MTC NOW
Bringing you the joy, curiosity and entertainment of a trip to the theatre.
Season 2022
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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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Videos
The Heartbreak Choir in rehearsals
Join The Heartbreak Choir cast and creative team in the rehearsal room and get a sneak peek of this joyous and uplifting celebration of music, friendship and community.
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Features
Musical connections
The Heartbreak Choir's Musical Director, Vicky Jacobs, talks to us about how music and singing work within the play and how choirs have the power to bring us together.
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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
Unpacking Admissions with the cast and director
Hear from the cast and director about how Admissions lets no one off the hook and puts the audience right in the centre of the debate.
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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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Features
No easy answers
Kat Stewart is back at MTC in the biting, satirical comedy Admissions. She tells us why it’s a play she couldn’t ignore and why she’s drawn to complex, flawed characters.
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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.
The Heartbreak Choir
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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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Videos
The Heartbreak Choir in rehearsals
Join The Heartbreak Choir cast and creative team in the rehearsal room and get a sneak peek of this joyous and uplifting celebration of music, friendship and community.
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Programme
The Heartbreak Choir programme
Learn more about Aidan Fennessy’s The Heartbreak Choir – an uplifting celebrating of music, friendship and community.
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Features
Aidan Fennessy (1967–2020)
In memory of Aidan Fennessy, we look back on his impressive collection of work with Melbourne Theatre Company.
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Features
Musical connections
The Heartbreak Choir's Musical Director, Vicky Jacobs, talks to us about how music and singing work within the play and how choirs have the power to bring us together.
MTC Digital Theatre
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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
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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Interactive
As You Like It Set Design Virtual Tour
Explore Alicia Clements's sprawling set design for Shakespeare's As You Like It in this virtual tour.
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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.
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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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Interviews
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.
Backstage Banter
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Grace Cummings and Michael Wahr
Meet the stars of Joanna Murray-Smith's romantic thriller, Berlin.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Dan Spielman & Izabella Yena
Get to know the two leads from our production of Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Susie Youssef
Learn more about Susie Youssef's journey to the stage, favourite memories and dream of being cast as one of the characters from Little Women.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Marina Prior
Australian theatre icon Marina Prior answers your questions about the highlights, and lowlights, of her 36 year career, dream roles and advice for those wishing to take to the stage.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Richard Piper
Sit down with much-loved actor Richard Piper as he recounts his first audition for MTC, previews his favourite accents and shares treasured moments from his career so far.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Ainsley Melham
Musical star Ainsley Melham discusses working on Broadway, moments he wishes he could forget and his dream of working with Beth Leavel.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Kamil Ellis
Hear from Kamil Ellis as he chats to us about memorable auditions, falling asleep on set, and turning his passion into a career.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter with Jing-Xuan Chan
Join Jing-Xuan Chan as she answers audience questions about her career highlights, pre-show routines and dream of playing a superhero for her Marvel-obsessed nephew.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter returns
Ask an actor a question for the return of Backstage Banter, supported by ANZ.
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Backstage Banter
Backstage Banter
Join actors Fiona Choi, Nadine Garner, Louise Siversen, Michael Wahr and Izabella Yena as they discuss their career highlights, memorable auditions and theatrical superstitions.
MTC Audio Lab
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MTC Audio Lab
NAIDOC Week 2020
In celebration of NAIDOC Week 2020, revisit iconic speeches and poetry from leading First Nations voices and key players in historical campaigns for the rights of Indigenous Australians.
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MTC Audio Lab
The Turn of the Screw: Q&A with Director Sarah Goodes
In this special episode, learn about the creative journey that brought The Turn of the Screw into the sound studio.
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MTC Audio Lab
The Turn of the Screw: Part Three
Tune in for the gripping conclusion of Henry James’s gothic thriller, The Turn of the Screw.
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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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MTC Audio Lab
The Turn of the Screw: Part Two
The haunting classic continues in Part Two of Henry James’s gothic thriller, The Turn of the Screw.
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MTC Audio Lab
The Turn of the Screw: Part One
MTC Associate Artistic Director Sarah Goodes directs a dramatic reading of Henry James’s classic gothic thriller, The Turn of the Screw.
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MTC Audio Lab
A whisper in your ear…
The second series of MTC Audio Lab takes us on an eerie literary journey with a dramatic reading of Henry James’s classic ghost story, The Turn of the Screw. Director Sarah Goodes shares her vision for an act of collective imagination.
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MTC Audio Lab
American Gothic: From James to Jackson
On the continuing legacy of Henry James’s gothic thriller The Turn of the Screw, one of contemporary literature’s most enduring and inspiring classics.
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MTC Audio Lab
Introduction with Petra Kalive
We kick off our new series of audio dramas, MTC Audio Lab, with Great Australian Speeches.
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MTC Audio Lab
Banjo Paterson's The Man From Snowy River
Mark Coles Smith recites Australian poet Banjo Paterson's The Man from Snowy River.
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!