It’s September and there are still some great shows to be
excited about at Melbourne’s mainstage theatres. But it’s also that time of the
year for us to look ahead – at what they have planned for 2015. Marion Potts
presented Malthouse Theatre 2015 on Tuesday night. Brett Sheehy unveiled
Melbourne Theatre Company 2015 tonight.
It’s like theatre Christmas. Some expected faces and some
wonderful surprises.
Here’s what I’m most excited about (in order of first performance):
Endgame by Samuel
Beckett, directed by Sam Strong
Starring Colin Friels, Luke Mullins and Julie Forsyth.
Excited to see Strong direct Beckett and for Mullins to be on the MTC stage.
From March 21
Meme Girls by Ash
Flanders/Marion Potts, directed by Stephen Nicolazzo
Pretty much Ash Flanders trawling through YouTube videos,
right?
From April 8
Timeshare by
Lally Katz, directed by Olive Butler
Set in a timeshare resort that’s situated on the
International Date Line, it’s enough that this is by Lally Katz.
From April 23
The Waiting Room
by Kylie Trounson, directed by Naomi Edwards
The combination of intimate drama and epic scope makes me
excited already, as does seeing the MTC nurture female directors and lift up
shows from their Cybec reading series into production.
From May 15
North by Northwest
by Carolyn Burns (based on the film), directed by Simon Phillips
The Hitchcock film I’ve watched the most times, I’m excited
how they will find a way to stage this – as well as find an actor who could
even come close to Cary Grant as Roger O. Thornhill. But if anyone can do it,
Phillips can.
From June 1
Birdland by Simon
Stephens, directed by Leticia Caceres
I love Stephens’ writing and Mark Leonard Winter (Thystes) is a magnetic performer. This
looks thrilling.
From June 6
Love &
Information by Caryl Churchill, directed by Kip Williams
Churchill’s work just isn’t produced very often in Australia
– and certainly not her recent work. I’m excited to see this 2012 play of hers,
starring Anita Hegh, Zahra Newman and Alison Whyte.
From June 12
The Last Supper
by Reckless Sleepers
Dinner in the Grand Hall of the Nation Gallery of Victoria.
A banquet and the last words of the famous and the infamous.
From July 1
I Am A Miracle by
Declan Greene, directed by Matt Lutton
I loved Greene and Lutton’s previous collaboration, Pompeii LA and this one is presented in
partnership with Opera Australia. Not to be missed.
From July 18
Death and the Maiden
by Ariel Dorfman, directed by Leticia Caceres
Starring Susie Porter. Dorfman’s play is incredible and I
cannot wait to see Caceres’ take on it.
From July 18
A Social Service
by Nicola Gunn & David Woods
I’ve been hearing amazing things about Gunn’s work for a
while now and after seeing Green Screen
at NEON this year, I’m eager to see more of her work.
From August 11
The Weir by
Connor McPherson, directed by Sam Strong
This is a tough play, but if anyone can pull it off, it’s
Sam Strong. With Nadine Garner and Greg Stone in the cast, I couldn’t be more
excited to see this production.
From August 14
Antigone by Sophocles,
adapted Jane Montgomery Griffiths, directed by Marion Potts
Starring Emily Milledge. One of the great plays with this
team? How can it go wrong?
From August 21
Betrayal by
Harold Pinter, directed by Geordie Brookman
Brookman’s work always excites me and he’s working with
Alison Bell and Nathan O’Keefe on a Pinter play. Yes, yes, yes.
From August 26
They Saw a Thylacine
by Justine Campbell & Sarah Hamilton
I’ve been a big fan and supporter of Sarah’s work for a
while and I was so thrilled to see this show, first presented at Melbourne
Fringe in 2013, being elevated to the main stage.
From September 15
Buyer & Cellar
by Jonathon Tolins, directed by Gary Abrahams
You had me at “starring Ash Flanders”.
From October 30
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