Bloom

This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Big-hearted, home-grown musical theatre romp.’
The Age

This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Poignantly funny and uniquely Aussie comedy experience.’
Time Out

This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Bloom comes up roses.’
ArtsHub

ABOUT THE SHOW

From the co-creator behind some of Australia’s most beloved films (The Castle, The Dish) and our smash-hit production The Speechmaker, Bloom is a big-hearted new musical comedy that celebrates the power of music to connect us across generations, starring comedian Anne Edmonds alongside Frankie J. Holden, Evelyn Krape, Vidya Makan, Maria Mercedes, Eddie Muliaumaseali’i, John O’May, Christina O’Neill, Jackie Rees and Slone Sudiro.

When Mrs MacIntyre, the scheming owner of aged care home Pine Grove, decides to cut costs by offering uni students free board in return for them helping out as carers, she does not count on the arrival of Finn Bailey. Lazy and unqualified, Finn soon clashes with over-worked carer Ruby, before setting off a chain of events that lead to romance, rebellion and a residents’ choir.

Showcasing his trademark humour, Working Dog’s Tom Gleisner (Have You Been Paying Attention?, Utopia) injects exuberant cheer and remarkable truth into his characters and his setting, turning one of Australia’s most shameful recent failures – aged care – into a vision of hope and possibility. Collaborating with singer, actor and composer Katie Weston (Falling Forward, Sugartown) and directed by Dean Bryant (Fun Home), they have crafted a heartwarming, uplifting and joyful musical that reminds us that there is always something to learn, no matter how old we are.

Original Arrangements by Katie Weston and Ned Wright Smith.
Premiere Production Arrangements by Zara Stanton.

Developed by Working Dog and Melbourne Theatre Company’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program with the support of our Current and Inaugural Playwrights Giving Circles.

Current Playwrights Giving Circle
Paul and Wendy Bonnici & Family, Tony and Janine Burgess, Kathleen Canfell, Jane Hansen AO and Paul Little AO, Larry Kamener and Petra Kamener, The Margaret Lawrence Bequest, Helen Nicolay, Tania Seary and Chris Lynch, Craig Semple, Dr Richard Simmie, Fitzpatrick Sykes Family Foundation

Inaugural Playwrights Giving Circle
Louise Myer and Martyn Myer AO, Maureen Wheeler AO and Tony Wheeler AO, Christine Brown Bequest, AC KC and Maria Myers AC, Tony Burgess and Janine Burgess, Dr Andrew McAliece and Dr Richard Simmie, Larry Kamener and Petra Kamener
Shorthand Logo Nextstage crop t1snh3

Wheelchair Accessible
Hearing Assistance
Relaxed Performance
Audio Described
Tactile Tour
Open Captioning
Auslan Interpreted

Performance Type	Performance Date(s)
Audio Described by Vision Australia	Saturday 5 August at 2pm Tuesday 8 August at 6.30pm
Tactile Tour by Vision Australia	Saturday 5 August, 2pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm)
Open Captioning via screen	Saturday 12 August at 2pm
Auslan Interpreted by Auslan Stage Left	Tuesday 15 August at 6.30pm
Relaxed Performance	Wednesday 16 August at 2pm - Visual Story

Talks & Events

Forum Night

Stay after the show to join an enlightening conversation with the cast and creative team.

Monday 24 July

Donor Night

MTC Donors ($1,000+) enjoy access to relaxed, informative and intimate post-show events.

Monday 24 July

Programme

Want to learn more about Bloom? View our interactive, digital programme.

Content Warnings

This production contains coarse language, mature themes and sexual references.

For detailed information about the production’s content click here.

Attendance Information

To learn more about our health and safety measures before you attend the venue, click here.

Photography by Jo Duck
Production images by Pia Johnson

Bloom is licensed by Working Dog Productions Pty Ltd.

