Backstage
Bringing you the joy, curiosity and entertainment of a trip to the theatre.
The Jungle and the Sea
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The Jungle and the Sea | Meet the Family
The Jungle and the Sea follows one family’s epic journey through the upheaval of Sri Lanka’s decades-long civil war.
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Feature
Music as character
For musician Arjunan Puveendran, performing in The Jungle and the Sea is both a creative act and a deeply personal one
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Programme
The Jungle and the Sea programme
Co-creators S. Shakthidharan and Eamon Flack share what drove them to bring this epic to the stage. Plus, meet the cast and creatives in our immersive digital programme.
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Characters in The Jungle and the Sea
Hear from the cast of The Jungle and the Sea as they discuss their characters in the story.
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The Jungle and the Sea pre-show resource
Prepare to see The Jungle and the Sea on stage with these VCE Theatre Studies insights and activities.
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The revolve in The Jungle and the Sea
The cast and creative team discuss the incredible – and sometimes terrifying! – effects of the revolving stage in this epic play.
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Carnatic Instruments
Musicians Indu Balachandran and Arjunan Puveendran discuss the Carnatic instruments and music in The Jungle and the Sea.
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Interview with Anandavalli
Eamon Flack in conversation with Anandavalli about creating The Jungle and the Sea.
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The reMAKERS podcast with S.Shakthidharan
Acclaimed writer S. Shakthidharan discusses creating The Jungle and the Sea.
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Costume design in The Jungle and the Sea
S. Shakthidharan and Set & Costume Designer Dale Ferguson dive into the intricacies of the costumes in The Jungle and the Sea.
Uncle Vanya
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Uncle Vanya Trailer
Chekhov’s timeless tale finds new life in the hands of Joanna Murray-Smith and Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks.
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Programme
Uncle Vanya programme
Read Joanna Murray-Smith's thoughts on the pleasures of working with a Chekhov original, and take a look at the costume sketches before you see Uncle Vanya on stage.
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Uncle Vanya | A masterful examination of the human condition
The cast and Director Anne-Louise Sarks unpack the enduring qualities of Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya and why our winter blockbuster production is one you can't miss.
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Video
Uncle Vanya in Rehearsals
Take a peek inside the rehearsal room as the Uncle Vanya team prepares to bring Chekhov's timeless tale of longing, unrequited love and the fragile hope of change to Arts Centre Melbourne.
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Video
Uncle Vanya | Meet the team
The cast and Director Anne-Louise Sarks discuss the comedy in Joanna Murray-Smith's adaptation of the Chekhov classic.
Season 2026
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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
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
Music as character
For musician Arjunan Puveendran, performing in The Jungle and the Sea is both a creative act and a deeply personal one
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Feature
Reflections of an assistant director
MinterEllison Future Director Laura McKenzie on femme clowns and the joy of being a small fish in the Losing Face rehearsal room.
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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.
Watch
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Video
Uncle Vanya in Rehearsals
Take a peek inside the rehearsal room as the Uncle Vanya team prepares to bring Chekhov's timeless tale of longing, unrequited love and the fragile hope of change to Arts Centre Melbourne.
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Video
Uncle Vanya | Meet the team
The cast and Director Anne-Louise Sarks discuss the comedy in Joanna Murray-Smith's adaptation of the Chekhov classic.
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Video
Losing Face | On stage now
An absolutely unhinged and spikily clever new comedy about friendship and the true price of chasing youth.
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Video
Are you fluent in wellness?
The Losing Face cast put their knowledge to the test as they attempt to define wellness buzzwords.
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Video
Losing Face in Rehearsal
Get a peek inside the rehearsal room as the Losing Face team prepare to bring this unhinged new comedy from Marieke Hardy to the Sumner stage.
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Video
Ask the Director | Leticia Cáceres and MinterEllison Future Director Laura McKenzie
What's your go-to food after a long day of rehearsal? Our Youth Ambassadors submit their burning questions.
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Video
What is Losing Face all about?
Friendship. Death. Love. Aging. The cast chat through the themes behind this unforgettable new comedy.
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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
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.
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!
