sign in sign up
<<
Home , Hay Fever (play)

Noël Coward’s HAY FEVER Welcome

At the three-quarter mark through 2017, it’s a delight to be presenting one of the highlights of this year’s program.

In fact, we have three outstanding productions on our stages before year’s end, the first being this fabulous revival of Noël Coward’s Hay Fever. Then follows the legendary John Bell in The Father by Florian Zeller and the world premiere of Eddie Perfect’s new play, Vivid White.

Directed by Helpmann Award-winning director Lee Lewis, Hay Fever will have you revelling in its deliciously seductive comedy and unapologetic melodrama. What’s not to love about Coward’s exquisite language performed by an equally exquisite cast? You are in for a treat.

And although we’re approaching the end of the year, we’ve given Melbourne plenty to look forward to with the recent announcement of Season 2018.

2018 is bursting with plays as relevant, irresistible and complex as any we’ve presented in recent times. From the Australian premiere of the National Theatre’s The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to Geoffrey Rush’s return to MTC in Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night, it is a season you’ll want to be part of.

Season 2018 subscriptions are available now so I encourage you to get your bookings in and join us as we embark on a remarkable year ahead at Melbourne Theatre Company.

Brett Sheehy ao Artistic Director

Melbourne Theatre Company acknowledges the Yalukit Willam Peoples of the Boon Wurrung, the Traditional Owners of the land on which Southbank Theatre and MTC HQ stand, and we pay our respects to Melbourne’s First Peoples, to their ancestors past and present, and to our shared future.

MTC is a department MTC is assisted by the Commonwealth Government through the Australia Council, MTC is a member of Live of the University its arts funding and advisory body, and by the State Government of Victoria through Performance Australia and the of Melbourne. Creative Victoria. Australian Major Performing Arts Group. MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS Noël Coward’s HAY FEVER

23 SEPTEMBER — 28 OCTOBER 2017 Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

— Cast — — Creative Team — Simon Bliss Gareth Davies Director Lee Lewis Clara Marg Downey Set Designer Christina Smith Richard Greatham Simon Gleeson Costume Designer Esther Marie Hayes David Bliss Kim Gyngell Lighting Designer Paul Jackson Jackie Coryton Alexandra Keddie Composer & Sound Designer Kelly Ryall Judith Bliss Marina Prior Voice & Dialect Coach Geraldine Cook-Dafner Sorel Bliss Imogen Sage Assistant Director Prue Clark Myra Arundel Monica Sayers Piano arrangement Mark Jones Sandy Tyrell Drew Weston Set Design Secondment Fiona Bruce Stage Manager Jess Keepence Assistant Stage Manager Meg Richardson Rehearsal and Production Photographer Brett Boardman

— About the play — Although Judith, a retired actress, tends towards melodrama in her everyday affairs, and her husband, David, a novelist, can be rather reclusive and foul tempered – the Bliss family can be perfectly charming when they want to be. Their grown-up children, Simon and Sorel, are quite capable of civility too – if it suits them. It is just that, on this blighted weekend, each has invited a guest to stay at their country house without telling any of the others. So dashed inconsiderate! And for their poor guests, perfect agony.

This performance runs for approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including two intervals.

Media Partner

First presented by Alban B Limpus at the Ambassadors Theatre, London on 8 June 1925 transferred to the , London, 7 September 1925 (337 performances) Copyright agent: Alan Brodie Representation Ltd; www.alanbrodie.com Cover photo: Justin Ridler Noël Coward

The Master of all trades

Born in 1899, Noël Coward was raised as a working class boy in the London suburb of Teddington. His father was an unsuccessful piano salesman and was said to have little personal ambition, often resulting in poor family finances.

From a young age, Coward possessed a natural intelligence; he was an avid reader and instinctive performer with an insatiable ambition to learn and succeed.

Encouraged by his mother to attend a dance academy in London, Coward entered into the professional world of theatre at the age of 12. From this point on his writing and acting career swiftly flourished and he gradually became acquainted with a different class of people.

His breakthrough play was (1924), which featured themes of drugs and adultery and made his name as both actor and playwright in the West End and on Broadway. Noël Coward at his writing desk During the frenzied 1920s and more sedate 1930s, Coward wrote a string of successful plays, musicals and intimate revues including Fallen Angels (1925), Hay Fever (1925), Easy Virtue (1926), This Year of Grace (1928), and Bitter Sweet (1929).

‘Work hard, do the best you can, don’t ever lose faith in yourself and take no notice of what other people say about you.’

Noël Coward Noël Coward at MTC (clockwise from top left): Pamela Rabe and Lewis Fiander in (1996); Nadine Garner and Leon Ford in Private Lives (2013); Alison Whyte and John Gaden in (1990); William McInnes and Miriam Margolyes in (2003)

His professional partnership with childhood celebrity status significantly as his career friend Gertrude Lawrence started with continued to develop. Private Lives (1931) and continued with Tonight at 8.30 (1936). Despite his high-profile persona and arguably lavish lifestyle, Coward was Coward’s presence in the public eye turned fundamentally a man who loved all artistic him into a celebrity in his own right across forms and possessed a work ethic like no both the UK and USA. The media avidly other. He immersed himself in work from followed and reported on Coward’s plays a young age, which can be seen from the and public appearances, elevating his canon of work he produced throughout his WIT AND WISDOM

Noël Coward was known for unforgettable quips both on and off stage. Like his self-assured and sometimes outrageous characters in Hay Fever, Coward had a habit of talking about himself in often exaggerated, but always endearing terms.

In regards to his infallible reputation: If you’re a star, you should behave like one. I always have.

