MINNIE & LIRAZ by Lally Katz Welcome

At the beginning of every ’s rehearsal period we feel a great sense of excitement, but never more so than when it’s a world premiere of a new Australian work. In the case of Minnie & Liraz, it’s both a new Australian play and a truly story, and I am thrilled that it’s Melbourne’s audiences who get to see its first presentation in the world.

Minnie & Liraz has humour, honesty, warmth and imagination in spades, taking its audience on a wild and unpredictable ride. So strap yourselves in for some delicious twists and turns! Written by the inimitable Lally Katz and directed by Anne-Louise Sarks, this production brings together a wonderful team of actors and creative artists along with a little slice of Caulfield to MTC’s home in the Arts Centre – the Fairfax Studio.

Throughout May, MTC’s stages are filled with three brand new Australian plays – Three Little Words, Melbourne Talam and Minnie & Liraz. They are three very different stories, but each a wonderful example of the work of the unique and talented writers we have in this country.

MTC has a long history of working with and supporting local writers and our commitment remains as steadfast as ever. It fills me with immense pride that Melbourne audiences continue to echo this support by being such great advocates for new works, so thank you and I hope you enjoy this world premiere production. See you at the theatre!

Brett Sheehy ao Artistic Director

GET SOCIAL WITH MTC MelbourneTheatreCompany melbtheatreco melbtheatreco MTC.COM.AU

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 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. A

MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY PRESENTS MINNIE & LIRAZ by Lally Katz

12 MAY – 24 JUNE , Fairfax Studio

♠ Cast ♥ Matt Scott Rachel Virginia Gay Composer & Sound Designer Stefan Gregory Minnie Cohen Nancye Hayes Directorial Secondment Stephanie Ghajar Liraz Weinberg Sue Jones Fight Choreographer Lyndall Grant Morris Cohen Rhys McConnochie Flute Teacher Kim Tan Norma Georgina Naidu Stage Manager Christine Bennett Ichabod Peter Paltos Assistant Stage Manager Pippa Wright Assistant Stage Manager Meg Richardson ♦ Creative Team ♣ Automation Operator Jake Hutchings Director & Dramaturg Anne-Louise Sarks Stage Management Secondment Will Barker Set & Costume Designer Mel Page Rehearsal Photographer Pia Johnson Design Assistant Matilda Woodroofe Production Photographer Jeff Busby

♠ About the play ♥ The Autumn Road Retirement Village in Caulfield has a fiercely competitive bridge club, but with old age doing its inevitable work, no bridge partnership lasts for long. When Minnie loses her playing partner in an unfortunate swimming accident, Liraz is desperate for them to team up. You see, Minnie has a granddaughter and Liraz has a grandson. Both are hopelessly single. Laying all her cards on the table, Minnie is bidding hearts.

For information regarding the performance running time please see a member of the Front of House team. Minnie & Liraz was commissioned by the Kim Williams Fellowship Cover photo: Justin Ridler Playing to win

Bridge is a highly competitive, trick-taking card game that requires two sets of partners to play.

(From left) Nancye Hayes, Sue Jones, Rhys McConnochie with Director Anne-Louise Sarks; Rhys McConnochie and Nancye Hayes

There is a director, a declarer, a dealer, a The oldest rulebook for biritch dates back defender, a dummy, deals, discards and to 1886, where in Constantinople (current doubletons. This game is not easy to learn, day Istanbul) biritch was the most and even harder to master. Bridge requires commonly played game at the time. By 1898 an excellent grasp on the game’s extensive the game was anglicised to ‘bridge’ and the terminology and an aptitude to master craze took off in gentleman’s clubs all over strategy with your bridge-playing partner. London, Paris and New York.

Bridge originated in the late 19th century Today, the World Bridge Foundation governs in Russian and Eastern Mediterranean international bridge competitions and communities. Its name comes from the Old conducts annual world championships, Russian word for ‘announcer’ or ‘biritch’ and which see hundreds of competitive players combines elements of the English card game travel from every corner of the globe to whist, and the Russian card game eralash. compete for international titles. In Australia, The Gold Coast Congress hosts the biggest a grand slam and small slam), major suits, and best pairs’ contest in the country. minor suits, trump suits, final contracts and an extremely convoluted scoring system. Like many other card games, bridge is a It is a game that requires commitment and game of skill and chance due to the nature extensive practice to master. of randomly dealt cards. Alongside chess, however, it is the only game recognised President of the Victorian Bridge as a ‘mind sport’ by the International Association Ben Thompson says Victoria is Olympic Committee. the fastest growing bridge state in Australia with around 5,500 active tournament Bridge encompasses bidding, stripping, players across 60 clubs. Of the 4,000 squeezing, finessing, bonuses (including bridge players that live in Melbourne, (From top) Georgina Naidu, Virginia Gay, Peter Paltos, Rhys McConnochie and Nancye Hayes; Sue Jones; Georgina Naidu; Virginia Gay and Peter Paltos

