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Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Artwork for Uncle Vanya
Uncle Vanya

21 Jul — 22 Aug 2026

Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse

Chekhov’s timeless tale – full of mordant wit, unrequited love and longing – finds new life in the hands of one of Australia’s most prolific playwrights, Joanna Murray-Smith (Julia) and Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks.

Approx. 2 hours and 10 minutes, including an interval

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This is rated 5 out of 5 stars

‘Absolute tour-de-force.’

Standing Innovation
This is rated 5 out of 5 stars

‘We did not want it to end.’

Off Stage
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Masterful, crafting a new vision, without compromising what Chekhov was exploring.’

Time Out
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Sharp take on a classic.’

The Age
This is rated 4 out of 5 stars

‘Irrepressibly playful.’

ArtsHub

ABOUT THE SHOW

Experience Anton Chekhov’s masterful examination of the human condition, filled with humour, frustration and the fragile hope of change. Artistic Director Anne-Louise Sarks brings this tragicomedy to life featuring Daniel Henshall (Snowtown, The Babadook), Philippa Northeast (The Newsreader, The Family Next Door, My Brilliant Career), Fayssal Bazzi (Much Ado About Nothing), Catherine Văn-Davies (The Twelve), Shaun Micallef (Mad as Hell, Talkin’ ’Bout Your Generation), Carolyn Bock (POTUS, Dalliance), Don Bridges (Nautilus, The Twelve, Judy & Punch), and Evelyn Krape (Bloom, Yentl).

In a once-grand estate in rural Russia, a group of relatives and visitors grapple with the slow unravelling of everything. Uncle Vanya and his niece Sonya have spent years managing the property to support the work of an esteemed professor. When the professor arrives – accompanied by his beautiful, younger wife Yelena – their quiet routine is fractured. Vanya’s longing for Yelena only deepens his discontent, while Sonya silently endures a heartbreak of her own.

Following the runaway success of Season 2024’s Julia – the latest triumph in a remarkable career spanning decades – award-winning playwright Joanna Murray-Smith deftly reframes Chekhov’s satirical look at the intellectual class of the 19th century for today while ‘leaving the spirit… gloriously intact’ (Sydney Morning Herald).

This adaptation of Uncle Vanya was commissioned by Ensemble Theatre’s Literary Fund and first produced by Ensemble Theatre in 2024.

This production has been supported by Melbourne Theatre Company’s Uncle Vanya Production Patrons:
Jennifer Darbyshire and David Walker, Michael Kingston, Heather and Simon McKeon, Peter and Ruth McMullin, Dr Chris Moss & Andrea John Moss, Craig Semple, Terry Wu, Anonymous.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible

  • Hearing Assistance

  • Relaxed Performance

  • Audio Described

  • Tactile Tour

  • Open Captioning

  • Closed Captioning

  • Auslan Interpreted

Performance Type Performance Date(s)
Audio Described
by Vision Australia 		Saturday 8 August at 2pm
Tuesday 11 August at 6.30pm
Tactile Tour
at venue 		Saturday 8 August at 2pm (Tactile tour commences at 1pm)
Open Captioning
via screen 		Saturday 15 August at 2pm
Closed Captioning
GoTheatrical App 		Saturday 15 August at 2pm
Auslan Interpreted Tuesday 18 August at 6.30pm
Relaxed Performance Saturday 22 August at 2pm
Artwork for Fayssal Bazzi

Fayssal Bazzi

Astrov

Fayssal Bazzi is an acclaimed Australian actor with an extensive career spanning theatre, television and film. His theatre work includes Much Ado About Nothing (Melbourne Theatre Company); The Deep Blue Sea, Mary Stuart (Sydney Theatre Company); Sami in Paradise, Ivanov, Food, The Government Inspector (Belvoir); Blasted (Malthouse Theatre); The Merchant of Venice (Bell Shakespeare) and others. On television, he has appeared in Stateless, Mr Inbetween, The Commons, Total Control (Season 3), Shantaram, Prosper, The Twelve (Season 2), C*A*U*G*H*T, Return to Paradise (Season 2), Sunny Nights and NCIS Sydney (Season 3). His film credits include Measure for Measure, The Merger, The Correspondent, How To Make Gravy, Down Under, Black Site, Late Night With the Devil and Peter Rabbit (as the voice of Mr Todd). Fayssal won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor in a Television Drama for Stateless and received nominations for Best Supporting Actor for Measure for Measure, The Merger and Late Night with the Devil.