Noël Coward at ‘Watergate’, Bermuda. In regards to his acting: Television is for appearing on – lifetime; his final verse was written only days not for looking at. before he died. Consequently, Coward became known as ‘The Master’ by many of A note to the critics: his contemporaries and fans. I love criticism just so long as it’s unqualified praise. A quote from Lord Louis Mountbatten on Coward’s 70th birthday perhaps best sums A different kind of sobriety: this up: ‘There are probably greater painters I’m not a heavy drinker, I can than Noël, greater novelists than Noël, sometimes go for hours without greater librettists, greater composers of touching a drop. music, greater singers, greater dancers, greater comedians, greater tragedians, Noël Coward, on himself: greater stage producers, greater film I’m an enormously talented man, and directors, greater cabaret stars, greater there’s no use pretending that I’m not. TV stars. If there are, they are 14 different people. Only one man combined all 14 On sharing his skills: labels – The Master.’ I have a memory like an elephant. In fact, elephants often consult me.

A forethought about his indelible legacy: In my time I’ve said some noteworthy and exceptionally memorable things.

Learn more about Noël Coward When you love what you do: at MTC Backstage Work is much more fun than fun. mtc.com.au/backstage Leading Lady

Marina Prior discusses taking on the iconic role of Judith Bliss

Marina Prior grew up with a great love of ‘He’s a brilliant satirist so nothing could Noël Coward. She was introduced to The make me happier. I’m always happy working Master’s work by her mother, who performed comically, and this is one of the most in Blithe Spirit in the 1950s. ‘He was very deliciously comic scripts ever.’ highly regarded in our house,’ says Marina. It’s believed Noël Coward penned this classic While this production of Hay Fever may be in just three days after spending a weekend her first performance in a Noël Coward play, out of New York with renowned Broadway Marina says she has read just about everything actress Laurette Taylor and her husband he’s written. Hartley Manners. Although it premiered at London’s Ambassadors Theatre nearly one

(top) Marg Downey, Imogen Sage and Marina Prior; (bottom row) Marina Prior hundred years ago, this comedy of bad she’s an actress, and a very entitled actress, manners is still as caustic and seductive there’s so much scope for fun.’ today. For Marina, it’s ‘an absolute sparkling night of diversion,’ something she believes Having just completed a successful season the world needs at the moment. as the iconic Dolly Levi in the musical Hello, Dolly! before entering the Hay Fever ‘It’s such a joy to be able to take on rehearsal room, this Australian stage legend something that is so inherently theatrical … is as busy as ever. to do any Noël Coward, let alone one of his great plays, is going to be an absolute career ‘I’ve always been conscious of broadening highlight for me. It already is.’ my range and branching out, and never stopping in one spot. I feel like finally, three The enduring appeal of Hay Fever’s decades later, that is paying off. I’m getting characters is that they are collectively to play some really exciting and challenging, dreadful yet individually terrific. Audiences mature characters. I love this part of my life can’t help but find charm in the Bliss family’s and my career, where I feel like I can step up indecorum, quick-wit, and lightning-speed into these iconic roles.’ rebuttals. Even their self-absorption is alluring at times. In the centre of it all is the family’s matriarch – the illustrious, revered, grande dame Judith Bliss. To read the full interview with ‘It’s just such a delicious character, and such Marina Prior, head to a big character,’ explains Marina. ‘Because mtc.com.au/backstage Monica Sayers and Alexandra Keddie; (opposite, clockwise from top left) Director Lee Lewis; Gareth Davies and Kym Gyngell; Simon Gleeson and Drew Weston ANDREW KAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE KINGS HEAD THEATRE PRESENTS AMANDA MUGGLETON AS

Rehearsal photos

MARIA CALLAS IN A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF TERRENCE M c NALLY’S MASTERCLASS DIRECTED BY ADAM SPREADBURY–MAHER WITH WILL CONYERS • JESSICA BOYD KALA GARE • ROCCO SPERANZA

SOUTHBANK THEATRE, THE LAWLER FROM 5 JANUARY SOUTHBANKTHEATRE.COM.AU PH: 8688 0800 ANDREW KAY IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE KINGS HEAD THEATRE PRESENTS Cast & Creative Team AMANDA MUGGLETON AS

GARETH DAVIES MARG DOWNEY SIMON GLEESON Simon Bliss Clara Richard Greatham

Gareth Davies’ theatre credits As one of Australia’s leading Simon Gleeson, best known for his include The Cherry Orchard comedy actors, Marg Downey interpretation of Jean Valjean in (Melbourne Theatre Company); is best known for the numerous Cameron Mackintosh’s national The Literati (Griffin Theatre/Bell characters she portrayed on Fast and international tours of Les Shakespeare); The Government Forward. Marg has also been Misérables, previously appeared Inspector (Malthouse Theatre); applauded for the dramatic roles in Melbourne Theatre Company’s As you Like it (Bell Shakespeare); she has undertaken for television Rupert. Simon’s Australian stage The Rover, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, and theatre. For Melbourne credits include Curtains and Peter Pan, As You Like It, And Theatre Company Marg has Chess (The Production Company); They Called Him Mr Glamour appeared in Rupert, Scenes From Hipbone Sticking Out (BIGhART); (which he also wrote) and a Separation, A Flea in Her Ear Love Never Dies (Really Useful The Seagull (Belvoir); 3 x Sisters and Moonlight and Magnolias. Group); Eureka (Essgee Enter- (The Hayloft Project); The Only Her other theatre credits include tainment); The Republic of Myopia Child, The Suicide and Timeshare (Malthouse Theatre), and Harbour (Sydney Theatre A Midsummer Night’s Dream Skull in Connemara (fortyfive- Company); Mamma Mia (Littlestar (B Sharp); he co-wrote and downstairs), La Cage Aux Folles Services); Shout (Jacobsens performed Masterclass and (The Production Company), Entertainment); and Jolson (Jon Masterclass 2 – Flames of the Glimpse (The KIN Collective), Nicholls Productions). In the UK: Forge (Redline Productions at the and the world premiere season Shoes (Sadler’s Wells); Imagine Old Fitz), and is a member of the of Joanna Murray-Smith’s This (New London Theatre); MARIA CALLAS Black Lung Theatre, collaborating Rapture (Playbox). In 2017 Marg Certified Male (Edinburgh Festival); on Rubeville, Sugar, Pimms, has appeared in the ABC drama The Silver Lake (Wexford Festival); IN A BRAND NEW PRODUCTION OF Avast and Avast II – The series Newton’s Law and has Southwark Fair (National Theatre); Welshman Cometh (Malthouse also featured in Top of the Lake: Three Sides (Finborough Theatre); Theatre), I Feel Awful China Girl. Marg is currently The Far Pavilions (Shaftesbury TERRENCE M c NALLY’S (Queensland Theatre) and Doku voicing an animated comedy Theatre). For television: City Rai (Darwin Festival) – a show series for Channel 7, Kitty is Not a Homicide (Seven Network); devised and performed in Cat, and can be seen in a new Stan Kombat (BBC2); EastEnders (BBC collaboration with artists from comedy series The Other Guy. One); Blue Heelers (Southern Star East Timor. His film and TV Productions); Seachange 3 (ABC); MASTERCLASS credits include The Daughter Neighbours (Grundy); and film: DIRECTED BY ADAM SPREADBURY–MAHER (Screen NSW/Fate Films); Ellipsis My Life in Ruins (Playtone). Simon WITH (Arenamedia), the upcoming was awarded the Helpmann Peter Rabbit (Animal Logic), The Award for Best Male Actor in WILL CONYERS • JESSICA BOYD Letdown (Giant Dwarf/ABC) and a Musical in 2015. KALA GARE • ROCCO SPERANZA Hunters (Valhalla/NBC Universal).