‘Pre WWII, Melbourne was the strongest bridge hub in Australia and our teams won every pre-war interstate championship. In those days, bridge was enormously popular worldwide. [Scores were published] in all the papers and championship matches were broadcast on radio.’ Ben Thompson, Victorian Bridge Association President

2,500 of them live in the South-Eastern Local bridge expert and Australia’s Mixed suburbs. Two Jewish brothers, Jessel and Team Champion Laura Ginnan makes a Nat Rothfield, were responsible for founding living as a bridge administrator and teacher Bridge Federation in the late and has travelled to America and Europe 1960s, and greatly contributed to the playing what she describes as the ‘world’s establishment of a bridge community in most challenging mental sport’. ‘To become their home city Melbourne. a champion, I would generally say most people who win open level national events ‘In Australia and across a lot of the world, have been playing for twenty plus years.’ female players are in the clear majority,’ Ben says, ‘In Victoria, about 70% of players are Laura explains that bridge is one of a few female. Amongst elite players (those that card games where a high level of etiquette win the big national and international is demanded from its players, whereby the championships), that stat is even more laws of Contract Bridge demand players to skewed, but the other way – well over 80% say, ‘Thank you partner’ at regular intervals of elite players are male. Lots of people and players are expected to conduct have theories on why that’s the case, but themselves in a highly civilised manner they’re all just theories.’ at all stages of the game.

Ben says the vast majority of bridge players fit in the social category of playing, however most elite players start playing by Go online to see the gallery of the time they are 20 and spend at least a Minnie & Liraz rehearsal year of their 20s doing almost nothing but and production images. playing bridge. mtc.com.au/backstage

Lally Katz

Playwright

Lally Katz’s plays have been was developed and presented in 2009 as dazzling audiences from part of the Melbourne International Arts Melbourne to Mexico for Festival. 2013 saw Lally’s one-woman, more than a decade. This self-starring show Stories I Want to Tell You American-born, Canberra- in Person premiere at Belvoir before being raised playwright appears remounted at Malthouse Theatre and to be unafraid of the off-Broadway in New York. It was later characters and narratives she draws, adapted for TV by ABC and premiered at however attests that she is afraid the Melbourne International Film Festival. ‘all the time’ of how her representations are perceived, especially by those she is One of Lally’s most produced and lauded writing about. works Neighbourhood Watch was written for Australian actor and was Lally’s style of writing, which centres around first produced at ’s Belvoir Theatre in who and what she knows, has rewarded her 2011. It was remounted at MTC in 2014 and is with repeat commissions, multiple awards, currently being adapted for film. The Cat/ and allowed her to make a name for herself The Dog (a double bill show with Brendan as one of Australia’s most produced Cowell) premiered at Belvoir in 2015 and is playwrights. having a return season this year, while Back at the Dojo had its world premiere at Belvoir After completing her studies at the Victorian last year. Two new works by Lally, Atlantis College of the Arts in the late-nineties, Lally and Minnie & Liraz, will have their world co-founded a student theatre company, premieres in 2017. which was responsible for staging more than 20 independent works. Following this, she Lally has received many awards and joined director Chris Kohn to become the nominations for her work. These include resident writer for Stuck Pigs Squealing, the Neighbourhood Watch which was company that produced her first successes. nominated for four , Lally’s play The Black Swan of Trespass an AWGIE, a Helpmann Award and a NSW (2005), co-written with Kohn, won Best Play Premier’s Literary Award. Golem Story and in the Melbourne Fringe Festival Awards Goodbye Vaudeville Charlie Mudd both won before playing at the New York Fringe Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards and her Festival, as did her 2004 play Eisteddfod. operatic libretto The Rabbits won a 2015 Helpmann Award. In 2006, Lally Katz and the Terrible Mysteries of the Volcano (Theatreworks) introduced the Apocalypse Bear; a Go online to hear from playwright character that would appear repeatedly in Lally Katz in our MTC Talks podcast Lally’s later work. The Apocalypse Bear series. www.mtc.com.au/ Trilogy, an evolution of several productions, backstage Cast & Creative Team

