Melbourne Theatre Company: Recent Episodes
Melbourne Theatre Company
Welcome to the audio library of Melbourne's home of theatre, MTC.
Hear from actors and creatives including David Hare, Missy Higgins, Barrie Kosky, Jamie Lloyd, Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Murray-Smith, Simon Stephens, Brett Sheehy, Sam Strong, THE SWEATS, Sigrid Thornton, Jane Turner and more in this collection of recordings from live events, music, and our MTC Talks interview series hosted by Fiona Gruber.
Performed by Kala Gare, Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward, Victoria Falconer and Mathew FrankMusic by Mathew Frank, lyrics by Dean Bryant, orchestrations by James SimpsonMixed and recorded by Guus HoevenaarsMy Brilliant Career is playing at Southbank Theatre, 7 Nov — 18 Dec 2024. Learn more at www.mtc.com.au/my-brilliant-career
Performed by Kala GareMusic by Mathew Frank, lyrics by Dean Bryant, orchestrations by James SimpsonMixed and recorded by Guus HoevenaarsMy Brilliant Career is playing at Southbank Theatre, 7 Nov — 18 Dec 2024. Learn more at www.mtc.com.au/my-brilliant-career
Performed by Kala GareMusic by Mathew Frank, lyrics by Dean Bryant, orchestrations by James SimpsonMixed and recorded by Guus HoevenaarsMy Brilliant Career is playing at Southbank Theatre, 7 Nov — 18 Dec 2024. Learn more at www.mtc.com.au/my-brilliant-career
Playwright and award-winning journalist Sally Sara AM talks to MTC Artistic Director & Co-CEO Anne-Louise Sarks. Get to know Anne-Louise and hear about her artistic passions as she prepares to launch her inaugural season for Melbourne Theatre Company.
Paul Rae is Head of the School of Culture and Communications and an Associate Professor in Theatre Studies at the University of Melbourne.
He is the author of two books – Real Theatre: Essays in Experience (published in 2019) and Theatre & Human Rights (published in 2009) and is currently working on two others.
Alongside Kaylene Tan, Paul was co-director of the Singapore-based theatre company Spell Seven Performance Club.
He has a wealth of experience in contemporary theatre practices both in Melbourne and overseas. Here, in an interview recorded over Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic, he shares his understanding of how a city, particularly its urban landscape and design, affects the production and reception of theatre and other live performance.
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This interview was produced by MTC Education as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. MTC Education provides audiences with insight into the theatre making processes used at MTC to produce its world class theatre productions.
This interview compliments MTC’s latest production, Berlin, by Joanna Murray-Smith, playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until the 22nd of May, 2021. For more information head to mtc.com.au
Kaylene Tan is a theatre maker from Singapore with a large body of performance, audio and site-specific theatre work. She has been the recipient of numerous fellowships for her work as a writer, director and performer.
Alongside Paul Rae, she was co-director of the theatre company, Spell Seven - a performance company with a distinctive and inventive focus on the ways history, culture and politics intersect in everyday life through intimate theatrical performances and environmental sound works.
Here, in an interview recorded over Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kaylene shares her understanding of how a city, particularly its urban landscape and design, affect the production and reception of theatre and other live performance.
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This interview was produced by MTC Education as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. MTC Education provides audiences with insight into the theatre making processes used at MTC to produce its world class theatre productions.
This interview compliments MTC’s latest production, Berlin, by Joanna Murray-Smith, playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until the 22nd of May, 2021. For more information head to mtc.com.au
From her home in Los Angeles, playwright Lally Katz creates a monologue for MTC that began as a reflection on Melbourne during a time of great change and evolved into a waking dream about life, death, past, present and pandemics.
The monologue is performed by Emily Goddard, directed by MTC Associate Director Petra Kalive and with a sound design by Emah Fox.
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.
Throughout 2020, dance & theatre dramaturg Ruth Little has been taking part in the University of Melbourne’s Macgeorge Fellowship program. Now, she join us for an insightful conversation on the craft of dramaturgy with MTC Literary Director Chris Mead.
