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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Backstage Banter

Backstage Banter returns

Ask an actor a question for the return of Backstage Banter, supported by ANZ.

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.

Backstage Banter

Ask an Actor

Submit a question for our online discussion with a panel of actors, Backstage Banter supported by ANZ.

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.

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.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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.

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.

MTC Audio Lab

Introduction with Petra Kalive

We kick off our new series of audio dramas, MTC Audio Lab, with Great Australian Speeches.

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

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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?

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!

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.

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!

Ask MTC

How do you maintain costumes?

In this regular feature, you ask the questions and we answer them. This week, Melissa wants to know how we look after costumes that are worn eight times a week, for multiple weeks, often during highly physical performances.

MTC Quiz

Opening Nights

For this week’s MTC Quiz, we revisit the last ten Abercrombie & Kent Opening Nights before lockdown. Do you recognise the cast and creatives in these opening night photos?

MTC Quiz

Onstage Appearances

For this week’s MTC Quiz, we revisit some of the on-stage appearances of our Backstage Banter panel. Do you remember which shows featured these actors?

MTC Quiz

Seen at the Sumner

As the home of MTC, Southbank Theatre has hosted twelve seasons of productions to date. Take this week’s MTC Quiz and try naming each of these plays seen on the Sumner stage.

MTC Quiz

Decades of Shakespeare

Across nearly seven decades, MTC has presented a number of unforgettable plays by the Bard. Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming each of these Shakespearean productions.

MTC Quiz

Stage Adaptations

Before they were plays, some stories seen at MTC began their life in another form – maybe a book, film or poem. Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming each of these stage adaptations.

MTC Quiz

Australian Plays

Some of our favourite productions have shown us a reflection of ourselves on stage. Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming each of these Australian plays.

MTC Quiz

Dinner Parties

Appearances can be deceiving, you may not think the food is real, but these on-stage dinners are good enough to eat! Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming each show that featured these dinner parties.

MTC Quiz

The Great Outdoors

Escape to the great outdoors from inside a theatre! Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming each show that featured these outdoor designs.

MTC Quiz

Grand Designs

The homes on stage in these MTC productions could be on Grand Designs! Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming each show that featured these jaw-dropping sets.

MTC Quiz

Name the directors

Directors are the people who unite the cast and creative team to bring a show to life on stage. Take this week's MTC Quiz and try naming the director of each show.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Karin Farrell

For our final instalment of MTC Recommendations, Programs Producer Karin Farrell extols the virtues of hygge, cups of tea and the little things that make life worthwhile, in or out of lockdown.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Carmen Lai

We’re sharing a few more recommendations from MTC team members. This week, Casting Administrator Carmen Lai dishes out a smorgasbord of things she has devoured lately.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Kathleen Higgs

During the shutdown, we’re sharing recommendations from MTC team members. This week, our Executive Director and Co/CEO’s Executive Administrator can see the light at the end of the lockdown tunnel and shares her plans for a post-COVID world.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Stephen Moore

During the COVID-19 shutdown, we’re sharing recommendations from team members at MTC. This week, our Associate Producer/Senior Company Manager offers some tips for armchair travel, while dreaming about future actual travel.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Jenni Medway

During the COVID-19 shutdown, we’re sharing recommendations from team members at MTC. This week, Literary Associate Jenni Medway tells us how to use our time ‘unwisely’ — with naps, online games and escapist films — in the pursuit of switching off.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Leah Milburn-Clark

During the COVID-19 shutdown we’re sharing recommendations from MTC team members. Here, Company Manager Leah Milburn-Clark offers a list of things that bring her comfort during every work-from-home, FaceTime-the-family, stay-inside-and-don’t-go-out week.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Janine Snape

During the COVID-19 shutdown, we’re sharing recommendations from team members at MTC. This week, Casting Director Janine Snape shares her tips for better Zoom auditions, as well as what’s in her viewing and reading pile (aside from plenty of play scripts)

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Petra Kalive

During the COVID-19 shutdown, we’re sharing recommendations from team members at MTC. This week, Associate Director Petra Kalive tells us what she’s watching, making and reading while juggling working from home with parenting.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Sarah Goodes

Each week during the COVID-19 shutdown we’re sharing recommendations from an MTC team member. This week, Associate Artistic Director Sarah Goodes tells us about the books and plays she's reading, and the literary salon she started with actor Diana Glenn.

MTC Recommendations

MTC Recommendations with Dr Chris Mead

Each week during lockdown we’ll share a range of recommendations from a team member at MTC. This week, we asked Literary Director Chris Mead about spending his days getting lost in words, music and puzzles.

MTC Conversations

In Conversation with Ruth Little

Join us for an in-depth conversation with dance & theatre dramaturg Ruth Little as we discuss making a life in-between scripts, working in the varied worlds of theatre companies and dance studios, and the art of dramaturgy.

A very Melbourne gift guide

Treat a loved one, or yourself, and complete your festive shopping with our gift guide.

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.

Feature

A View from the Woods

You may have seen Lachlan Woods onstage but his offstage work as a photographer is an equally notable part of his MTC oeuvre. He talks to us about taking pictures, making theatre, voice acting, artificial intelligence and more.

Feature

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.

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.

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.

Pandora

Get an insight into the play development process with an excerpt of a new play, Pandora, by former MTC NEXT STAGE writer-in-residence Kylie Trounson.

Feature

Welcome to NEXT STAGE 2020

While COVID has certainly put a spoke in the wheel of 2020, MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program has been continuing apace behind the scenes.

Feature

Pandora's Secrets

Talking tech thrillers, Zoom theatre and the benefits of working in an office with playwright Kylie Trounson…