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Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Artwork for Eliza
Eliza

28 Sep — 31 Oct 2026

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

★★★★★ The Age
★★★★★ Theatre Matters
★★★★★ Theatre Thoughts
★★★★½ The Scoop
★★★★½ MelbourniseMe
★★★★ Limelight

Inspired by true events, this world premiere by award-winning playwright Tom Holloway is a gripping psychological thriller about the birth of AI, and the ethical consequences of outsourcing our humanity.

Approx. 1 hour and 40 minutes. No interval.

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This is rated 5 out of 5 stars

‘We are catapulted into the past to grapple with the very same questions we’re seeking answers to 60 years later.’

The Age
This is rated 5 out of 5 stars

‘A production with tremendous food for thought.’

Theatre Matters
This is rated 5 out of 5 stars

‘Simply unmissable.’

Theatre Thoughts
This is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

‘A trippy thriller masterpiece.’

The Scoop
This is rated 4.5 out of 5 stars

‘A tightly constructed piece of theatre.’

MelbourniseMe
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘A cracking cast of three and spot-on visual design.’

Limelight

ABOUT THE SHOW

From four-time Australian Writers’ Guild AWGIE Award winner Tom Holloway (The Museum of Modern Love) comes this riveting new psychological thriller, based on real events.

Dr Joseph Weizenbaum (Dan Spielman: Black Snow), a brilliant professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, carries the trauma of a childhood fleeing Nazi Germany. When he begins testing a new computer program designed to simulate talk therapy – using details of the private life of his secretary Becky (Manali Datar: The Wrong Gods) – the lines between code and connection begin to blur.

The project is lauded by his research assistant (Hamish Michael: The Twelve) and his colleagues, but as wider interest in his breakthrough intensifies, Weizenbaum begins to question the true cost of his innovation.

As society grapples with the ethics of rapidly advancing and increasingly invasive technologies, director Paige Rattray (Black is the New White) delivers an urgent and unnerving depiction of the birth of AI.


Developed through Melbourne Theatre Company’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, with the support of our Playwrights Giving Circle. Produced by Melbourne Theatre Company. Originally commissioned by Sydney Theatre Company.

This production has been supported by Melbourne Theatre Company’s Eliza Production Patrons:
Martin & Loreto Hosking
Andrew & Sonya Nash, Hugh Williams, The John & Myriam Wylie Foundation
Malcolm Allen, Leigh & Andrea Jasper, Adam & Susie Lewis, Patrick O’Brien and Susan Weller

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

  • Hearing Assistance

  • Audio Described

  • Tactile Tour

  • Open Captioning

  • Closed Captioning

  • Auslan Interpreted

Performance Type Performance Date(s)
Audio Described
by Vision Australia 		Saturday 17 October at 2pm
Tuesday 20 October at 6.30pm
Tactile Tour
at venue 		Saturday 17 October at 2pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm)
Open Captioning
via screen 		Saturday 24 October at 2pm
Closed Captioning
GoTheatrical App 		Saturday 24 October at 2pm
Auslan Interpreted Tuesday 27 October at 6.30pm
Artwork for Manali Datar

Manali Datar

Becky

Manali Datar (she/her) is a Queer Marathi multi-disciplinary artist. She lives and works on Wurundjeri and Gadigal land and acknowledges that sovereignty was never ceded. Always was, always will be Aboriginal land. Her theatre credits include The Wrong Gods (Melbourne Theatre Company); Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (Michael Cassel Group); White Pearl (Sydney Theatre Company);  FANGIRLS (Belvoir); Emilia (Arts Centre Melbourne); Death of A Salesman (GWB Entertainment/Red Line Productions); Orlando (fortyfivedownstairs); and Flat Earthers (Griffin Theatre/Hayes Theatre Co.). Her screen credits include Gold Diggers (CBS/ABC) and Ground Up. She has done voiceover work with Tourism Australia, Michael Hill and HBF. Manali has released music as a solo artist under the name manali and as part of the disco-pop duo ultrafine. Her directorial credits include threadbare, Nails: The Musical (Qtopia) and Artefact (or, Repatriation: The Musical). Manali is also a filmmaker, having produced short films meghaloka (2024) and the surreal dark comedy IN THE FACE (2026) which she wrote, directed, starred in and produced.