SOUTHBANK THEATRE, THE LAWLER FROM 5 JANUARY SOUTHBANKTHEATRE.COM.AU PH: 8688 0800 Cast & Creative Team

KIM GYNGELL ALEXANDRA KEDDIE MARINA PRIOR David Bliss Jackie Coryton Judith Bliss

For Melbourne Theatre Company, Alexandra Keddie makes her During her diverse career, Marina Kim Gyngell’s theatre credits Melbourne Theatre Company Prior has played principal roles include The Pillowman, Ninety, debut in Hay Fever. Her previous in over thirty productions. For Art, Festen, The Hypocrite and stage credits include the self Melbourne Theatre Company, Twelfth Night. Kim’s other theatre devised cabaret, I See Me & Meryl she has appeared in The 25th credits include It Just Stopped Streep, which enjoyed successful Annual Putnam County Spelling (Belvoir) as well as Sylvia, seasons at the Queensland Bee, The Hypocrite and Jumpy. Metamorphosis and The Cabaret Festival, Melbourne Her other theatre credits include: Caucasian Chalk Circle (Sydney Cabaret Festival, Sydney’s 107 The Pirates of Penzance, West Theatre Company). On television Projects and The Butterfly Club. Side Story (Victorian State Kim has proven his versatility, Alexandra also appeared in Opera); Camelot (Kevin Jacobsen from programs such as Underbelly, A Feast (La Mama) and several Productions); CATS, Les The Games, Backberner, Full productions for Harvest Rain Misérables, The Phantom of the Frontal, The Librarians, Very Theatre Company including Opera, Witches of Eastwick, Small Business, Wilfred, James and the Giant Peach, Mary Poppins (Cameron Lowdown, The Straits, to his Sweet Charity and Jesus Christ Mackintosh); Anything Goes most recent appearances in No Superstar. Alexandra’s most (Hayden Productions); The Secret Activity, Top of the Lake: China recent television credits include Garden, The Sound of Music Girl and Sunshine. Kim’s film Henry Haus, Doctor Blake Murder (Gordon Frost Organisation); credits include The Hard Word, Mysteries and Offspring. Showboat (Livent); Guys & Dolls Love and Other Catastrophes, (Ambassador Group); Noises Off Evil Angels and most recently The (Marriner Theatres); Harp on Little Death, Bleeding Steel and the Willow (Ensemble Theatre); Sibling Rivalry. Annie Get Your Gun, Kiss Me Kate, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Hello Dolly! (The Production Company). Marina is also well known to television audiences through her appearances on Carols by Candlelight, and recently, as Iris in the Opera Australia/ABC series, The Divorce. She has recorded several albums, with the most recent being Together – a duet album with Mark Vincent. Cast & Creative Team

IMOGEN SAGE MONICA SAYERS DREW WESTON Sorel Bliss Myra Arundel Sandy Tyrell

Imogen Sage recently graduated Monica Sayers makes her Drew Weston makes his from the Royal Central School of Melbourne Theatre Company Melbourne Theatre Company Speech and Drama in London. debut in Hay Fever in the role debut in the role of Sandy Tyrell After graduating she played Mrs of Myra Arundel. Her previous in Hay Fever. Drew is a graduate de Winter in Kneehigh Theatre’s theatre appearances include of the Western Australian production of Rebecca (London/ Australian Graffiti, Chimerica Academy of Performing Arts UK tour), directed by Emma Rice. and Dead Caesar (Sydney (WAAPA). In his few short years Other London productions Theatre Company); Visiting since graduating, Drew has include Measure for Measure Hours and His Mother’s Voice quickly made his mark on the (Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, (bAKEHOUSE Theatre Company); Australian and International Sam Wanamaker Festival); Where’s My Money? (Seeker theatre scene. Most recently, The School for Scheming (Orange Productions); Doctor Who’s Drew played the role of Danny in Tree Theatre); and Three Sisters Symphonic Spectacular Grease: The Arena Experience (Pleasance Theatre). Stage (Sydney Opera House). Her film (Harvest Rain). In his first job out credits before training include appearances include Harmony of university Drew landed the Romeo and Juliet (Essential (Harmony Productions). Monica’s pivotal role of Curly in IAJ Theatre); and Weekend (La Mama television appearances include Internationals production of Theatre). Imogen’s screen credits True Crimes (The Seven Oklahoma. He then went on to include the feature film The Man Network); The Warriors (ABC); appear in the original Australian Who Knew Infinity (Edward The Royal (ITV Yorkshire UK); cast of Macintosh Disney’s Mary Pressman Films); Doctors (BBC1); The Clinic (Elixir TV RTE Ireland); Poppins. Other productions and short film The Understudy Home and Away and All Saints include Gypsy (The Production (Roman Polanski Productions), (The Seven Network); Love My Company), The Rocky Horror which she also wrote. This is Way Season 2 (Southern Star); Show (GFO) and Ghost (GWB/ Imogen’s Melbourne Theatre Last Man Standing (Burberry ATG.) While living in London Company debut. Productions) and Head Start Drew’s stage and screen credits (Gannon Television). Monica is included Apartment 40c and the a graduate of NIDA. US television series Galavant (ABC). Drew’s other television credits include Issac in Winners & Losers (Seven Network).

