Welcome

When the opportunity arose to bring Nakkiah Lui’s hit show Black is the New White to Melbourne, we knew we couldn’t pass it up. It’s a comedy with inspired depth – bringing to the stage a radical conversation about race, class and identity that manages to have audiences in fits of laughter one moment and in complete surprise the next. We’re thrilled to be presenting it with our friends at Melbourne Festival and know that Melbourne will revel in the rollercoaster of comedic entertainment that this show delivers. Black is the New White premiered at Sydney Theatre Company in 2017 and arrives at MTC following a return season in Sydney, a smash-hit run in Brisbane and now a national tour. It is so wonderful to see a new Australian play already having such a long and healthy life, delighting audiences at so many different companies around the country. With our NEXT STAGE Writers’ Program now producing incredible, timely and important plays like Golden Shield by Anchuli Felicia King, and several others to premiere in 2020 including Torch the Place by Benjamin Law, Berlin by Joanna Murray-Smith and The Heartbreak Choir by Aidan Fennessy, our hope is to see these works and others from around the country enjoying the same support and fabulous reception nationally that Black is the New White has rightly received. These are new Australian classics in the making. You can read more about the NEXT STAGE works in our 2020 season and indeed all the plays in store next year at mtc.com.au/2020. It’s a year that will have you seeing the world differently, and we look forward to sharing the journey with you. Enjoy the show.

Brett Sheehy ao Virginia Lovett Artistic Director & CEO Executive Director & Co-CEO

Melbourne Theatre Company acknowledges the people of the Kulin Nation, First Peoples of Country on which Southbank Theatre stands. We pay our respects to all First Peoples of the land on which we meet, create and perform, to their ancestors and Elders, 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 A SYDNEY THEATRE COMPANY PRODUCTION

2 OCTOBER — 6 NOVEMBER 2019 Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

— About the Play — Charlotte Gibson is a lawyer with a brilliant career ahead of her. As her father Ray says, she could be the next female Indigenous Waleed Aly. But she has other ideas. First of all, it’s Christmas. Second of all, she’s in love. The thing is, her fiancé, Francis Smith, is not what her family expected – he’s unemployed, he’s an experimental composer … and he’s white! When the families come together at the Gibson’s ritzy holiday home, the stage is set for a riotously funny struggle for dominance where insults fly, secrets come flooding out and sacred cows of all descriptions are mercilessly skewered.

— Cast — — Creative Team — Ray Gibson Director Paige Rattray Narrator Luke Carroll Set & Costume Designer Renée Mulder Marie Smith Vanessa Downing Lighting Designer Ben Hughes Dennison Smith Composer & Sound Designer Steve Toulmin Rose Jones Tuuli Narkle Tour Director Julia Patey Joan Gibson Melodie Reynolds-Diarra Voice & Text Coach Charmian Gradwell Francis Smith Tom Stokes Production Manager Lauren Makin Charlotte Gibson Miranda Tapsell Stage Manager Natalie Moir Sonny Jones Anthony Taufa Assistant Stage Manager Vanessa Martin Tour Head Mechanist Joseph Gleeson Tour Head Electrician Corinne Fish Tour Sound Supervisor Luke Davis Tour Head Carpenter Nick Horne Rehearsal Photographer Grant Sparkes-Carroll Production Photographer Prudence Upton

For information regarding running time, please see a member of the Front of House team.

Black is the New White was commissioned by Sydney Theatre Company with the support of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. Original production supported by the STC Donor Syndicate and Presenting Partner Allens.

A Sydney Theatre Company production Media Partner Presented in association with Anthony Taufa and Tony Briggs; (opposite) Director Paige Rattray with playwright Nakkiah Lui in rehearsal In conversation with director Paige Rattray

Sydney Theatre Company Associate Director Paige Rattray discusses the process of bringing Black is the New White to life and the huge amount of fun it’s been along the way.

What first struck you about this play? identity and then destabilises it at each turn means that we’re constantly questioning I was most struck by how, as an Aboriginal what it means to be a middle-class Aboriginal woman writing about middle-class person. She has a gift for self-analysis. Aboriginal people, Nakkiah is checking her privilege. I was really impressed and excited And her ability to follow a path of logic and by that bravery. She’s really putting herself then turn it on its head and interrogate it out there and I think all great artists do that. at each juncture is remarkable.

