MTC Season 2020

HOME, I’M DARLING

by LAURA WADE T O R C H T H E MELBOURNE E M ETHEATRE R A L D P L A C E COMPANY C I T Y by BENJAMIN LAW

by DAVID WILLIAMSON BERLIN G I R L S by JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH & BOYS SEXUAL

by DENNIS M I S C O N D U C T KELLY OF THE M I D D L E C LbyA S S E S HANNAH MOSCOVITCH THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR SUNSHI

by AIDAN FENNESSY S U P E T R U E by ANDREA JAM SHAKESPEARE'S WEST

by SAM SHEPARD AS YOU LIKE IT FUN

T H E PL AYS

HOME, I’M DARLING 20 JANUARY — 22 FEBRUARY

TORCH THE PLACE 8 FEBRUARY — 21 MARCH

EMERALD CITY 6 MARCH — 18 APRIL

BERLIN 25 APRIL — 6 JUNE

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES 15 MAY — 27 JUNE

THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR 13 JUNE — 18 JULY

FUN HOME 15 JULY — 15 AUGUST

TRUE WEST 1 AUGUST — 4 SEPTEMBER

AS YOU LIKE IT 14 SEPTEMBER — 24 OCTOBER

GIRLS & BOYS 30 OCTOBER — 12 DECEMBER

SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL 20 NOVEMBER — 19 DECEMBER

SLAP. BANG. KISS .

7 MAY — 23 MAY

MTC is a department of the University of Melbourne.

Melbourne Theatre Company acknowledges the Yalukit Willam Peoples of the Boon Wurrung, the First Peoples of Country on which Southbank Theatre and MTC HQ stand. We pay our respects to all of Melbourne’s First Peoples, to their ancestors and Elders, and to our shared future.

S E E the WORLD D I F F E R E N T LY

WELCOME

Welcome to Melbourne Theatre Company’s 2020 Season.

After 65 years in the business, it’s no secret MTC has Australia’s largest troupe of theatre fans, with record-breaking numbers of Subscribers.

Each year we present some of the best international theatre from around the world, with a selection of bold new Australian writing, and theatre classics made new for today.

In 2020, we celebrate theatre’s power to help us see the world differently. We draw on Australia’s best and brightest to ignite our imaginations, challenge our preconceptions, and take us to other worlds. From the backstreets of Berlin, to the backroads of regional Victoria – these are the stories that will bring you to your feet, have you rolling in the aisles, and help you see the world with fresh eyes in 2020.

Director Simon Phillips will return with another of Shakespeare’s greatest works for a night of joyous music and comedy in As You Like It. MTC Associate Artistic Director Sarah Goodes tackles two incredible works that couldn’t be more different – a masterpiece of American theatre in Sam Shepard’s True West, and the new West End comedy hit, Home, I’m Darling.

And for our mid-year highlight, Dean Bryant will bring us the incredible Broadway musical – winner of 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical – Fun Home.

This season our NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program pays serious dividends with four thrilling new works hitting the stage from Benjamin Law, Joanna Murray-Smith, Aidan Fennessy and Dan Giovannoni. We also celebrate 50 years of David Williamson’s productions on the Australian stage, with one of his all-time classics, Emerald City.

Add to this the moving true story of tennis champion Evonne Goolagong brought to life on stage with the Sumner transformed into a tennis court, and it's clear 2020 will be a season of remarkable Australian theatre at MTC. As Melbourne continues to flex its muscle as an Australian city of unrivalled cultural vibrancy, we are proud to give you another season of exceptional theatre to revel in. Thank you, once again, for embracing the art we present with such generosity and enthusiasm. We can’t wait to share our 2020 Season with you.

Brett Sheehy ao Artistic Director & CEO

Virginia Lovett Executive Director & Co-CEO

3

by LAURA WADE starring NIKKI SHIELS and JANE TURNER

‘An affecting, inspiring evening.’

THE TIMES (UK)

‘A cracking new play.’

MAIL ON SUNDAY (UK)

Following a sold out run at London's National Theatre in 2018, Laura Wade’s piercingly funny Olivier Award-winning play about one woman’s quest to be the ideal 1950s housewife makes its Australian Premiere at MTC. With plenty to say about our penchant for nostalgia and society’s relentless pursuit of perfection, Home, I’m Darling offers a dreamy mix of sharp social observation and infectious laughter from start to finish.

Every couple needs a little fantasy to keep their marriage sparkling, and Judy is always looking for little ways to brighten her husband Johnny’s day.

Like cocktails, dancing, warm slippers… all the usual jazz. But is their perfect 50s life a perfect lie?

Icon of Australian comedy, Jane Turner (Kath & Kim), returns for this ingenious new play starring Nikki Shiels (True Minds) directed by MTC’s award-winning Associate Artistic Director, Sarah Goodes (CosÌ).

Production Partner

20 JAN — 22 FEB SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER Director Sarah Goodes Cast includes Nikki Shiels Jane Turner Set & Costume Designer Renée Mulder Lighting Designer Paul Jackson Composer & Sound Designer Jethro Woodward Contains coarse language and sexual references.

TA L K S & E V E N T S 27 JAN & 3 FEB ANZ Forum Night 4 FEB Donor Cocktail Party 5

T O R C H THE PLACE

by BENJAMIN LAW

‘Funny and arresting.’

DAILY REVIEW (on The Family Law)

‘Real laughs, real pain and real love.’

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD (on The Family Law)

Teresa’s mum finds it impossible to let anything go – from grudges to household objects. She thinks of her home as a museum full of irreplaceable treasures. But she’s not really a curator – she’s a hoarder – and her house is enough to give Marie Kondo heart palpitations. When her kids return home to celebrate her 60th birthday, she’s over the moon to have the family back together. But this isn’t a reunion. It’s an intervention.

Celebrated TV writer, Benjamin Law (The Family Law) is one of this country’s brightest literary stars. For his hysterically funny and moving stage premiere, Law employs his effortless self-deprecating wit to spark joy in the clutter and find truth in those crazy moments that bring families closer together.

Renowned director Dean Bryant (The Lady in the Van) brings an irresistible energy to this poignant modern comedy, with a stellar cast including Fiona Choi (The Family Law), Michelle Lim Davidson (An Ideal Husband), and Diana Lin (Little Emperors).

8 FEB — 21 MAR ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FAIRFA X STUDIO Director Dean Bryant Cast includes Fiona Choi Michelle Lim Davidson Diana Lin Set Designer Isabel Hudson Costume Designer Kat Chan Lighting Designer Amelia Lever-Davidson Composer & Sound Designer Clemence Williams Associate Director Margot Tanjutco Contains coarse language, sexual references and mature themes.

TA L K S & E V E N T S Commissioned through MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, supported by the donors and foundations of MTC’s Playwrights Giving Circle.

17 & 24 FEB ANZ Forum Night 25 FEB Donor Cocktail Party 7

EMERALD CITY

by DAVID WILLIAMSON

‘Emerald City still sparkles like Sydney Harbour on a sunny day.’

6 MAR — 18 APR

‘This is Williamson at his sharpest and it’s often deftly funny.’

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

TIME OUT

DAILY REVIEW

Welcome to the glittering jewel in Australia’s cultural crown – that sinkhole of ambition and superficiality we call Sydney. Colin is Australia’s most successful screenwriter, but since moving from Melbourne with his wife Kate he’s been faced with a choice between art and commerce that will define his career forever.

Meanwhile, Kate’s star is on the ascent and her latest publication has been shortlisted for the Booker Prize. Fame and fortune are there for the taking, but big surprises are in store for them both.

Part love-letter, part hate-mail to the harbour city, this is the finest comedy by Australian theatre’s most beloved craftsman and commentator, David Williamson.

A panoramic view of the city that tends to prize beauty over brains, Emerald City is a fast-moving, wisecracking commentary on contemporary values that skewers the materialism of the 1980s with razor-sharp precision.

