The Sydney Theatre Company production of The Present – Andrew Upton’s adaptation of Chekhov’s Platonov – was the third highest-grossing play during the 2016–17 Broadway season, taking US$10.9 million at the box office during its 14-week run.

Despite a mix of excellent and less enthusiastic reviews, Cate Blanchett’s performance won her a Tony nomination and was unanimously praised. Her pulling power was doubtless a part of the production’s success.

Cate Blanchett and Richard Roxburgh in STC’s The Present on Broadway. Photograph © Joan Marcus

Speaking to Limelight, STC Artistic Director Kip Williams said: “We are extremely happy with the result, particularly given it was one of the highest grossing non-musicals of the season.”

Asked if the success of the play has translated into any kind of financial profit for the Company, he admitted, “no, that’s not necessarily the nature of the relationship. We didn’t make money from the enterprise, but for us, STC going to Broadway with The Present was always a culture-driven exercise and the major success for us is landing an Australian written show on Broadway with 13 Australian actors and an Australian design team – and for it to have...