VIRGINIA GAY NANCYE HAYES am SUE JONES Rachel Minnie Cohen Liraz Weinberg

Virginia Gay graduated from Nancye Hayes has enjoyed a long Sue Jones has appeared in a WAAPA in 2005, and made her career on the Australian Stage. number of productions for MTC MTC debut in On the Production Some of her past performing including Other Desert Cities, of Monsters. Her other credits include A Little Night Dead Man’s Cell Phone, Don appearances with MTC include Music, ( Parties On, Death of a Salesman The Beast, and Gabies. She has Australia); , Summer (Green Room nomination), just completed a sold-out run Rain (STC); , Jerry’s Kid Stakes (Green Room of Calamity Jane at The Hayes Girls, Grey Gardens, , Nomination), Life After George Theatre, and prior to that, she Oklahoma, The Music Man (Green Room nomination), Wet spent four years pretending to (); and Dry, Some Night in Julia be a nurse in Channel Seven’s Importance Of Being Earnest, Creek, and Macbeth. For All Saints, six months pretending Metro Street (STCSA); Malthouse/Playbox, she was seen to be Julia Gillard in STC’s Wharf (The Gordon Frost Organisation); in Butterflies of Kalamatan, Revue, and five years pretending Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks, Ibsen-The Greatest Man on Earth, to know a lot about high finance Turns (CDP); Sunday in the Park God’s Last Acre, The Frail Man, on Winners & Losers. She has With George (Victorian Opera). and Night on Bald Mountain. worked with the Production Nancye’s most recent At La Mama, Save Suvla Street, Company in The Producers and appearance on television was on Ravages, Obsessive Behaviour Jerry’s Girls, makes regular House Husbands. Amongst her in Small Spaces, No Worries, appearances on First Tuesday awards are a 2012 Helpmann How Are You Feeling, Pieties, Book Club, and has created three Award for her role in Grey and Shadowlands. At the Stage solo cabaret shows – Dirty Pretty Gardens, a 2011 Helpmann Company in Adelaide, Sorry Sold Songs, Songs to Self-Destruct To, JCW Lifetime Achievement Out, A Night in the Arms of and Cautionary Tales for Children Award, a 2009 Helpmann Award Raeleen, The Perfectionist, and (this last one with Arena Theatre for her role in My Fair Lady, Travelling North, and at Monash Company) – which she’s a 2008 Sydney Theatre Awards University, The Seagull and The performed all over the world, Lifetime Achievement Award, One Day of the Year. Most most notably headlining the a 2003 Green Room Awards recently on television she was Famous Spiegeltent at the Lifetime Achievement Award, seen in The Time of our Lives, Edinburgh Fringe Festival. a 1981 Medal of the Order of and Upper Middle Bogan. Australia (oam) and in 2014, a Member of the Order of Australia Award (am). Cast & Creative Team