What better way to celebrate 50 years of David Williamson’s plays on our stages than with an absolute classic of Australian theatre directed by Queensland Theatre Artistic Director Sam Strong (Jasper Jones), starring Nadine Garner (Photograph 51), Jason Klarwein (A Streetcar Named Desire), Rhys Muldoon (House Husbands) and Ray Chong Nee (Noises Off).

Director Sam Strong Cast includes Ray Chong Nee Nadine Garner Jason Klarwein Rhys Muldoon Set & Costume Designer Dale Ferguson Lighting Designer David Walters Composer & Sound Designer Russell Goldsmith Associate Director Travis Dowling Contains coarse language, sexual references and mature themes.

TA L K S & E V E N T S A co-production with Queensland Theatre

Production Partner

Major Media Partner

16 & 23 MAR ANZ Forum Night 17 MAR Donor Cocktail Party 9

BERLIN

by JOANNA MURRAY-SMITH

‘You’ll be chilled and gripped, amused and seduced.’

25 APR — 6 JUNE

‘The West End needs more plays like this.’

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

THE AGE (on Switzerland)

THE SPECTATOR (on Switzerland)

Tom meets Charlotte in a bar. Tom’s a foreigner on his first trip to Berlin.

Charlotte’s a beguiling bartender. They’re both young, smart and charismatic – and in the early hours, they end up back at Charlotte’s Prenzlauerberg apartment. Over the course of the night, desire and longing dance hand in hand with devastating secrets. Are they just two young people falling in love, or are they contemporary victims of history’s undiluted reach?

Joanna Murray-Smith is one of Australia’s most celebrated playwrights, captivating audiences from Melbourne to Broadway and the West End. In this riveting new commission for MTC, Murray-Smith creates a world of passion and intrigue where the long shadow of history reaches out to ask what it really means to forgive the past.

Revered director Iain Sinclair, whose 2019 MTC production of A View from the Bridge received a chorus of critical acclaim, will again take us to the edge of our seats for this spine-tingling romantic thriller starring Grace Cummings (Prehistoric).

Director Iain Sinclair Cast includes Grace Cummings Lighting Designer Niklas Pajanti Composer & Sound Designer Kelly Ryall Voice & Dialect Coach Anna McCrossin-Owen Contains coarse language, sexual references and mature themes.

TA L K S & E V E N T S Commissioned through MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, supported by the donors and foundations of MTC’s Playwrights Giving Circle.

4 & 11 MAY ANZ Forum Night 12 MAY Donor Cocktail Party 11

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF THE M I D D L E CLASSES

by HANNAH MOSCOVITCH

‘A writer of remarkable talent.’

CHICAGO TRIBUNE

‘ The wunderkind of Canadian theatre.’

CBC RADIO

Jon is a prize-winning novelist who wants more out of life. His third marriage is going about as well as his first two, and he’s stuck at university teaching creative writing to lazy undergraduates. He's a good teacher, but there’s really only one student worth his time. Annie is clever, imaginative, and a huge fan of his work. One afternoon, Jon catches himself admiring Annie in her red coat, and very soon it feels like their affair was destined from the start.

But when the embers have cooled and the affair is over, will he be able to control their narrative?

Award-winning Canadian writer Hannah Moscovitch exploded onto the international theatre scene in 2005, and has taken New York by storm with her fiery wit and unique talent for shock and awe. In this Australian Premiere, Moscovitch takes the archetypal ‘student-teacher romance’ genre and turns it completely on its head for a fascinating drama on contemporary gender politics.

15 MAY — 27 JUNE ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FAIRFA X STUDIO Director Petra Kalive Cast includes Dan Spielman Set & Costume Designer Marg Horwell Lighting Designer Rachel Burke Composer & Sound Designer Darius Kedros Contains coarse language, sexual references and mature themes.

Petra Kalive (Hungry Ghosts) directs this powerful story about the dangers of desire and privilege starring Dan Spielman (The Code).

TA L K S & E V E N T S 25 MAY & 1 JUNE ANZ Forum Night

13

THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR

by AIDAN FENNESSY

‘Audiences should flock to it.’

TIME OUT (on The Architect)

‘Tickles your sides in one moment and in the next drives a knife between your ribs.’

THE AGE (on The Architect)

13 JUNE — 18 JULY SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

In this backwater country hamlet on the fringes of the commuter belt, the local choir was always the quiet heartbeat of the town. It brought people together. But then a devastating event shattered everything and split the town in two. Now, Choir leader, Barbara, and her friends must start a new choir – The Heartbreak Choir – and they have a lot to prove. Not just to the town, but to themselves. With no basses, no gigs, no Annual Arts and Culture Festival and a tentative rehearsal space in the old CFA Hall on the edge of town, this choir, more than ever, need to find a reason to sing.

Director Peter Houghton Cast includes William McInnes Genevieve Morris Ruva Ngwenya Louise Siversen Lighting Designer Matt Scott

Aidan Fennessy’s follow-up to one of our most beloved plays of 2018, The Architect, is an endearing new commission for MTC featuring songs by Leonard Cohen and other greats, which celebrates the power of comedy and reminds us how music can transcend adversity to give us hope for the future.

Contains coarse language, mature themes, sexual references, and references to suicide.

With a stellar cast including William McInnes (An Ideal Husband), Genevieve Morris (True Minds), Ruva Ngwenya (Beautiful: The Carole King Musical) and Louise Siversen (Noises Off), and directed by a master of comedy, Peter Houghton (The Odd Couple), this big hearted story offers a joyous tale of healing and redemption.

TA L K S & E V E N T S Commissioned through MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, supported by the donors and foundations of MTC’s Playwrights Giving Circle.

Production Partner

22 & 29 JUNE ANZ Forum Night 25 JUNE Donor Pre and Post-Show Dinner 15

A NEW KIND OF MUSICAL

MUSIC BY JEANINE TESORI BOOK AND LYRICS BY LISA KRON BASED ON THE GRAPHIC NOVEL BY ALISON BECHDEL

THE INDEPENDENT (UK)

THE TELEGRAPH (UK)

THE OBSERVER (UK)

WHATSONSTAGE (UK)

THE STAGE (UK)

WINNER! BEST MUSICAL TONY AWARD ‘A thing of rare beauty.’

TIME OUT NEW YORK

‘Heart-gripping and cathartic.’

THE NEW YORK TIMES

Winner of five Tony Awards including Best Musical, Fun Home is the biggest and brightest new show to take Broadway by storm. Based on Alison Bechdel’s New York Times best-selling graphic novel, this taboobusting musical dives deep into Alison’s past to tell the true story of growing up with a brilliant but volatile father, whose temperament and secrets defined her life.

Alison Bechdel is a cartoonist – it’s her job to fit stories into boxes.

But her own life story sings outside the box. Moving between past and present, Alison relives her unique childhood playing games in the family’s funeral home; her growing understanding of her own sexuality, and the looming, unanswerable questions about her father’s hidden desires.

Legend of screen and stage Lisa McCune (The King and I) returns to MTC for this new all-Australian production, joining a remarkable ensemble including Ryan Gonzalez (Jersey Boys), Maggie McKenna (Muriel’s Wedding The Musical), Lucy Maunder (Ladies in Black), Adam Murphy (Shakespeare in Love) and Chloé Zuel (West Side Story) for this refreshingly honest, wholly original musical about seeing your parents through grown-up eyes, directed by Dean Bryant (Sweet Charity).

15 JULY — 15 AUG ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE PL AYHOUSE Director Dean Bryant Cast includes Ryan Gonzalez Lucy Maunder Lisa McCune Maggie McKenna Adam Murphy Chloé Zuel Musical Director Lucy Bermingham Set & Costume Designer Alicia Clements Lighting Designer Matt Scott Associate Director Clemence Williams Voice & Dialect Coach Leith McPherson Contains coarse language, mature themes, sexual references and references to suicide.