Cast & Creative Team

LEE LEWIS CHRISTINA SMITH ESTHER MARIE HAYES Director Set Design Costume Designer

Lee Lewis is the Artistic Director Christina Smith’s work as Set and For Melbourne Theatre Company, of Griffin Theatre Company and Costume Designer has been seen Esther Marie Hayes has designed one of Australia’s leading at Melbourne Theatre Company the costumes for Macbeth, directors. For Melbourne Theatre in The Odd Couple, Elling, Double Indemnity, North by Company she directed David National Interest, The Seed, Northwest, The Beast, Other Williamson’s Rupert, which Clybourne Park, Rising Water, Desert Cities, The Heretic, toured to Washington DC as part A Behanding in Spokane, Boston Hamlet, All About My Mother, of the World Stages International Marriage, The Swimming Club, Richard III and Rockabye. Arts Festival and to Sydney’s Blackbird, Who’s Afraid of A 2006 Graduate of VCA, Esther Theatre Royal in 2014. For Griffin Virginia Woolf?, The Clean was awarded an Orloff Family she has directed: The Bleeding House, Dumb Show, Things Charitable Trust Scholarship. Tree, The Homosexuals or We Do For Love, The Daylight Her other costume credits Faggots (co-production with Atheist, Honour, and Cloud Nine; include Curtains (The Production Malthouse), Rice (co-production as Costume Designer on Realism, Company); Mother and Son with Queensland Theatre) Gloria, Humble Boy, Proof, Sweet Bird of (McLaren House); Nixon in China, 8 Gigabytes of Hardcore Youth, and Three Days of Rain; Midnight Son and The Baroque Pornography, Masquerade and as Set Designer on Boy Gets Triple Bill (Victorian Opera); (co-directed with Sam Strong), Girl. Prior to that, she worked as Delectable Shelter (The Hayloft Emerald City, A Rabbit for Kim assistant to former MTC Resident Project); Scare Campaign (Cyan Jong-il, The Serpent’s Table Designer Tony Tripp. Other Films). In the collaborative group (co-directed by Darren Yap), companies she has designed ‘The Sisters Hayes’ Esther has Replay, Silent Disco, The Bull, the for include Seattle Opera, New designed set and costumes for Moon and the Coronet of Stars, Zealand Opera, Victorian Opera, Antigone, Walking into the The Call, A Hoax, The Sydney Theatre Company, Bigness and Blood Wedding Nightwatchman; for Bell Queensland Theatre, Black Swan (Malthouse Theatre); production Shakespeare: The Literati, The State Theatre Company, design for Carnival of Mysteries School for Wives and Twelfth Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir, (Melbourne International Arts Night; for Belvoir: That Face, This Ilbijerri Theatre Company, Festival), A Good Death (Next Heaven, 2000 Feet Away, Half The Production Company, Opera Wave Festival), The Great and Half, A Number, 7 Blowjobs Queensland, ACMI, WA Ballet and un-Reveal (Arts Project and Ladybird; for Sydney Theatre the Australian Ballet. Christina Australia); and production Company: Honour, Love Lies studied set and costume design artwork and season brochure Bleeding and ZEBRA!. In 2016 she at the Western Australian for the Malthouse Theatre won the Helpmann Award for Academy of Performing Arts, and 2015 Season. Best Director for Angus Cerini’s was awarded the 2005 Green The Bleeding Tree. Room Award in theatre design. Cast & Creative Team

PAUL JACKSON KELLY RYALL GERALDINE COOK-DAFNER Lighting Designer Composer & Sound Designer Voice & Dialect Coach