RHYS McCONNOCHIE GEORGINA NAIDU PETER PALTOS Morris Cohen Norma Ichabod

Rhys McConnochie last appeared Georgina Naidu is a graduate of Peter Paltos makes his mainstage with Melbourne Theatre the Victorian College of the Arts Melbourne Theatre Company Company in Samuel Beckett’s and was most recently seen in debut playing Ichabod in Minnie Endgame and before that in the Cybec Electric readings for & Liraz. Peter’s prior theatre The History Boys, King Lear, MTC. Other theatre credits credits include The Sovereign Inheritance, The Seagull (for include Ganesh Versus the Third Wife (Sisters Grimm – Melbourne which he won a Green Room Reich, Yet to Ascertain the Theatre Company NEON); The Award), Death of a Salesman, Nature of the Crime, Attract Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui Life After George, Misalliance, Repel, Fearless N, The Habib (TheatreWorks); Calpurnia and Molly Sweeney. For STC he Show, Macbeth, Run Rabbit Descending (Malthouse Theatre/ played in Dance of Death, Run, The Book Keeper and ); Heartbreak, House, Amadeus, A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Psycho Beach Party (Little Ones Measure For Measure, and In 2005 Georgina’s play Theatre); Summertime in the A Dream Play. Other credits Yellowfeather had its world Garden of Eden (Sisters Grimm/ include: My Fair Lady (Opera premiere at the Sydney Opera Griffin Theatre/TheatreWorks); Australia); Camelot and Kismet House before touring nationally Salomé (Little Ones Theatre – (Production Company); Therese and internationally. Georgina has Malthouse HELIUM). Peter is a Raquin (Theatreworks); and most recently been seen on the graduate of 16th Street Actors Spring Awakening, Do Not Go ABC’s new drama Newton’s Law Studios and the Victorian College Gentle and recently Wit at 45 playing the role of Helena of the Arts. Downstairs. He worked for a Chatterjee. She has appeared number of companies in England on numerous television series including Royal Shakespeare including Offspring, At Home Company, The Old Vic, and many with Julia, , more. He appeared in an early Wentworth, The Beautiful Lie, episode of Doctor Who and was Winners & Losers, Mr & Mrs seen twice in Coronation St. His Murder, Time of Our Lives, City Australian TV credits include Homicide, Satisfaction, Tripping Bodyline, Brides of Christ, Come Over and Seachange. Her film in Spinner, Mother and Son, credits include Ali’s Wedding, Stingers, , and Vessel, The Boys are Back in Magazine Wars. He has been Town, Playing for Charlie, Mall involved in actor training for Boy, Dead Letter Office and Road many years and has worked at to Nhill. Georgina dedicates her NIDA, VCA and WAAPA where he performance to her mother was Head of the Acting Course Josephine Naidu. for several years. Cast & Creative Team

ANNE-LOUISE SARKS MEL PAGE MATT SCOTT Director Set & Costume Designer Lighting Designer

Anne-Louise Sarks returns to Mel Page is a set and costume Matt has lit more than fifty MTC Melbourne Theatre Company to designer for theatre and film. productions, including Born direct Minnie & Liraz after her Her designs for Minnie & Liraz Yesterday, The Odd Couple, debut role with the company in follow her work on the acclaimed Jasper Jones, Skylight, The Last Lally Katz’s 2011 play Return to productions of Jasper Jones and Man Standing, The Weir, Jumpy, Earth, and her production of Back at the Dojo, both for Belvoir. The Mountaintop, Elling, His Girl The Seed by Kate Mulvany in 2011. Mel has just returned from Friday, Red, The Seed, Tribes, For Belvoir, Anne-Louise has Europe where she designed The Importance of Being Earnest, directed Jasper Jones, Seventeen costumes for Pelleas and Clybourne Park, Next to Normal, and Stories I Want To Tell You Melisande at the Norwegian A Behanding in Spokane, Life In Person; she directed and National Opera, Die Tote Stadt Without Me, Boston Marriage, co-wrote Elektra/Orestes, for Basel Opera, and Three The Ugly One, The Grenade, The A Christmas Carol, Nora and Sisters and Angels in America Drowsy Chaperone, Blackbird, Medea. In 2015 Anne-Louise for Basel Theatre. In 2015, Mel The Birthday Party, August: directed a new production of designed the costumes for Osage County, and Realism. hers and co-writer Kate Belvoir’s productions of Ivanov, His most recent other work Mulvany’s modern day imagining Kill the Messenger, Seventeen includes Once in Royal David’s of Medea at The Gate Theatre and Elektra/Orestes. Mel also City for Theatre/ in London to critical acclaim. designed the costumes for Glass Black Swan; Angels in America Medea won five 2013 Sydney Menagerie, at Malthouse and Pt 1 for Black Swan; The Theatre Awards including Best Belvoir, and Depth of Field for Pearlfishers, and The Marriage Direction, Best Mainstage Chunky Move. Mel designed the of Figaro for ; Production and Best New set and costumes for Night Aida for Handa Opera on Sydney Australian Work. It was also Maybe, at Theatreworks, Small & Harbour/Opera Australia; Jasper awarded an AWGIE for Best Stage Tired and the highly acclaimed Jones for Belvoir; and The Riders Play and nominated for four 2013 production of Medea at Belvoir, for West Australian Opera. Helpmann Awards. Earlier this as well as costumes for Matt has received and been year Anne-Louise directed Complexity of Belonging Chunky nominated for numerous awards, Seventeen for The Lyric Move, The Government Inspector, including a 2016 Green Room Hammersmith in London, 2017 Pompeii L.A. and Baal for Award for The Pearlfishers will also see her directing The Malthouse Theatre and Les (Opera Australia), 2005 Merchant of Venice for Bell Liaisons Dangereuses, Pygmalion Helpmann Award for his lighting Shakespeare and The Testament and Vs. Macbeth for STC. on Urinetown (MTC), and a 2003 of Mary for Malthouse Theatre. In 2016 Mel was the proud Helpmann Award for The Blue recipient of the George Fairfax Room (MTC). Memorial Award. ♠ ♥ — A Glossary of Bridge Terms —