TA L K S & E V E N T S

A co-production with Sydney Theatre Company

20 JULY ANZ Forum Night 20 JULY Donor Cocktail Party following Forum

‘FUN HOME IS A GROUND-BREAKING MASTERPIECE.’

THE INDEPENDENT (UK)

FROM THE PULITZER PRIZE-WINNING PLAYWRIGHT

TRUE

WEST

by SAM SHEPARD

‘Shepard’s masterwork.’

THE NEW YORK TIMES

‘Sibling rivalry erupts like a volcano.’

THE GUARDIAN (UK)

Austin is a young, ambitious screenwriter on the verge of his first big hit.

He's taking sanctuary house-sitting for his mum at their family home in southern California, but the quiet of the desert is shattered by the unexpected arrival of Austin’s brother, Lee, a part-time thief and full-time hustler. When Lee embroils himself in Austin’s next film project, tensions quickly flare and brutal ambition gives rise to a deadly stand-off.

Everyone has a breaking point and some relationships are made to push our buttons. In his darkly witty masterpiece of modern theatre, Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Sam Shepard creates the perfect powder-keg of sibling rivalry to explore the troubled heart of American history.

True West is a searing portrait of blood brothers – polar opposites, inextricably linked, whose savage relationship embodies their country’s pent-up resentments. This fiery new production is directed by MTC Associate Artistic Director Sarah Goodes (A Doll's House, Part 2), starring Josh McConville (Golden Shield).

1 AUG — 4 SEPT SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER Director Sarah Goodes Cast includes Josh McConville Set & Costume Designer Elizabeth Gadsby Lighting Designer Paul Jackson Contains coarse language, mature themes and sexual references.

TA L K S & E V E N T S 10 & 17 AUG ANZ Forum Night

21

' LOVE

is MERELY a MADNESS ...'

ROSALIND, AS YOU LIKE IT, ACT 3 SCENE 2

SHAKESPEARE'S

DIRECTED

by SIMON

PHILLIPS

MUSIC by KATE MILLER-HEIDKE and KEIR NUTTALL

‘Shakespeare's wistful, joyous comedy.’

THE TIMES (UK)

‘Some of Shakespeare's most famous speeches.’

THE GUARDIAN (UK)

Welcome to the forest for Shakespeare’s most warm-hearted romantic comedy. Rosalind is banished from court with her cousin Celia, but before they can escape into exile Rosalind catches the eye of love-struck Orlando. What ensues is a riotous tangle of matched and mismatched lovers, cross-dressing confusion, melodic songs and laughs aplenty.

Will love conquer all, or is it merely a madness?

With more twists than a country lane, As You Like It is a topsy-turvy celebration of love in all its forms. Illustrious director Simon Phillips (Shakespeare in Love), who has made an art of delighting audiences with Shakespearean romance, teams up once again with composers Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall, who last brought their incredible talents to MTC for the smash-hit production of Twelfth Night.

In this playful and passionate romp, which includes many of Shakespeare’s most famous lines, musical theatre icon Christie Whelan Browne (Twelfth Night) will star alongside Bert LaBonté (The Book of Mormon) for a night of divine comedy and woodland escapism.

14 SEPT — 24 OCT SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER Director Simon Phillips Cast includes Bert LaBonté Christie Whelan Browne Set & Costume Designer Alicia Clements Lighting Designer Nick Schlieper Composers Kate Miller-Heidke & Keir Nuttall Musical Director & Additional Composition Ian McDonald Associate Lighting Director Chris Twyman TA L K S & E V E N T S

Major Media Partner

21 & 28 SEPT ANZ Forum Night 29 SEPT Donor Cocktail Party 25

GIRLS & BOYS

by DENNIS KELLY

‘Gripping.’

THE OBSERVER (UK)

‘Takes us on an extraordinary journey.’

THE INDEPENDENT (UK)

An unexpected meeting at an airport leads to an intense, passionate, head-over-heels relationship. Before long, they begin to settle down.

Buy a house, juggle careers, have kids – theirs is an ordinary family.

Until suddenly their world starts to unravel and things take a disturbing turn.

After captivating West End and New York audiences in 2018, Girls & Boys makes its Australian Premiere at MTC, delivering a stunning one-woman show that begins as a beguiling tale of universal truths, before hitting home with the full force of a tsunami. This is theatre at its most raw, and most affecting – a mesmerising new work from the Tony Award-winning British playwright Dennis Kelly (Matilda: The Musical).

30 OCT — 12 DEC ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FAIRFA X STUDIO Director Kate Champion Cast Robin McLeavy Set & Costume Designer Marg Horwell Lighting Designer Amelia Lever-Davidson Recommended for audiences 18+ Contains coarse language, mature themes and descriptions of graphic violence.

Girls & Boys is that unique gift of a play that takes its audience from uncontrollable laughter to utter devastation in just seconds. In the hands of Helpmann Award-winning director Kate Champion (Never Did Me Any Harm), and starring Robin McLeavy (Miss Julie), this promises to be theatre that will stay with you long after the curtains close.

TA L K S & E V E N T S 9 & 16 NOV ANZ Forum Night 9 NOV Donor Cocktail Party following Forum 27

COURTSIDE SEATING Experience the Sumner theatre like never before with on stage ‘courtside’ seating.

See page p48 for more info.

SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL

by ANDREA JAMES

‘Goolagong defied prejudice to become a star.’

20 NOV — 19 DEC

‘She captivated crowds wherever she played.’

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

CNN

AUSTRALIAN SPORTS HALL OF FAME

A young girl hits a ball against the tin wall of her family’s home with a frying pan. This is where it all began for Evonne Goolagong. Hers is a quintessentially Australian story about a girl from the bush who dared to dream, and with the unlikely support of an outback farming town, rose to become the No. 1 tennis player in the world, and a household name by the age of 19.

Director Andrea James Contains mature themes.

Evonne Goolagong’s heartwarming story is a celebration of spirit and passion over adversity, and a tribute to a woman whose sporting prowess continues to inspire a nation, giving hope to thousands of young girls across the country. With its distinctively Australian sensibility and humour, Sunshine Super Girl asks us to consider our nation’s future and the part we can play for the next ‘Goolagong’ waiting in the wings.

MTC is proud to present this landmark new Australian work written and directed by Andrea James (Yanagai! Yanagai!) with the Sumner theatre transformed through on-stage ‘court-side’ seating to evoke the magic of Wimbledon.

TA L K S & E V E N T S A Performing Lines Production

30 NOV & 7 DEC ANZ Forum Night 30 NOV Donor Cocktail Party following Forum 29

FAMILIES AND EDUCATION SEASON Subscribers enjoy exclusive early access to tickets

SLAP. BANG.KISS.

by DAN GIOVANNONI

‘A beautifully economical and evocative use of language.'

7 MAY — 23 MAY

Best New Writing

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE L AWLER

DAILY REVIEW (on Merciless Gods)

GREEN ROOM AWARD (for Jurassica)

SLAP. A video of 16-year-old Immi hitting a soldier during a military occupation goes viral. BANG. Sofia’s impassioned speech for the victims of a school shooting makes international news. KISS. In the car park of a Wangaratta Woolies, people rally around Darby and Daniel as the boys lock lips in an attempt to set the world record for the longest kiss.

Can young people really change the world? Multi-award-winning playwright and MTC Writer in Residence Dan Giovannoni knows they can.

In SLAP. BANG. KISS. he tracks three young people whose stories kick-start a series of events none of them could have anticipated, transforming them into global symbols of revolution. But when their stories go viral and the whole world is watching, what will they do next?

Director Prue Clark Victoria & Tasmania Tour 25 May – 12 June Recommended for ages 14+ Contains coarse language and mature themes.

Director Prue Clark (The Violent Outburst That Drew Me To You) delivers a bold production exploring themes of activism, community and hope for MTC’s acclaimed Families and Education Program. Limited performances are available to Subscribers for exclusive early bookings. See the Performance Diary for more details.

Commissioned through MTC’s NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, supported by the donors and foundations of MTC’s Playwrights Giving Circle.

