As we celebrate the five-star premiere of our newest NEXT STAGE original production, 37 by Nathan Maynard, we have been reflecting on the progress of the NEXT STAGE Writers' Program since it’s relaunch in 2023.
Over the past year, NEXT STAGE has proven to be a bold and ambitious play development initiative that rivals some of the world’s very best cultural institutions, and is having a tangible impact on the Australian theatre scene.
With investment from our Playwrights Giving Circle, we’ve been able to engage some of Australia’s greatest emerging, established and expert theatre makers this year - across commissions, employment within the New Work and Artistic departments, development workshops and NEXT STAGE productions as part of our Mainstage Season.
In figures for 2023, this works out as:
Our active commissions continued to go from strength to strength, and include works in development since the original program began in 2017. These include an Australian reimagining of War of the Worlds, a musical exploration of a silver-screen icon, and an exciting new offering for teen audiences.
Our 2023 NEXT STAGE productions, whilst very much unique in plot and style, demonstrated the breadth of Australian stories and the importance of investing in new writing.
Jacky by Declan Furber-Gillick
Bloom by Tom Gleisner and Katie Weston
My Sister Jill by Patricia Cornelius
A Very Jewish Christmas Carol by Elise Esther Hearst with Phillip Kavanagh
In recent news, we were thrilled to learn of 11 Green Room Award nominations for these works and their creative teams, with announcements due early April 2024:
Musical Theatre – Artist (Supporting)
- Vidya Makan for Bloom
Outstanding New Australian Writing
- Patricia Cornelius for My Sister Jill
- Declan Furber Gillick for Jacky
Outstanding Lighting Design
- Rachel Burke for My Sister Jill
Direction
- Susie Dee for My Sister Jill
Outstanding Costume Design
- Dann Barber for A Very Jewish Christmas Carol
Outstanding Ensemble
- Jacky
- My Sister Jill
Outstanding Production
- Jacky
- My Sister Jill
Outstanding Performer
- Ngali Shaw for Jacky
We look forward to sharing more NEXT STAGE updates with you in the coming year, and several new Australian works as part of Season 2024.
Learn more about the NEXT STAGE Writers’ Progrom.
To discuss how your support enables new work at Melbourne Theatre Company, please contact the philanthropy team at foundation@mtc.com.au.
Thank you to our Playwrights Giving Circle for sharing our passion and commitment to Australian stories and Australian writers.
Paul and Wendy Bonnici & Family, Tony and Janine Burgess, Kathleen Canfell, Fitzpatrick Sykes Family Foundation, Jane Hansen AO and Paul Little AO, Larry Kamener and Petra Kamener, The Margaret Lawrence Bequest, Helen Nicolay, Tania Seary and Chris Lynch, Craig Semple, Dr Richard Simmie
Published on 19 March 2024