Nakkiah does it with such charm, open- Exactly. They’re such complex ideas. There’s heartedness and humour. She examines her a great scene in the play when Rose Gibson thoughts so thoroughly, leaving nothing comes home and her Christmas tradition, unturned, and she uses each character to with her sister Charlotte, is to smoke a joint explore different ideas and points of view. and have a chat. But things are different this Also, the way she writes about cultural time, because of the information Charlotte ‘[Lui] examines her thoughts so thoroughly, leaving nothing unturned, and she uses each character to explore different ideas and points of view.’ has discovered about her father and which to improvise. For this production, because she’s brought a white man home. I used the improvisations as a way to let They have the most complex conversation the actors figure out the space and find about cultural identity but, because Nakkiah opportunities for comedic moments, like has it happen while they’re smoking a joint, a surprise entrance, for example. It lets we can really slow it down and let the me see how the actors might move characters take their time. If they weren’t through the space and how we could tell stoned it could absolutely fly over our heads, the story spatially as well as through but because they’re slowed down we can sit the dialogue. with it and take it in. Each word, each idea is placed very carefully. That is genius. Does that improvisation extend to the script? You had Nakkiah in the room At times, you had the cast improvise in reworking the dialogue. Are the actors rehearsals. How does that work? taking on those characters and modulating them to their own voice? It’s a structured improvisation where we break the play down into different main That actually happened through the events and then mini events within that. development phase of the play at STC. That gives the actors a framework in Ahead of 2017’s premiere, we had a Vanessa Downing and Tom Stokes; (opposite) Anthony Taufa and Luke Carroll workshop on the second draft of the script. and sexuality change quite drastically over Most of the cast were assembled, so what the course of the play. It’s really important the actors did in that development helped to tie all of those things up because Nakkiah inform the characters as they were refined. is so spot on with her examination of those issues. We needed to make sure that every In these rehearsals, after we’d broken the character was either purposely left script down carefully, we noticed that there unchanged or their realisations about were little gaps in character journeys, so, themselves and each other were clear. along with other tweaks here and there, Nakkiah rewrote the last scene of the play In terms of the improvisations, they perform to fill in those holes. Keeping track of eight a number of functions. They can help clarify characters is quite difficult in a rom-com a lot of the subtext for a character, as well setting. Their ideas around identity, race as help determine where they are spatially. Director Paige Rattray (centre) in rehearsal with cast members of the Sydney Theatre Company production (2017); (opposite) Melodie Reynolds-Diarra, Miranda Tapsell and Tony Briggs

Are there locations in the set that start to stairs where Sonny Jones can hear the voice belong to certain characters? of the Lord.

Yes, absolutely. There are so many great The narrator is an interesting inclusion in playing spaces for everyone thanks to our the play. It’s such a familiar conceit but designer, Renée Mulder. it seems almost passé as a concept now. What can the narrator be and what can’t There’s ‘Dad’s Chair’, which is a bit of a it be for it to work well here? throne in this play. When he feels threatened, Ray Gibson heads to this part of The improvisations were useful. We pushed the house. It takes quite a bit to get him out that character to see how far he could be of that place, actually. He’s a bit like involved in the world of the other characters. a cat, he likes to be at the highest point. We found a few little moments of overlap, but it’s actually much better if he is outside Then there’s the window seat where Joan the reality, observing. He’s more connected Gibson likes to sit and smoke a little joint to the audience than he is to the characters. or a cigarette. And a particular spot on the Tony Briggs, Melodie Reynolds-Diarra, Vanessa Downing and Geoff Morrell

You’ve talked about the play being Guess What have you taken away from working Who’s Coming to Dinner meets The Family on this play? Stone meets Meet the Fockers meets Grand Designs. So, is the narrator Kevin I have to say, it’s been one of the best McCloud – a reality show host? experiences that I’ve had working in theatre. Within all the laughs it has been a huge No, we originally did think of him like that learning experience. Nakkiah is incredibly but it’s evolved since. When Nakkiah was generous with her knowledge and lived first writing the play, she was thinking of experience, as are the other performers Ray Martin in First Contact crossed with in the production. David Attenborough. And then we started talking more about Alec Baldwin in The cast have talked a lot about their The Royal Tenenbaums because the experiences working in theatre and film, documentary style wasn’t working in this and about the incredible toll it takes on rom-com context. It needed more of a Indigenous Australian actors being killed fairytale element with a storytelling style, night after night onstage. Although knowing rather than giving factual information about the telling of those stories is important, Aboriginal people. As the story progresses Nakkiah has filled this play with so much joy, and we fall further down the rabbit hole, our rehearsals were about 60% work, the narrator becomes more casual and 40% laughter. It was brilliant. loosens up and I think, in a way, that is what happens to all of us watching.

This interview was originally published in STC’s 2017 programme for Black is the New White. Cast & Creative Team