Paul Jackson’s recent lighting Kelly Ryall is an award-winning Geraldine Cook-Dafner has designs with Melbourne Theatre composer, musician and sound previously worked for Melbourne Company include Di and Viv designer for theatre, dance and Theatre Company on Di and Viv and Rose, Three Little Words, film. Kelly’s recent work with and Rose, Melbourne Talam, Endgame, Miss Julie, Dead Man’s Melbourne Theatre Company John, The Odd Couple, Straight Cell Phone, Double Indemnity, includes composition and sound White Men, The Distance, The Ghost Writer, Ghosts, Frozen, design for Di and Viv and Rose, Birdland, The Waiting Room, The Speechmaker, Enlightenment, Three Little Words, Double Top Girls, The Heretic, The Madagascar and Private Lives. Indemnity, Rupert, Peddling, Swimming Club, The 39 Steps, He has worked as a lighting The Crucible, On the Production The History Boys, All My Sons, designer for the Australian Ballet, of Monsters, Return to Earth, The Clean House, Boy Gets Girl, Royal New Zealand Ballet, West Dead Man’s Cell Phone, God of Take Me Out and The Glass Australian Ballet, Victorian Carnage, and Savage River. Menagerie. Geraldine also Opera, West Australian Opera, His other stage credits include works for independent theatre Sydney Theatre Company, Edward II, The Shadow King, companies, Red Stitch Actors Bell Shakespeare, Playbox, Dance of Death, The Trial with Theatre and Hit Productions. Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir, Sydney Theatre Company She trained at Middlesex BalletLab, Lucy Guerin Inc, World (Malthouse Theatre); Boys Will be University, the Guildhall School of Wearable Art New Zealand, Boys, The Trial with Malthouse of Music and Drama, and she La Mama, Chamber Made Opera, (Sydney Theatre Company); Title is an Honorary Senior Fellow in and many others. His work has and Deed, Kill the Messenger, the theatre department at the featured in festivals in Asia, Cinderella, Nora, and Hedda Faculty of the VCA and MCM, Europe and the United Kingdom, Gabler (Belvoir); Romeo and University of Melbourne. and he has lectured in design at Juliet, As You Like It, Phèdre, Geraldine also works as a voice the University of Melbourne, Henry IV, Macbeth, Julius Caesar, consultant in film, ABC Radio, RMIT University and Victorian The School for Wives and Tartuffe SBS Radio, and for local College of the Arts. Paul has (Bell Shakespeare); The House on corporate and government received a number of Green the Lake, Emerald City, The Boys bodies. Geraldine was previously Room Awards and nominations with Sydney Festival, And No Head of Voice, Head of School of for Lighting Design, as well as More Shall We Part, The Floating Performing Arts and an Associate receiving a Sydney Theatre World, and Dreams in White Dean at the Faculty of VCA and Award, an APDG Award and the (Griffin Theatre Company); Piece MCM, University of Melbourne. 2012 Helpmann Award. Paul was for Person and Ghetto Blaster named in the Bulletin’s Smart with Nicola Gunn; Animal with 100 for 2004 and was the Gilbert Susie Dee; and Savages at Spottiswood Churchill Fellow fortyfivedownstairs. Kelly’s first for 2007. Paul was an Associate chamber opera The Bacchae Artist at Malthouse Theatre from premiered to critical acclaim 2007 to 2013. at Melbourne Festival and toured to Dark Mofo. PRUE CLARK Assistant Director

Prue Clark is a Melbourne-based theatre director with an interest in new writing. She completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Directing at the Victorian College of the Arts in 2012. Prue has received recognition for her work as a recipient of an Orloff Family Charitable Trust Scholarship (2012), an ArtStart grant (2014) and as a participant in Melbourne’s Directors Lab (2016) and MTC’s Women in Theatre Program (2016). She has twice been nominated for a Green Room Award for Best Direction and won Best Director at Auckland Fringe earlier this year. Prue’s directing credits include: Emma Hall’s Ode to Man, Katy Warner’s Reasons to Stay Inside, Emma Hall’s We may have to choose, Matthew Ryan’s Plays from the Top of the Stairs, Katy Warner’s Dropped and MKA’s Group Show.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Noël Coward biography, photos and quotes reprinted with kind permission of The Noël Coward Estate. www.noelcoward.com www.noelcowardarchive.com Twitter: @NoelCowardSir (Top) Gareth Davies, Marina Prior, Kym Gyngell and Imogen Sage; (centre) Gareth Facebook: NoelCowardAuthor Davies; (bottom) Alexandra Keddie, Drew Weston, Monica Sayers and Simon Gleeson Union House Theatre is the hub for co-curricular student theatre and performance programs at the University of Melbourne. We provide support to student performers, playwrights, technicians, designers, directors, and other theatre makers.

Union House Theatre Office Level 1, Union House, University of Melbourne [email protected] 03 8344 6975 umsu.unimelb.edu.au/theatre UnionHouseTheatre Melbourne Theatre Company