Bid: An action taken in the auction including pass, double, redouble and no trump or suit bids. Dealer: The person who is marked as dealer on a board, or the person who shuffled and dealt a hand. Defender: A player in the partnership who did not win the contract. STEFAN GREGORY Composer & Sound Designer Declarer: Of the partnership that won the auction Stefan returns to MTC having the person who bid the suit or no trumps first that previously worked on The Cherry was the final contract. Orchard. Other theatre credits include Ibsen Huis, Husbands Discard: Playing a card of a different suit to the one and Wives, Medea (Toneelgroep that is lead because you do not have any left to Amsterdam), Yerma (The Young follow with. Vic), Drei Schwestern, Engel in Amerika (Theater Basel), The Doubleton: A suit in which you are dealt two cards Present (Broadway/STC), The Wild Duck, Thyestes, Mother after the lead. Courage and Her Children, The Glass Menagerie, Elektra/ Dummy: The partner of declarer that places their Orestes, A Christmas Carol, The hand face up on the table. Government Inspector, Hamlet, Forget Me Not, Cat on a Hot Tin Finesse: A card play technique which will enable Roof, Peter Pan, Private Lives, a player to win an additional trick or tricks should Medea, Death of a Salesman, there be a favourable position of one or more cards Old Man, Strange Interlude, B Street, As You Like It, The in the hands of the opponents. Seagull, Measure for Measure and That Face (Belvoir); King Honours: Cards that are aces, kings, queens or Lear, Suddenly Last Summer, jacks (knaves). Face to Face, Dance Better at Parties, Baal, The War of the Major Suit: Spades and Hearts. Roses (Sydney Theatre Company); Rocco und Seine Minor Suit: Clubs and Diamonds. Brüder (Münchner Kammerspiel). His other compositions include Trick: When every player at the table has Puncture (Sydney Philharmonia contributed one card face up in a clockwise Choirs/Legs On The Wall), Symphony (/Legs direction from the leader. on the Wall); L’Chaim! (Sydney Dance Company); There Is Unbalanced hand: A hand that contains a void, Definitely a Prince Involved (The singleton or more than one doubleton. Australian Ballet). Stefan was a band member of Faker until 2008 MTC would like to acknowledge the help of the following bridge and was awarded a Sidney Myer consultants: Laura Ginnan, and Ian and Sandra Mansell. Creative Fellowship in 2014. Bridge terms and historical references come from the Victorian Bridge Association www.vba.asn.au ♦ ♣ Thirty years ago, inspired by the dynamic between teacher and student, between performer and listener, and between past and future, Yamaha combined our experience in traditional acoustic crafting and our affinity for innovative engineering. The result was a musical instrument that is truly the apex of professional piano reproducing systems — the Yamaha Disklavier.

DISKLAVIER ENSPIRE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA DEALERS:

CRANBOURNE MUSIC MUSIC JUNCTION BLACKBURN PRESTIGE PIANOS & ORGANS 5/550 S Gippsland Hwy, Lynbrook VIC 59 Whitehorse Rd, Blackburn VIC 102 Bell St, Preston VIC cranbournemusic.com.au musicjunction.com.au prestigepianos.com.au Melbourne Theatre Company