Join us as we relive our 2016 In Conversation event with internationally renowned UK playwright and screenwriter Sir David Hare.
During his illustrious career, David Hare has written more than 30 plays including Plenty, Racing Demon, Amy’s View and Skylight. He has received two Academy Award nominations for his screenplay adaptations of The Hours and The Reader.
In this event presented by Melbourne Theatre Company in partnership with The Wheeler Centre, David Hare spoke with Australian barrister and writer Julian Burnside about politics, art and the writing life.
As the colder weather creeps up, there’s no better time to dream of summer. So settle in with our audio recording of director and playwright Andrea James, discussing her new play Sunshine Super Girl, ahead of its season at the Sumner in November.
You will hear Andrea James discuss her new play, Sunshine Super Girl – the remarkable story of Australian sporting legend Evonne Goolagong, a girl from the bush who rose to become the number one tennis player in the world and a household name by the age of 19.
Recorded as part of MTC at MPavilion in January, it features James in conversation with MTC Literary Associate Jenni Medway, and well as excerpts from this new work read by Leonie Whyman.
Sunshine Super Girl by Andrea James is produced by Performing Lines.
Award-winning writer and TV personality Nakkiah Lui talks to STC Content Manager Carl Nilson-Polias about her motivations for writing this hugely-successful play. Lui shows us why she is one of this country’s most incisive comedy writers, with a home-grown satire that is both subversive and thoroughly entertaining. Buy tickets to Black is the New White at mtc.com.au
Playwright Louis Nowra tells Fiona Gruber about the people who changed his life, and how they came to form the inspiration behind his iconic play Cosí.
https://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/season-2019/cosi/
MTC Associate Director Sarah Goodes speaks to Sarah Corridon about the character Nora Helmer and the assumptions that have been made about her for over 100 years.
MTC Associate Director Dean Bryant chats to Sarah Corridon about the many layers of Wild.
British playwright Mike Bartlett chats to Fiona Gruber about his riveting, contemporary thriller — Wild.
In the lead up to Stephen Nicolazzo's vivid revival of the 1970s classic, Abigail's Party, we asked some lifestyle experts to help us put together the Perfect 70s Party Guide. As you prepare the menu for your guests, listen to Food Educator and author Alice Zaslavsky as she chats with one of Melbourne's best-loved food writers, Rita Erlich about the decade's culinary experiments.
Legendary playwright and film maker Mike Leigh speaks to Fiona Gruber about why his tragicomic play, Abigail's Party, remains such a cult classic 40 years on.
British playwright Lucy Kirkwood chats to Fiona Gruber about her new play The Children.
Eddie Perfect discusses the most personal of his 14 songs in Vivid White - ‘Edinburgh 2005’ + Demo Recording.
Musical comedy genius Eddie Perfect and MTC Associate Director Dean Bryant talk to Sarah Corridon about the first time they met, their time studying Performing Arts at WAAPA, and the work that goes into creating a new Australian Musical.
Theatre luminary John Bell talks to Sarah Corridon about his love of Shakespeare, his role in Australia's new wave theatre movement, and his upcoming performance in a powerful, funny and deeply moving play, The Father.
Sarah Corridon chats to Director Stephen Nicolazzo about his upcoming production of Mike Leigh's classic 70s drama, Abigail's Party.
Sarah Corridon chats to MTC Associate Director Sarah Goodes about the plays she'll be directing in 2018 – The Children, A Doll's House, Part 2 and Astroman.
Sarah Corridon chats with playwright Jean Tong about the inspirations behind her new play Hungry Ghosts.
Sarah Corridon chats with Kelly Ryall about the sounds of the 80s in Di and Viv and Rose.
Fiona Gruber chats to Di and Viv and Rose playwright Amelia Bullmore about friendship, luck and the craft of playwriting.
Since it opened on the London stage in 1982, Noises Off, a farce about performing a farce has been staged in thousands of venues around the world, but it's creator, Michael Frayn, is still bemused by its success. Fiona Gruber speaks to the celebrated playwright about his classic comedy and its enduring appeal.
