar, Mandolin
Sarah Fry – Trumpet
John Guiton/Laura Guiton – French Horn
Alison Harbottle – Percussion
Caleb Hodgkinson – Trumpet/Flugelhorn
Monash Lal/Alex Teakle – Bass
Jabin Mills – Keys 3
Ally Quinn/Ernesto Fernandez – Drums
Hamish Stone – Trombone/Bass Trombone
Kara Williams – Oboe/English Horn

To be posted after the production has concluded.