Backstage
Bringing you the joy, curiosity and entertainment of a trip to the theatre.
The Black Woman of Gippsland
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Video
Scene clip | Jacinta traces history
Check out this scene from Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai playwright Andrea James's new play.
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Video
Introducing country with Gunnai consultant Wayne Thorpe
Learn more about Wayne Thorpe's role in The Black Woman of Gippsland, the five clans that make up Gunaikurnai country, and just how important this production is to reclaim history.
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In Conversation
Country, Culture and First Nations knowledges
Find out more about our panellists taking part in this free conversation.
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Video
The Black Woman of Gippsland Community Night
Check out this wrap of Community Night, where members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community were invited to watch the brand new work by Andrea James.
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The Black Woman of Gippsland Trailer
Watch the video trailer for The Black Woman of Gippsland ahead of seeing the production live on stage.
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Programme
The Black Woman of Gippsland programme
Writer/Director Andrea James has been musing on this story for years. Learn more about why she was compelled to tell it, the music in the play and meet the cast and creatives in our immersive, digital programme.
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Video
The power of music in The Black Woman of Gippsland
Hear from Writer/Director Andrea James and Composer & Sound Designer James Henry on how they translated and revived colonial records into songs for the Gunaikurnai people.
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Video
The Black Woman of Gippsland in rehearsals
Get your first look at The Black Woman of Gippsland starring Zach Blampied, Chenoa Deemal, Brent Watkins, Ursula Yovich and Ian Bliss.
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Feature
Reviving stories through song
Writer/Director Andrea James and Sound Designer & Composer James Henry on reclaiming culture and the power of music in The Black Woman of Gippsland.
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Video
The Black Woman of Gippsland | Chenoa Deemal interview
Chenoa Deemal discusses why it's integral for First Nations voices to push through the ceiling and why she's drawn to her character's determination and grit.
Season 2025
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Video
Much Ado About Nothing | Alison Bell and Fayssal Bazzi interview
For the first time in 30 years, Melbourne Theatre Company presents a brand new production of Shakespeare’s joyous war of words and razor-sharp banter starring Fayssal Bazzi and Alison Bell.
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Video
Dying: A Memoir | Genevieve Morris interview
Genevieve Morris explains how her lived experience will help in her portrayal of Cory Taylor in Dying: A Memoir, a story filled with humour and heart.
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Video
Rebecca | Bert LaBonte, Nikki Shiels and Pamela Rabe interview
The cast of Anne-Louise Sarks's revival of Daphne du Maurier's classic 1938 novel discuss why lovers of thrillers, mystery and romance will love Rebecca.
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Video
Kimerbly Akimbo | Marina Prior and Christie Whelan Browne interview
Playing mother and daughter, Marina Prior and Christie Whelan Browne tell us why this uplifting musical will make audiences laugh, cry and fall in love with the music.
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Video
Mother Play | Sigrid Thornton interview
No stranger to Melbourne Theatre Company, Sigrid Thornton tells us why playing Phyllis feels like a homecoming.
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Video
The Wrong Gods | Nadie Kammallaweera and Radhika Mudaliyar interview
Nadie Kammallaweera and Radhika Mudaliyar reveal why they're excited to work on a play in Season 2025 that champions strong women.
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Video
The Robot Dog | Roshelle Yee Pui Fong and Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan interview
Playwrights Roshelle Yee Pui Fong and Matthew Ngamurarri Heffernan on how they collaborated to bring this funny, clever play to life.
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Video
Never Have I Ever | Chika Ikogwe, Simon Gleeson, Katie Robertson and Sunny S Walia interview
The cast of Never Have I Ever on why they're drawn to this quick, sharp comedy written by Deborah Frances-White.
Read
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Feature
A Melbourne Moment with Nikki Shiels
Ahead of her starring role in Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of Rebecca, find out how many books Nikki Shiels has on the go and the basement bar she loves.
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In Conversation
Country, Culture and First Nations knowledges
Find out more about our panellists taking part in this free conversation.
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Feature
Reviving stories through song
Writer/Director Andrea James and Sound Designer & Composer James Henry on reclaiming culture and the power of music in The Black Woman of Gippsland.
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Feature
A Melbourne Moment with Sigrid Thornton
Ahead of her starring role in Mother Play, find out where Sigrid Thornton goes for a late-night meal after a performance and the Melbourne-based creative she is currently inspired by.
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Feature
Reflections of an Assistant Director
Liv Satchell reveals why she wanted to be a part of Anne-Louise Sarks’s revival of The Removalists, her poignant interaction with an audience member and why David Williamson’s 1971 play remains startlingly relevant today.
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Feature
Melbourne Theatre Company receives 27 Green Room Award nominations
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Feature
Reflections of an assistant director
Never Have I Ever Assistant Director Aubrey Flood on what she learnt from the room and her advice for those looking for a career in the industry.
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Feature
More than a game
Find out more about our panellists and the artwork ahead of the discussion.
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Feature
Welcome to Masada
Set & Costume Designer Zoe Rouse on creating a Turkish-inspired restaurant for Never Have I Ever
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Q&A
FAQs | On-stage seating
Keen to learn more about on-stage seating? Check out our handy FAQs.
Watch
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Video
What are audiences saying about The Wrong Gods?
Hear what audiences are saying about The Wrong Gods by S. Shakthidharan.
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Video
Scene clip | Jacinta traces history
Check out this scene from Yorta Yorta/Gunaikurnai playwright Andrea James's new play.
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Video
A chat with Merlynn Tong and Joe Paradise Lui
Hear from the wildly talented co-creators of LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) on why this is a not-to-be-missed production.
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Video
Introducing country with Gunnai consultant Wayne Thorpe
Learn more about Wayne Thorpe's role in The Black Woman of Gippsland, the five clans that make up Gunaikurnai country, and just how important this production is to reclaim history.
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Video
Community, family and freedom
Writer & Co-Director S. Shakthidharan and Co-Director Hannah Goodwin on why this mother and daughter tale set in remote India speaks to Australians right now.
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Video
The Black Woman of Gippsland Community Night
Check out this wrap of Community Night, where members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community were invited to watch the brand new work by Andrea James.
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Video
The power of music in The Black Woman of Gippsland
Hear from Writer/Director Andrea James and Composer & Sound Designer James Henry on how they translated and revived colonial records into songs for the Gunaikurnai people.
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Video
The Black Woman of Gippsland in rehearsals
Get your first look at The Black Woman of Gippsland starring Zach Blampied, Chenoa Deemal, Brent Watkins, Ursula Yovich and Ian Bliss.
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Video
Ask the Director | Anne-Louise Sarks and MinterEllison Future Director Liv Satchell
Year 11 Theatre Arts students at VCASS submitted some creative questions to Director Anne-Louise Sarks and Assistant Director Liv Satchell.
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Video
The Removalists | An enduring Australian story
Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks, Assistant Director Liv Satchell, Martin Blum, Jessica Clarke, Eloise Mignon, William McKenna, Michael Whalley and Steve Mouzakis on why this arresting play is still an important story to tell.
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!