TONY BRIGGS LUKE CARROLL VANESSA DOWNING Ray Gibson Narrator Marie Smith Tony Briggs is a creative who Luke Carroll’s theatre credits Vanessa Downing previously has worked in theatre, film and include The Torrents (Black Swan appeared in Melbourne Theatre television as an actor and writer for State Theatre Company/Sydney Company’s Influence(co-production many years. Tony has previously Theatre Company), Black is the with STC). Other theatre credits appeared in MTC’s Storm Boy and New White, The Harp in the South, include How to Rule the World, Twelfth Night (1998). Other stage The Hanging, The Battle of Power Plays, Pygmalion, Howard credits include Black is the New Waterloo, Black Diggers and Cherry Katz, The Lady in the Van, Morning White (STC & Queensland Theatre’s Pickers (Sydney Theatre Company); Sacrifice, A Cheery Soul, Macbeth, NSW and National Tour), Who’s Mother Courage and her Children Chasing the Dragon, The Madras Afraid of the Working Class? (Queensland Theatre), The Cake House and Measure for Measure (Belvoir), Stolen, Corranderk: Man, Capricornia, Conversations (Sydney Theatre Company), We Will Show the Country, with the Dead and A Midsummer Composing Venus and Season’s Which Way Home (Ilbijerri Theatre Night’s Dream (Belvoir), Riverland Greetings (Queensland Theatre), Company), The Memory of Water, (Adelaide Festival), Eora Crossing Equus, Three Birds Alighting on a The Female of the Species (Sydney Festival), Purple Dreams Field, Ring Round the Moon, Private (State Theatre Company of and My Girragundji (Bell Lives, As You Like It, Traitors, South Australia), Jandamarra, Shakespeare). Television and Pericles, A Month in the Country, The Female of the Species, film credits include the upcoming Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? Corrugation Road (Black Swan Upright and Black Bitch and (STCSA), The Increased Difficulty Theatre), Yanagai! Yanagai!, Fever previously R.A.N, Australian Rules, of Concentration, The Madrigirls (Melbourne Workers Theatre). Strangerland, Needle, Stone Bros, (Belvoir Theatre) The Taming of His television credits include Subdivision, The Tender Hook, the Shrew (Bell Shakespeare), The Rake, , Seven Types Children of the Revolution, Glass Menagerie, The Busy World of Ambiguity, Nowhere Boys, The Gods of Wheat Street, is Hushed, Afterplay (Ensemble The Slap, Wentworth. Film credits , Heartbeat, The Alice, Theatre), Thomas Murray and the include Healing (dir: Craig Stingers, All Saints and Water Rats. Upside Down River and Away Monahan), , He is a long time Playschool host. (Griffin Theatre Company), God of The Djarn Djarns (dir: ), Hell (Old Fitz Theatre), Much Ado Bran Nue Dae (dir: Rachael About Nothing and Cyrano de Perkins). For his hit creation Bergerac (Sport for Jove). TV The Sapphires, Tony has received credits include Mr Inbetween, two Helpmann Awards for Best Black Comedy, The Checkout, Rake, Play and Best New Australian Work, Home & Away, Water Rats and a Deadly Lifetime Achievement All Saints. Film credits include Award, two AWGIE Awards for Stationery, Mary and The Boy Most Outstanding Script and Who Had Everything. Feature Film Adaptation and at the 2013 AACTA Awards he won Best Film and Best Feature Adaptation. INTRODUCING: MASTER OF THEATRE – VOICE

Become integral to stages and screens all over the world.

Applications now open Fine Arts finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/theatre and Music

Image: Leith McPherson, Course Coordinator Master of Theatre (Voice) CRICOS 00116K Cast & Creative Team INTRODUCING: MASTER OF

THEATRE – VOICE GEOFF MORRELL TUULI NARKLE MELODIE REYNOLDS-DIARRA Dennison Smith Rose Jones Joan Gibson Geoff Morell is one of Australia’s Tuuli Narkle graduated NIDA with Melodie Reynolds-Diarra is a leading stage and screen actors. a Bachelor for Fine Arts (Acting) Wongutha, Nadju/Mirning woman For Melbourne Theatre Company in 2018. In 2019, she was cast in from Western Australia. She made he has previously appeared in Winyanboga Yurringa (Belvoir) and her acting debut at 16 in No Sugar Australia Day, God Of Carnage, is thrilled to be joining the cast of at Belvoir and graduated from the Oleanna and Death And The Black is the New White (Sydney Western Australian Academy of Maiden. His many theatre credits Theatre Company). Tuuli was born Performing Arts (WAAPA). Theatre include Away, Speaking in Tongues and raised in rural Western companies and festivals Melodie (Griffin Theatre Company), Australia and is of Aboriginal and has worked with include Ilbijerri The Tempest, Scenes From an Finnish decent. Her first encounter Theatre Company, Deckchair Execution, Blind Giant is Dancing with performing arts came through Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, (Belvoir), King Lear, Hedda Gabler, the practice of cultural dance and Playbox, Black Swan State Theatre A Cheery Soul (STCSA), Art, Man slowly branched out into acting Company, Company B, Melbourne of La Mancha (GFO), Top Silk, and singing. As a teenager Tuuli’s Theatre Company, Red Stitch The Department (Gary Penny), passion for performance became Actor’s Theatre, Melbourne Vere, Revengers Tragedy, Big & primarily focused on acting through International Comedy Festival, and Little, Pentecost, Racing Demon, her acceptance into the specialist The Dreaming Festival. She also Tom and Viv, The Seagull, Hot acting stream at John Curtin appeared in both 2017 and 2018 Fudge & Ice Cream and A Month College of the Arts. However, she seasons of Black is the New White in the Country (STC). TV credits continued to hone her skills in for Sydney Theatre Company. She’s include leading roles in Cloudstreet, classical ballet, contemporary and performed in several ABC radio Changi, , 8MMM, character dance at Charlesworth plays, recorded the audio book of Harrow, Please Like Me, The Code, Ballet Institute. Her first major My Place, and associate directed Grassroots, , Catching acting role was Ruby in STOLEN The Shadow King at Malthouse Milat and . In 2000 he by Jane Harrision, directed and Theatre. Television credits include received an AFI Award for his work produced by (Ilbijerri Natural Justice, Broken Shore, in Grassroots. Geoff is a proud Theatre Company). Tuuli is Hard Rock Medical and Redfern Equity member, where he serves on represented by Kermond Now 2. In 2018 Melodie’s first play the National Performers Committee. Management. Skylab made its world premiere in Perth, as a co-production with Black Swan and Yirra Yarkin Theatre companies.

Become integral to stages and screens all over the world.