Artwork for Caroyln Bock

Caroyln Bock

Maryia

Carolyn Bock returns to Melbourne Theatre Company after Metamophoses by Mary Zimmerman. Recent theatre credits include POTUS: Or behind every dumbass are seven women trying to keep him alive by Selina Fillinger (fortyfivedownstairs); Prophet by Jodi Gallagher (Theatreworks); Euripides’ Medea and Women of Troy (Complete Works); Eat your Heart Out, #NoExemptions by Angela Buckingham and Jim Daly’s Katyn (La Mama). Carolyn’s screen credits include the highly anticipated Dalliance for Paramount Plus and The Dispatcher for Apple TV released in 2026, Almost Paradise USA, Wentworth, Safe Home, Winners & Losers, City Homicide, Blue Heelers, and Neighbours and recently the indie feature film The Red Shoes: Next Step. A two-time Green Room Award nominee (Independent Theatre), Carolyn is co-founder of The Shift Theatre, with original works The Girls in Grey, Hallowed Ground: Women Doctors in War, and the co-production Garage Girls touring extensively throughout Australia. Carolyn is a graduate of The Victorian College of The Arts.

Artwork for Don Bridges

Don Bridges

Telyeghin

Don Bridges is one of Australia’s most respected performers, with a career spanning theatre, film, television and music. His theatre work includes productions in London, New York and San Francisco, as well as more than twenty-five productions for Melbourne Theatre Company. Recent screen credits include The Twelve, Nautilus, The Clearing, Planet Lulin, Mr. Irrelevant: The John Tuggle Story and Hands Up Who’d Like a Hug. His extensive film career includes Judy and Punch, Romper Stomper, Evil Angels, Malcolm, Rikki & Pete, Road to Nhill, The Hard Word, The Oyster Farmer and Gettin’ Square. Many audience members may also remember Don as Norm the Kangaroo in Shirl’s Neighbourhood (1979–1984). Don is the recipient of the 2026 Equity Lifetime Achievement Award for his extraordinary career and deep commitment to the performing arts. An accomplished musician, he plays guitar, mandolin, ukulele and bodhrán, and proudly serves as Vice President of the Victorian Actors’ Benevolent Trust.

Artwork for Daniel Henshall

Daniel Henshall

Uncle Vanya

Uncle Vanya marks Daniel's debut with Melbourne Theatre Company. He was last seen on stage in the original production of The Secret River (Sydney Theatre Company). Having trained at ACA, Sydney, stage credits include Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, Children of the Sun and Midsummer Night's Dream. On television, he has appeared in The Newsreader, The Family Next Door, Mystery Road: Origins, Mr Inbetween, Clickbait, Defending Jacob, Turn: Washington's Spies, Dear Life and The Beautiful Lie, amongst others. His film credits include Jimpa, Mickey 17, How to Make Gravy, The Royal Hotel, Acute Misfortune, Okja, Ghost in the Shell, Fell, The Babadook and Snowtown. Dainel won the AACTA Award for Best Lead Actor for Snowtown, and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for The Newsreader, and was nominated for Best Lead Actor for How to Make Gravy and Best Supporting Actor in a Drama for both The Family Next Door and Mystery Road: Origins. He will next be seen in Last Seen for Apple TV+.