31

SUBSCRIPTION PRICES Save up to $40 per ticket with MTC Subscriptions

7 Plays

8 Plays

9 Plays

11 Plays Full Season

Previews & Wednesday Matinees

$549

$624

$699

$772

Monday to Thursday Evenings

$626

$712

$798

$882

Friday & Saturday Performances

$682

$776

$870

$926

Opening Nights*

$955

$1,088

$1,221

$1,487

Previews & Wednesday Matinees

$514

$584

$654

$717

Monday to Thursday Evenings

$591

$672

$753

$827

Friday & Saturday Performances

$647

$736

$825

$882

 Full Price

Groups and Seniors

Full-time students, Pensioners and University of Melbourne staff Previews & Wednesday Matinees

$444

$504

$564

$629

Monday to Thursday Evenings

$556

$632

$708

$772

Friday & Saturday Performances

$612

$696

$780

$838

Previews & Wednesday Matinees

$271

$308

$345

$386

Monday to Thursday Evenings

$313

$356

$399

$441

Friday & Saturday Performances

$341

$388

$435

$463

People Under 30 – SAVE 50%

Prices above include a ticket premium for the blockbuster productions of Fun Home and As You Like It. Prices are lower if you do not select these productions. *Abercrombie & Kent Opening Night Subscriptions are only available to Donors giving $1,000+

GROUP SUBSCRIPTIONS Group subscriptions are available for a minimum of 10 people booking for at least 7 of the same performance dates and times, and are available for mail bookings only.

All tickets must be purchased at the same time to qualify for the discount. Groups can be inclusive of concession priced packages at the appropriate rate, alongside others at the group package rate.

32

PREVIEWS Previews, marked in the Performance Diary, are the exciting first performances leading up to Opening Night. Please note that directors may need to halt the performance for technical reasons. Previews are presented at a discount price to compensate for any possible technical issues that may arise.

Learn more at mtc.com.au/subscriptions

SUBSCRIBER REWARDS Become a Subscriber and join Australia’s biggest troupe of theatre fans

BEST SEATS

PRIORIT Y BOOKINGS

Exclusive early access to the best seats available

Book months before tickets go on sale to the public

FLEXIBILIT Y

GREAT VALUE

Change dates or shows when you need to*

Save up to 30% on every ticket

PAY ACROSS THE YEAR

SHARE THE LOVE

Take advantage of credit card instalments

Special discounts for your family and friends

*Conditions apply. See Subscriber Information on page 48 for details.

33

The National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

A WORLD OF EXCLUSIVE REWARDS Take your theatre experience to the next level

FREE TICKET EXCHANGES

THE BEST VALUE TICKETS

FOYER BAR DISCOUNTS

PRIORIT Y BOOKINGS

FULL SEASON REWARDS Join us for all 11 plays and enjoy free package ticket exchanges, 15% off at theatre foyer bars, complimentary drinks with your meal at selected local restaurants, access to exclusive discount ticket offers and more.

Learn more at mtc.com.au/rewards

35

IMPORTANT DATES For your diary

3

SEPT

13

SEPT

1

OCT

8

OCT

5

DEC

5

MAR

4

JUNE

SEASON 2020 ANNOUNCED EXCLUSIVE PRIORITY BOOKING WINDOW OPENS for renewing 11 Play Full Season Subscribers

EXCLUSIVE PRIORITY BOOKING WINDOW CLOSES for renewing 11 Play Full Season Subscribers PRIORITY BOOKING PERIOD OPENS for all other renewing 7+ Play Subscribers

PRIORITY BOOKING PERIOD CLOSES for all other renewing 7+ Play Subscribers

BOOKING PERIOD BEGINS for new 7+ Play Subscribers

TICKETS GO ON SALE to the public for Home, I’m Darling, Torch the Place, Emerald City, Berlin

TICKETS GO ON SALE to the public for Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes, The Heartbreak Choir, Fun Home, True West

TICKETS GO ON SALE to the public for As You Like It, Girls & Boys, Sunshine Super Girl

FULL SEASON SUBSCRIBERS AND DONORS

PRIORITY BOOKINGS

36

Existing Full Season Subscribers receive priority processing of their 2020 11 Play subscription renewal until 13 September 2019 ahead of all other Subscribers. MTC Donors giving $1,000+ also receive priority processing and a VIP ticketing service.

Under 30?

Save 50%

U30 Subscriptions are now 50% off the adult price for everyone aged under 30.

BOOK YOUR SUBSCRIP TION FROM JUS T $ 36 PER TICKE T.

PL AY YO U R R O L E

Being an MTC Donor is a truly inspirational experience.

Each year the team at MTC exceeds our expectations of what theatre can achieve on and off stage. Beyond presenting a season of incredibly moving moments that bring joy to hundreds of thousands of Melburnians, MTC is passionate about theatre’s power to bring our community closer together and creating experiences that enrich us as a society.

Whether you’re inspired by our $4.6m investment in the future of Australian writing through the NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program, our $5 tickets for disadvantaged families and students, the travel subsidy we provide school groups coming from isolated regional areas, our First Peoples Young Artists Program, or our extraordinary Families and Education program – the fact is, none of these achievements would be possible without the support of our generous donors and philanthropists.

With shrinking government funding for the Arts, MTC is heavily reliant on earned income through ticket sales and contributable income through our donations, bequests and foundations. And while subscriptions are a great contributor to MTC’s financial success, overall ticket sales actually cover just 60% of the cost of presenting our annual theatre season. Each year your investment plays an even bigger role in our future. Your donation helps us reach students geographically disadvantaged in regional Victoria, scale the height of artistic excellence MTC is known for worldwide and help a lighting technician learn new skills and advance their career.

At MTC we believe theatre helps us see the world differently, giving us new perspectives to embrace life with an open mind. That’s why MTC is passionate about sharing the power of theatre with the broadest possible audience.

Sixty-five years ago John Sumner ao cbe founded Melbourne Theatre Company as a place where people could come together to share brave thoughts and connect through the power of the stage. What will the next sixty-five years bring for MTC? That’s up to you.

Become an MTC Donor and help us write the next chapter.

Jane Hansen MTC Foundation Chair

38

BECOMING A DONOR Learn more about the impact of donating to MTC, or how you can include a gift to MTC in your Will, by speaking with a member of our Philanthropy Team.

CONTAC T US

donations@mtc.com.au 03 8688 0954 Donors giving $1,000 or more enjoy access to Opening Night Subscriptions, a VIP ticketing service, the best seats in the house, invitations to exclusive events and the chance to come behind the scenes.

Donating is easy – simply include a gift on your subscriptions form or donate when you subscribe online.