BOARD OF Partnerships & PRODUCTION & Buyer House and Bar Laura McIntosh MANAGEMENT Memberships Executive TECHNICAL Lucy Moran Attendants Moira Millar Terry Moran ac (Chair) Syrie Payne Technical & Costume Hire Will Atkinson Lucy Payne Tony Burgess Memberships & Production Director Liz Symons Stephanie Barham Sarah Payne Professor Barry Partnerships Assistant Adam J Howe Millinery Tanya Batt Jolie Robichaux Vivienne Poznanski Phillip Rhodes Zak Brown Lee Threadgold Conyngham am PRODUCTION Professor Glyn Davis ac Partnerships Wigs and Makeup Tom Cushing Assistant Senior Production Jurga Celikiene Michael Cutrupi COMMISSIONS Patricia Faulkner ao The Joan and Peter Jonathan Feder Lachlan Hywood Manager Wardrobe Marisa Cuzzolaro Events Manager Michele Preshaw Maintenance Leila Gerges Clemenger Jane Hansen Commissions Janette Kendall Mandy Jones Production Manager Stella Cadzow Damien Harrison Mikkel Mynster Rosie Howell Kylie Coolwell Ian Marshman am EDUCATION SOUTHBANK Declan Greene Martyn Myer ao Production Leighton Irwin Head of Education Coordinator THEATRE Kathryn Joy Judith Lucy Brett Sheehy ao and Families Theatre Operations Damien Millar Virginia Lovett Marta Losiewicz Shivani Kanodia Jeremy Rice Props Buyer/ASM Director Laura Lethlean Ross Mueller FOUNDATION Community Outreach Swing Mark D Wheeler Ross Macpherson Roslyn Oades BOARD Manager Jess Maguire Building Services Claire Marsh Magda Szubanski Karin Farrell Production Manager Faran Martin Jean Tong Jane Hansen (Chair) Education Coordinator Other Commissions Terry Bracks am Administrators Adrian Aderhold Natasha Milton Nick Tranter Alyson Brown House Services Yasmin Mole Hannie Rayson (with Liz Chappell Manhattan Theatre Fiona Griffiths HUMAN Isobel Taylor-Rogers Manager Daniel Moulds Kam Greville Ernesto Munoz Club) Janette Kendall RESOURCES TECHNICAL NEON NEXT Jayne Lovelock Production Services Emma Palackic HR Manager Technical Manager Manager Faith Peter Commissions Virginia Lovett Christelle Harris Lighting and Sound Nicola Gunn Sam Margis Frank Stoffels Amy Poonian HR Administrator Kerry Saxby Lawler and Events Clare Reddan Daniel Schlusser Louise Myer Christine Verginis Senior Production NEXT STAGE Leigh O’Neill Technical Supervisor Adam Rogers EHS Coordinator Technician Tom Brayshaw Richard Saxby Residencies Hilary Scott Liz Mundell Allan Hirons Dan Giovanonni Union House Theatre is the hub Richard Tegoni Lighting Supervisor Myles Tankle FINANCE Production James Conway Bella Vadiveloo Natesha EXECUTIVE Technicians Staging Supervisor Somasundaram for co-curricular student theatre Finance Director Harriet Wallace-Mead MANAGEMENT Adam Bowring Grant Kennelly Ali Wheeldon Kylie Trounson Liz Chappell Scott McAlister Sound Supervisor Commissions Artistic Director & Finance Manager Rhian Wilson and performance programs at CEO Technical Manager – Terry McKibbin Jamaica Zuanettii Angus Cerini Ness Harwood Staging Head Flyman Patricia Cornelius Brett Sheehy ao IT and Systems TICKETING the University of Melbourne. Executive Director Andrew Bellchambers James Tucker Michael Gow Manager Staging Supervisor Stage and Technical CRM and Ticketing Benjamin Law Virginia Lovett Michael Schuettke Executive Assistant to – HQ Staff Director Joanna Murray-Smith We provide support to student IT Support Officer Jamie Cunningham Brendan Albrey Dale Bradbury Leah Purcell the Artistic Director & Christopher Rhodes CEO Production Design Matthew Arthur Ticketing Manager Ellen van Neerven Finance Officer Coordinator Trent Barclay Brenna Sotiropoulos Malcolm Robertson performers, playwrights, Nick Doherty Sarah Thompson Executive Andrew Bailey Tim Blundell Ticketing Services Foundation Payroll Officer CAD Drafting Michael Burnell Administrator Commissions technicians, designers, directors, Administrator Julia Godinho Annie Bourke Jacob Battista Siobhan Callanan Lisa Mibus Van Badham Assistant Accountant Stewart Campbell Subscriptions Angela Betzien and other theatre makers. ARTISTIC Arnold Jansenn Yu PROPERTIES Misha Doe Supervisor Payments Officer Properties Supervisor Nathan Evers Jessie Phillips MTC CONNECT Associate Directors Lisa Maundrell AMBASSADORS Dean Bryant Geoff McGregor Eugene Hallen Database Specialist Sarah Goodes MARKETING & Props Maker Adam Hanley Ben Gu Samah Sabawi Producer COMMUNICATIONS Colin Penn Luke Hawley Data Analyst Suhasini Seelin Martina Murray SCENIC ART Jake Hutchings Megan Thomson Shannon Lim Marketing and VIP Ticketing Officer Vidya Rajan Literary Director Communications David Jenkins Scenic Art Supervisor Robert Larsen Michael Bingham Wahibe Moussa Union House Theatre Office Chris Mead Director Shane Dunn Casting Director David Letch Education Ticketing WOMEN IN Vanessa Rowsthorn Scenic Artists Officer Janine Snape Marketing Manager James Lipari THEATRE Level 1, Union House, Tansy Elso David Membery Mellita Ilich Casting Executive James Wright Colin Harman PROGRAM Matt Bebbington Stephanie Morrell Box Office Supervisor Digital Manager Adam Walsh Gorkem Acaroglu University of Melbourne Company Manager Daniel Coghlan WORKSHOP Josh Noble Stephen Moore Sophie Norfolk Box Office Attendants Mary Rachel Brown Marketing Campaign Workshop Supervisor Fiona Bruce NEXT STAGE Aldo Amenta James Paul Brent Davidson [email protected] Manager Katie Dircks Samantha Butterworth Administrator Emily Fiori Deputy Workshop Will Patterson Sarah Thompson Warwick Sadler Peter Dowd Tania Canas Marketing Supervisor Angelica Clunes 03 8344 6975 Literary Associate Andrew Weavers Jonathan Schmolzer Fran Hefferman Coordinator Jean Lizza Suzanne Cranny Jennifer Medway Rebecca Lawrence Set Makers Lara Soulio Michael Taylor Bridget Mackey Kellie-Anne Kimber umsu.unimelb.edu.au/theatre CATERING Lead Graphic Designer Ken Best Clare McKenzie Brian Easteal Michelle Thorne Debra McDougall Catering Manager Emma Wagstaff Daniel Scaffidi Dans Marie Sheehan Designers Nick Gray Alasdair Watson Andrea Purvis Joy Weng Tain Stangret Erin Taylor UnionHouseTheatre Helena Turinski Philip de Mulder Emily Tomlins Assistant Manager Alastair Read Ashlee Wohling Subscriptions Anita Lyovic Celeste Njoo Team Leader Victoria Woolley PR and Communications Peter Rosa Nick Wollan Café staff Fran Hefferman OVERSEAS Bev Reinmuth Manager WARDROBE HOUSE AND BAR Subscriptions Team Rosie Shepherdson- REPRESENTATIVES Wardrobe Managers SERVICES Simon Braxton DEVELOPMENT Cullen Bar Manager Milly Cooper New York Publicist Judy Bunn Director of Keryn Ribbands Keziah Warner Patrick Crummy Stuart Thompson Development Georgia Fox House Supervisors Alys Daroy Productions Communications Wardrobe Staff Jayne Lovelock John Molloy Kasey Gambling Katie Dircks Annual Giving Manager Content Producer Brienna Macnish Peter Dowd Sarah Corridon Jocelyn Creed Chris Walters Emily Brewer Paul Terrell Chris Elliot Philanthropy PR and Marketing House and Bar Jess Grimmond Administration Sophie Woodward Coordinator Tiffany Abbott Supervisor Elise Jansen Sytske Hillenius Assistant Drew Thomson Min Kingham Jacqui Bartlett Peri Jenkins Partnerships & Lyn Molloy Bar Supervisors Matthew Lilley Commercial Executive Receptionist Paul Blenheim Ross MacPherson David Zierk Mandy Nichols Matthew Phoenix Ulla-Britta Westergren Sarah Branton Faran Martin Tain Stangret MTC Circles of Giving