Artwork for Evelyn Krape

Evelyn Krape

Nanny

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, As You Like It, Bloom and A Very Jewish Christmas Carol. Other recent theatre credits including Follies (Victorian Opera Company); Bloom (Sydney Theatre Company); King Lear (Melbourne Shakespeare Company); Yentl (KYT/Malthouse/Marylebone Theatre). In 2023, she directed KYT’s YIDDISH DIVAS: Into the Red Tent. Evelyn has received multiple awards, including Best Actress in A Toast to Melba (APG) and a Green Room Award for Ginger. She also shared the Best Actress Award at Tropfest 2019. In 2026 Evelyn will continue in a creative development for the Kadimah Yiddish Theatre (KYT) on The Poet King and will appear in All About Eve (Malthouse). Evelyn is proudly represented by Ian White Management.

Artwork for Shaun Micallef

Shaun Micallef

Serebryakov

Shaun Micallef is an Australian comedian, writer, TV producer and actor. He has appeared in Melbourne Theatre Company’s production of The Odd Couple in 2016. He has also appeared on television in Time Bandits (Apple), Mr and Mrs Murder (Ten) and SeaChange (ABC). He has written, produced and starred in the multiple AACTA-winning Mad as Hell (ABC), the Writer’s Guild-winning Newstopia (SBS), the ARIA winning Micallef Tonight (Nine), and the dual Logie winning Micallef P(r)ogram(me) (ABC). As a documentary presenter he is responsible for Going for Broke (ABC), Origin Odyssey (SBS), Stairway to Heaven (SBS), On the Sauce (ABC) and as a celebrity panel show host, has helmed the multiple Logie and AFI winning Talkin’ ‘Bout Your Generation. Film appearances include The Cup, Aquamarine and Bad Eggs.

Artwork for Philippa Northeast

Philippa Northeast

Sonya

Uncle Vanya marks Philippa’s debut with Melbourne Theatre Company. Having trained with 16th St Studios, St Martin's Youth Theatre and the Young Bards at The Australian Shakespeare Company, stage credits include Romeo and Juliet, Pericles and Twelfth Night. She plays the iconic Sybylla Melvyn in the Netflix reimagining of My Brilliant Career, based on the classic Miles Franklin novel. Television credits include Netflix series Territory, award-winning ABC series The Newsreader, Stan’s Good Cop Bad Cop, drama miniseries Family Next Door and ABC’s In Limbo amongst others. She first became well-known to Australian audiences as Evelyn on Home & Away. Film credits include A Royal Runaway Romance and Standing up for Sunny, which won an AACTA Award for Best Independent Feature film. Philippa has also worked on several short films and voiceovers. She also has an Advanced Diploma of Producing from AFTRS.

Artwork for Catherine Văn-Davies

Catherine Văn-Davies

Yelena

Uncle Vanya is Catherine’s Melbourne Theatre Company debut. Other theatre productions include The Shiralee, American Signs, Constellations, Playing Beatie Bow, No Pay? No Way! (Sydney Theatre Company); White Pearl (Sydney Theatre Company/National Theatre of Parramatta); Going Down (Sydney Theatre Company/Malthouse); Sex Magick, Turquoise Elephant (Griffin Theatre Company); An Enemy of the People, The Kiss (Belvoir); Back at the Dojo (Belvoir/Stuck Pigs Squealing); A Streetcar Named Desire (Red Line Productions); Angels in America (Apocalypse Theatre Company); Titus Andronicus, The Misanthrope, The Merchant of Venice (Bell Shakespeare); The Happy Prince, Dracula, Dangerous Liaisons (Little Ones Theatre); The Myth Project: Twin, Cut Snake, Superhero Training Academy, Waltzing Woolloomooloo: The Tale of Frankie Jones (Arthur Theatre); Complexity of Belonging (Chunky Move); sex.violence.blood.gore (MKA). TV credits include Shakedown, Austin, He Had It Coming, Bump, Home & Away, Mother & Son, Wolf Like Me, The Claremont Murders, The Twelve, It’s Fine I’m Fine, Barons, Amazing Grace, Hungry Ghosts and Pet Killer. Catherine has received multiple Sydney Theatre Awards for her roles in Constellations, A Streetcar Named Desire, Angels in America, and an Equity Award for Hungry Ghosts.