Anne Edmonds

Mrs MacIntyre

Frankie J. Holden

Doug

Evelyn Krape

Rose

Vidya Makan

Ruby

Maria Mercedes

Betty / Chef

Eddie Muliaumaseali'i

Sal / Inspector / News Reporter / Trev

John O’May

Roland

Christina O'Neill

Gloria

Jackie Rees

Lesley

Slone Sudiro

Finn

Tom Gleisner

Book and Lyrics

Katie Weston

Music

Dean Bryant

Director / Production Dramaturg

Zara Stanton

Music Director / Arranger / Orchestrator

Andrew Hallsworth

Choreographer

Dann Barber

Set Designer

Charlotte Lane

Costume Designer

Amelia Lever-Davidson

Lighting Designer

Nick Walker

Sound Designer

Tasnim Hossain

Assistant Director

Matt Edgerton

Dramaturg

Jennifer Medway

Dramaturg

Matt Furlani

Voice & Text Coach

Sophie Allan

Cello

Emily Clarke

Reeds

Tom Doublier

Drums

Kathleen Halloran

Guitar

Ann Metry

Bass

Kate Cole

Standby Cover

Keanu Gonzalez

Standby Cover

Milo Hartill

Standby Cover

Troy Sussman

Standby Cover

Anne Wood

Standby Cover

Vicky Jacobs

Standby Répétiteur

View All

Anne Edmonds

Mrs MacIntyre

Anne Edmonds is a rock star of Australian comedy. Her stand up is fearless and takes aim at any worthy target, no matter how close to home it is. Bloom is her debut with Melbourne Theatre Company. Anne has toured tirelessly across Australia including shows at the Sydney Opera House and has played London’s Soho Theatre five times. No stranger to the screen, Anne created the acclaimed series Edge of the Bush (ABC) and has appeared on Have You Been Paying Attention? (Network Ten), The Project (Network Ten) and Last One Laughing (Amazon) but is best known for her unhinged character Helen Bidou from Get Krack!n (ABC). Since she appeared on the scene in 2010, Anne has been nominated for the Melbourne Comedy Festival’s Most Outstanding Show multiple times and won both the Director’s Choice and the peer voted Piece of Wood Award. Anne is an ARIA Award winner and has been nominated for multiple AACTA Awards.

Current as of July 2023.

Frankie J. Holden

Doug

For Melbourne Theatre Company, Frankie J. Holden has previously played Roo in the 40th anniversary production of Summer of the Seventeenth Doll and Cooley in Don Parties On. Other theatre work includes national tours of The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Rocky Horror Show, Grease, Certified Male and Daylight Saving. Feature films include High Tide, Evil Angels, The Big Steal, Proof, Police Crop, Hammers Over the Anvil, Return Home and Clubland. In television drama, Frankie had regular roles in Embassy, Police Rescue, Round the Twist, Something in the Air, Underbelly and A Place to Call Home. And as a television presenter in The Great Outdoors and In Melbourne Tonight. His awards include two AFI Awards for Best Actor for Police Crop and Return Home. He was awarded a Silver Logie in 2019 for A Place to Call Home. In 2016 he was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to the performing arts.

Current as of July 2023.

Evelyn Krape

Rose

Evelyn Krape is a Melbourne-based actor, director and currently the Artistic Director of the Kadimah Yiddish Theatre (KYT). She was a founding member of the Australian Performing Group (APG) at the Pram Factory. Previous notable performances with Melbourne Theatre Company include A Floating World, Romeo and Juliet and As You Like It. Evelyn has received multiple prestigious awards including Best Actress for her role as Nellie Melba in A Toast to Melba (APG) and the Green Room Award for Best Actress in Ginger (Playbox Theatre Company). She also shared the Best Actress Award at Tropfest 2019. In recent years, Evelyn starred in Melbourne Shakespeare Company’s King Lear. Her remarkable performance in KYT’s Yentl at Arts Centre Melbourne garnered a Green Room Award nomination. In 2023, she directed KYT’s captivating YIDDISH DIVAS: Into the Red Tent.

Current as of July 2023.

