Backstage
Bringing you the joy, curiosity and entertainment of a trip to the theatre.
The Glass Menagerie
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | Meet the Creative team
The creative team behind The Glass Menagerie discuss their process of bringing the world of Tennessee Williams’ classic play to life on stage through set and costume design, lighting and music.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | On Stage Now
A pivotal piece of theatre magic, brought to life by a luminous cast.
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Video
First Look at The Glass Menagerie
Step into Tom Wingfield's world in this first look at The Glass Menagerie.
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Video
Ask the Director | Director Mark Wilson & MinterEllison Future Director Jamila Main
What's the hardest part of directing? How do you find inspiration? Year 11 Theatre Arts students put Mark Wilson and Jamila Main to the test.
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Feature
Reflections of an assistant director
Assistant Director Jamila Main on disability, queerness, and finding themself in Tennessee Williams' most personal play.
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Programme
The Glass Menagerie programme
Director Mark Wilson reflects on a timeless masterpiece he first read when he was 17. Plus, meet the cast and creatives in our immersive digital programme.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | Rehearsal Trailer
Get a peek inside the rehearsal room as The Glass Menagerie team prepares to bring Tennessee Williams’s haunting memory play to the Sumner stage.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | The Cast's Favourite Lines
The cast of The Glass Menagerie discuss Tennessee Williams' evocative writing style and their favourite lines from the play.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | A Classic Through a Contemporary Lens
The cast of The Glass Menagerie discuss the relevance of Tennessee Williams' play today, and how they are re-telling this story through a queer and disability-focused lens.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | Inside the creative mind of Mark Wilson
Director Mark Wilson discusses how the works of Picasso, El Greco and Tom of Finland directly influence the aesthetic of The Glass Menagerie.
Shoelace Chaser
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Design and symbolism
Hear from the creative team of Shoelace Chaser as they answer VCE Drama-aligned questions about the show's design.
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Script Notes with Liv Satchell, Elliot Wood and Leigh Lule
Director Liv Satchell and actors Elliot Wood and Leigh Lule discuss their script notes for Madelaine Nunn's new Australian play.
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Shoelace Chaser education pack
A resource pack for teachers and students to learn more about Madelaine Nunn's Shoelace Chaser with links to the VCE Drama curriculum.
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Representing characters
Hear from the cast of Shoelace Chaser as they discuss how they create their characters in Madelaine Nunn's new Australian play.
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Video
Shoelace Chaser | Meet the team
Meet the cast and creatives bringing Madelaine Nunn's new comedy to life.
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Programme
Shoelace Chaser programme
Writer Madelaine Nunn on why she always begins with character, and Director Liv Satchell explains she was drawn to this warm new comedy.
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Video
Shoelace Chaser | Inside the rehearsal room
Get your first look at this world premiere written by Madelaine Nunn and directed by Liv Satchell. Starring Zoe Boesen, Leigh Lule and Elliot Wood.
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Meet the Shoelace Chaser cast
Hear from the actors as they discuss expressive skills, themes and how design elements like costume help them embody their character.
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Lighting Shoelace Chaser
Lighting Designer Thomas Roach discusses mood, symbolism and lighting fixtures in Shoelace Chaser.
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Directing Shoelace Chaser
Director Liv Satchell discusses how the team are using space and transitions to explore the themes in Shoelace Chaser.
Retrograde
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Feature
Reflections of an assistant director
Lilah Benetti on their early connection with Hollywood star Sidney Poitier, and what they wish they knew earlier in their career.
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Video
What are audiences saying about Retrograde?
Hear what audiences are saying about Retrograde.
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Video
Ask the Director | Bert LaBonté and MinterEllison Future Director Lilah Benetti
Year 11 Theatre Arts students submit some hard-hitting questions to Retrograde director Bert LaBonté and MinterEllison Future Director Lilah Benetti.
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Video
Retrograde Trailer
Watch the video trailer for Retrograde ahead of seeing the production live on stage.
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Programme
Retrograde programme
See inside the rehearsal process and meet the cast and creatives behind Australian premiere of Retrograde in our immersive digital programme.
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Video
Bert LaBonté, Donné Ngabo, Josh McConville & Alan Dale on Retrograde
Director Bert LaBonté and the cast of this gripping Australian premiere discuss why this is a production you shouldn't miss.
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Video
Retrograde | Portraying Sidney Poitier
What does it take to portray a Hollywood icon? Donné Ngabo explains.