BOARD OF MANAGEMENT Events Manager TECHNICAL Staging Supervisor Subscriptions Supervisor Terry Moran ac (Chair) Mandy Jones Technical Manager Lighting Grant Kennelly Jessie Phillips Tony Burgess EDUCATION and Sound Sound Supervisor Database Specialist Professor Barry Head of Education and Kerry Saxby Terry McKibbin Ben Gu Conyngham am Families Senior Production Lawler and Events Technical Data Analyst Professor Glyn Davis ac Jeremy Rice Technician Supervisor Megan Thomson Patricia Faulkner ao Community Outreach Allan Hirons Tom Brayshaw VIP Ticketing Officer Jonathan Feder Manager Production Technicians Head Flyman Michael Bingham Gillian Franklin Karin Farrell Adam Bowring James Tucker Education Ticketing Officer Jane Hansen Education Coordinator Scott McAlister Bar Manager Mellita Illich Janette Kendall Nick Tranter Technical Manager – Staging Keziah Warner Box Office Supervisor Ian Marshman Andrew Bellchambers Stage and Technical Staff Adam Walsh Martyn Myer ao HUMAN RESOURCES Staging Supervisor – HQ Pete Andrews Box Office Attendants Brett Sheehy ao HR Manager Jamie Cunningham Matthew Arthur Brent Davidson Virginia Lovett Christelle Harris Production Design Tom Brayshaw Katie Dircks HR Administrator Coordinator Nathan Evers Peter Dowd FOUNDATION BOARD Christine Verginis Jane Hansen (Chair) Andrew Bailey Adam Hanley Fran Hefferman EHS Coordinator CAD Drafting Chris Hubbard Chelsea Lang Terry Bracks am Liz Mundell Liz Chappell Jacob Battista Jake Hutchins Jean Lizza Fiona Griffiths FINANCE PROPERTIES David Jenkins Bridget Mackey Jeanette Kendall Finance Director Properties Supervisor Robert Larsen Debra McDougall Virginia Lovett Liz Chappell Geoff McGregor Paul Lim Daniel Scaffidi Sam Margis Company Accountant Props Maker James Lipari Tain Stangret Louise Myer Ness Harwood Colin Penn Eugene Mackinnon PLAYWRIGHTS UNDER IT and Systems Manager Leigh O’Neill Marcus Macris COMMISSION Michael Schuettke SCENIC ART Hilary Scott Bianca Mastroianni Declan Greene IT Support Officer Scenic Art Supervisor Richard Tegoni David Membery Roslyn Oades Christopher Rhodes Shane Dunn Sophie Norfolk Hannie Rayson EXECUTIVE MANAGEMENT Finance Officer Scenic Artists Will Patterson (with Manhattan Artistic Director & CEO Sarah Thompson Tansy Elso Nicholas Reich Theatre Club) Brett Sheehy ao Payroll Officer Colin Harman Nick Walker John Romeril Executive Director Julia Godinho WORKSHOP Alasdair Watson (with Playwriting Australia) Virginia Lovett Accounts Payable Officer Workshop Supervisor Joy Weng Aidan Fennessy Executive Assistant to the Isobel Taylor-Rodgers Aldo Amenta Ashlee Wohling Judith Lucy Artistic Director & CEO Deputy Workshop MARKETING & Nick Wollan Damien Millar Nick Doherty Supervisor COMMUNICATIONS House Supervisors Ross Mueller Executive Administrator Andrew Weavers Marketing and Kasey Gambling Magda Szubanski Annie Bourke Set Makers Communications Director Brienna Macnish NEON NEXT Commissions ARTISTIC Kerry Noonan Ken Best Paul Terrell Associate Directors Nick Gray Nicola Gunn Marketing Manager Drew Thomson Daniel Schlusser Dean Bryant James Wright Bryce Hartnett Bar Supervisors Sarah Goodes Philip de Mulder Malcolm Robertson Digital Manager Paul Blenheim Foundation Commissions Producer Daniel Coghlan Alastair Read Natalie Holmwood Martina Murray Van Badham Marketing Campaign WARDROBE Tain Stangret Angela Betzien Literary