Vidya Makan

Ruby

Vidya Makan is a critically acclaimed and award-winning actor, singer, composer and lyricist, perhaps most well-known for originating Catherine Parr in the Australian tour of SIX (Louise Withers). Her other performance credits include The Lucky Country (Hayes Theatre Co); Dot/Marie in Sunday in the Park with George (Watch This); Merrily We Roll Along (Hayes Theatre Co); Once On This Island (Altitude Theatre); Romeo and Juliet (Australian Shakespeare Company) and American Idiot (Shake & Stir). Most recently her debut original show The Lucky Country (Hayes Theatre Co), written in collaboration with Sonya Suares, opened in Sydney to rave reviews. Vidya was also the inaugural recipient of Create NSW New Musical Theatre Fellowship and this year’s national winner of APRA AMCOS Professional Development Award for her original musical Light (working title) with book writer Tasnim Hossain. A 2015 graduate of Griffith University Queensland Conservatorium’s Bachelor of Music (Musical Theatre), she is proudly represented by Ian White Management.

Current as of July 2023.

Maria Mercedes

Betty / Chef

Maria Mercedes is one of Australia’s most successful and enduring performers. Theatre credits include Master Class (Left Bauer Productions); Shadow & Splendour (State Theatre Company of South Australia); Anthem (Performing Lines) and Taxithi (fortyfivedownstairs). On the musical stage she has starred as Luisa Contini in Nine, Grizabella in Cats, Svetlana in Chess, Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard, Mama Morton in Chicago, Miss Sherman in Fame, Madame Giry in Love Never Dies and most recently as The Witch in Into the Woods. Maria’s film credits include Patrick, Head On, The Taverna and Dreams for Life. On television she has appeared in The Tourist, Neighbours, Bloom, Miss Fisher’s Modern Murder Mysteries, Wentworth, Kick, Thunderstone and Prisoner to name but a few. Maria is the recipient of a Mo Award, an Aria Award and a Green Room Award for her performance as Maria Callas in Master Class.

Current as of July 2023.

Eddie Muliaumaseali'i

Sal / Inspector / News Reporter / Trev

Eddie Muliaumaseali'i is making his Melbourne Theatre Company debut in Bloom. His 35-year-career as an operatic bass has taken Eddie from New Zealand and Australia to the UK, Europe and the US. Mozart, Puccini, Verdi, Rossini, as well as modern composers, have provided him with a huge repertoire of more than 40 operatic bass roles. In musical theatre, he was nominated for a Helpmann Award for his portrayal of Joe in Showboat (The Production Company). In 2021, he played Molokov on the national tour of Chess the Musical (StoreyBoard Entertainment). He has also played the role of Count Carl-Magnuss Malcom in A Little Night Music (Watch This). His versatility as an artist has also allowed him to diversify into television in New Zealand, jazz big band music, as well as play the role of Chief Bromden in One Flew Over Cuckoo’s Nest (Monster Media).

Current as of July 2023.

John O’May

Roland

For Melbourne Theatre Company, John has appeared in Pax Americana, Curse of the Werewolf, The Glass Menagerie, Too Young For Ghosts, Heartbreak House, Servant of Two Masters, Shadow of a Gunman, Daylight Saving, Woman in Mind, Assassins, A Little Night Music and The Tempest. John is most proud of his seven Sondheim musical roles: Company (Bobby), Assassins (Booth), Into the Woods (Baker and Mysterious Man), Follies (Ben), A Little Night Music (Fredrik) and Passion (Dr Tambouri). Other musical theatre credits include Evita, The Phantom of the Opera, Mamma Mia!, Seven Little Australians, HMS Pinafore, Crazy For You, South Pacific, The Last Confession, Paris, Cabaret, Ragtime, and it all began in Godspell in 1973. He has also performed many television and feature film roles. John has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity since November, 1972.

Current as of July 2023.