Artwork for Hamish Michael

Hamish Michael

Ronald / Others

Hamish is thrilled to return to Melbourne Theatre Company, having previously appeared in Straight White Men, The Beast, Ray’s Tempest and Two Brothers (his Helpmann nominated, mainstage debut). He was last on stage in Sydney Theatre Company’s The Beauty Queen of Leenane, his performance earning him Best Supporting Actor at the 2019 Sydney Theatre Awards. Other select theatre credits include: The Trial, Optimism, Moving Target and Eldorado (Malthouse Theatre); How To Rule The World and Children of the Sun (Sydney Theatre Company); Death of a Salesman and As You Like It (Belvoir); The Rasputin Affair (Ensemble Theatre). Recent screen credits include One More Shot and Scrublands: Silver (Stan), Apple Cider Vinegar (Netflix), Ladies in Black (ABC) and The Twelve (Binge). 2026 has seen him appear in Ground Up (ABC), Colin From Accounts (Binge), The Airport Chaplain (SBS) and soon the Liam Neeson action film The Mongoose (Amazon Prime) and season 3 of Black Snow (Stan).

Artwork for Dan Spielman

Dan Spielman

Joseph Weizenbaum

Dan Spielman has previously appeared in Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes (for which he received a Green Room Award for outstanding performance), Photograph 51, Macbeth and The Seagull for Melbourne Theatre Company. Dan’s other theatre credits include The Blind Giant is Dancing (Belvoir); The Cherry Orchard, The Season at Sarsaparilla, The Lost Echo, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mother Courage and Her Children, The Cripple of Inishmaan, Attempts On Her Life (Sydney Theatre Company); Golem Story, Knives in Hens, The Ham Funeral, The Journal of the Plague Year (Malthouse); Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare); Ivanov (Eager Seamstress) and over a dozen productions with Keene/Taylor Theatre Project. Dan’s television credits include Playing Gracie Darling, Black Snow, The Newsreader, North Shore, Accidental Soldier, Fires, New Gold Mountain, Stateless, Sisters, The Code, Deep Water, Offspring, TheSecret Life of Us, Wildside, and Raw FM.  Dan’s feature film credits include The Hunter, Tom White and One Perfect Day. 

Artwork for Tom Holloway

Tom Holloway

Writer

Tom Holloway is a 4-time AWGIE award-winning playwright and librettist. His work has been staged around Australia and internationally. His plays include: Eliza (2026), Double Indemnity adapted from James M Cain’s novel (Trafalgar Entertainment, 2026, Melbourne Theatre Company, 2016); Storm Boy adapted from Colin Thiele’s novel (Melbourne Theatre Company, 2019, and Barking Gecko/Sydney Theatre Company, 2013 & return season/tour 2015); Museum of Modern Love adapted from Heather Rose’s novel (Seymour Centre/Sydney Festival, 2021); Forget Me Not (Belvoir, 2013) (Bush Theatre, UK/HighTide Festival Theatre, 2015); And No More Shall We Part (Traverse Theatre, Edinburgh Festival, 2012), (Williamstown Theatre Festival, USA, 2016); Beyond The Neck (Royal Court Theatre’s International Young Playwright’s Festival, 2007), (Performing Lines, 2008). His operatic work with composer Miroslav Srnka includes Make No Noise (Bavarian State Opera/ Munich Opera Festival, 2011, Bregenz Festival 2016); South Pole (Bavarian State Opera, 2016); and Voice Killer (MusikTheater an der Wien, Austria, 2025).

Artwork for Paige Rattray

Paige Rattray

Director

Paige Rattray is an award-winning stage and screen director and dramaturg. She was Director of New Work and Artistic Development at Sydney Theatre Company from 2022–2024, having previously served as Associate Director from 2018–2022, and was Associate Artistic Director of Queensland Theatre from 2017–2018. In 2027, she will direct the world premiere stage adaptation of the iconic Australian film The Castle (Michael Cassel Group/Working Dog Productions). Her directing credits include Into the Shimmering World, Do Not Go Gentle, Oil, Triple X, Death of a Salesman, The Deep Blue Sea, The Beauty Queen of Leenane, Black is the New White and Blithe Spirit (Sydney Theatre Company); the Australian and UK premieres of Fangirls (Belvoir, Queensland Theatre, Sydney Opera House, national tour and Sonia Friedman Productions); Hedda, Scenes from a Marriage and Switzerland (Queensland Theatre). Paige was Production Dramaturg on The Picture of Dorian Gray (Sydney Theatre Company, West End and Broadway). For screen, Paige recently directed an episode of Two Years Later (Hoodlum Entertainment/Paramount+) and worked as a dramaturg on Seasons Two and Three of Heartbreak High (Fremantle Australia/Netflix). Paige is a graduate of NIDA.

