Discover more about the work of MTC staff and artists in various production roles.
MTC Education Online is supported by the Ian Potter Foundation and the Victorian Department of Education and Training.
Acting
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Features
Singing through change
William McInnes chats to us about how his character Peter confronts change in The Heartbreak Choir and why he hopes audiences will see bits and pieces of themselves in this poignant, funny story.
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Features
Authentically fitting in
Ratidzo Mambo is thrilled to be playing a Zimbabwean character in The Heartbreak Choir, but she almost didn’t accept the part. She tells us what got her over the line and how her character Aseni is driven by truth and authenticity.
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Interviews
Channelling courage
Louise Siversen is the good-hearted, headstrong Totty in The Heartbreak Choir. We talk to her about what it’s like working on a new play and how Totty has inspired her to be more courageous.
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Q&A
Tsungirai Wachenuka in conversation
We chat to actor Tsungirai Wachenuka during rehearsals for SLAP. BANG. KISS.
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Q&A
Sarah Fitzgerald in conversation
We chat to actor Sarah Fitzgerald during rehearsals for SLAP. BANG. KISS.
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Q&A
Conor Leach in conversation
Actor Conor Leach provides insight into his character and discusses how he's exploring contrast in rehearsals for SLAP. BANG. KISS.
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Features
Making an entrance
William McKenna is making his MTC debut in Admissions. We talk to him about his journey so far and how he prepared for his role in this explosive and provocative play.
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Videos
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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Videos
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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Education
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.
Set & Costume Design
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Features
Melbourne Makers: Sophie Woodward
As Costume Designer for Come Rain or Come Shine Sophie Woodward sets her sights on the iconic eras of the late 70s and early 80s. She talks to us about getting these just right, how her career took off and some of her favourite productions so far.
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Q&A
Designing SLAP. BANG. KISS.
Set & Costume Designer Kate Davis discusses symbolism, function and aesthetics in her designs for SLAP. BANG. KISS.
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Interviews
Designing a playground for debate
A sharp-witted play requires an agile and fast-paced set. We talk to Set Designer Jacob Battista about how he achieved this for Admissions, where he found inspiration and why he hopes audiences are left questioning.
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Videos
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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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
Costuming Cyrano
Designer Jo Briscoe discusses how costumes communicate character, and practical considerations in costume design.
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Education
The set design process
Christina Smith explains the process of designing the set for Berlin by Joanna Murray-Smith.
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Q&A
Fragments of History
Set Designer Christina Smith talks with MTC about exploding houses, researching like a spider, the sandwich of history – and how this all informed her design for the Berlin set.
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Features
How to make an Elizabethan ruff
The artisans who work behind the scenes on MTC shows may be out of sight but their impressive skills and talent are vital in creating the magic of theatre. Costume maker John Van Gastel gives us a glimpse of what’s involved.
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Videos
Set Design Presentation
Watch Anna Cordingley's design presentation for the 2019 MTC production of Storm Boy and learn more about the set and costumes.
Directing
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Q&A
Directing SLAP. BANG. KISS.
Director Katy Maudlin discusses motifs, rhythm and space in SLAP. BANG. KISS. as rehearsals commence.
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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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Interviews
Interrogating reality through comedy
Director Sarah Giles discusses the maths of humour, the music of The Truth and the greatest lie of all: the theatre.
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Videos
A Director Prepares
How do directors choose plays? Is their relationship with the audience different from an actor’s? What are they looking for during the previews? How DO directors direct?
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Q&A
Meet Petra Kalive
MTC’s new Associate Director Petra Kalive talks about her journey, and reflects on what this moment of ‘great pause’ means for theatre now and in the future.
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Videos
Directing | Theatre Production Processes
Learn more about what directors do in each stage of the theatre production process.
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Q&A
Talking stuff with Dean Bryant
Torch the Place director Dean Bryant discusses the world premiere of a production overflowing with ideas.
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Features
Into the Wild
Director Prue Clark revisits her teenage years for her MTC directorial debut.
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Features
Directing Hungry Ghosts
Director Petra Kalive provides insight into the creative development for Jean Tong’s exciting new play Hungry Ghosts.
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MTC Talks
Interview with Eddie Perfect and Dean Bryant
Eddie Perfect and Director Dean Bryant talk about the first time they met, their time studying Performing Arts at WAAPA, and the work that goes into creating a new Australian Musical.
Lighting Design
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Q&A
Lighting SLAP. BANG. KISS.
Lighting Designer Amelia Lever-Davidson discusses how she uses a range of fixtures to create many different worlds for SLAP. BANG. KISS.
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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.
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Q&A
Lighting Berlin
Lighting Designer Niklas Pajanti discusses his approach to lighting Berlin.
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Features
Lighting in the Sumner
Lighting Supervisor Richard Gorr explains how the various lighting positions and equipment at Southbank Theatre are used to create magic on stage.
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Q&A
Lights, colour and fantasy
Amelia Lever-Davidson sheds light on the task of illuminating Torch the Place.
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Q&A
Lighting a Love Story
Lighting designer Matt Scott helps sculpt a visual language for Shakespeare in Love.