Learn more at mtc.com.au/support

Shakespeare in Love

PERFORMANCE DIARY

HOME, I’M DARLING

by Laura Wade

20 JAN — 22 FEB

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

20 Jan – 8pm

21 Jan – 8pm

22 Jan – 8pm

23 Jan – 8pm

24 Jan – 8pm

25 Jan – 8pm

27 Jan – 6:30pm

28 Jan – 6:30pm

29 Jan – 1pm, 8pm

30 Jan – 8pm

31 Jan – 8pm

01 Feb – 2pm, 8pm

03 Feb – 6:30pm

04 Feb – 6:30pm

05 Feb – 1pm, 8pm

06 Feb – 8pm

07 Feb – 8pm

08 Feb – 2pm

10 Feb – 6:30pm

11 Feb – 6:30pm

12 Feb – 1pm, 8pm

13 Feb – 8pm

14 Feb – 8pm

15 Feb – 2pm

17 Feb – 6:30pm

18 Feb – 6:30pm

19 Feb – 1pm, 8pm

20 Feb – 8pm

21 Feb – 8pm

22 Feb – 2pm, 8pm

8 FEB — 21 MAR

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FAIRFA X STUDIO

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

TORCH THE PLACE

by Benjamin Law M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

8pm 8pm

S AT U R D AY 08 Feb – 8pm

10 Feb – 8pm

11 Feb – 8pm

12 Feb – 8pm

13 Feb – 8pm

14 Feb – 8pm

15 Feb – 8pm

17 Feb – 6:30pm

18 Feb – 6:30pm

19 Feb – 1pm, 8pm

20 Feb – 8pm

21 Feb – 8pm

22 Feb – 2pm, 8pm

24 Feb – 6:30pm

25 Feb – 6:30pm

26 Feb – 1pm, 8pm

27 Feb – 8pm

28 Feb – 8pm

29 Feb – 2pm

02 Mar – 6:30pm

03 Mar – 6:30pm

04 Mar – 1pm

05 Mar – 8pm

06 Mar – 8pm

07 Mar – 2pm

09 Mar – 6:30pm

10 Mar – 6:30pm

11 Mar – 1pm

12 Mar – 8pm

13 Mar – 8pm

14 Mar – 2pm, 8pm

16 Mar – 6:30pm

17 Mar – 6:30pm

18 Mar – 1pm, 8pm

19 Mar – 8pm

20 Mar – 8pm

21 Mar – 2pm, 8pm

6 MAR — 18 APR

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

06 Mar – 8pm

07 Mar – 8pm

8pm 8pm

EMERALD CITY

by David Williamson M O N D AY

40

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

8pm 8pm

09 Mar – 8pm

10 Mar – 8pm

11 Mar – 8pm

12 Mar – 8pm

13 Mar – 8pm

14 Mar – 2pm, 8pm

16 Mar – 6:30pm

17 Mar – 6:30pm

18 Mar – 1pm, 8pm

19 Mar – 8pm

20 Mar – 8pm

21 Mar – 2pm, 8pm

23 Mar – 6:30pm

24 Mar – 6:30pm

25 Mar – 1pm, 8pm

26 Mar – 8pm

27 Mar – 8pm

28 Mar – 2pm

30 Mar – 6:30pm

31 Mar – 6:30pm

01 Apr – 1pm, 8pm

02 Apr – 8pm

03 Apr – 8pm

04 Apr – 2pm

06 Apr – 6:30pm

07 Apr – 6:30pm

08 Apr – 1pm, 8pm

09 Apr – 8pm

No performance

11 Apr – 2pm, 8pm

13 Apr – 6:30pm

14 Apr – 6:30pm

15 Apr – 1pm, 8pm

16 Apr – 8pm

17 Apr – 8pm

18 Apr – 2pm, 8pm

8pm 8pm

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE

EDUCATION PERFORMANCE

PREVIEW

ANZ FORUM NIGHT

TACTILE TOUR

DONOR EVENT

A&K OPENING NIGHT

BERLIN

by Joanna Murray-Smith M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

25 APR — 6 JUNE

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY 25 Apr – 8pm

27 Apr – 8pm

28 Apr – 8pm

29 Apr – 8pm

30 Apr – 8pm

01 May – 8pm

02 May – 2pm, 8pm

04 May – 6:30pm

05 May – 6:30pm

06 May – 1pm, 8pm

07 May – 8pm

08 May – 8pm

09 May – 2pm, 8pm

11 May – 6:30pm

12 May – 6:30pm

13 May – 1pm, 8pm

14 May – 8pm

15 May – 8pm

16 May – 2pm

18 May – 6:30pm

19 May – 6:30pm

20 May – 1pm, 8pm

21 May – 8pm

22 May – 8pm

23 May – 2pm

25 May – 6:30pm

26 May – 6:30pm

27 May – 1pm, 8pm

28 May – 8pm

29 May – 8pm

30 May – 2pm, 8pm

01 Jun – 6:30pm

02 Jun – 6:30pm

03 Jun – 1pm, 8pm

04 Jun – 8pm

05 Jun – 8pm

06 Jun – 2pm, 8pm

15 MAY — 27 JUNE

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FAIRFA X STUDIO

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

15 May – 8pm

16 May – 8pm

SEXUAL MISCONDUCT OF THE MIDDLE CLASSES

by Hannah Moscovitch M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

8pm 8pm

18 May – 8pm

19 May – 8pm

20 May – 8pm

21 May – 8pm

22 May – 8pm

23 May – 2pm, 8pm

25 May – 6:30pm

26 May – 6:30pm

27 May – 1pm, 8pm

28 May – 8pm

29 May – 8pm

30 May – 2pm, 8pm

01 Jun – 6:30pm

02 Jun – 6:30pm

03 Jun – 1pm, 8pm

04 Jun – 8pm

05 Jun – 8pm

06 Jun – 2pm

08 Jun – 6:30pm

09 Jun – 6:30pm

10 Jun – 1pm, 8pm

11 Jun – 8pm

12 Jun – 8pm

13 Jun – 2pm

15 Jun – 6:30pm

16 Jun – 6:30pm

17 Jun – 1pm, 8pm

18 Jun – 8pm

19 Jun – 8pm

20 Jun – 2pm, 8pm

22 Jun – 6:30pm

23 Jun – 6:30pm

24 Jun – 1pm, 8pm

25 Jun – 8pm

26 Jun – 8pm

27 Jun – 2pm, 8pm

13 JUNE — 18 JULY

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR

by Aidan Fennessy M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

8pm 8pm

S AT U R D AY 13 Jun – 8pm

15 Jun – 8pm

16 Jun – 8pm

17 Jun – 8pm

18 Jun – 8pm

19 Jun – 8pm

20 Jun – 2pm, 8pm

22 Jun – 6:30pm

23 Jun – 6:30pm

24 Jun – 1pm, 8pm

25 Jun – 8pm

26 Jun – 8pm

27 Jun – 2pm, 8pm

29 Jun – 6:30pm

30 Jun – 6:30pm

01 Jul – 1pm, 8pm

02 Jul – 8pm

03 Jul – 8pm

04 Jul – 2pm

06 Jul – 6:30pm

07 Jul – 6:30pm

08 Jul – 1pm, 8pm

09 Jul – 8pm

10 Jul – 8pm

11 Jul – 2pm

13 Jul – 6:30pm

14 Jul – 6:30pm

15 Jul – 1pm, 8pm

16 Jul – 8pm

17 Jul – 8pm

18 Jul – 2pm, 8pm

8pm 8pm

41

PERFORMANCE DIARY

FUN HOME

Music by Jeanine Tesori; Book and Lyrics by Lisa Kron Based on the novel by Alison Bechdel M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