Applications now open Fine Arts finearts-music.unimelb.edu.au/theatre and Music

Image: Leith McPherson, Course Coordinator Master of Theatre (Voice) CRICOS 00116K

Cast & Creative Team

TOM STOKES MIRANDA TAPSELL ANTHONY TAUFA Francis Smith Charlotte Gibson Sonny Jones Tom Stokes is making his Miranda Tapsell is a proud Larrakia Anthony Taufa is making his Melbourne Theatre Company debut woman from Darwin who grew up Melbourne Theatre Company debut in STC’s production of Black is in Kakadu National Park and has in Black Is the New White. His other the New White. His other theatre built a strong career in film, theatre theatre credits include How to Rule credits include Pygmalion (Sydney and television. Black is the New the World, A Cheery Soul, Saint Theatre Company), Romeo White marks Miranda’s debut at Joan, Cloud 9, Black is the New and Juliet (Bell Shakespeare), Melbourne Theatre Company. White, The Golden Age, Love & In the Next Room: or the Vibrator Select theatre performances Information (with Malthouse Play (Black Swan State Theatre include The Secret River, I Am Theatre), Orlando, (Sydney Theatre Company), The Glass Menagerie, Eora (Sydney Theatre Company), Company), The Misanthrope (with Blood Bank (Ensemble Theatre Radiance, A Christmas Carol, Griffin Theatre Company), Merchant Company), Of Mice and Men Yibiyung (Belvoir), The Literati of Venice, Comedy of Errors and (Sport for Jove), Music (Griffin (Griffin Theatre/Bell Shakespeare), The Players (Bell Shakespeare), Independent), The Pigeons (Griffin and Mother’s Tongue (Yirra Yakin). Man with 5 Children, 10,000 Beers, Independent), Capture the Flag Miranda’s work in television (Darlinghurst Theatre Company), (Critical Stage/Tamarama Rock includes Doctor Doctor, Love Child, Brothers Size, (Griffin Theatre Surfers), Shakespeare’s R&J Play School, Secret City, Cleverman, Company), Monkey-Journey to the (Riverside Theatre Company), Black Comedy, Redfern Now, Mabo West (Theatre of Image), Othello, I want to Sleep With Tom Stoppard and Little J & Big Cuz. In film, (Sydney Shakespeare Company), (Tamarama Rock Surfers), Julius Miranda is renowned for her Othello (King’s Men), Macbeth Caesar (Cry Havoc), Titus Andronicus performance in The Sapphires and (Optic Verve) and Mash Up (Cry Havoc), Don’t Look Back was most recently seen in the (Q Theatre). His film credits include (Perth International Arts Festival) feature Top End Wedding, a movie Zombie Bro, Down Under and Super Frankie’s (Blue Room Theatre). Miranda produced, co-wrote and Awesome! Anthony did his acting His film credits include The Railway starred in. Miranda received two training at NIDA and has a BA from Man, Equals, Newness, Wasted on Logie Awards for her role in Love La Trobe University. the Young, The 11th Green, Let it Child: Most Popular New Talent and Rain, Hunger and Photocopier. The Graham Kennedy Award for He trained at West Australian Most Outstanding Newcomer. Academy of Performing Arts. Cast & Creative Team

NAKKIAH LUI PAIGE RATTRAY RENÉE MULDER Playwright Director Set & Costume Designer Nakkiah Lui is a writer/actor and Paige Rattray is currently Sydney Renée Mulder’s recent designs Gamilaroi/Torres Strait Islander Theatre Company’s Associate include Arbus & West (Melbourne woman. She is a co-writer/star of Director, after holding the role Theatre Company), The Torrents Black Comedy, creator/writer/star of Associate Artistic Director at (co-production Black Swan State of Kiki and Kitty (ABC), creator/ Queensland Theatre. Prior to that, Theatre Company), Black is the co-host of the podcast Pretty for an she was Sydney Theatre Company’s New White, Banging Denmark, Aboriginal (Buzzfeed), and regular Richard Wherrett Fellow and has Hamlet: Prince of Skidmark, panellist on Screentime (ABC). directed How to Rule the World, Orlando, Battle of Waterloo, She has been an artist in residence Black is the New White, Australian The Effect, Perplex, The Long Way at Griffin Theatre Company (2013), Graffiti, Power Plays and Boys Home, Dance Better at Parties, playwright in residence at Belvoir will Be boys for STC. Paige was Mrs Warren’s Profession, Marriage (2012–2014) and a member of co-founder of independent theatre Blanc, The Splinter (Sydney Theatre Queensland Theatre’s National company Arthur, was the 2011 Company). As Costume Designer, Artistic Team (2015–2017). In 2012, Resident Director at Griffin Theatre Harp in the South, St Joan, Top Girls, Nakkiah was the first recipient of as well as the Company’s 2010 Chimerica, Endgame, Children of The Dreaming Award from The Affiliate Director. Other directing the Sun, Vere, Faith (Sydney Theatre Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island credits include Hedda, Scenes Company). As Set Designer, Edward Arts Board of the Australia Council. from a Marriage, Switzerland Gant’s Amazing Feats of Loneliness The same year, she was the (Queensland Theatre), and Fangirls (Sydney Theatre Company), Nearer inaugural recipient of the Balnaves (Belvoir). For Arthur, Bright World the Gods, An Octoroon, Rice, Sacré Foundation Indigenous Playwright (Theatre Works), The Sea Project, Bleu! Fat Pig (Queensland Theatre), award. Nakkiah’s writing credits Return to Earth (with Griffin Prima Facie, The Bleeding Tree, include This Heaven (Belvoir/ Independent), The Myth Project: The Boys and A Hoax (Griffin Theatre Finborough Theatre), Blak Cabaret, Twin (with MTC NEON), The Mesh Company). Renee was Resident (Sydney Festival/Malthouse (with Red Stitch) The Midlands Designer at Sydney Theatre Company Theatre), Kill the Messenger (also (with Mudlark), Dirtyland (with from 2012–14. She was a Helpmann as Actor) (Belvoir), #KillAllMen, The Spare Room), Cut Snake. Award nominee for Best Costume (NIDA), How to Rule the World Heartbreak Hotel (Griffin Theatre Design for Harp in the South. She and Power Plays (STC), Blaque Company), This House is Mine (Milk won a Sydney Theatre Award for Showgirls (Malthouse Theatre). Crate Theatre) and Out of Place Best Costume Design for Top Girls Directing credits include An (ATYP). She is a graduate of NIDA. and is a graduate of NIDA and Octoroon (Queensland Theatre). Queensland College of Art. Her dramaturgical credits include The Sovereign Wife, (MTC NEON), Lilith: the Jungle Girl, (MTC). Nakkiah is also an active social commentator, with contributions to The Guardian, The Saturday Paper and Junkee. She has appeared on Q&A, The Drum and The Project. Nakkiah was STC’s 2018 Patrick White Playwrights Fellow. Cast & Creative Team