Christina O'Neill

Gloria

Christina O’Neill graduated from WAAPA in 2005 and has since carved out a successful stage and screen career. For Melbourne Theatre Company, Christina has appeared in Vivid White. She is best known for appearing in numerous musical theatre hit shows including Girl from the North Country (GWB Entertainment); Calamity Jane (One Eyed Man Productions); Avenue Q (Arts Asia Pacific); Show Boat (The Production Company); Into the Woods, Sunday in the Park with George (Victorian Opera); Tell Me on a Sunday (Kookaburra) and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert: The Musical (Back Row Productions). She is an ensemble member of Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, and has played leading roles in a succession of their highly-acclaimed productions including Control, Right Now, The River, Middletown, Belleville, Straight and The Motherf*cker with the Hat. Television credits include Neighbours, The Power of the Dream, Mr Black and Winners & Losers. Album credits include Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Showqueen. Christina has a Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Avenue Q.

Current as of July 2023.

Jackie Rees

Lesley

In 2023 Jackie Rees celebrates her 50th year in the performing arts. Her theatre credits include Madame Giry in Phantom of the Opera (Really Useful Company/Cameron Mackintosh), receiving a Helpmann Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress; Carla in Nine (Nove); Lady Jacqueline in Me and my Girl (J.C. Williamson) and Madame Armfeldt in A Little Night Music (Watch This), receiving a Green Room Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress. Jackie has played many other principal and featured roles including Julie Andrews’s My Fair Lady (Australian Opera/John Frost); Threepenny Opera (Sydney Theatre Company); Man of La Mancha (Gordon Frost); The Rocky Horror Show (Harry M. Miller); Side by Side by Sondheim (Derek Nimmo Productions) and the arena production of Aida. Jackie hosted the children’s television show Waterloo Street (ABC). Other film and television work includes Call of the Wild, Neighbours, She’ll Be Sweet and The Alternative. Her international cabaret career with The Ritz Company earned a Mo award, and she has received Aria Awards for the cast recordings of Jesus Christ Superstar and Nine. Jackie has been a proud member of Actor’s Equity since 1974.

Current as of July 2023.

Slone Sudiro

Finn

Slone Sudiro graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts in 2017. Bloom is his first mainstage production with Melbourne Theatre Company. His previous credits include the Better Man development workshop (Melbourne Theatre Company); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Michael Cassell Group) and the Atlantis playreading (Malthouse Theatre).

Current as of July 2023.

Tom Gleisner

Book and Lyrics

Tom Gleisner has worn pretty much all the hats in terms of writing and performing during his 30 years at Working Dog, but Bloom marks his first foray into the art of writing for a musical. His love for the stage, and comedy, began while at the University of Melbourne, where he completed a law degree. Since then, as a partner in the Working Dog production company, he has written, directed, produced and hosted TV shows such as Have You Been Paying Attention?, Thank God You’re Here, A River Somewhere and Utopia. On the big screen, he co-wrote The Castle and The Dish. Away from the entertainment world, Tom passionately supports many charities, including Learning for Life, which he established with his wife Mary to help families access specialised autism treatment. He also chairs Challenge, which is dedicated to supporting children with cancer. It was the combination of both these areas of dedication that lead to Tom being honoured with the Medal of the Order of Australia (General Division).

Current as of July 2023.

Katie Weston

Music

Katie Weston is a Melbourne-based singer, actor, musician and composer. Previous original music theatre works include Sugartown and her acclaimed Falling Forward. Recent stage credits include Vivid White (Melbourne Theatre Company); Uninvited: The Songs of Alanis Morissette (KWM/Marrollo); Suddenly (DHB Theatrical) and The Last 5 Years (KWM). As Music Director, Katie’s credits include Legally Blonde and RENT (James Terry Collective). TV credits include the role of Antonia Hardmon on Neighbours. Original releases include the rock EP Say The Word (2010) and her forthcoming electronic record, Conversation Ended. Katie was nominated for the Green Room Award for Best Musical Direction, was awarded the Music Theatre Guild of Victoria Award for Female in a Leading Role twice and Nova100’s Best New Artist. Katie is a leading vocalist and pianist for live music events around Australia. Qualifications include a Master of Music – Contemporary Voice from the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music and a Bachelor of Music Composition from the Victorian College of the Arts. Katie is making her professional debut as a composer with Bloom and is proudly represented by Ian White Management.

