Before Blanchett Leaves Sydney Theater Post, Some Housekeeping

September 7, 2012, 9:45 am

By DAVE ITZKOFF

Cate Blanchett will bid farewell to her role as co-artistic director of Sydney Theater Company by starring with Isabelle Huppert in a new production of “The Maids” as part of the company's 2013 season, it was announced on Thursday. The Jean Genet play, about a pair of house servants with murderous designs on their employer, will be directed by Benedict Andrews, who previously directed Ms. Blanchett in “Gross und Klein (Big and Small)” and “The War of the Roses” for Sydney Theater Company. Its new translation is by Mr. Andrews and Andrew Upton, Ms. Blanchett's husband and co-artistic director. At the start of the year Ms. Blanchett and Mr. Upton said they would step down from their posts at Sydney Th eater Company, after presenting several internationally acclaimed productions like “A Streetcar Named Desire” (which starred Ms. Blanchett as Blanche DuBois) and “Uncle Vanya” (which featured her as Yelena). But last month the theater company said it had appointed Mr. Upton to stay on alone in a new term that begins next year.

Other productions that were announced as part of the company's 2013 season include a revivals of “Waiting for Godot” starring Hugo Weaving and Richard Roxburgh (who both appeared in “Uncle Vanya”) and directed by Tamás Ascher (who also directed “Vanya”); and “Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead” starring Tim Minchin, the musician and comedian, and Toby Schmitz. The season will begin in January with a stage adaptation of Kate Grenville's novel “The Secret River.”