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Q&A
Lighting Storm Boy
Lighting designer Matt Scott explains the concepts and process for his work on Storm Boy.
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Q&A
From Darkness to Light
Lighting designer Niklas Pajanti discusses lighting effects as an expression of the characters in Così.
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Q&A
Light and Rhythm
Lighting Designer Amelia Lever-Davidson discusses her work on The Violent Outburst That Drew Me to You.
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Q&A
Lighting Designer Niklas Pajanti
Lighting Designer Niklas Pajanti tells us how lights are used to heighten and release moments of tension on stage.
Props
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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
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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Education
Props Store Treasure Hunt
Explore MTC HQ in our virtual tour, and find these props hiding in the Small Props Store.
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Videos
Props Presentation
Watch Anna Cordingley's design presentation for the 2019 MTC production of Storm Boy and learn more about the props.
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Features
Building the van
How did designer Alicia Clements — with a dedicated team of contracted and permanent MTC staff — build two life-size vans for the stage?
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Features
Smashing the Tantalus
The Props team create a treasured family heirloom that smashes spectacularly on stage.
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Features
Designing Sue's House | Creating the cabinet
Explore how a plywood and pine replica cabinet was transformed into a mahogany and marble masterpiece.
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Features
Featured Faces: Colin & Geoff (Props)
Meet Colin and Geoff in our Props department.
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Features
How to Fake a Snag
Learn more to create 'fake snags on a barbecue', just like our Props team did for Australia Day.
Playwriting
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Q&A
Dan Giovannoni on SLAP. BANG. KISS.
Playwright Dan Giovannoni discusses the origins and evolution of his gripping new work.
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Videos
Why be a woman?
Playwright and actor Virginia Gay talks about why the title role of Cyrano is perfect for a woman to play.
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Interviews
A city of contradiction
A family holiday inspired playwright Joanna Murray-Smith to rediscover her Jewish heritage and write her latest play, Berlin.
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Q&A
Louris van de Geer on adapting The Well
Melbourne playwright Louris van de Geer talks about what attracted her to Elizabeth Jolley's novel, the benefits of the NEXT STAGE Writers' program, and the importance of art.
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Q&A
Diana Nguyen
Already a fan of Alice Pung’s work, Diana Nguyen is thrilled to now have the author’s blessing to adapt her award-winning YA novel Laurinda for the 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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Q&A
Meet Andrea James
It’s been an especially dramatic year for Andrea James, with the COVID-dictated cancellation of her MTC mainstage debut, and the awarding of a NEXT STAGE commission for her new play inspired by one of colonial Australia's first urban myths.
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Q&A
Meet Emme Hoy
Joining MTC this year as a NEXT STAGE writer-in-residence, Emme Hoy has been winning accolades and awards for her writing since high school. As a resident, she’s writing a play that’s a reaction to 2020, but maybe not in the way you’d expect...
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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!
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Q&A
Meet Merlynn Tong
Playwright Merlynn Tong tells us why she's excited to participate in Cybec Electric.
Puppetry
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Videos
Building the Puppets
Watch how the team at Dead Puppet Society designed and built the puppets in MTC's production of Storm Boy.
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Videos
Bringing the puppets to life
Ellen Bailey, Emily Burton and Drew Wilson are the puppeteers who give life to the Coorong’s penguins, snakes, fish and, of course, pelicans.
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Features
Behind the Puppets
We speak to the puppetry team who are giving life to a menagerie of creatures in Storm Boy.
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Videos
Meet Güüs
Discover how one surprise character in Vivid White stole the show – Güüs.
Composition & Sound Design
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Features
Melbourne Makers: Danni A. Esposito
Danni A. Esposito, the Sound Designer for The Sound Inside, is obsessed with dissecting scripts. They talk to us about where the obsession began, their career journey so far and the aural world of The Sound Inside.
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Q&A
Composing and sound designing SLAP. BANG. KISS.
Composer and Sound Designer Ian Moorhead discusses the key elements in his design for SLAP. BANG. KISS.
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Q&A
A musical world of shadows
Composer and Sound Designer Kelly Ryall discusses the sonic world he has created for Berlin.
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MTC Audio Lab
Designing Silences
Clemence Williams began 2020 as composer and sound designer on Torch the Place. Returning to MTC for The Turn of the Screw was a lifesaver, she says. Here, she talks about creating ambience designed to be barely noticed...
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Q&A
The Art of Sound
Currently working on Torch the Place, composer and sound designer Clemence Williams reveals how she uses sound to transport audiences through time and place.
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Q&A
The Sounds of Storm Boy
Composer and Sound Designer Darrin Verhagen tells us about the sonic world of Storm Boy.
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Q&A
The Sound of Anger
Composer and Sound Designer Ian Moorhead combines dubstep, Rambo and 8-bit video games in a sonic world for The Violent Outburst That Drew Me to You.
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Interviews
Imbued with Music
Composer and Sound Designer Chris Williams discusses the musical world of Così.
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Q&A
Composer and Sound Designer Chris Williams
Chris Williams discusses how composition and sound design support the emotional core of play.
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Features
Sidney Millar on Wild's sound design
Sidney Millar takes us on a month-long journey through Wild’s sound design.