Current as of July 2023.

Dean Bryant

Director / Production Dramaturg

Dean Bryant was Associate Director of Melbourne Theatre Company from 2016 to 2019. He has previously directed Fun Home (Green Room and Sydney Theatre Award, co-produced with Sydney Theatre Company), Torch the Place, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Lady in the Van, An Ideal Husband, Wild, Vivid White, Born Yesterday, Skylight, I’ll Eat You Last, Next to Normal for the Company, as well as creating Well, That Happened to commemorate the 2021 reopening. Recent credits include Hubris & Humiliation (Sydney Theatre Company); The Normal Heart (State Theatre Company of South Australia); Giustino (Pinchgut Opera) and Show People (Sydney Festival). For Hayes Theatre Co he directed Merrily We Roll Along, Assassins, Sweet Charity (Helpmann Award) and Little Shop of Horrors (Sydney Theatre Award); for Opera Australia, Two Weddings, One Bride and Anything Goes (and GFO) as well as directing for Darlinghurst Theatre, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre, Victorian College of the Arts and The Production Company. With composer Mathew Frank, he wrote Green Room Award-winning musicals Prodigal and Once We Lived Here, and Virgins: A Musical Threesome, The Silver Donkey, songs for Mr & Mrs Murder and an adaptation of My Brilliant Career. Dean has created many solo shows, including smash-hit Britney Spears: The Cabaret, as well as verbatim play Gaybies and made his screen directing debut this year with short film Rhyme Time.

Current as of July 2023.

Zara Stanton

Music Director / Arranger / Orchestrator

Zara Stanton is an accomplished Music Director, Composer, Arranger and Performer. Zara’s credits as Music Director include The Boomkak Panto (Belvoir St Theatre); Bonnie & Clyde (Joshua Robson Productions); The Deb (Australian Theatre for Young People) and Associate Music Director for A Chorus Line (Darlinghurst Theatre Company) and Choir Boy (National Theatre of Parramatta). Zara is the Music Director and Vocal Arranger for FANGIRLS, and her work on the show has yielded an ARIA award nomination for Best Musical Theatre Album, and a Green Room Award nomination for Best Music Direction. Zara also earned a Sydney Theatre Award nomination for Best Music Direction for the Hayes Theatre Co production of HMS Pinafore. Zara is the Composer, Orchestrator and Music Director for Metropolis (Little Eggs Collective), which had its world premiere season at Hayes Theatre Co in April 2023. Zara is incredibly passionate about promoting representation in musical theatre, particularly for artists of Asian heritage and for female and non-binary musicians and creatives.

Current as of July 2023.

Andrew Hallsworth

Choreographer

Andrew Hallsworth’s Melbourne Theatre Company credits include As You Like It, Kiss of the Spider Woman, Shakespeare in Love, Twelfth Night, Vivid White, Rupert, Private Lives, Egg, Hamlet, Next to Normal, The Drowsy Chaperone and co-productions Fun Home (Sydney Theatre Company) and Ladies in Black (Queensland Theatre). Other credits include Muriel’s Wedding the Musical (Sydney Theatre Company/Global Creatures); Merrily We Roll Along and Assassins (Hayes Theatre Co); Dream Lover (John Frost/Gilbert Theatrical); Anything Goes (Opera Australia); Little Shop of Horrors (Luckiest Productions/Tinderbox Productions); Jerry’s Girls and La Cage Aux Folles (The Production Company); Sweet Charity (Luckiest Productions/Neil Gooding Productions); A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and An Officer and a Gentleman (Gordon Frost Organisation). Andrew co-choreographed Priscilla Queen of the Desert for Broadway, worldwide seasons and the 10th anniversary Australian tour. Andrew has won three Helpmann Awards, two Green Room Awards and two Sydney Theatre Awards for Best Choreography in a Musical.