Sarah Corridon speaks to award-winning playwright Lally Katz about her new play 'Minnie & Liraz'. Lally shares her habit, and fear, of writing friends and family into her plays, and tells us why theatre remains her first love.
Audi Forum Nights give Melbourne Theatre Company audiences the chance to hear first-hand from members of the cast and creative team of each show. Tune in to hear from the cast of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer as they answer questions from the Audi Forum Night audience, hosted by MTC’s Literary Director Chris Mead on 13 March 2017. Faith Healer is a Belvoir Production.
Sarah Corridon speaks to award-winning Composer and Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith about his most recent play 'John', what it means to collaborate with other theatre makers and the influence of technology in sound design.
Comedy duo Francis Greenslade and Shaun Micallef speak to Fiona Gruber about playing the iconic Odd Couple in Neil Simon's classic comedy.
Recorded live at Southbank Theatre, in this special event multi award-winning British director Jamie Lloyd talks to MTC Literary Director Chris Mead about his career and prolific output of intriguing and thrilling productions.
One of Australia's most popular playwrights, Joanna Murray-Smith speaks to Fiona Gruber about 'Switzerland' and being inspired by best-selling author Patricia Highsmith.
Acclaimed UK playwright David Hare joins Julian Burnside to talk politics, art and the writing life for a special event presented by Melbourne Theatre Company and the Wheeler Centre.
This recording took place at Southbank Theatre on 1 May 2016. David Hare’s iconic play, Skylight, will play at Southbank Theatre from 18 June. http://bit.ly/1SUUWbo
Fiona Gruber speaks to director Kip Williams about the process of adapting Strindberg's treatment of class, lust and power in 'Miss Julie'.
'The Distance' playwright, Deborah Bruce, speaks to Fiona Gruber about morality and motherhood.
Award-winning British playwright Simon Stephens talks to MTC Literary Director Chris Mead about his career, the incredible success of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and writing plays for the 21st century.
Fiona Gruber speaks to theatre critic and Harold Pinter biographer, Michael Billington, about Pinter, his writing and his affair with TV presenter Joan Bakewell on which his play, Betrayal is based.
Fiona Gruber speaks to Australian playwright Kylie Trounson about the process of writing 'The Waiting Room'; a story based around the groundbreaking IVF research performed by her father, Emeritus Professor Alan Trounson.
Fiona Gruber speaks to Beckett expert Dr Mark Byron from the University of Sydney about the influences and ideas behind Beckett's work, including the 20th century masterpiece Endgame.
Image: Samuel Beckett in 1977, photographed by Roger Pic, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
Fiona Gruber speaks to award-winning actor Miriam Margolyes about her role as Hollywood super-agent Sue Mengers in MTC's production of I'll Eat You Last by John Logan.
Fiona Gruber interviews German writer and director Falk Richter, and Chunky Move Artistic Director Anouk van Dijk about their latest collaboration, Complexity of Belonging.
Fiona Gruber explores MTC's 2015 Season with MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy, comedy writer Steve Vizard and director Sam Strong.
Fiona Gruber explores MTC's 2015 Season with MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy, actor Jane Turner, writer Aidan Fennessy, and Director Sam Strong.
Fiona Gruber speaks to Sam Strong, director of Brendan Cowell's provocative new play 'The Sublime', about the murky world of football codes, celebrity and scandal.
For more information, visit: www.mtc.com.au/sublime
Fiona Gruber speaks to Lucy Prebble, playwright of 'The Effect', and star of the Melbourne production, Sigrid Thornton about the play, love, depression and drug trials.
For more information, visit: www.mtc.com.au/effect
How, in our globalised world, is a piece of theatre defined – by the origin of its makers, where it was made, content, or place of premiere? Are we restricted creatively by a preoccupation with a dated idea of ‘Australian’ content? Are contemporary Australian artists even concerned with their identity?
Chair Daniel Schlusser – Director Panel Patricia Cornelius – Playwright Nakkiah Lui – Writer Sam Strong – Associate Artistic Director, MTC Lyn Wallis – Director, Theatre, Australia Council for the Arts
Please note: This recording includes some coarse language.