BEN HUGHES STEVE TOULMIN JULIA PATEY Lighting Designer Composer & Sound Designer Tour Director Ben Hughes is a lighting designer Steve Toulmin’s theatre credits Julia Patey is a director, writer and for theatre, dance and opera. Ben’s include Black is the New White, dramaturg who specialises in the recent designs include Noises Off! The Bleeding Tree (with Griffin creation of new work by female and Let The Sunshine (Melbourne Theatre), A Flea in Her Ear, Power artists. Her work as a writer/ Theatre Company / Queensland Plays, Edward Gant’s Amazing director includes The Knife (Bondi Theatre), L’Appartement, Twelfth Feats of Loneliness (with La Boite), Feast), Greater Sunrise (Belvoir Night, An Octaroon, Scenes from Little Mercy (Sydney Theatre 25A), Dolores (SAM), Moonchild a Marriage, Switzerland, Good Company). Other theatre credits (ATYP/we make theatre), When Muslim Boy (with Malthouse include Barbara and the Camp Am I Gonna Be What I’m Gonna Be Theatre), Black Diggers (with Dogs, Hir, The Rover, The Blind (Rock Surfers/we make theatre), Sydney Festival), Mother Courage Giant is Dancing, Jasper Jones, I’m Sorry We No Longer Sell Bath and Her Children, Happy Days Ivanov, La Traviata, Blue Wizard, Bombs (City of Sydney/Earlwood and Much Ado About Nothing Is This Thing On?, 20 Questions Farm) and Cleansed in Blood (Queensland Theatre). For Sydney and The Seed (Belvoir), Richard III (The Old Fitz Late Nights). As Theatre Company, The Effect and Othello (Bell Shakespeare), Assistant Director her credits (with Queensland Theatre), The Homosexuals or ‘Faggots’, include Scenes From a Marriage The Mathematics of Longing, Gloria, Beached, A Hoax (with La (Queensland Theatre), Black is A Streetcar Named Desire, Medea Boite), The Bleeding Tree, (Griffin the New White (Sydney Theatre (La Boite), Don Giovanni, Mozart Theatre Company). Who’s Afraid Company), A Town Named Warboy Airborne (with Expressions Dance of Virginia Woolf?, Great Falls, and Spur of the Moment (ATYP). Company and Natalie Weir), Liberty Equality Fraternity, Circle Julia holds a Bachelor of Snow White (Opera Queensland), Mirror Transformation (Ensemble Communications (Theatre/Media) The Dinner Party, Converge, Theatre), Switzerland, That Face and is currently undertaking a Propel, The Host, Carmen Sweet (Queensland Theatre). Tender Master of Laws (Human Rights (Expressions Dance Company), Napalm, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Law & Policy). Two Feet (Adelaide Festival), Attack of the Attacking Attackers The Masters Series, Flourish and (La Boite). Fun House, Love Riot, Giselle (Queensland Ballet). Ben is Blanc De Blanc (Strut & Fret), Associate Artistic Director of The All The Sex I’ve Ever Had (Sydney Danger Ensemble, and lectures Festival). His event credits include in lighting design at Queensland Papua New Guinea’s 40th Year of University of Technology. Independence Celebrations, EKKA Arena Spectacular (2013–2015). Steve was Director for Ricki-Lee Coulter (2012–2014). As a songwriter and music producer Steve has worked with artists including Megan Washington, Ricki-Lee Coulter and Samantha Jade. Steve trained at NIDA. 103 U9, Fox Studios, 38 Driver Avenue, Moore Park, NSW 2021 Telephone Box Office (02) 9250 1777 Administration (02) 9250 1700 Email [email protected] Website sydneytheatre.com.

