Cherry (Katrina Murphy) is convinced food is the way to win the heart of Lewis (Cody Fullbrook) in Cosi. Picture: The Sneaky Photographer 

What happens when you take a manic depressive, junkie, mute, overeater, doped-up musician, obsessive compulsive and pyromaniac and try to get them to perform a Mozart opera? The answer is Cosi, the popular Australian play by Louis Nowra showing at Phoenix Theatre this May.

It follows fresh-faced university graduate Lewis, who is contracted to put on a play at the local asylum with some of its patients – but he feels out of his depth directing them in the opera Cosi fan tutte. Through working with the patients, Lewis eventually discovers a new side of himself which allows him to become emotionally involved and to value love.

Nowra is one of Australia’s leading playwrights, responsible for Radiance, The Golden Age, Miss Bosnia and Summer of the Aliens. He adapted Cosi into a 1996 film with Toni Collette, Rachel Griffiths, David Wenham, Ben Mendelsohn and Jacki Weaver, scoring the Australian Film Institute Award for best adapted screenplay. 

THE DETAILS 

• WHERE: Phoenix Theatre Inc. 
• WHEN: 8pm May 8, 9, 10, 15, 16 and 17 & 2pm matinee May 11 
• COST: $20, $18 concession plus transaction fees  
• BOOKINGS: Book online or on 9255 3336 

FIND OUT MORE 

For more information visit the TAZTix website or check out the Facebook event here.