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Video
Retrograde | Bert LaBonté and Donné Ngabo
Director Bert LaBonté on the moment he knew Donné Ngabo was perfect to play Sydney Poitier in the Australian premiere of Retrograde.
Season 2026
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Galleries
West Gate in the Rehearsal Room
Here's your first look at West Gate. Scroll through our image gallery for a glimpse of the show before it hits the stage.
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Video
Losing Face | Marieke Hardy
Playwright Marieke Hardy reveals why she's so obsessed with death, ahead of the world premiere of her brand new comedy zeroing in on the anti-ageing industry.
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Video
Retrograde | Bert LaBonté and Donné Ngabo
Director Bert LaBonté on the moment he knew Donné Ngabo was perfect to play Sydney Poitier in the Australian premiere of Retrograde.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | Mark Wilson and Alison Whyte
Director Mark Wilson discusses the life-changing moment he read Tennessee Williams's memory play, and Alison Whyte shares the characteristic she's most excited to bring out in Amanda Wingfield.
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Shoelace Chaser | Leigh Lule
Leigh Lule discusses what drew her to Madelaine Nunn's moving comedy drama about chasing your dreams when the odds are stacked against you.
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Video
Do Not Pass Go | Jean Tong
Playwright Jean Tong explains the inspiration behind this darkly funny workplace comedy about two colleagues trying to find meaning in their lives.
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Video
The Jungle and the Sea | S. Shakthidharan
Playwright S. Shakthidharan on why audiences should see this highly theatrical story, co-created with Eamon Flack.
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Video
A Room with a View | Grace Chapple and Hannah Goodwin
The writer and director of this brand new adaptation of E.M. Forster's literary classic discuss what they love most about this big-hearted story.
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Video
Eliza| Manali Datar and Dan Spielman
Manali Datar and Dan Spielman take us behind this brand new play by Tom Holloway, inspired by true events.
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Video
Introducing Season 2026
Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks takes us deeper into the stellar line-up of Australian stories, renowned classics and international hits of Season 2026.
Read
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Feature
Reflections of an assistant director
Lilah Benetti on their early connection with Hollywood star Sidney Poitier, and what they wish they knew earlier in their career.
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Feature
A Melbourne Moment with Marieke Hardy
From solo soy-soaked dinners beneath Hamer Hall to vegan jaffles with friends, find out writer Marieke Hardy's favourite spots.
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Feature
The Lounge photo display
A guide to the photos on display at The Lounge, Southbank Theatre.
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Feature
Reflections of an assistant director
Assistant Director Jamila Main on disability, queerness, and finding themself in Tennessee Williams' most personal play.
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Feature
The road to the West Gate Bridge
Learn more about Melbourne’s 2,582-metre box girder bridge.
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Feature
Melbourne Theatre Company receives 27 Green Room Award nominations
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Feature
Much ado about the big blue house
Set Designer Anna Cordingley on power, property and the renowned St Kilda house that inspired the world of Much Ado About Nothing.
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Feature
'I was about to go full Breaking Bad'
Genevieve Morris on finding the humour and humanity to play Cory Taylor in Dying: A Memoir.
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Feature
We need to talk about death
Nephrologist Dr Adam Steinberg on why it's crucial to have open, frank conversations about our mortality, ahead of the world premiere of Benjamin Law's stage adaptation of Dying: A Memoir.
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Feature
An exploration of the female mind
A Q&A with Anne-Louise Sarks on the process of adapting and directing Rebecca for the stage.
Watch
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Video
What is Losing Face all about?
‘Friendship. Death. Love. Aging and women and misogyny, and what the media tells us about how we should look.’
The cast chat through the themes behind this unforgettable new comedy. -
Video
The Glass Menagerie | Meet the Creative team
The creative team behind The Glass Menagerie discuss their process of bringing the world of Tennessee Williams’ classic play to life on stage through set and costume design, lighting and music.
-
Video
What are audiences saying about Retrograde?
Hear what audiences are saying about Retrograde.
-
Video
Ask the Director | Bert LaBonté and MinterEllison Future Director Lilah Benetti
Year 11 Theatre Arts students submit some hard-hitting questions to Retrograde director Bert LaBonté and MinterEllison Future Director Lilah Benetti.
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Video
Retrograde Trailer
Watch the video trailer for Retrograde ahead of seeing the production live on stage.
