Jai Courtney to return to Perth stage
Rising Hollywood star *Jai Courtney *will perform with the Perth Theatre Company next year as it seeks a knockout punch to complete its climb off the financial canvas.
Courtney, who made his professional acting debut with the PTC in 2008, will return to *Perth * next December to work with PTC director *Melissa Cantwell *on *John Steinbeck *'s 1930s classic Of Mice and Men.
"I'm thrilled to be coming back to Perth to stomp around on stage again," Courtney told _AAA _ from New Orleans, where he is filming the thriller Man Down with *Shia LaBeouf * and *Gary Oldman *.
"Mel and I have wanted to work together for years and I'm so excited the opportunity has finally arisen," he said.
"Of Mice and Men is such a timeless text and a story I can't wait to help tell. The vision for this production is groundbreaking and we're all committed to creating something special that audiences will be hard-pressed to forget.
"Perth Theatre Company gave me my start in this industry and it is such an honour to be asked back."
PTC has unveiled a season of five productions next year after clawing its way back into the black from deficits totalling $100,000 over the past two years.
Sydney-raised Courtney, 28, was in his final year at the *WA Academy of Performing Arts *in 2007 when he was cast in PTC's adaptation of *Tim Winton *'s The Turning at the 2008 *Perth International Arts Festival *.
The strongly built actor has starred in action films A Good Day to Die Hard, I Frankenstein and Divergent. His upcoming films include *Angelina Jolie *'s Unbroken and the Gallipoli drama The Water Diviner, directed by and starring *Russell Crowe *.
"He is just a fine actor, obviously incredibly charismatic on stage," Cantwell said. "We formed a working relationship and stayed in touch during his shift to the States. This is a piece we have talked about doing for a while and the timing has come together."
Courtney will take on the role of the lumbering Lennie Small in Steinbeck's tale of two drifters looking for work during the Great Depression.
STEPHEN BEVIS
_· PERTH THEATRE COMPANY FIGHTS BACK - PAGE 9 _
'Of Mice
and Men is such a timeless text and a story I can't wait to help tell.'