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Board of Directors Sydney Theatre Company is at the heart of Australia’s cultural Ian Narev (Chair) landscape, and owes its world-class creative pedigree to a history of Ann Johnson (Deputy Chair) ground-breaking productions. The Hon Bruce Baird am Anita Belgiorno-Nettis AM Mark Lazberger Since 1978, the company has produced work that is – in the words Patrick McIntyre of founding artistic director Richard Wherrett – “grand, vulgar, Heather Mitchell intelligent, challenging and fun”. A paradox as playful as our city. Gretel Packer Daniel Petre ao Annette Shun Wah In the 21st century STC is dedicated to producing Australian works Kip Williams of ambition and scale. These stories provide audiences with opportunities for reflection, revelation and joy, and are shared Artistic Director widely through regional, national and international touring, Kip Williams partnerships and outreach activities. Executive Director Patrick McIntyre Our four home venues, ranging in size from 200 to 890 seats, allow Director, Finance and us to develop and celebrate theatrical expression of all kinds. We Administration Francisca Peña keep classics alive and resonating with the present day, and our Director, Marketing and resident artist, commissioning and workshop programs ensure we Customer Services continue to discover and develop the next wave of Australian Nicole McPeake storytellers. Director, External Relations & Private Giving We are committed to building creative capacity in the community Danielle Heidbrink through our partnership with The University of Sydney, School Director, Partnerships Drama, which delivers theatre-based literacy education in primary Rebecca Cuschieri schools, adult education centres, refugee groups and juvenile Director, Technical, Production and Wharf detention facilities around the country. Renewal Jono Perry We are proud that over the years Sydney Theatre Company has produced work with some of Australia’s – and the world’s – most exciting performers, writers, directors and creative teams; and that we continue to invest in and promote the artistic legends of the future.

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Technicians MANAGEMENT Geoff Adams Julia Smith Briannah Borg NEXT STAGE Artistic Director & CEO Christine Verginis Pippa Wright Max Bowyer Commissions EHS Coordinator Nick Wollan Brett Sheehy ao Marcus Cook Lucie Sutherland Zak Brown Van Badham Executive Director & Liz Mundell Leila Gerges Angus Cerini Gemma Rowe SOUTHBANK Co-CEO FINANCE Mungo Trumble Rosie Howell Patricia Cornelius Virginia Lovett Technical Manager – THEATRE Kathryn Joy Aidan Fennessy Finance Director Theatre Operations Evan Lawson Louris van de Geer Executive Assistant to Liz Chappell Staging the Artistic Director Andrew Bellchambers Director Laura Lethlean Michael Gow Finance Manager Mark D Wheeler Will McRostie Tom Holloway & CEO Andrew Slee CAD Drafting Nick Doherty Jacob Battista Building Services Natasha Milton Andrea James IT & Systems Manager Manager Yasmin Mole Anchuli Felicia King Executive Michael Schuettke Alexander Rothnie Administrator to the Staging Supervisor HQ Adrian Aderhold Daniel Moulds Benjamin Law IT Support Officer House Services Ernesto Munoz Joanna Murray-Smith Executive Director & Darren Snowdon Nicholas Stace Co-CEO Manager Emma Palackic Joe Penhall Assistant Accountant PROPERTIES James Cunningham Adam Rogers Leah Purcell Kathleen Higgs Irene Budiono Properties Supervisor Production Services Sophie Scott Ellen van Neerven ARTISTIC Payroll Officer Manager Myles Tankle Chris Ryan Julia Godinho Geoff McGregor Producer Props Maker Frank Stoffels Bella Vadiveloo Megan Washington Martina Murray Payments Officer Bar Manager Rhian Wilson Mark Leonard Winter Lisa Maundrell Colin Penn Associate Artistic Props Hire Claire Marsh Jamaica Zuanetti Malcolm Robertson Director MTC Foundation MARKETING & Kasey Gambling Lawler & Events TICKETING Sarah Goodes COMMUNICATIONS Jacinta Keefe Technical Supervisor Commissions Associate Director Director of Marketing & Yasmin Mole Tom Brayshaw Angela Betzien Dean Bryant Emma Palackic Lighting Supervisor Ticketing Operations Literary Director Communications Brenna Sotiropoulos OVERSEAS Director Richard Gorr Chris Mead SCENIC ART Staging Supervisor Customer Service Sales REPRESENTATIVE Casting Director Vanessa Rowsthorn Scenic Art Supervisor Manager New York Digital Manager Grant Kennelly Janine Snape Shane Dunn Sound Supervisor Jessie Phillips Kevin Emrick Casting Administrator Daniel Coghlan Scenic Artists Director of CRM & Marketing Campaign Terry McKibbin Carmen Lai Tansy Elso Head Flyman Audience Insights Company Manager/ Manager Colin Harman Jeremy Hodgins Shelley King James Tucker Assistant Producer Stage & Technical Database Specialist Stephen Moore Marketing Executive Ben Gu Bonnie Leigh-Dodds WORKSHOP Staff Deputy Company Workshop Supervisor Geoff Adams Data Analyst Manager Lead Graphic Designer/ Dale Menz Art Director Aldo Amenta Matthew Arthur Leah Milburn-Clark Deputy Workshop Sam Berkley VIP Ticketing Officer NEXT STAGE Emma Wagstaff Michael Bingham Graphic Designers Supervisor Simon Bond Administrator Andrew Weavers Ash Buchanan Education Ticketing Karin Farrell Helena Turinski Officer Victoria U Set Makers Michael Burnell Literary Associate Ken Best John Carberry Mellita Ilich Jennifer Medway PR & Communications Box Office Supervisor Manager Brian Easteal Dale Cook Nick Gray Kieran Daniels Kieran Gould-Dowen CATERING Rosie Shepherdson- Subscriptions & Cullen Philip de Mulder Nathan Evers Catering Manager Peter Rosa Telemarketing Andrea Purvis Publicist Jordan Fontane Eugene Hallen Team Leader Café Staff Georgia Fox Peter Dowd Bev Reinmuth Communications Kylie Hammond Content Producer Adam Hanley Sarah Corridon Chris Hubbard