Director Manager Wardrobe Managers Drew Thomson MTC CONNECT Chris Mead Emily Fiori Judy Bunn House and Bar Attendants Casting Director Marketing Coordinator Keryn Ribbands William Atkinson AMBASSADORS Janine Snape Rebecca Lawrence Wardrobe Staff Stephanie Barham Samah Sabawi Casting Executive Lead Graphic Designer John Molloy Tanya Batt Suhasini Seelin Matt Bebbington Emma Wagstaff Tiffany Abbott Sarah Branton Shannon Lim Company Manager Designers Emily Brewer Zak Brown Vidya Rajan Stephen Moore Helena Turinski Jocelyn Creed Alexina Coad Wahibe Moussa CATERING Celeste Njoo Lyn Molloy Michael Cutrupi WOMEN IN THEATRE Catering Manager PR and Communications Justine Coultham Marisa Cuzzolaro PROGRAM Andrea Purvis Manager Alice Mere Des Fleming Gorkem Acaroglu Assistant Manager Rosie Shepherdson-Cullen Nicole Theodore (VCA Damien Harrison Mary Rachel Brown Anita Lyovic Publicist Secondment) Rosie Howell Fiona Bruce Café staff Georgia Fox Buyer Leighton Irwin Samantha Butterworth Bev Reinmuth Communications Content Lucy Moran Laura Lethlean Tania Canas DEVELOPMENT Producer Sophie Woodward Ross MacPherson Angelica Clunes Thirty years ago, inspired by the dynamic between teacher and student, between performer and Director of Development Sarah Corridon Costume Hire Will McRostie Suzanne Cranny Jayne Lovelock PR and Marketing Liz Symons Faran Martin Kellie-Anne Kimber listener, and between past and future, Yamaha combined our experience in traditional acoustic Major Gifts Manager Administration Assistant Millinery Natasha Milton Clare McKenzie Patrick Rundle Stephanie Liew Phillip Rhodes Daniel Moulds Dans Marie Sheehan Annual Giving Manager Receptionist Wigs and Makeup Ernesto Munoz Erin Taylor crafting and our affinity for innovative engineering. The result was a musical instrument that is truly Chris Walters David Zierk Jurga Celikiene Amy Poonian Emily Tomlins Philanthropy Coordinator PRODUCTION & TECHNICAL Wardrobe Maintenance Clare Reddan Victoria Woolley the apex of professional piano reproducing systems — the Yamaha Disklavier. Sytske Hillenius Technical & Production Stella Cadzow Richard Saxby OVERSEAS Head of Corporate Director SOUTHBANK THEATRE Myles Tankle REPRESENTATIVES Partnerships Adam J Howe Theatre Operations Director Isobel Taylor-Rodgers London Isabella Vadiveloo Dean Hampel PRODUCTION Mark D Wheeler Diana Franklin Partnerships & Commercial Building Supervisor Harriet Wallace-Mead New York DISKLAVIER ENSPIRE NOW AVAILABLE AT THE FOLLOWING Senior Production Manager Jamaica Zuanetti Executive Michele Preshaw Adrian Aderhold Stuart Thompson YAMAHA MUSIC AUSTRALIA DEALERS: Matthew Phoenix Production Manager House Services Manager TICKETING Partnerships & Mikkel Mynster Kam Greville CRM and Ticketing Director Memberships Executive Production Coordinator Production Services Dale Bradbury Syrie Payne Michaela Deacon Manager Ticketing Manager Brenna Sotiropoulos CRANBOURNE MUSIC MUSIC JUNCTION BLACKBURN PRESTIGE PIANOS & ORGANS Memberships & Props Buyer/ASM Swing Frank Stoffels Partnerships Assistant Jess Maguire Lighting Supervisor Ticketing Services 5/550 S Gippsland Hwy, Lynbrook VIC 59 Whitehorse Rd, Blackburn VIC 102 Bell St, Preston VIC Vivienne Poznanski Production Administrator James Conway Administrator cranbournemusic.com.au musicjunction.com.au prestigepianos.com.au Alyson Brown Lisa Mibus MTC Circles of Giving

