Based on the famous 1958 Nobel Prize-winning novel by Russian author Boris Pasternak, Zhivago is set against the backdrop of the snowy country before and after the Russian Revolution. The work follows the story of a surgeon-poet and his muse Lara.
Producer John Frost introduced a cast that willl feature Lucy Maunder as Lara; Taneel Van Zyl as Zhivago's wife Tonia; Martin Crewes as political radical Pasha Antipov; Bartholomew John as corrupt attorney Viktor Komarovsky; and Peter Carroll and Trisha Noble in the roles of Alexander and Anna, Tonia's parents.
Here is a look at the Melbourne launch event:
The creative team includes director McAnuff (Jersey Boys, Tommy), composer Lucy Simon (The Secret Garden), lyricist Michael Korie (Grey Gardens) and Amy Powers (Lizzie Borden) and librettist Michael Weller (Moonchildren, Loose Ends). The work was seen in 2006 at La Jolla Playhouse in California.
For more information, visit drzhivago.com.au.
