Backstage
Bringing you the joy, curiosity and entertainment of a trip to the theatre.
Cost of Living
-
Cost of Living trailer
Watch the video trailer for Cost of Living ahead of seeing the production live on stage.
-
Feature
Worlds Apart: Designing contrasting spaces in Cost of Living
Set & Costume Designer Matilda Woodroofe explains her inspiration, how she consulted with the cast and why she feels supported by Melbourne Theatre Company.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Jersey quiz
How well do Aaron Pedersen, Mabel Li, Rachel Edmonds and Anthea Williams know the US state the play is set in? Hosted by Oli Pizzey Stratford, we challenged them to a New Jersey quiz to find out.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Meet Aaron and Vinnie Pedersen
Since he was 27, Aaron Pedersen has been his brother Vinnie Pedersen's full-time carer. Vinnie has accompanied Aaron on acting roles all around Australia, including here at Melbourne Theatre Company.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Authenticity and humanity
Mabel Li, Oli Pizzey Stratford, Aaron Pedersen, Rachel Edmonds and Director Anthea Williams discuss why this story is an authentic portrayal of disability, humanity and connection.
-
Programme
Cost of Living programme
Making her Melbourne Theatre Company directorial debut, Anthea Williams describes why this play is one she relates to so viscerally. Plus, meet the incredible team responsible for bringing this to our stage.
-
Video
Cost of Living | A story filled with heart and humour
We sat down with Director Anthea Williams, Rachel Edmonds, Mabel Li, Aaron Pedersen and Oli Pizzey Stratford to discuss the humour within the work, and why they feel like one big family.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Rachel Edmonds and Aaron Pedersen interview
Rachel Edmonds and Aaron Pedersen play Ani and Eddie. Hear them discuss why they connected to Martyna Majok's story of connection, community and privilege.
-
Cost of Living | Mabel Li and Oli Pizzey Stratford Interview
Hear from Mabel Li and Oli Pizzey Stratford on why they connected with Martyna Majok's award-winning script delving into the lives of four mismatched souls struggling for connection.
Season 2024
-
Videos
Meet Me at Dawn | Sheridan Harbridge Interview
Discover how Sheridan Harbridge connected with her character and why the script by Zinnie Harris captures everything she loves about theatre.
-
Video
English | Tasnim Hossain Interview
Director of English Tasnim Hossain tells us why she loves the humour and warmth in this Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy.
-
Video
Seventeen | Fiona Choi and Richard Piper Interview
Fiona Choi and Richard Piper discuss playing teenagers, and why their characters are more complex than meets the eye.
-
Video
37 | Ngali Shaw Interview
Ngali Shaw on his eagerness to take part in the stunning new work penned by Nathan Maynard.
-
Video
The Almighty Sometimes | Nadine Garner and Max McKenna Interview
Taking on the roles of a mother and daughter, Nadine Garner and Max McKenna chat to us about the familial bond in The Almighty Sometimes, and why the story will resonate with audiences.
-
Video
A Streetcar Named Desire | Nikki Shiels Interview
Nikki Shiels reveals why she's thrilled to take part in one of the most critically acclaimed plays of the twentieth century.
-
Cost of Living | Mabel Li and Oli Pizzey Stratford Interview
Hear from Mabel Li and Oli Pizzey Stratford on why they connected with Martyna Majok's award-winning script delving into the lives of four mismatched souls struggling for connection.
-
Video
Golden Blood | Merlynn Tong Interview
Writer and actor Merlynn Tong unveils the inspiration behind Golden Blood, and why she can't wait to bring it to Melbourne Theatre Company.
-
Video
My Brilliant Career | Kala Gare Interview
Hear Kala Gare outline the reasons why she admires this new Australian work and the talented creatives who have brought it to life.
-
Video
World Problems | Carly Sheppard Interview
Discover why Carly Sheppard thinks World Problems is a story for now that will strike a chord with audiences young and old.
Read
-
Feature
Worlds Apart: Designing contrasting spaces in Cost of Living
Set & Costume Designer Matilda Woodroofe explains her inspiration, how she consulted with the cast and why she feels supported by Melbourne Theatre Company.