Artwork for Joanna Murray-Smith

Joanna Murray-Smith

Adapter

Joanna Murray-Smith is an award-winning playwright and novelist. Her work has been translated in over two dozen languages and been produced all over the world, including on the West End, Broadway and at the Royal National Theatre in London. Melbourne Theatre Company has produced many of her plays including Julia, Berlin, Switzerland, Three Little Words, True Minds, Pennsylvania Avenue, Songs for Nobodies, The Gift, Rockabye, The Female of the Species, Ninety, Bombshells, and Honour. Other plays include Dark River for the National Theatre of Portugal, L’Apartement, American Song, Day One – A Hotel – Evening, Fury, Rapture, Nightfall, Redemption, Flame, Love Child, Atlanta and Angry Young Penguins. She has also adapted Hedda Gabler (State Theatre Company South Australia); Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes from a Marriage for Sir Trevor Nunn (Coventry/London); A Doll’s House and Uncle Vanya (Ensemble Theatre).

Artwork for Anne-Louise Sarks

Anne-Louise Sarks

Director

Anne-Louise Sarks is Artistic Director and CEO of Melbourne Theatre Company, where her credits include adapting and directing Rebecca, for which she won a Green Room Award for Outstanding Direction, and directing My Brilliant Career, which received five Green Room Awards, as well as The Removalists, A Streetcar Named Desire, Escaped Alone and What If If Only, and Bernhardt/Hamlet. Previous work with the Company includes Minnie & Liraz and The Seed. Anne-Louise’s work as an internationally acclaimed director, writer and dramaturg has also been seen in Sydney, London, Helsinki, Mexico City, New York, Warsaw, Dublin, Auckland, Mumbai, Perth and Basel. Recent productions include Avalanche (Barbican); Our Town, Medea (Theater Basel); Stop Girl (Belvoir). Her production of Blasted at Malthouse Theatre was nominated for four Green Room Awards. Medea, co-written with Kate Mulvany, won five Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Direction. It was also awarded an AWGIE for Best Stage Play. Anne-Louise was previously Artistic Director of the Lyric Ensemble at the Lyric Hammersmith in London and of Melbourne independent theatre company The Hayloft Project. She has been Resident Director at Belvoir, Director in Residence at Malthouse Theatre, and in 2010 she was Emerging Resident Director at Melbourne Theatre Company.

Artwork for Dann Barber

Dann Barber

Set & Costume 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 Blak in the Room, A Very Jewish Christmas Carol, Bloom (Melbourne Theatre Company); Macbeth: An Undoing, Yentl (with Kadimah Yiddish Theatre) (Malthouse); Candide (Opera Australia); Candide, Melbourne Cheryomushki (Victorian Opera); Rhinoceros, The Crocodile (Spinning Plates); Wittenoom, The Amateurs, Escaped Alone (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre); Rent (Sugary Rum/LPD/Sydney Opera House); Angels in America (Cameron Lukey Productions/fortyfivedownstairs/Dirty Pretty Theatre); The Ghetto Cabaret (fortyfivedownstairs/Kadimah Yiddish Theatre); The Mermaid (La Mama). As Associate Costume Designer: The Sleeping Beauty (The Australian Ballet); Shakespeare in Love (Melbourne Theatre Company). 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 VCA and Melbourne University.

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 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 Grace Ferguson

Grace Ferguson

Co-Composer & Sound Designer

Grace Ferguson is an instrumentalist, composer and music teacher, represented as an Associate Artist by the Australian Music Centre. Selected theatre credits include: Rebecca (Melbourne Theatre Company); On the Beach (Sydney Theatre Company); Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre/Sydney Theatre Company); ANNA X (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre); Julius Caesar, Hamlet and Eurydice (Melbourne Shakespeare Company); We All Know What is Happening (Zurich Theatre Spektakel/Noorderzon Festival/Arts House/Campbelltown Arts Centre/Vitalstatistix). As a musician she has released solo works Voler LP (Music Company Records) and collaborated with many Australian artists for various projects. Recognition for her practice includes: Best Original Score for a Main Stage Production, 2024 Sydney Theatre Awards (On the Beach), APRA PD Awards finalist 2024 (Classical/Experimental), resident at La Cité internationale des arts through the support of Creative Australia, 2024 Bundanon artist in residence and 2026 resident artist at Melbourne Electronic Sound Studio (MESS).

