As its 2021 season came to a close with Return to the Dirt, Queensland Theatre will open 2022 with a fresh take on domesticity.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was written in 1962 by pioneering American playwright and Pulitzer Prize winner Edward Albee.

Albee, who maintained strict control over the productions of his plays during his life, said Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was intended to excavate the differences between reality and illusion, reflecting America’s consciousness in the 1960’s.

The play follows George and Martha, a professional couple who invite young couple Nick and Honey over for a drink, after meeting at a party.

The night descends into chaos as the couples, spurred on by alcohol, begin to engage in psychological warfare with one another, meting out emotional abuse and concocting lies and stories to manipulate the others.

Margaret Harvey will direct Queensland’s Theatre’s first production of 2022, offering a fresh vision of the classic portrait of a marriage in crisis.

Jimi Bani (Our Town, My Name Is Jimi) will take on the role of George and AACTA Award winning actress Susan Prior (Suddenly Last Summer, Riflemind) will play Martha.

“What I’ve found really interesting in the casting for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? was this incredible opportunity to bring this nearly 60-year-old play into a modern context,” said Harvey.

“Albee never intended to write about race but by casting this play cross-racially, we explore deeper layers of the text, revealing a race-power dynamic which is incredibly relevant to conversations about the state of Australia today.”

“In so many ways, this play really shouldn’t be funny, but it is,” said Lee Lewis, Queensland Theatre’s Artistic Director.

“Audiences will delight in the caustic, brutal and spectacularly petty antics of the two couples behaving badly in this modern staging under Margaret Harvey’s skilful direction.”

Playing the young couple who become embroiled in drama will be Rashidi Edward as Nick and Juanita Navas-Nguyen as Honey.

Queensland Theatre’s 2022 Season will see a whole host of world premieres as well as the reimagining of classics.

“2022 is full of big, brave, bold shows that will prove the power of live storytelling,” said Lewis.

“The classics are seen with modern eyes, and our new plays speak to issues that matter to us right now. Boundaries will be pushed, complacency will be challenged and we will laugh a lot.

“We want to invite people who have never been to the theatre to take a chance on a story told live in front of them.

“And we want to welcome back audiences who love theatre into vivid worlds with rich characters, wrestling with ideas that are exciting. Life is better with theatre,” said Lewis.

Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf opens at QPAC’s Playhouse on 12 February and runs until 26 February.