15 JULY — 15 AUG

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE PL AYHOUSE

W E D N E S D AY

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

15 Jul – 8pm

16 Jul – 8pm

17 Jul – 8pm

18 Jul – 8pm

20 Jul – 6:30pm

21 Jul – 6:30pm

22 Jul – 1pm, 8pm

23 Jul – 8pm

24 Jul – 8pm

25 Jul – 2pm

27 Jul – 6:30pm

28 Jul – 6:30pm

29 Jul – 1pm, 8pm

30 Jul – 8pm

31 Jul – 8pm

01 Aug – 2pm

03 Aug – 6:30pm

04 Aug – 6:30pm

05 Aug – 1pm

06 Aug – 8pm

07 Aug – 8pm

08 Aug – 2pm, 8pm

10 Aug – 6:30pm

11 Aug – 6:30pm

12 Aug – 1pm, 8pm

13 Aug – 8pm

14 Aug – 8pm

15 Aug – 2pm, 8pm

1 AUG — 4 SEPT

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

8pm

TRUE WEST

by Sam Shepard M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

8pm 8pm

S AT U R D AY 01 Aug – 8pm

03 Aug – 8pm

04 Aug – 8pm

05 Aug – 8pm

06 Aug – 8pm

07 Aug – 8pm

08 Aug – 2pm, 8pm

10 Aug – 6:30pm

11 Aug – 6:30pm

12 Aug – 1pm, 8pm

13 Aug – 8pm

14 Aug – 8pm

15 Aug – 2pm, 8pm

17 Aug – 6:30pm

18 Aug – 6:30pm

19 Aug – 1pm, 8pm

20 Aug – 8pm

21 Aug – 8pm

22 Aug – 2pm

24 Aug – 6:30pm

25 Aug – 6:30pm

26 Aug – 1pm, 8pm

27 Aug – 8pm

28 Aug – 8pm

29 Aug – 2pm

31 Aug – 6:30pm

01 Sep – 6:30pm

02 Sep – 1pm, 8pm

03 Sep – 8pm

04 Sep – 8pm

14 SEPT — 24 OC T

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

8pm 8pm

AS YOU LIKE IT

by William Shakespeare music by Kate Miller-Heidke and Keir Nuttall

42

M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

14 Sep – 8pm

15 Sep – 8pm

16 Sep – 8pm

17 Sep – 8pm

18 Sep – 8pm

19 Sep – 8pm

21 Sep – 6:30pm

22 Sep – 6:30pm

23 Sep – 1pm, 8pm

24 Sep – 8pm

25 Sep – 8pm

26 Sep – 2pm, 8pm

28 Sep – 6:30pm

29 Sep – 6:30pm

30 Sep – 1pm, 8pm

01 Oct – 8pm

02 Oct – 8pm

03 Oct – 2pm

05 Oct – 6:30pm

06 Oct – 6:30pm

07 Oct – 1pm, 8pm

08 Oct – 8pm

09 Oct – 8pm

10 Oct – 2pm

12 Oct – 6:30pm

13 Oct – 6:30pm

14 Oct – 1pm, 8pm

15 Oct – 8pm

16 Oct – 8pm

17 Oct – 2pm, 8pm

19 Oct – 6:30pm

20 Oct – 6:30pm

21 Oct – 1pm, 8pm

22 Oct – 8pm

23 Oct – 8pm

24 Oct – 2pm, 8pm

8pm 8pm

AUDIO DESCRIBED PERFORMANCE CAPTIONED PERFORMANCE

EDUCATION PERFORMANCE

PREVIEW

ANZ FORUM NIGHT

TACTILE TOUR

DONOR EVENT

A&K OPENING NIGHT

GIRLS & BOYS

by Dennis Kelly M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

30 OC T — 12 DEC

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE FAIRFA X STUDIO

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

30 Oct – 8pm

31 Oct – 8pm

02 Nov – 8pm

03 Nov – 8pm

04 Nov – 8pm

05 Nov – 8pm

06 Nov – 8pm

07 Nov – 2pm, 8pm

09 Nov – 6:30pm

10 Nov – 6:30pm

11 Nov – 1pm, 8pm

12 Nov – 8pm

13 Nov – 8pm

14 Nov – 2pm, 8pm

16 Nov – 6:30pm

17 Nov – 6:30pm

18 Nov – 1pm, 8pm

19 Nov – 8pm

20 Nov – 8pm

21 Nov – 2pm

23 Nov – 6:30pm

24 Nov – 6:30pm

25 Nov – 1pm, 8pm

26 Nov – 8pm

27 Nov – 8pm

28 Nov – 2pm

30 Nov – 6:30pm

01 Dec – 6:30pm

02 Dec – 1pm, 8pm

03 Dec – 8pm

04 Dec – 8pm

05 Dec – 2pm, 8pm

07 Dec – 6:30pm

08 Dec – 6:30pm

09 Dec – 1pm, 8pm

10 Dec – 8pm

11 Dec – 8pm

12 Dec – 2pm, 8pm

20 NOV — 19 DEC

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE SUMNER

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

20 Nov – 8pm

21 Nov – 8pm

SUNSHINE SUPER GIRL

by Andrea James M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

8pm 8pm

23 Nov – 8pm

24 Nov – 8pm

25 Nov – 1pm, 8pm

26 Nov – 8pm

27 Nov – 8pm

28 Nov – 2pm, 8pm

30 Nov – 6:30pm

01 Dec – 6:30pm

02 Dec – 1pm, 8pm

03 Dec – 8pm

04 Dec – 8pm

05 Dec – 2pm, 8pm

07 Dec – 6:30pm

08 Dec – 6:30pm

09 Dec – 1pm, 8pm

10 Dec – 8pm

11 Dec – 8pm

12 Dec – 2pm

14 Dec – 6:30pm

15 Dec – 6:30pm

16 Dec – 1pm, 8pm

17 Dec – 8pm

18 Dec – 8pm

19 Dec – 2pm, 8pm

7 MAY — 23 MAY

SOUTHBANK THEATRE THE L AWLER

SLAP. BANG. KISS .

by Dan Giovannoni

8pm

FAMILIES AND EDUCATION SEASON — Subscribers enjoy exclusive early access to tickets M O N D AY

T U E S D AY

W E D N E S D AY

T H U R S D AY

F R I D AY

S AT U R D AY

Schools Performance

08 May – 7pm

09 May – 7pm

Schools Performance

12 May – 7pm

Schools Performance

14 May – 7pm

Schools Performance

16 May – 7pm

Schools Performance

Schools Performance

20 May – 7pm

Schools Performance

22 May – 7pm

23 May – 7pm

43

DONOR EVENTS Your invitation to engage with actors and creative teams

MTC Donors enjoy exclusive invitations to relaxed and intimate dinners and cocktail parties, with the chance to meet members of the cast and creative teams behind MTC’s productions. Learn more about becoming an MTC Donor at mtc.com.au/support

44

SHOW

D AT E

EVENT

PERFORMANCE VENUE

Home, I’m Darling

Tues 4 February

Cocktail Party

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

Torch the Place

Tues 25 February

Cocktail Party

Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio

Emerald City

Tues 17 March

Cocktail Party

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

Berlin

Tues 12 May

Cocktail Party

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

The Heartbreak Choir

Thurs 25 June

Pre and Post-show Dinner

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

Fun Home

Mon 20 July

Cocktail Party following Forum

Arts Centre Melbourne, Playhouse

As You Like It

Tues 29 September

Cocktail Party

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

Girls & Boys

Mon 9 November

Cocktail Party following Forum

Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio

Sunshine Super Girl

Mon 30 November

Cocktail Party following Forum

Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

ANZ FORUM NIGHTS Get up close and personal

Stay after the show for selected performances to gain further insight into our plays with an enlightening conversation between the cast, creative team and the audience.

ANZ Forum Nights are held on Monday nights, usually twice per production in the weeks following Opening Night.

Marked in the Performance Diary, the free post-show forums are only available to ticket holders of that evening's performance. These nights are always very popular, so get your booking in early.

Major Partner

2020 ANZ FORUM NIGHT SCHEDULE Home, I'm Darling

27 January & 3 February

Torch the Place

17 & 24 February

Emerald City

16 & 23 March

Berlin

4 & 11 May

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes

25 May & 1 June

The Heartbreak Choir

22 & 29 June

Fun Home

20 July

True West

10 & 17 August

As You Like It

21 & 28 September

Girls & Boys

9 & 16 November

Sunshine Super Girl

30 November & 7 December

45

YOU DON’T HAVE TO TRAVEL THE WORLD TO SEE ART AT ITS BEST. IT’S HERE IN THE HEART OF MELBOURNE.

Discover hidden treasures museumsandcollections.unimelb.edu.au Installation photography of Ancestral Memory exhibition, 2019. Now showing at Old Quad on Parkville campus. Curated by Maree Clarke. Photograph: Christian Capurro. Image © the artists.

With thanks to lenders: the Koorie Heritage Trust and Vivien Anderson Gallery, Melbourne.

CRICOS 00116K

The story so far

Now in its third year, MTC’s landmark NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program has set a new benchmark for Australian writing, with $4.6 million invested to provide resources for commissioning, workshopping and developing new plays.

