Melbourne Theatre Company today paid tribute to Dr Roger Riordan AM who passed away on Wednesday 2 January 2019.
MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy AO said, ‘Roger was an immensely humble and generous man whose philanthropic leadership touched the lives of many. A long time subscriber, donor and friend of Melbourne Theatre Company, he will be remembered as a passionate advocate of supporting young people and as an engaged, insightful member of the community. ’
Roger’s generosity can be seen through the many successes of the Cybec Foundation, the charitable fund he established with his late wife Patricia.
As well as providing extensive support to disadvantaged members of the community, education and environment programs, Roger and Patricia were champions of the arts, and through the Cybec Foundation began donating to MTC in 2003 as supporters of the Company’s Play Commission Programme.
In 2006 Roger and Patricia’s passion for supporting young artists and bridging the gap between the emerging and the professional resulted in the creation of a new MTC initiative, now known as Cybec Electric. This annual program focuses on the development of plays by early-career writers, providing opportunities to connect young writers and directors to the mainstage and present public play readings of their works.
In 2015 MTC recognised Roger’s extraordinary contribution to the company with a Lifetime Patron Award.
Published on 8 January 2019