MTC gratefully acknowledges our visionary donors

MTC LIFETIME PATRONS Acknowledging a lifetime of extraordinary support for MTC. Pat Burke Allan Myers ac qc and Dr Roger Riordan am Peter Clemenger ao and Maria Myers ac Caroline Young and Joan Clemenger ao The Late Biddy Ponsford Derek Young am

ENDOWMENT DONORS Supporting the long term sustainability and creative future of MTC. Leading Endowment Donors $10,000+ Recent Endowment Donors Prof David Penington ac and $1,000,000+ Mim and Michael Bartlett Philip Crutchfield qc and Dr Sonay Hussein Jane Hansen and Paul Little ao Carolyn and John Kirby am Amy Crutchfield Emeritus Prof Peter McPhee Prof Margaret Gardner ao and Dr Monica Pahuja $20,000+ Fred and Alex Grimwade Prof Glyn Davis ac Rosie Harkness Lady Potter ac Tony and Janine Burgess Anne and Mark Robertson oam Renzella Family Geoffrey Cohen Scholarship David and Lily Harris Terry Moran ac Steven Skala ao and Orcadia Foundation Lousje Skala Andrew and Tracey Sisson Robert Peck am and Yvonne von Hartel am Anonymous

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 Naomi Milgrom ao, 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 Luisa Valmorbida ▲ Dr Sonay Hussein Bob Glindemann oam $250,000+ Anonymous (2) Jeanne Pratt ac Henry Gold Crown Resorts Foundation $5,000+ Janet Reid oam and Allan Reid Leon Goldman Packer Family Foundation John and Lorraine Bates Christopher Richardson Murray Gordon and Lisa Norton The Robert Salzer Foundation ◆ Lesley Griffin $50,000+ Sandy Bell and Daryl Kendrick Dr Andrew Buchanan and Trawalla Foundation Trust Tony Hillery and Warwick The Joan and Peter Clemenger Anonymous (6) Eddington Trust Peter Darcy Ian and Jillian Buchanan Bruce and Mary Humphries The Cybec Foundation Advocates Circle Janette Kendall ◆ Maureen Wheeler ao and John and Robyn Butselaar $2,500–$4,999 Barry and Joanne Cheetham Peter and Halina Jacobsen Tony Wheeler ao Marc Besen ac and Alex and Halina Lewenberg Tom and Elana Cordiner ● Eva Besen ao $20,000+ The Dowd Foundation Virginia Lovett and The Late Betty Amsden ao dsj Jay Bethell and Peter Smart Rose Hiscock ● Melody and Jonathan Grant Fisher and Helen Bird Dr Geraldine Lazarus and Feder ■ ● Carol Mackay and Greg Greig Gailey Bill Bowness ao Branson Robert and Jan Green Sandra and Bill Burdett am Hutchinson Builders ● David and Lily Harris Dr Sam and Belinda Margis and Louise and Martyn Myer ao Lynne and Rob Burgess NEST Family Clinics ◆ Jane Hemstritch Pat Burke and Jan Nolan Caroline and Derek Young am ▲ Linda Herd Dr Sue McNicol qc The Vizard Foundation Diana Burleigh Peter and Kim Monk ◆ Dr Caroline Liow Jenny and Stephen Charles ao Anonymous Marshall Day Acoustics Sandy and Sandra Murdoch The Cuming Bequest Jane and Andrew Murray $10,000+ (Dennis Irving Scholarship) Debbie Dadon am Dr Paul and Sue Nisselle Erica Bagshaw Ian and Judi Marshman Ann Darby Tony Osmond and The Janet and Michael Buxton Ian and Margaret McKellar Dr Anthony Dortimer and Fiona Griffiths◆ Foundation George and Rosa Morstyn Jillian Dortimer Peter Philpott and The Cattermole Family Daniel Neal and Peter Chalk Dr Helen Ferguson Robert Ratcliffe Christine Gilbertson ◆ Tom and Ruth O’Dea ■ Rosemary Forbes and Anne and Mark Macgeorge Bequest Leigh O’Neill ◆ Ian Hocking Robertson oam ◆ The late Noel Mason and Dr Pajouhesh (Smile Solutions) Bruce Freeman ■ Max Schultz Susanna Mason ▲ In loving memory of Richard Park Gjergja Family Hilary and Stuart Scott ● Craig Semple ▲ Prof David Penington ac and Heather and Tim and Lynne Sherwood Richard and Debra Tegoni ◆ ● Jocelyn Davies Doris and Steve Klein Damien Mulvihill ■ Trikojus Education Fund – Mark and Amanda Derham Larry Kornhauser and F & J Ryan Foundation Australian Communities Katharine Derham-Moore Natalya Gill ■ Edwina Sahhar Foundation Jan Dircks Alan and Wendy Kozica Margaret Sahhar Cheryl and Paul Veith Robert Drake Ruth and Michael Kurc ■ Katherine Sampson and Ralph Ward-Ambler am and Bev and Geoff Edwards Elizabeth Laverty Michael Jaboor Barbara Ward-Ambler George and Eva Ermer Joan and George Lefroy Susan Santoro Price and Christine Williams Anne and Graham Evans ao Anne Le Huray Kaylene Savas ◆ Margaret and Ray Wilson oam Marian Evans Rosemary Leffler Graeme Seabrook Gillian and Tony Wood Dr Alastair Fearn Leg Up Foundation Claire Sheed Laurel Young-Das and Jan and Rob Flew Alison Leslie Prof Barry Sheehan and Heather Finnegan Heather Forbes ■ Peter and Judy Loney Pamela Waller Anonymous (4) Elizabeth Foster Neil and Vida Lowry Jane Simon and Peter Cox The Gordon Frost Dr Peter and Amanda Lugg Steven Nicholls and Loyalty Circle Organisation ■ Elizabeth Lyons Brett Sheehy ao $1,000–$2,499 John Fullerton Ken and Jan Mackinnon Diane Silk Dr Katie Allen and Malcolm Allen Kate Galvin ◆ Alister and Margaret Maitland Dr John Sime Kate Alpin Nigel and Cathy Garrard Helen Mantzis ◆ Reg and Elaine Smith oam – Noel and Sylvia Alpins am Diana and Murray Gerstman Joyce and Bernard Marks Earimil Gardens Charity In memory of Nicola Andrews Gill Family Foundation Garry McLean Tim and Angela Smith Valma E. Angliss am Brian Goddard Elizabeth McMeekin Annette and James and Helen Angus Roger and Jan Goldsmith Brenda and Don McRae Graham Smorgon ◆ Margaret Astbury Charles and Cornelia Goode Robert and Helena Mestrovic Diana and Brian Snape am John and Dagnija Balmford Foundation ◆ John G Millard Jennifer Steinicke Angelina Beninati Sarah Graff Ross and Judy Milne-Pott Ricci Swart David and Rhonda Black Isabella Green oam and Ging Muir and Rodney and Aviva Taft Steve and Terry Bracks am Richard Green John McCawley ■ Sylvia Taylor Tamara Brezzi ◆ John and Jo Grigg Barbara and David Mushin Frank Tisher oam and Beth Brown and Tom Bruce am Jane Grover ◆ Julie Nelson Dr Miriam Tisher Pam Caldwell Ian and Wendy Haines Nick Nichola and Susie Waite ● Alison and John Cameron Glen Harrington and Ingrid Moyle ● Kevin and Elizabeth Walsh ■ John and Jan Campbell Robyn Eastham James Ostroburski Pinky Watson Jessica Canning Jane Hodder ◆ Dr Harry and Rita Perelberg Marion Webster ◆ Clare and Richard Carlson Sandi and Gil Hoskins Dr Annamarie Perlesz Ursula Whiteside Fiona Caro Emeritus Prof Andrea Hull ao Dug and Lisa Pomeroy Ann and Alan Wilkinson Kathleen and Harry Cator Ann and Tony Hyams am Sally Redlich Jan Williams ■ Chef’s Hat Peter Jaffe Victoria Redwood John and Myriam Wylie Chernov Family Ed and Margaret Johnson Dr S M Richards am and Foundation ◆ Sue Clarke and Lindsay Allen Katherine Kavakos ◆ M R Richards Mandy and Edward Yencken Assoc Prof Lyn Clearihan and Irene Kearsey and Rogers Family ■ Graeme and Nancy Yeomans Dr Anthony Palmer Michael Ridley Sue Rose Greg Young Dr Robin Collier and Neil Collier Malcolm Kemp Rae Rothfield Roz Zalewski and Sandy and Yvonne Constantine Liana Kestelman ◆ Linda Robinstein and Jeremy Ruskin Dr Cyril Curtain Fiona Kirwan-Hamilton and Paul Slape ● Ange and Pete Zangmeister Mark and Jo Davey Simon E Marks sc Patrick Rundle and Anonymous (21)