25 writers under commission or in residence

Learn more at mtc.com.au/nextstage

22 workshops held to develop new plays

New Commissions Van Badham Anchuli Felicia King

New Writers in Residence Elise Hearst Andrea James Phillip Kavanagh

5 NEXT STAGE plays programmed across MTC’s 2019 and 2020 Seasons

Made possible by MTC’s Playwrights Giving Circle Louise Myer & Martyn Myer ao, Maureen Wheeler ao & Tony Wheeler ao, Christine Brown Bequest, Allan Myers ac qc & Maria Myers ac, Tony Burgess & Janine Burgess, Dr Andrew McAliece & Dr Richard Simmie, Larry Kamener & Petra Kamener

47

SUBSCRIBER INFORMATION

TICKET EXCHANGES

COURTSIDE SEATING

Ticket exchanges help you keep your theatre diary flexible throughout the year.

For the production of Sunshine Super Girl, a special seating configuration will be used. A bank of ‘stadium seating’ will be installed on stage facing out into the auditorium, opposite the permanent seating in The Sumner. It will be comprised of a tiered bank of plastic seating. Subscribers may choose this unique reserved seating option as part of their package.

Exchange Fees 11 Play Full Season Subscribers can exchange their 11 Play package tickets free of charge.

7 to 9 play Subscribers can exchange their package and additional tickets for $5 per ticket.

How to Exchange Exchanges can be made from 5 December 2019 subject to availability, either in person at the Southbank Theatre Box Office, by mail to 140 Southbank Boulevard, Southbank VIC 3006, or online for performances at Southbank Theatre. It is not possible to exchange MTC subscription tickets at the Arts Centre Melbourne Box Office.

Changing dates: When exchanging into a different performance date of the same production, tickets need to be returned online or received by the Southbank Theatre Box Office at least 48 hours prior to the performance date indicated on the ticket.

Concessions must be valid at the time of booking.

Refunds are not available if you become eligible for a concession after you have booked. Pensioners and Seniors must provide their card number when booking.

Full-time students must attach documentation of current full–time enrolment. University of Melbourne staff must provide a copy of their staff ID card. Proof of concession must be provided each season. Those aged under 30 (aged 29 and under) at the time of booking must include documentation indicating proof of age and a contact email or postal address.

HEAD BOOKERS

Changing productions: Subscribers can exchange into another production within the same season, provided the exchange is into a production that is not already booked within the subscription package, and the exchange occurs at least one week before the first preview of the originally booked production.

If you are listed first on the booking form (and on the topmost form when multiple forms are submitted together) you will become our key point of contact in case of seating reallocation or other contingencies.

All tickets will be mailed to the Head Booker.

Exchanges for Donors ($1,000+): Donor exchanges are arranged through Donor Ticketing via email on donorticketing@mtc.com.au or phone 03 8688 0953.

OPENING NIGHT PACKAGES

For full exchange terms and conditions, visit mtc.com.au/exchanges

ADDITIONAL TICKETS Subscribers who purchase a 7–11 play package can buy additional tickets to any show in our 2020 Main Season for family and friends at discounted prices. These special prices are only guaranteed at the time of purchasing your subscription and may change for bookings made at a later date.

48

CONCESSIONS

Exclusive to MTC Donors donating $1,000+, a limited number of 2020 Abercrombie & Kent Opening Night subscription packages are available. Opening Night subscription tickets can be exchanged, however any price difference is non–refundable. Additional tickets are not available for Opening Nights. Under 30 concessions are not available on Opening Nights.

PAYING BY INSTALMENTS Subscribers paying by credit card can divide their total payment into four easy instalments. The first is payable when you subscribe, with the remaining instalments due on 2 January, 2 April and 2 June 2020. The administration fee for this service is a one-off charge of $15 per card used and a contact phone number is required for each card holder. Instalments are not available if you select PayPal when booking online.

REFUNDS MTC follows the Live Performance Australia Ticketing Code of Practice (see liveperformance.com.au for conditions). As such, tickets cannot be refunded after purchase except if an event is cancelled, rescheduled or significantly relocated as outlined. MTC reserves the right to add, withdraw and substitute artists and vary the program should the need arise.

WARNINGS MTC endeavours to include accurate content warnings, however, some content does change within the rehearsal period and we encourage you to visit our website or call the Box Office before the show opens for up-to-date warning information.

MTC also has a content guide which details the acts, language and behaviour which may have an impact on some audience members. You will find a link to this content guide on each play page at mtc.com.au Full Ts & Cs including information about babies at performances, lost tickets and school bookings, please visit mtc.com.au/info

ACCESSIBILITY W heelchair and Mobility Access Wheelchair access and seating that allows more room for the use of mobility aids are available in all theatres.

At Southbank Theatre, wheelchair access is via the front entrance on Southbank Boulevard, and at Arts Centre Melbourne via the front entrance on St Kilda Road or via the carpark. Southbank Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne have lifts to all levels. The foyers within Southbank Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne offer tables and chairs at wheelchair height and Southbank Theatre also has a low bar service area.

Taxis can be flagged outside the venues or can be booked by theatre staff upon request.

Auslan Interpreted Performances MTC partners with Arts Centre Melbourne and Auslan Stage Left to offer Auslan interpretation for selected performances. More information will be released at mtc.com.au before Season 2020 commences.

Audio Description and Tactile Tours Vision Australia provides audio description for selected performances. Let us know when booking if you require audio description, and collect a small receiver upon arrival at the theatre. MTC also offers tactile tours of the stage prior to certain shows. Dates are marked and in the Performance Diary. Assistance animals are welcome at all venues and water bowls can be provided upon request.

Captioning and Assisted Hearing System MTC and The Captioning Studio provide live captioning for selected productions. Dates are marked in the Performance Diary. Hearing assistance is also available at Southbank Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne in the form of personal listening packs, which can be used with some hearing aids or with headphones. Simply ask theatre staff for assistance when you arrive.

RELAXED PERFORMANCE MTC will present a relaxed performance of As You Like It on Wednesday 28 October at 1pm. Relaxed performances are for everyone who will benefit from a more relaxed environment but are specifically designed to welcome patrons with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) or other disabilities that create sensory sensitivity. Sound and lighting cues are adjusted to be less startling and patrons can leave the auditorium if they need a break. There is a relaxed attitude to noise, doors remain open and a designated quiet area is available on arrival and during the show. A pre-show Visual Story is available for patrons to prepare for their visit and the performance.

HOW TO BOOK Please make us aware at the time of booking if you would like to make use of any of these services. MTC is committed to making performances accessible to the widest possible audience. If you require assistance that is not covered here, please let us know. We are happy to help wherever possible.

Learn more at mtc.com.au/access or call Southbank Theatre on 03 8688 0800

49

THANK YOU We gratefully acknowledge the ongoing support of our leading Donors

MTC LIFETIME PATRONS Acknowledging a lifetime of extraordinary support for MTC. Pat Burke Dr Geraldine Lazarus and Peter Clemenger ao and Greig Gailey Joan Clemenger ao Allan Myers ac qc and Maria Myers ac

The Late Biddy Ponsford The Late Dr Roger Riordan am Maureen Wheeler ao and Tony Wheeler ao

Ursula Whiteside Caroline Young and Derek Young am

$20,000+ Tony and Janine Burgess Anne and Mark Robertson oam $10,000+ Prof Margaret Gardner ao and Prof Glyn Davis ac

$5,000+ R & P Harkness Jane Kunstler Renzella Family Anonymous $1,000+ Virginia Lovett and Rose Hiscock

ENDOWMENT DONORS Supporting the long term sustainability and creative future of MTC. Leading Endowment Donors $1,000,000+ Jane Hansen and Paul Little ao The University of Melbourne

$50,000+ Geoffrey Cohen am Orcadia Foundation The Late Biddy Ponsford Andrew Sisson ao and Tracey Sisson

MTC’S PLAYWRIGHTS GIVING CIRCLE Supporting the NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program.