Current as of July 2023.

Dann Barber

Set Designer

Dann Barber is an award-winning set and costume designer whose work is influenced by his study of drawing and fine art at RMIT. He is also a graduate of theatre design from NIDA. Recent work includes Melbourne, Cheryomushki (Victorian Opera); The Crocodile (Spinning Plates); Wittenoom, The Amateurs (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre); Rent (LPD Productions); Barnum the Musical and Chess (Storeyboard Entertainment). He has been the associate costume designer for Gabriela Tylesova for the Australian Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty and again for Melbourne Theatre Company’s Shakespeare in Love. Dann has received and been nominated for numerous awards including Green Room Awards for Best Design in Cabaret for The Ghetto Cabaret (Kadimah Yiddish Theatre), Best Independent Set and Costume Design for The Mermaid (La Mama Theatre) and Best Set Design for Yentl (Kadimah Yiddish Theatre). Dann is a guest lecturer and tutor at the Victorian College of the Arts and the University of Melbourne.

Current as of July 2023.

Charlotte Lane

Costume Designer

Charlotte Lane is a set and costume designer, working nationally and internationally. In Australia, she has designed for companies including Sydney Chamber Opera, Barking Gecko Theatre, Darlinghurst Theatre, Performing Lines, Terrapin Puppet Theatre, Western Edge Youth Arts, Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre and Aunty Donna. UK credits include designs for Tron Theatre, Traverse Theatre, Theatre Gu Leòr, National Theatre of Scotland, Edinburgh Festival, Belfast International Arts Festival and Glasgow Commonwealth Games Festival. In China, she has worked with companies including Shanghai Opera, Tianjin Grand Theatre, Beijing Children’s Art Theatre, Beijing Xinchan Performing Arts, White Light Theatre and Seven Ages. Charlotte holds a Bachelor of Dramatic Art (Design) from NIDA. She was the recipient of the Thelma Afford Award for Costume Design, and has received awards and nominations from the Critic’s Awards for Theatre in Scotland, and the Australian Production Design Guild.

Current as of July 2023.

Amelia Lever-Davidson

Lighting Designer

Amelia Lever-Davidson is a lighting designer based in Melbourne, whose practice encompasses theatre, dance, television and events. Her design credits include Bernhardt/Hamlet, Girls & Boys, SLAP. BANG. KISS, Admissions, Torch the Place and The Violent Outburst That Drew Me To You (Melbourne Theatre Company); Julius Caesar (Sydney Theatre Company); Blessed Union; My Brilliant Career and Every Brilliant Thing (Belvoir St Theatre); They Divided the Sky (Belvoir 25A); K-BOX, Because the Night, Australian Realness, Trustees and Turbine (Malthouse Theatre); My Self in That Moment, System_Error and Diaspora (Chamber Made); Next Move 11 (Chunky Move); Leviathan (Circa); Hydra, Moral Panic, Contest, Niche, Conviction and Dream Home (Darebin Arts’ Speakeasy); Looking Glass and Triumph (fortyfivedownstairs); Desert 6.29pm, Jurassica and Foxfinder (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre); MKA Double Feature (MTC Neon); Ground Control, Camel and Hello There We’ve Been Waiting for You (Next Wave Festival). Amelia’s work has been recognised with four Green Room Awards. Amelia is an Australia Council ArtStart and JUMP Mentorship recipient. She was part of Melbourne Theatre Company’s inaugural Women in Theatre Program.

Current as of July 2023.