PROGRAMME CREDITS Managing Editor Rosie Shepherdson-Cullen Editor Sarah Corridon Graphic Designer Helena Turinski MTC Circles of Giving

MTC gratefully acknowledges our visionary donors

MTC LIFETIME PATRONS Acknowledging a lifetime of extraordinary support for MTC. Pat Burke Dr Geraldine Lazarus and The Late Biddy Ponsford Ursula Whiteside Peter Clemenger ao and Greig Gailey The Late Dr Roger Riordan am Caroline Young and Joan Clemenger ao Allan Myers ac qc and Maureen Wheeler ao and Derek Young am Maria Myers ac Tony Wheeler ao

ENDOWMENT DONORS Supporting the long term sustainability and creative future of MTC. Leading Endowment Donors $50,000+ $20,000+ $5,000+ $1,000,000+ Geoffrey Cohen am Tony and Janine Burgess R & P Harkness Jane Hansen and Paul Little ao Orcadia Foundation Anne and Mark Robertson oam Jane Kunstler The University of Melbourne The Late Biddy Ponsford $10,000+ Renzella Family Andrew Sisson ao and Prof Margaret Gardner ao and Anonymous Tracey Sisson Prof Glyn Davis ac $1,000+ Virginia Lovett and Rose Hiscock

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 The late Noel Mason and Ian and Margaret McKellar Dr Helen Ferguson $250,000+ Susanna Mason ▲ George and Rosa Morstyn Grant Fisher and Helen Bird Crown Resorts Foundation Kendra Reid Tom and Ruth O’Dea ■ Bruce Freeman ■ Packer Family Foundation Craig Semple ▲ Leigh O’Neill ◆ Gaye and John Gaylard $50,000+ Luisa Valmorbida ▲ Dr Kia Pajouhesh Heather and The Joan and Peter Anonymous (2) (Smile Solutions) Bob Glindemann oam Clemenger Trust $5,000+ In loving memory of Richard Park Henry Gold The Cybec Foundation Sandy Bell and Daryl Kendrick Bruce Parncutt ao Roger and Jan Goldsmith John Higgins ao and Bill Bowness ao Prof David Penington ac and Lesley Griffin Jodie Maunder Dr Andrew Buchanan and Dr Sonay Hussein Ballandry (Peter Griffin Family) Maureen Wheeler ao and Peter Darcy Jeanne Pratt ac Fund (a sub-fund of the Tony Wheeler ao Ian and Jillian Buchanan Janet Reid oam and Allan Reid Australian Communities Sandra and Bill Burdett am Renzella Family Foundation) $20,000+ The Robert Salzer Foundation ◆ Fiona Griffiths and Betty Amsden Foundation Lynne and Rob Burgess Pat Burke and Jan Nolan Andrew Sisson ao and Tony Osmond ◆ Krystyna Campbell-Pretty am Tracey Sisson Tony Hillery and Dr Geraldine Lazarus and John and Robyn Butselaar The Janet and Michael Buxton Trawalla Foundation Trust Warwick Eddington Greig Gailey Ralph Ward-Ambler am and Jane Hodder ◆ Jane Hansen and Foundation Barry and Joanne Cheetham Barbara Ward-Ambler Peter and Halina Jacobsen Paul Little ao ● The Dowd Foundation Anonymous (5) Amy and Paul Jasper Louise and Martyn Myer ao Irene Kearsey and Michael Ridley Victorian Department of The Gjergja Family ADVOCATES CIRCLE Leon Goldman Rachel Kelly ◆ Education and Training $2,500–$4,999 Elizabeth Laverty The Vizard Foundation Robert and Jan Green John and Lorraine Bates John and Joan Grigg oam Leg Up Foundation Caroline and Derek Young am ▲ Marc Besen ac and Alex and Halina Lewenberg Anonymous Jane Hansen ◆ Eva Besen ao David and Lily Harris Virginia Lovett and $10,000+ Jay Bethell and Peter Smart Rose Hiscock ● Jane Hemstritch Wendy and Paul Bonnici ◆ Joanna Baevski ● Bruce and Mary Humphries Don and Sue Matthews Erica Bagshaw Diana Burleigh Kim and Peter Monk ◆ Karen Inge and Jenny and Stephen Charles ao The Bonnici Family ● Dr George Janko Ging Muir and The Cattermole Family Sandy and Yvonne Constantine John McCawley ■ Anne Le Huray Debbie Dadon am Tom and Elana Cordiner ● Marshall Day Acoustics Sandy and Sandra Murdoch Christine Gilbertson ◆ Ann Darby ● Jane and Andrew Murray (Dennis Irving Scholarship) Dr Anthony Dortimer Linda Herd ■ ● Ian and Judi Marshman Dr Paul Nisselle am and Macgeorge Bequest and Jillian Dortimer Sue Nisselle Matsarol Foundation Melody and Jonathan Feder ■ Anne and Mark Assoc Prof Lyn Clearihan and Fiona Kirwan-Hamilton Christopher Richardson Robertson oam ◆ Dr Anthony Palmer and Simon E Marks qc Phillip Riggio Hilary and Stuart Scott ● Dr Robin Collier and Neil Collier Doris and Steve Klein