-
Feature
Celebrating Open House Melbourne at Southbank Theatre
We let visitors get a glimpse of what goes on behind the curtain.
-
Feature
The other side of the stage
Bert LaBonté reflects on making his directorial debut with Suzan-Lori Parks's Topdog/Underdog.
-
Feature
Topdog/Underdog | Introducing Damon Manns and Ras-Samuel
Making their debut as the card-hustling brothers in Topdog/Underdog, Damon Manns and Ras-Samuel have created a brotherhood that is as believable offstage as it is onstage.
-
Feature
The legacy of Ray Lawler
Following the passing of the much-loved member of the Melbourne Theatre Company community, we take a look at how his legacy continues in the theatre we named in his honour
-
Feature
Creating costumes for English
Set & Costume Designer Kat Chan on transporting audiences to Karaj in 2008 through costumes.
-
Feature
Open House Melbourne Theatre Company exhibition
Learn more about the pieces on display at Southbank Theatre
-
Feature
Nina Sepahpour English theatre takeover
Learn more about illustrator Nina Sepahpour and her window designs at Southbank Theatre.
-
Feature
Melbourne Makers: Stefan Gregory
Composer and Sound Designer Stefan Gregory discusses putting a contemporary musical frame around Tennessee Williams’s A Streetcar Named Desire.
-
Feature
Planting the seed
Author and Teach Us Consent founder Chanel Contos reflects on the impact of Julia Gillard's 'misogyny speech' on the next generation of women.
Watch
-
Video
Meet the cast of Golden Blood
Merlynn Tong and Charles Wu star in this gripping familial drama set beneath the skyscrapers and shopping malls of Singapore and into the seedy realm of violence, drugs and chaos that forms its underbelly.
-
Video
Someone Like Me | My Brilliant Career
Check out Kala Gare, Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward, Victoria Falconer and Mathew Frank performing one of the hits from My Brilliant Career.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Jersey quiz
How well do Aaron Pedersen, Mabel Li, Rachel Edmonds and Anthea Williams know the US state the play is set in? Hosted by Oli Pizzey Stratford, we challenged them to a New Jersey quiz to find out.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Meet Aaron and Vinnie Pedersen
Since he was 27, Aaron Pedersen has been his brother Vinnie Pedersen's full-time carer. Vinnie has accompanied Aaron on acting roles all around Australia, including here at Melbourne Theatre Company.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Authenticity and humanity
Mabel Li, Oli Pizzey Stratford, Aaron Pedersen, Rachel Edmonds and Director Anthea Williams discuss why this story is an authentic portrayal of disability, humanity and connection.
-
Video
Cost of Living | A story filled with heart and humour
We sat down with Director Anthea Williams, Rachel Edmonds, Mabel Li, Aaron Pedersen and Oli Pizzey Stratford to discuss the humour within the work, and why they feel like one big family.
-
Video
Meet Assistant Director Afsaneh Torabi
Afsaneh Torabi – one of our 2024 MinterEllison Future Directors – tells us what she's learnt from Director Tasnim Hossain that she will take into future rehearsal rooms.
-
Video
Cost of Living | Rachel Edmonds and Aaron Pedersen interview
Rachel Edmonds and Aaron Pedersen play Ani and Eddie. Hear them discuss why they connected to Martyna Majok's story of connection, community and privilege.
-
Video
Topdog/Underdog | Three-card monte
We challenged Damon Manns and Ras-Samuel to a three-card monte showdown.
-
Video
Todog/Underdog | Meet the team
Director LaBonté invites us into the rehearsal room to meet Damon Manns, Ras-Samuel, Set & Costume Designer Sophie Woodward, Composer & Sound Designer Dan West and Lighting Designer Rachel Lee.
MTC Digital Theatre
-
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.
-
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.
-
Video
Creating Costumes
Discover how the MTC wardrobe team brought Alicia Clements's intricate costume designs for As You Like It to life.
-
Video
Shakespearean Comedy
Director Simon Phillips and members of the As You Like It cast discuss the specifics of what makes this play funny.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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!
-
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.
-
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?
-
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!
-
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.
-
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!