Artwork for Dale Ferguson

Dale Ferguson

Set Designer

Dale Ferguson is an Australian set and costume designer and has worked extensively with Australia’s leading theatre and opera companies, with additional West End, Broadway and international opera credits, during a career spanning over thirty years. Select theatre credits include The Removalists, August: Osage County, The Crucible and Top Girls (Melbourne Theatre Company); Counting and Cracking, The Jungle and the Sea, Sami in Paradise, The Blind Giant is Dancing, and Exit the King (Belvoir); Blacklight, Away, Because the Night, and Night on Bald Mountain (Malthouse Theatre); Les Liaisons Dangereues (Sydney Theatre Company); And Then There Were None (Crossroads Live); Death of a Salesman (GWB Entertainment); and L’Appartement (Queensland Theatre). Dale’s work has garnered much critical acclaim over the years, receiving two Helpmann Awards, seven Green Room Awards, and nominations for a Tony and Drama Desk Award. He is currently Lecturer in Performance Design at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Artwork for Matilda Woodroofe

Matilda Woodroofe

Costume Designer

Matilda Woodroofe is a Set and Costume Designer with a diverse body of work and range of experience spanning theatre, dance, TV, film and events. Matilda completed a Bachelor of Production at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2014. Melbourne Theatre Company credits include Costume Design on The Glass Menagerie and The Removalists, Set and Costume Design on Cost of Living, Design Associate on Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes and Minnie and Liraz. She was also the stylist on the 2023, 2025, 2026 and 2027 season photoshoots. Other credits include Commentary (State Theatre Company of South Australia) Abduction (Victorian Opera); Truth, This is Living, Stay Woke, Hour of the Wolf, Because the Night (Malthouse Theatre); Going Down (Malthouse Theatre/Sydney Theatre Company); The Picture of Dorian Gray (Michael Cassel Group/Sydney Theatre Company); Beetlejuice the Musical (Michael Cassel Group); Random (Belvoir); and Spear (Bangarra Dance Theatre). Matilda was part of the design team on Rising Festival 2021 and 2022. She was also the 2016 Emerging Designer intern for The Rabble. Matilda has been nominated for four Green Room Awards for design.

Artwork for Paul Jackson

Paul Jackson

Lighting Designer

Paul Jackson APDG is a multi-award-winning lighting and set designer, dramaturg and theatre practitioner whose practice encompasses theatre, opera, dance, music theatre, concerts, and live events. Paul Jackson’s lighting designs with Melbourne Theatre Company include Uncle Vanya, Rebecca, Seventeen, Escaped Alone and What If If Only, Sunday, Cyrano, The Sound Inside, The Truth, Home I’m Darling, Arbus and West, The Children, Gloria, Hay Fever, Di and Viv and Rose, Three Little Words, Endgame, Miss Julie, Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Double Indemnity, The Ghost Writer, Ghosts, Dinner, Frozen, The Speechmaker, Enlightenment, Madagascar and Private Lives. Paul has won a Helpmann Award, two Sydney Theatre Awards, eight Green Room Awards, a Critics' Award for Theatre in Scotland, and seven Australian Production Design Guild Awards. He is a Churchill Fellow and an Australia Council Fellow, was an Artistic Associate at Malthouse Theatre, and has lectured in design at the University of Melbourne, RMIT University and VCA.

Artwork for Kelly Ryall

Kelly Ryall

Composer & Sound Designer

Kelly Ryall is an award-winning composer, musician and sound designer. Stage highlights include Losing Face, West Gate, Destiny, Mother Play, The Almighty Sometimes, My Sister Jill, Cyrano, Berlin, A View from the Bridge, Working with Children, Di and Viv and Rose, Hay Fever, Three Little Words, Double Indemnity, Rupert, The Crucible (Melbourne Theatre Company); Triple X (with Queensland Theatre), The Trial (with Malthouse Theatre), Boys Will Be Boys (Sydney Theatre Company); Black Light, Truth Nosferatu, Edward II, The Shadow King (Malthouse Theatre); Hedda, Scenes from a Marriage (Queensland Theatre); Romeo and Juliet, As You Like It, Tartuffe, Macbeth, Julius Caesar (Bell Shakespeare); The House on the Lake, Emerald City, The Boys, The Floating World, Dreams in White (Griffin Theatre Company); Orlando, Opening Night, Title and Deed, Nora, Hedda Gabler (Belvoir); Switzerland, Suddenly Last Summer (Ensemble). Kelly has composed music for renowned choreographers such as Kyle Page, Danielle Micich, Daniel Riley, Lucy Guerin, Nicola Gunn, Sandra Parker, Paula Ley and KAGE. Kelly has received four Green Room Awards and a Melbourne International Arts Festival Award.