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Video
Shoelace Chaser | Meet the team
Meet the cast and creatives bringing Madelaine Nunn's new comedy to life.
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Video
Bert LaBonté, Donné Ngabo, Josh McConville & Alan Dale on Retrograde
Director Bert LaBonté and the cast of this gripping Australian premiere discuss why this is a production you shouldn't miss.
-
Video
Retrograde | Portraying Sidney Poitier
What does it take to portray a Hollywood icon? Donné Ngabo explains.
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Video
The Glass Menagerie | On Stage Now
A pivotal piece of theatre magic, brought to life by a luminous cast.
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Video
Shoelace Chaser | Inside the rehearsal room
Get your first look at this world premiere written by Madelaine Nunn and directed by Liv Satchell. Starring Zoe Boesen, Leigh Lule and Elliot Wood.
MTC Digital Theatre
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News
Five MTC Productions nominated for Green Room Awards
We’re delighted to receive 15 nominations for five of our Season 2021 productions for the 39th annual Green Room Awards.
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Video
Playing the Part
Hear from the cast of As You Like It as they discuss the process of bringing Shakespeare's characters to life on stage.
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Video
Creating Costumes
Discover how the MTC wardrobe team brought Alicia Clements's intricate costume designs for As You Like It to life.
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Video
Shakespearean Comedy
Director Simon Phillips and members of the As You Like It cast discuss the specifics of what makes this play funny.
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Script Notes
All the world's a stage
Tim Walter performs one of Shakespeare's most iconic speeches in As You Like It. Discover how he brings the words to life with his notes on the Seven Ages of Man monologue.
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Education
As You Like It Education Pack
A resource pack for teachers and students to learn more about Shakespeare's As You Like It, with activities to analyse and explore the MTC production.
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Interview
Creating the Forest of Arden on stage
Production Manager Michele Preshaw and Scenic Art Supervisor Shane Dunn reflect on the process of bringing Shakespeare's Forest of Arden to life on the Sumner stage.
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Q&A
Designing As You Like It
Set and Costume Designer Alicia Clements explores the process of creating the magical world of As You Like It on stage.
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Q&A
Directing As You Like It
Director Simon Phillips discusses the specifics of Shakespearean comedy, mistaken identity and witty wordplay in As You Like It.
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Q&A
Lighting As You Like It
Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper discusses shadow, colour and light in his work on As You Like It.
Ask MTC
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Ask MTC
How do you manage water onstage?
For this instalment of Ask MTC, Nick asks how the Company manages water onstage. CAD Drafter Jacob Battista answers, with a little help from Health & Safety Coordinator Liz Mundell.
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Ask MTC
Do you have an armoury?
In this instalment of Ask MTC, Senior Production Technician Allan Hirons answers Simon’s question about prop guns and onstage SFX.
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Ask MTC
Have you seen a theatre ghost?!
Break a leg! Ghost lights (and theatre ghosts). The Scottish play. This Ask MTC question is all about the spooky and the superstitious on stage.
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Ask MTC
How do you write a play?
Benjamin Law answers a collection of audience questions about how to write a play – including the mechanics of writing character and dialogue, finding inspiration, and the challenges of writing for the stage versus writing for the screen or the page.
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Ask MTC
How are your wigs made?
For Ask MTC, our dedicated wigs and make-up artist Jurga Celikiene answers Hilary’s question about how we make our actors’ wigs – and details the journey of one wig over 14 years!
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Ask MTC
How does a revolve work?
This week, Nick asked about the revolve on a stage – what is it and how does it work? One of our technical wizards, Kerry Saxby, provides the answer.
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Ask MTC
What happens to props and sets after a show?
This week, Props Buyer Jess Maguire answers a question submitted by Lee, who wants to know what happens to our props and sets after a show is finished – do we re-use them? If so, how often and how do we re-purpose them?
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Ask MTC
What do actors do when they forget their lines?
This week, Michelle Lim Davidson answers a question from Janice, who wants to know how actors remember all their lines, and how they cope when they forget one!
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Ask MTC
Open House Melbourne: Your questions answered
During Open House Melbourne last weekend, we threw open Southbank Theatre’s virtual doors for a behind-the-scenes tour with Theatre Operations Director Mark Wheeler, and then opened the floor to your questions.
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Ask MTC
How do I go about becoming a playwright?
In this regular feature, you ask the questions and we answer them. This week’s questioner didn't leave a name, but asked all about playwriting. Great question, Anonymous!
