War of the Worlds

Blurring the lines between fact and fiction, playwright and spoken-word artist Alex Ferguson and composer Peter Hannan re-invent the creative titans behind War of the Worlds – the radio event that rocked America!

War of the Worlds is a multi-media spectacle, which explores the circumstantial meeting of three characters: Russian inventor Leon Theremin, creative visionary Orson Welles and Welles’ typist (and uncredited collaborator) Sylvia Breach. The play draws inspiration from the history of radio: the utopian fervour of its beginnings, the authority of its early to mid-century zenith, and especially young Welles’ prank that foreshadowed the loss of faith in the mass media.

This production earned nine Jessie Richardson Theatre Award nominations, winning four trophies in the following categories:

Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (Wendy Van Riesen)
Outstanding Lighting Design (John Webber)
Outstanding Costume Design (Barbara Clayden)
Outstanding Sound Design/Original Composition (Peter Hannan)