Artwork for Rhian Hinkley

Rhian Hinkley

AV Designer

Rhian Hinkley is a filmmaker and artist based in Naarm/Melbourne. He has a longstanding relationship with Back to Back Theatre, designing the video elements for Multiple Bad Things, The Shadow Who’s Prey the Hunter Becomes, Lady Eats Apple, Ganesh Versus The Third Reich, Food Court and Soft. He has directed numerous versions of The Democratic Set and Radial film projects for Back to Back Theatre including Hong Kong, Edinburgh, Frieburg, Berlin and Dundee. His work with choreographer Sandra Parker includes Out of Light, Document, The Recording, Small Details and All Day and All Night. Other design credits include Origami (BalletLab) and Stephanie Lake’s Aorta (Chunky Move) and The Black Woman of Gippsland (Melbourne Theatre Company). In 2024, Rhian and his daughter Ivy were guest artists for Mammalian Dive Reflex at the Humboldt Forum Berlin where they directed Break It Make it Fake it.

Artwork for Amy Hume

Amy Hume

Voice & Dialect Coach

Amy Hume is a voice and dialect coach for theatre and screen, and Senior Lecturer in Voice at Victorian College of the Arts. Recent theatre credits include Uncle Vanya, Mother Play, Happy Days, Bernhardt/Hamlet, Cyrano, The Sound Inside, Fun Home (Melbourne Theatre Company); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (GWB/Andrew Henry Presents); Blue, Blessed Union, The Jungle and the Sea, Counting and Cracking (Belvoir); An American in Paris (Australian Ballet/GWB); Six the Musical and Billy Elliot (LWAA); White Pearl (Sydney Theatre Company); Merrily We Roll Along (Hayes); and Fangirls (Queensland Theatre/Belvoir). Recent coaching for screen includes All Her Fault (Peacock), Bad Behaviour (Stan), New Gold Mountain (SBS) and The Secrets She Keeps (Network 10). Amy previously taught at the National Institute of Dramatic Art. She is a Designated Linklater Teacher and Regional Ambassador (Australia) of the Voice and Speech Trainers Association (VASTA), the international organisation for voice and dialect practitioners.

Artwork for Ishan Vivekanantham

Ishan Vivekanantham

Associate Set Designer

Ishan Vivekanantham is a multidisciplinary artist specialising in set and costume design for live performance. A graduate of the Master of Production Design at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA), his work spans theatre, cabaret, musicals, opera and dance. His recent credits include Masterpieces of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity (Theatreworks); The Seagull (Ravens Theatre Company); Cut Chilli (Darebin Arts Speakeasy); I Love You, Faustus (Unspooled Theatre Collective); Twelfth Night, As You Like It (Melbourne Shakespeare Company); The Lyrebird's Voice, Boojum! (Victorian Opera); and Storytime Ballet: Cinderella (The Australian Ballet). Ishan's craft and passion for scenography have been recognised with the Cassidy Bequest – Production Scholarship (2022) and the Trina Parker Scholarship (2023). In 2025, he joined Melbourne Theatre Company's Future Creatives program and was the inaugural recipient of the Truscott Prize, awarded in recognition of his artistic vision and commitment to the future of theatrical design.

Artwork for Tait De Lorenzo

Tait De Lorenzo

Assistant Director

Tait de Lorenzo is a director specialising in new and multidisciplinary performance. A graduate of the National Institute of Dramatic Art's MFA Directing course, she has directed and developed work with Belvoir, Griffin, Sydney Chamber Opera, NIDA, PACT Centre for Emerging Artists, Brand X and Old 505 Theatre. As an Associate Director, she has worked with Sydney Theatre Company, Michael Cassel Group, Sydney Chamber Opera, Opera Australia, Queensland Theatre and NIDA, most recently as International Associate Director on Kip Williams' Olivier- and Tony Award-winning production The Picture of Dorian Gray. Tait has also directed narrative and commercial screen work, with her debut documentary Untucked winning Best Documentary at the SMPTE Film Festival in Los Angeles. Her fellowships and artistic residencies include the Ian Potter Cultural Trust, NIDA's Freddie J. Gibson Fellowship, Griffin Theatre Company's Incubator Fellowship and the Belvoir Shut Down Residency. In 2026, she directed Anna X at Red Stitch Actors' Theatre.

Artwork for Oriana Papa

Oriana Papa

Stage Manager

Artwork for Haydon Dickie

Haydon Dickie

Assistant Stage Manager

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Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

140 Southbank Boulevard

Southbank, Victoria 3006

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