Stone/Castro are at it again with Superheroes, their latest contemporary theatre work and a provocative reflection on the complexity of Globalisation, the future, violence, and war.

Meet six characters in a rest-home.

Isolated from the outside world, rivalries emerge as they regain their former strength and the various personalities vie for domination of their new territory. As fiction and reality blur, we are privy to the madness of violence and trauma of war. They turn to saviours and heroes for hope and salvation; faith and drugs for escape and shelter, but their only real hope is to change the way they relate to one another.

With differing opinions on philosophy, religion, politics, heroism and war the fight is on to determine how best to steer humanity safely towards a new generation. Violence and Harmony. Nationalism and Globalisation. Christianity and Islam, Fiction and Reality, Savoir and Sacrificed.

Superheroes is a surreal and vivid exploration of man’s vision for the domination of earth.

Who are the real heroes of the sky? The God's, the Superheroes, or the fighter planes?

Director Jo Stone says:

“Our aim is to create highly reflective theatre to the times we live in, using themes and fodder from political and social events worldwide. Stone/Castro’s work is seated in the theatre genre but has a large physical component and utilizes a lot of dark humour to cut through the corrosive content."

Since forming Stone/Castro in 2003, Jo Stone and Paulo Castro have focused on creating contemporary theatre pieces, dividing the roles of direction, writing and performing between them depending on the vision for each production. Commissioned to direct for Australian and European companies, they have toured work to numerous Australian and international venues and Festivals.

Jo Stone and Paulo Castro continue to freelance independently for companies such as Company Les Ballet C de La B, Portuguese National Theatre, Chunky Move and the Schaubuhne-Berlin among many other companies. Together they are recognised for forging a unique, humorous and corrosive style.

Stone/Castro works include (Australia):
Wake Up Hate, Red Sky, SOF#1 (for AC Arts), Dis-integration (for DanceNorth), B-File (nominated for 3 Melbourne Green Room Awards 07), Private Lives (Feast Festival nominated for a Ruby Award 09), Tom the Loneliest (No Strings Attached) (nominated for 2 Melbourne Green Room Awards 2010) and recently Brink’s Gorge 09 Foot Soldiers written by Nicki Bloom. Paulo’s plays are currently being negotiated for publication in Portugal (including Superheroes).

Superheroes is supported by Arts SA (Triennial Project Funding), the Australia Council for the Arts, the Australian Government’s arts funding and advisory body, Adelaide Festival Centre, inSPACE, City of Melbourne, Melbourne Arts house, Vitalstatistix, and Rodeo.

Concept & Direction: Jo Stone
Writer & Drumaturg: Paulo Castro
Performers: Julian Crotti, Nick Bennett,
Lewis Rankin, Jo Stone, Paulo Castro, Hew Parham
Set Design: Wendy Todd
Lighting: Kerry Ireland
Video: Nic Mollison
Sound: Sascha Budimski
Secondments: Kate Wadey (Flinders Drama Centre) and Nigel Major-Henderson (AC ARTS)'

Following it's Adelaide season, Superheroes tours to Melbourne Arts House from August 11-15, before heading off to Spain and Portugal.

Take a flight of fancy and catch Superheroes at the Adelaide Festival Centre's Space Theatre from July 20-24. Tickets are available through BASS on 131 246 or online at www.bass.net.au.

As if that wasn't enough, you can also catch GreenRoom's Superheroes Short Film Exhibition during the production's Adelaide season. The competition-winning short films will explore topics related to ‘Superheroes’: power, heroism, war, masculinity and globalisation.

For more information log on to www.adelaidefestivalcentre.com.au or www.stonecastro.com.