Louise Myer and Martyn Myer ao, Maureen Wheeler ao and Tony Wheeler ao, Christine Brown Bequest Allan Myers ac qc and Maria Myers ac, Tony Burgess and Janine Burgess Dr Andrew McAliece and Dr Richard Simmie, Larry Kamener and Petra Kamener

ANNUAL GIVING Donors whose annual gifts help MTC enrich and transform lives through the finest theatre imaginable.

BENEFACTORS CIRCLE $250,000+ Crown Resorts Foundation Packer Family Foundation $50,000+ The Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust The Cybec Foundation John Higgins ao and Jodie Maunder Maureen Wheeler ao and Tony Wheeler ao $20,000+ Betty Amsden Foundation Krystyna Campbell-Pretty am Dr Geraldine Lazarus and Greig Gailey Jane Hansen and Paul Little ao Louise and Martyn Myer ao Victorian Department of Education and Training

The Vizard Foundation Caroline and Derek Young am Anonymous $10,000+ Joanna Baevski Erica Bagshaw The Bonnici Family The Cattermole Family Tom and Elana Cordiner Christine Gilbertson Linda Herd Macgeorge Bequest The late Noel Mason and Susanna Mason Kendra Reid Craig Semple Luisa Valmorbida Anonymous (2) $5,000+ Sandy Bell and Daryl Kendrick Bill Bowness ao

Dr Andrew Buchanan and Peter Darcy Ian and Jillian Buchanan Sandra and Bill Burdett am Lynne and Rob Burgess Pat Burke and Jan Nolan John and Robyn Butselaar The Janet and Michael Buxton Foundation Barry and Joanne Cheetham The Dowd Foundation The Gjergja Family Leon Goldman Robert and Jan Green David and Lily Harris Jane Hemstritch Bruce and Mary Humphries Karen Inge and Dr George Janko Anne Le Huray Marshall Day Acoustics (Dennis Irving Scholarship)

Ian and Judi Marshman Matsarol Foundation Ian and Margaret McKellar George and Rosa Morstyn Tom and Ruth O’Dea Leigh O’Neill Dr Kia Pajouhesh (Smile Solutions) In loving memory of Richard Park Bruce Parncutt ao Prof David Penington ac and Dr Sonay Hussein Jeanne Pratt ac Janet Reid oam and Allan Reid Renzella Family The Robert Salzer Foundation Andrew Sisson ao and Tracey Sisson Trawalla Foundation Trust Ralph Ward-Ambler am and Barbara Ward-Ambler Anonymous (5)

Current as of July 2019. For more information about supporting MTC please contact our Philanthropy team on 03 8688 0959 or donations@mtc.com.au or visit mtc.com.au/support 50

C E L E B R AT I N G O U R PA RT N E R S We thank the following organisations for their generous support

Major Partners

Major Media Partners

Production Partners

Premium Season Partners

Season Partners

Marketing Partners

Southbank Theatre Partners

MTC is a department of the University of Melbourne.

MTC is assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body, and by the State Government of Victoria through Creative Victoria.

MTC is a member of Live Performance Australia and the Australian Major Performing Arts Group.

Sunshine Super Girl has been assisted by the Australian Government through the Australia Council for the Arts, the NSW Government through Create NSW, Playwriting Australia through its Playwrights Retreat Program, QPAC and regional co-commissioning venue partners. True West is performed by special arrangement with Music Theatre International (Australasia) on behalf of Josef Weinberger Ltd.

Current as of August 2019. If you would like to join our corporate family, please contact partnerships@mtc.com.au 51

DRINKS AND DINING Make the most of your visit

FOYER BARS

SCRIPT BAR & BISTRO

THE DECK

The Southbank Theatre and Arts Centre Melbourne foyer bars are the perfect place to meet for a pre-show or interval drink, coffee or light snack.

Italian regional dishes in a modern bistro setting featuring an extensive wine list. Located within Southbank Theatre.

03 8688 0881

Modern European cuisine in an intimate setting with city views.

Located next door to Hamer Hall on Southgate’s upper level.

03 9699 9544

MELBA RESTAURANT

TAXI KITCHEN

TRANSIT

The Langham Melbourne’s signature international buffet restaurant. Located within The Langham Melbourne.

1800 641 107

Stylish contemporary dining with city skyline views. Located within Federation Square above Transport.

03 9654 8808

See the city from above and enjoy live music and contemporary cocktails.

Located within Federation Square.

03 9654 8808

FAT TO BAR & CANTINA

SAKÉ RESTAURANT & BAR

A relaxed Italian bar and eatery overlooking the Yarra. Located on the upper River Terrace next to Hamer Hall.

03 8698 8800

Sophisticated modern Japanese flavours on the riverfront. Located on the lower River Terrace next to Hamer Hall.

03 8687 0775

THE BARRE Great for pre-show drinks with a share plate, a meal with fine wine, or a mellow late-night drink.

Located within the Arts Centre Melbourne Theatres building.

Bookings not available.

Taxi Kitchen

52

Explore more options at mtc.com.au/visit

OUR VENUES MTC performs across two separate venues in Melbourne’s Arts Precinct

S ST DER FLIN

Flinders St Station

Federation Square

VENUE LOCATIONS SOUTHBANK THEATRE 140 SOUTHBANK BOULEVARD, SOUTHBANK

Hamer Hall

Southgate Shopping Centre

D YR CIT

T HS AG N A KAV

Melbourne Recital Centre Buxton Contemporary

Tram Stop

MOOR E ST

ST KA VA NA GH

Royal Botanic Gardens

National Gallery of Victoria

SOUTHBANK THEATRE VCA Performing Arts Theatre

RD ILDA ST K

SOUTH BANK BLVD

Victorian College of the Arts

MTC performs at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Playhouse (884 seats) and the Fairfax Studio (376 seats) artscentremelbourne.com.au

Tram Stop

SOUTHBANK THEATRE

GET TING THERE

The Sumner and Lawler theatres are within the iconic home of MTC, Southbank Theatre, located on Southbank Boulevard next to the Melbourne Recital Centre.

By Train Both venues are a short walk from Flinders Street Station across the Princes Bridge. Allow 10 minutes walk to Arts Centre Melbourne and 15 minutes walk to Southbank Theatre.

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE

By Tram For Arts Centre Melbourne performances take any tram along St Kilda Road and get out at Stop 14 – Arts Precinct.

The Playhouse and Fairfax Studio are located under the Arts Centre spire within the Theatres Building on St Kilda Road, between Hamer Hall and NGV International.

southbanktheatre.com.au ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE 100 ST KILDA ROAD, MELBOURNE

Tram Stop

STURT ST

ST ER KN W A F

ALEX AND RA A VE

ARTS CENTRE MELBOURNE

FANNIN G ST

Skydeck 88

AVE ATE THG SOU

AY E QU RSID Eureka RIVE

ROUTE 1

The iconic Southbank Theatre, home of Melbourne Theatre Company, houses the Sumner (559 seats) and the Lawler (163 seats)

CAR PARKING

Car Parking Street parking in the St Kilda Road area is limited. Commercial car parks are available at Wilson Southgate, Wilson Eureka, Arts Centre Melbourne, The Australian Ballet Centre and Federation Square. For ACROD/disabled parking, there are four bays beside Southbank Theatre on Dodds Street and multiple bays within Arts Centre Melbourne.

For Southbank Theatre use Route 1 to South Melbourne Beach and get out at Stop 17 – Sturt Street, or take any tram along St Kilda Road and walk from Stop 14 – Arts Precinct.

Details in this brochure are correct at the time of publication. MTC reserves the right to add, withdraw, and substitute artists and vary the program should the need arise. Creative Direction Emma Wagstaff Graphic Design Vic U Editor James Wright Season Photography Justin Ridler Illustration Sue Cadzow Additional Photography Brinkhoff/Mögenburg, Benjamin Healley, Kelly Hofer, Mandy Jones, Heath Warwick With Thanks To Christine Gaunt, Alana Holmes, Leah Milburn-Clark, Julie Provis, Lucie Sutherland, Sophie Woodward, Living Legends, Matt Blatt.

53