Coming off the back of his triumphant second season at Komische Oper Berlin, Barrie Kosky returns to Melbourne for NEON Festival's inaugural keynote conversation. A recording of the conversation from 20 July 2014 at Southbank Theatre.
In the lead-up to our production of 'Glengarry Glen Ross' starring Alex Dimitriades (pictured), Fiona Gruber spoke to renowned British theatre critic Michael Coveney about David Mamet's classic play; the jazz-like rhythms of the dialogue, the themes of capitalism and male competitiveness, and the influence of this play on modern playwrights.
Fiona Gruber discusses the enduring thematic relevance of Ibsen’s work with Denise Varney, Associate Professor in Theatre Studies in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne and co-director of the Australian Centre.
Music Composed and Performed by Missy Higgins. Produced by Missy Higgins and THE SWEATS. Mixed by THE SWEATS. Mastered by Steve Smart at Studios 301.
MTC's production of Cock is playing at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio until 22 March 2014. Learn more at http://www.mtc.com.au/cock
Music Composed and Performed by Missy Higgins. Produced by Missy Higgins and THE SWEATS. Mixed by THE SWEATS. Mastered by Steve Smart at Studios 301.
MTC's production of Cock is playing at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio until 22 March 2014. Learn more at http://www.mtc.com.au/cock
Music Composed and Performed by Missy Higgins. Produced by Missy Higgins and THE SWEATS. Mixed by THE SWEATS. Mastered by Steve Smart at Studios 301.
MTC's production of Cock is playing at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio until 22 March 2014. Learn more at http://www.mtc.com.au/cock
Music Composed and Performed by Missy Higgins. Produced by Missy Higgins and THE SWEATS. Mixed by THE SWEATS. Mastered by Steve Smart at Studios 301.
MTC's production of Cock is playing at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio until 22 March 2014. Learn more at http://www.mtc.com.au/cock
Fiona Gruber talks with Noël Coward's biographer Philip Hoare about the work and life of 'The Master' and the very private life that created Private Lives.
Fiona Gruber speaks to actor and writer Matthew Whittet, and MTC Education Manager Noel Jordan about the importance of creating theatre for young people.
Learn about the lead up to Martin Luther King Jr's 'I've been to the mountaintop' speech on the eve of his death in 1968, in this interview with Monash University's Dr Clare Corbould.
Is adapting the easy way out?
Adena Jacobs (Fraught Outfit), Joanna Murray-Smith (Playwright), Simon Stone (Writer/Director), Andrew Upton (Sydney Theatre Company) and Cameron Woodhead (Theatre Critic) tackle the tough questions around adaptation and defend their positions – should we demolish, renovate or heritage-list the great plays? Chaired by Dr Jane Montgomery Griffiths (Head of Theatre and Performance, Monash University).
What can other art forms offer our stages?
A recording from the second instalment in the Neon Conversations series. Martyn Coutts (Interdisciplinary Arts Practitioner), Wesley Enoch (Queensland Theatre Company), Xani Kolac (The Twoks), Alkinos Tsilimidos (Film and Theatre Director) and Anouk Van Dijk (Chunky Move) discuss what other art forms can offer our stages. Which art form reflects the world in which we live in most effectively? Chaired by Fiona Gruber (Journalist).
Independent Theatre and the Mainstage: friends or foes?
A recording from the first instalment in MTC's Neon Conversations series. Stephen Armstrong (Producer), Alison Croggon (ABC Arts Online Theatre Critic at Large), Matthew Lutton (Malthouse Theatre), Anne-Louise Sarks (The Hayloft Project) and Brett Sheehy (Melbourne Theatre Company) discuss a range of issues, including whether mainstage companies should be opening their doors to the independent sector, where artists are being developed, and who is bridging the gap. Chaired by Daniel Clarke (TheatreWorks).
Fiona Gruber interviews renowned Australian playwright David Williamson and learns more about his new play, Rupert.
Fiona Gruber interviews playwright Eddie Perfect about his new deliciously wicked new satire, 'The Beast'.