![Elizabeth, Almost By Chance A Woman](/media/0zdb1e5r/jeff-busby_313-hero.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=400&height=250&rnd=132781435182970000)
![Optimism](/media/4lqkodo5/jeff-busby_0753-hero.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=768&height=432&rnd=132781344489400000)
Production still for "Optimism". L-R: David Woods, Frank Woodley, Barry Otto, Alison Whyte. Photographer: Jeff Busby
Optimism
By Tom Wright
22 May 2009 – 13 June 2009 Merlyn Theatre
Written after Voltaire
Malthouse Theatre, Sydney Theatre Company, Sydney Festival, Edinburgh International Festival,
Commission New Writing Theatre International Tour
Turning a quizzical eye to the woes of the heart and reeking with scandal and scurrilous vice, this world premiere production transforms Voltaire's classic satire of enlightened insanity, Candide, into a cutting commentary on the 'no-worries' bravura of the Australian swagger.
This production toured to the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Scotland for the Edinburgh International Festival (15-17 August), and was also STC's Sydney Festival offering in 2010 (9 January - 20 February).
Cast
Creatives
![Anna Tregloan](/media/mdohalzv/tregloan-anna.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763243254770000)
Set Designer, Costume Designer
![Tom Wright](/media/qljfl333/wright-tom.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763244105730000)
Playwright
![Paul Jackson](/media/iwbfn3l1/jackson-paul.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763239155330000)
Lighting Designer
![Iain Grandage](/media/0rviv4oo/grandage-iain.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763238018270000)
Musician, Composer
![Luke George](/media/i5vepjdk/george-luke.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763237742400000)
Choreographer
![Michael Kantor](/media/yn0lpzdg/kantor-michael.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763239325100000)
Director
Writer, Author
![Russell Goldsmith](/media/5cmof53n/goldsmith-russell.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763237931400000)
Sound Designer
![Sarah Giles](/media/qvwn5xoy/giles-sarah.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763237784630000)
Assistant Director
![Claire Bourke](/media/1pynvtqj/bourke-claire.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763235225170000)
Stage Manager
![Melanie Stanton](/media/vb4jkof5/stanton-melanie.jpg?anchor=center&mode=crop&width=300&height=300&rnd=132763242729870000)
Assistant Stage Manager
Mechanist
Acknowledgements
A Malthouse Theatre commission.