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Press Release

Peddling

22 Mar 2016

Peddling is the ground-breaking debut play from Harry Potter film star Harry Melling, an urban story told in freeform snap-rap about street kids selling goods door-to-door.

Susie Dee directs Melbourne Theatre Company’s Australian premiere production of this poetic one-person play starring Darcy Brown, which opens at Southbank Theatre, The Lawler on Friday 22 April before touring to regional Victoria and Tasmania.

Director Susie Dee said, ‘There’s a fluid poetry in Harry Melling’s writing that is utterly transfixing and exciting for the creative team and audience alike. We will be using live percussion to enhance the inherent lyricism in the piece and I can’t wait to begin working with Darcy and the team to bring the production to life.’

NIDA graduate Darcy Brown, who was a member of Bell Shakespeare’s award-winning Henry V ensemble, plays The Boy at the centre of the story – an unnamed, disaffected teenager trying to make sense of his place in the world, his troubled past and his uncertain future.

On his journey of self-discovery The Boy takes audiences through contemporary London, from streets of establishment mansions to multistorey carparks and empty lots where the homeless and down-and-outs seek refuge.

Writer Harry Melling began his career at eleven years of age as an actor in the Harry Potter films playing Dudley Dursley. Since training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, Harry has appeared in productions for some of the UK’s leading theatres. He starred in the world premiere production of Peddling at London’s HighTide Festival in 2014 and the production subsequently transferred to New York as part of the ‘Brits Off Broadway Festival’ where it was selected as a New York Times Critic’s Pick.

Susie Dee has worked extensively in theatre as a performer, devisor and director in Australia and overseas for the past thirty years. In 2015 she directed Dee & Cornelius’ critically acclaimed production SHIT for MTC’s NEON Festival of Independent Theatre which has since received four Green Room Awards. Susie has been the Artistic Director of Melbourne Workers Theatre, Union House Theatre and ICE (Institute of Complex Entertainment). Susie has been nominated for and won numerous awards for her direction, including a 2013 Green Room Award for Savages and a 2014 Green Room nomination for The Long Pigs.

Peddling is MTC’s 2016 Education Production for secondary school students and a key component of the Company’s Education Program. After its Melbourne season Peddling is touring to five regional Victorian performing arts venues and to Launceston College in Tasmania. Performances are open to the general public as well as schools.

This MTC Education production is made possible by MTC Donors.

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Cast Darcy Brown

Director Susie Dee
Set & Costume Designer Marg Horwell
Lighting Designer Andy Turner
Composer & Sound Designer Kelly Ryall
Percussionist Bec Matthews

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‘Groundbreaking… a joy to watch.’ The Telegraph (UK)

‘A modern classic in the making.’ The Public Review

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Melbourne season dates
21 April – 6 May

Venue
Southbank Theatre, The Lawler

Opening night
Friday 22 April, 7pm

Tickets on sale now
MTC Box Office
03 8688 0800
mtc.com.au

Regional tour dates
9 May – 27 May
More information

#mtcPeddling
“@MelbTheatreCo(@MelbTheatreCo)”:https://twitter.com/melbtheatreco
mtc.com.au/Peddling

Published on 22 March 2016