Production still for "The Metamorphosis". Matthew Whittet. Photographer: Jeff Busby

The Metamorphosis

03 November 2005 – 20 November 2005 CUB Malthouse

Adapted from Franz Kafka

Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company,

Classic New Adaptation Theatre Co-Production

A new adaptation of Franz Kafka's classic by Ben Ellis. Gregor Samsa awakes from a night of uneasy dreams to find himself transformed into a giant insect.

Ben Ellis' adaptation transports it from 1915 Prague to a contemporary Australian suburb, universalised on the outskirts of all the capital cities. Its style is as broad as its characters' accents, pushing them just beyond the real.

"BENJAMIN WINSPEAR'S DIRECTION, AND BEN ELLIS' FUNNY SCRIPT, MAINTAIN THE ORIGINAL'S UNIQUE COMBINATION OF HORROR AND COMEDY, WHAT WE RECOGNISE IN THE WORD 'KAFKAESQUE'."

— The Age

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". L-R: Matthew Whittet, Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". L-R: Mandy McElhinney, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Kim Gyngell, Matthew Whittet (in bed), Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". Mandy McElhinney, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Matthew Whittet, Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". L-R: Julie Forsyth, Ming-Zhu Hii. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". L-R: Matthew Whittet, Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". L-R: Mandy McElhinney, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Kim Gyngell, Matthew Whittet (in bed), Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". Mandy McElhinney, Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Matthew Whittet, Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". L-R: Julie Forsyth, Ming-Zhu Hii. Photographer: Jeff Busby

Production still for "The Metamorphosis". Tony Llewellyn-Jones, Julie Forsyth. Photographer: Jeff Busby