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This week on MTC NOW
Explore MTC NOWMTC 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.
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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.
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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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A very Melbourne gift guide
Treat a loved one, or yourself, and complete your festive shopping with our gift guide.
Watch the interviews
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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.
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Backstage Banter
Ask an Actor
Submit a question for our online discussion with a panel of actors, Backstage Banter supported by ANZ.
Tune in to 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
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!
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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.
Test your theatre knowledge...
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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?
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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?
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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)
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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.
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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.
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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.
Explore MTC NOW
Explore more-
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.
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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.
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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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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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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.
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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.
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Feature
Pandora's Secrets
Talking tech thrillers, Zoom theatre and the benefits of working in an office with playwright Kylie Trounson…