LEGACY CIRCLE Acknowledging supporters who have made the visionary gesture of including a gift to MTC in their will. Mark and Tamara Boldiston Peter and Betty Game Max Schultz Peter Philpott and Bernadette Broberg Irene Kearsey Dr Andrew McAliece and Robert Ratcliffe Adam and Donna Cusack-Muller Fiona Griffiths Dr Richard Simmie Anonymous (5)

LEGACY GIFTS Remembering and honouring those who have generously supported MTC through a bequest. The Estate of Leta-Rae Arthy The Estate of Betty Ilic The Estate of James Hollis The Estate of Freda E White The Christine Brown Bequest The Estate of Bettie Kornhauser Minson The Estate of Dorothy Wood The Estate of Ron Chapman The Kitty and Leslie Sandy The Estate of Prudence The Estate of Gordan J Compton Bequest Ann Tutton

Acknowledging Donors who join together to support innovative and inspiring programs for the benefit of our community. ▲ ARTISTIC DIRECTOR’S CIRCLE ■ YOUTH AMBASSADORS ◆ WOMEN IN THEATRE ● EDUCATION GIVING CIRCLE GIVING CIRCLE GIVING CIRCLE

To find out more about supporting MTC please call 03 8688 0959 or visit mtc.com.au/support Current as of August 2017 Thank You

MTC would like to 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

If you would like to join our corporate family or host a private event, please contact [email protected] MTC News

SEASON 2018

From the Australian premiere of the acclaimed National Theatre production of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time to Geoffrey Rush’s much anticipated return to the stage in Shakespeare’s comic masterpiece Twelfth Night, we’re thrilled to share a season packed with unmissable shows. Join us in 2018 for a year of extraordinary theatre. Subscriptions now available at mtc.com.au/2018

We are delighted to announce that playwrights Dan Giovanonni, Natesha Somasundaram and Kylie Trounson are MTC’s inaugural NEXT STAGE Writers in Residence.

These residencies are part of our landmark NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program designed to nurture Australian writers, providing them NEXT STAGE RESIDENTS with resources, time and support to help further their careers.

Learn more about NEXT STAGE at mtc.com.au/nextstage

GET SOCIAL WITH MTC MelbourneTheatreCompany melbtheatreco melbtheatreco MTC.COM.AU TIME OUT MELBOURNE UNLOCK THE BEST OF THE CITY

For the best things to do, culture, dining, nightlife, bars and theatre in Melbourne – sign up to our weekly newsletter

TIMEOUT.COM/MELBOURNE/NEWSLETTER

tom-mtc-a5.indd 1 24/8/17 12:33 pm