Artwork for Joe Paradise Lui

Joe Paradise Lui

Co-Composer & Sound Designer

Joe Paradise Lui is a submerging artist and undisputed winner of the 2013 Spirit of the Fringe award.  It has won no awards since. Joe Lui is a founding member of Renegade Productions. Within its aegis it creates experimental theatre and performance works. Joe Lui is also a freelance director, writer, and a sound and lighting designer. Its most recent professional directing work was LEGENDS (of the Golden Arches) (Melbourne Theatre Company), co-created, performed and co-directed with Merlynn Tong. Its most recent independent directing work was Whitesnake3000, presented at Co3. 

Artwork for Amy Hume

Amy Hume

Voice & Text 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 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/GBS); Six the Musical Australia, Billy Elliot Australia (LWAA); White Pearl (Sydney Theatre Company); Merrily We Roll Along (Hayes Theatre Co.) and Fangirls (Queensland Theatre/Belvoir). Recent coaching for screen includes 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 Liv Satchell

Liv Satchell

Associate Director

Liv Satchell is a theatre maker, writer and community organiser with a Masters of Directing from VCA. Her work includes Shoelace Chaser (Melbourne Theatre Company); Ballkids (or, scenes from a friendship), co-directed with Julian Dibley-Hall (La Mama/VIMH); The Grief Trilogy (La Mama/VIMH); and SIRENS by Benjamin Nichol (Melbourne Fringe Festival/VIMH). She has been nominated for Best Director four times at the Green Room Awards and has been awarded Outstanding Writing for Independent Theatre for three of her original works. She was also awarded the 2024 Rodney Seaborn Playwrights Award and the inaugural New Writing Award, supported by Melbourne Theatre Company as part of Melbourne Fringe Festival, for Ballkids (or, scenes from a friendship). She made her mainstage debut in 2024 with Nayika: A Dancing Girl (Belvoir), which she co-created with Nithya Nagarajan.

Artwork for Silvia Shao

Silvia Shao

Associate Set & Costume Designer

Silvia Shao is intrigued by conceptual and abstract art works and enjoys exercising her creativity. She completed a Master of Design for Performance at VCA in 2022. In the same year, she made her design debut with set and costumes for Caught (Red Stitch Actors’ Theatre). Although specifically trained as a set and costume designer, she loves working closely with lighting and sound. During her time at VCA, she developed interests in architecture, graphic design, and contemporary dance. She believes there is no boundary to what she can do, either as a designer or as a human, an ideology carrier.

Artwork for John Augustine Sharp

John Augustine Sharp

Associate Composer & Sound Designer

John Augustine Sharp is a composer and sound designer. He graduated with a Bachelor of Music in Interactive Composition at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA). He has worked in composition and sound design roles for Mother Play (Melbourne Theatre Company); Silence (Subervise Theatre); Eurydice (Melbourne Shakespeare Company); BEASTS (Persona Collective & Theatreworks); Nihilistic Optimism on Trampolines (Theatreworks); The Garden of Broken Things (Meerkat Productions); and Their Eyes Spoke of Everything, and Hibernation (VCA). John is excited to continue his work with Melbourne Theatre Company as part of the Future Creatives program.

Artwork for Amy Cater

Amy Cater

Intimacy Coordinator

Artwork for Rain Iyahen

Rain Iyahen

Stage Manager

Artwork for Pippa Wright

Pippa Wright

Deputy Stage Manager

Artwork for Tom O'Sullivan

Tom O'Sullivan

Assistant Stage Manager

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100 St Kilda Road

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