Roslyn and Richard Rogers Lynne Sherwood and the Mark and Jo Davey Larry Kornhauser and Family ● late Tim Sherwood Natasha Davies Natalya Gill ■ Sue Rose Jennifer Steinicke Katharine Derham-Moore Josephine and Anne and Laurie Ryan Richard and Debra Tegoni ◆ ● Amanda and Mark Derham ◆ Graeme Kraehe ao F & J Ryan Foundation Cheryl and Paul Veith Katie Dewhurst ◆ Pamela Lamaro ◆ Edwina Sahhar Price and Christine Williams Robert Drake Joan and George Lefroy Margaret Sahhar am Margaret and Ray Wilson oam Bev and Geoff Edwards Alison Leslie Guy Sansom and Gillian and Tony Wood George and Eva Ermer Peter and Judy Loney Treena Quarin Laurel Young-Das and Anne and Graham Evans ao Lord Family ◆ Susan Santoro Heather Finnegan Dr Alastair Fearn Lording Family Foundation Kaylene Savas ◆ Anonymous (7) Cathryn Findlay Elizabeth Lyons Graeme Seabrook LOYALTY CIRCLE Jan and Rob Flew Ken and Jan Mackinnon Marshall Segan and Rosemary Forbes and The Mann Family ● Ylana Perlov $1,000–$2,499 Ian Hocking Helen Mantzis ◆ Prof Barry Sheehan Prof Noel and Sylvia Alpins am Heather Forbes-McKeon ■ Chris and Bruce Maple and Pamela Waller Valma E. Angliss am Elizabeth Foster Marin Charitable Trust Jacky and Rupert Sherwood James and Helen Angus Glenn Fryer ● Dr Hannah Mason Diane Silk Kate Aplin John Fullerton Margaret and John Mason oam Dr John Sime Margaret Astbury Nigel and Cathy Garrard Garry McLean Jane Simon and Peter Cox Ian Baker and Cheryl Saunders Diana and Murray Gerstman Elizabeth McMeekin Reg and Elaine Smith oam – John and Dagnija Balmford Gill Family Foundation Emeritus Prof Peter McPhee Earimil Gardens Charity Heather Bamford Brian Goddard and Charlotte Allen Tim and Angela Smith Jenny Barbou ◆ Charles and Cornelia Goode Robert and Helena Mestrovic Annette Smorgon ◆ Angelina Beninati Foundation ◆ John G Millard Diana and Brian Snape am Tara Bishop ◆ Isabella Green oam and Ross and Judy Milne-Pott Geoff and Judy Steinicke Diane and Graeme Boyer Richard Green Susan and Michael Minshall Dr Ross and Helen Stillwell Steve and Terry Bracks am Jane Grover ◆ Felicity and Des Moore Suzy and Dr Mark Suss ■ Jenny and Lucinda Brash Ian and Wendy Haines Luke and Janine Musgrave James and Anne Syme Bernadette Broberg Charles Harkin Barbara and David Mushin Rodney and Aviva Taft ◆ Tania Broughman R & P Harkness ◆ Jacquie Naylor ◆ ● Frank Tisher oam and Beth Brown and the late Mark and Jennifer Hayes ● Nelson Bros Funeral Services Dr Miriam Tisher Tom Bruce am The Hon Peter Heerey am qc Nick Nichola and Ingrid Moyle Graham Wademan Hugh Burrill and and Sally Heerey Susan Oliver am ● Kevin and Elizabeth Walsh ■ Dr Meridee Flower Sandi and Gil Hoskins Tony and Margaret Pagone ◆ Anthony Watson and Julie Burke Emeritus Prof Andrea Hull ao Dr Annamarie Perlesz Tracey McDonald Katie Burke Ann and Tony Hyams am Peter Philpott and Pinky Watson Pam Caldwell Peter Jaffe Robert Ratcliffe Marion Webster oam ◆ Alison and John Cameron Denis and Elissa Joachim Prof Hannah Piterman ◆ Penelope and Joshua White John and Jan Campbell Ed and Margaret Johnson Betty and John Pizzey Ursula Whiteside Jessica Canning Prof Shitij Kapur and Dug and Lisa Pomeroy Ann and Alan Wilkinson Clare and Richard Carlson Dr Sharmistha Law Noel and Gaylene Porter Jan Williams ■ Fiona Caro Malcolm Kemp John and Joan Pye Mandy and Edward Yencken Chef’s Hat Janette Kendall ◆ Sally Redlich Greg Young Chernov Family Julie and Simon Kessel Victoria Redwood Anonymous (29) Keith Chivers and Ron Peel Julie and Ian Reid

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 Dr Andrew McAliece and Max Schultz Bernadette Broberg Fiona Griffiths Dr Richard Simmie Jillian Smith Adam and Donna Cusack-Muller Linda Herd Peter Philpott and Diane Tweeddale Irene Kearsey Robert Ratcliffe Anonymous (11)

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

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 September 2019 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] 2019 Partners current as of August 2019. SEE the WORLD DIFFERENTLY

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