Nick Walker

Sound Designer

Nick Walker has worked professionally as a sound designer and engineer for the past 15 years. His career began working in live music, taking him all around the world. In 2013 he started his own business providing audio production and design services. His most recent credits, as Sound Designer include Fun Home (Melbourne Theatre Company/Sydney Theatre Company); Kiss of the Spider Woman (Melbourne Theatre Company); Grammy and Helpmann Award-winning Soweto Gospel Choir (Andrew Kay and Associates); American Psycho the Musical (BB Arts Entertainment); Young Frankenstein (Hayes Theatre Co); Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents); High Fidelity (Highway Run Productions); and as Composer include Ghostly Machines 2 (Arts Centre Melbourne) and Assassins the Musical (Luckiest Productions), where Nick picked up the Sydney Theatre Award for Best Sound Design for a Musical. His design for American Psycho the Musical earned Nick the 2019 Sydney Theatre Award for best Sound Design of an Independent Production.

Current as of July 2023.

Tasnim Hossain

Assistant Director

Tasnim Hossain is Resident Director at Melbourne Theatre Company and has worked as a director, playwright and dramaturg. Her production of Yellow Face (Dinosaurus Productions/KXT) was nominated for four Sydney Theatre Awards in 2022, winning Best Direction of an Independent Production. For Melbourne Theatre Company, she directed I Wanna Be Yours, was Assistant Director on Bernhardt/Hamlet, Dramaturg on Realish for Cybec Electric 2023, and directed the First Stage 2022 readings. Other directing credits include How I Learned to Drive (NIDA), Sweat (VCA) and Rough Draft #49 – Garage Sale (STC). She co-directed and dramaturged Lost in Shanghai (CAAP/OzAsia Festival) and was assistant director on Banging Denmark (STC). As a writer, she was co-recipient of the inaugural NSW Musical Theatre Fellowship (CreateNSW/Hayes Theatre Co) and her script Bombay Takeaway was shortlisted for the 2022 Griffin Award. She also received the 2022 Women’s Agenda Award for Emerging Leader in Arts and Entertainment. Tasnim has been ATYP’s Resident Playwright, Griffin Theatre Studio Artist, CAAP-Sydney Theatre Company Directors’ Initiative participant and Artistic Associate at NIDA. She is a current participant in Theatre Network Australia’s Leadershift program and is an alumna of the Australia Council for the Arts Future Leaders program, as well as Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre program.

Current as of July 2023.

Matt Edgerton

Dramaturg

Matt is currently the Head of New Work at Melbourne Theatre Company, covering the role for Jennifer Medway while she is on maternity leave.

Matt is an Australian theatre director, dramaturg and actor working with contemporary and classical texts across a range of forms, styles and scales, cross-cultural collaborations and projects promoting social development in communities.

Matt has directed shows for Black Swan, Barking Gecko, Bell Shakespeare, Belvoir St Theatre, Monkey Baa, Performing Lines, Poetry In Action, Shaman Productions, Sport For Jove, The Last Great Hunt, and WAAPA, touring widely to major festivals in Australia and overseas, winning PAWA, AWGIE, Glug and Helpmann awards.

As an actor Matt has a twenty-year career performing classical and contemporary work around the country on stage, screen and radio. Matt has written plays for Poetry In Action and Bell Shakespeare, seen by over a million young people.

Matt spent four years as Artistic Director at Barking Gecko and three years as a Resident Artist at Bell Shakespeare. He trained as an actor at WAAPA and is a Winston Churchill Fellow.

Current as of July 2023.

Jennifer Medway

Dramaturg

Jennifer Medway is the Head of New Work at Melbourne Theatre Company.

A dramaturg with over a decade of professional experience in the development of new Australian work, she was Melbourne Theatre Company’s Literary Associate from 2017-2021 and Acting Literary Manager of Melbourne Theatre Company 2021-2022. Prior to this she was Resident Dramaturg at the Australian Theatre for Young People, Studio Artist at Griffin Theatre Company, Associate Artist-Dramatugy at Belvoir, Literary Assistant also at Belvoir, and a regular script assessor and dramaturg for Playwriting Australia.

Jennifer is also a regular guest lecturer at the Victorian College of the Arts within their Masters of Directing, Playwriting and Dramaturgy programmes and was on the judging panel for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award’s Book of the Year prize and the Nick Enright Playwriting Prize from 2018-2020.

Current as of July 2023.