MTC gratefully acknowledges our visionary donors

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

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

ANNUAL GIVING Donors whose annual gifts help MTC enrich and transform lives through the finest theatre imaginable. Benefactors Circle David and Lily Harris ● Murray Gordon and Lisa Norton $250,000+ Jane Hemstritch Lesley Griffin Crown Resorts Foundation Linda Herd Tony Hillery and Warwick Eddington Packer Family Foundation George Klempfner and Bruce and Mary Humphries Yolanda Klempfner ao ● Rosemary Leffler $100,000+ Marshall Day Acoustics Alex and Halina Lewenberg Maureen Wheeler ao and Tony Wheeler ao (Dennis Irving Scholarship) Virginia Lovett and Rose Hiscock ● $50,000+ Ian and Margaret McKellar Carol Mackay and Greg Branson The Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust George and Rosa Morstyn Dr Sam and Belinda Margis and The Cybec Foundation Daniel Neal and Peter Chalk NEST Family Clinics ◆ Tom and Ruth O’Dea ■ Ian and Judi Marshman $20,000+ Leigh O’Neill ◆ Dr Sue McNicol qc The Late Betty Amsden ao dsj Dr Pajouhesh (Smile Solutions) Sandy and Sandra Murdoch Tony and Janine Burgess Alison Park Jane and Andrew Murray Dr Geraldine Lazarus and Greig Gailey Prof David Penington ac and Tony Osmond and Fiona Griffiths◆ Dr Andrew McAliece and Dr Sonay Hussein Peter Philpott and Robert Ratcliffe Dr Richard Simmie Jeanne Pratt ac Max Schultz Louise and Martyn Myer ao Janet Reid oam and Allan Reid Tim and Lynne Sherwood Caroline and Derek Young am ▲ Christopher Richardson Trikojus Education Fund – Australian The Vizard Foundation Anne and Mark Robertson oam ● ◆ Communities Foundation ● Anonymous Trawalla Foundation Trust Cheryl and Paul Veith $10,000+ Anonymous (3) Ralph Ward-Ambler am and Erica Bagshaw Barbara Ward-Ambler Mary Barlow Advocates Circle Anthony Watson and Tracey McDonald ● The Janet and Michael Buxton Foundation $2,500–$4,999 Price and Christine Williams The Cattermole Family Marc Besen ac and Eva Besen ao Margaret and Ray Wilson oam Christine Gilbertson ◆ Jay Bethell and Peter Smart Gillian and Tony Wood Petra and Larry Kamener Grant Fisher and Helen Bird Laurel Young-Das and Heather Finnegan Macgeorge Bequest Bill Bowness ao Anonymous (6) Malcolm Robertson Foundation Sandra and Bill Burdett am The late Noel Mason and Susanna Mason ▲ Lynne and Rob Burgess Loyalty Circle Craig Semple ▲ Pat Burke and Jan Nolan $1,000–$2,499 Luisa Valmorbida ▲ Diana Burleigh Louise Adler and Max Gillies am Anonymous (2) Jenny and Stephen Charles ao Dr Katie Allen and Malcolm Allen $5,000+ Debbie Dadon am In memory of Nicola Andrews John and Lorraine Bates Ann Darby Jennifer Andrews Sandy Bell and Daryl Kendrick Dr Anthony Dortimer and Jillian Dortimer Valma E. Angliss am Dr Andrew Buchanan and Peter Darcy Shaun and Michelle Factor ● James and Helen Angus Ian and Jillian Buchanan Melody and Jonathan Feder ■ ● Margaret Astbury John and Robyn Butselaar Dr Helen Ferguson John and Dagnija Balmford Barry and Joanne Cheetham Rosemary Forbes and Ian Hocking David and Rhonda Black ■ ● Tom and Elana Cordiner ● Bruce Freeman Marc and Orli Blecher and Family Joel Dodge and Family ● Gjergja Family Steve and Terry Bracks am The Dowd Foundation Heather and Bob Glindemann oam Beth Brown and Tom Bruce am Robert and Jan Green Henry Gold Pam Caldwell Alison and John Cameron Tony and Ann Hyams Robert Renzella John and Jan Campbell Peter and Halina Jacobsen Sara Renzella Clare and Richard Carlson Peter Jaffe Dr S M Richards am and M R Richards Fiona Caro Ed and Margaret Johnson Rogers Family ■ Kathleen and Harry Cator Katherine Kavakos ◆ Sue Rose Chef’s Hat Irene Kearsey Rae Rothfield Chernov Family Malcolm Kemp Linda Robinstein and Paul Slape Sue Clarke and Lindsay Allen Janette Kendall ◆ Patrick Rundle and Damien Mulvihill ■ Assoc Prof Lyn Clearihan and Liana Kestelman ◆ F & J Ryan Foundation Dr Anthony Palmer Fiona Kirwan-Hamilton and Edwina Sahhar Dr Robin Collier and Neil Collier Simon E Marks sc Katherine Sampson and Michael Jaboor Sandy and Yvonne Constantine Doris and Steve Klein Susan Santoro Jane Simon and Peter Cox Larry Kornhauser and Natalya Gill ■ Hilary and Stuart Scott ● Dr Cyril Curtain Ruth and Michael Kurc ■ Graeme Seabrook Mark and Jo Davey Elizabeth Laverty Claire Sheed Jocelyn Davies Joan and George Lefroy Prof Barry Sheehan and Pamela Waller Jessica Denehey Anne Le Huray Steven Nicholls and Brett Sheehy ao Mark and Amanda Derham Alison Leslie Diane Silk Katharine Derham-Moore Peter and Judy Loney Dr John M Sime Jan Dircks Neil and Vida Lowry Reg and Elaine Smith oam – Robert Drake Dr Peter and Amanda Lugg Earimil Gardens Charity Bev and Geoff Edwards Elizabeth Lyons Tim and Angela Smith George and Eva Ermer Ken and Jan Mackinnon Annette and Graham Smorgon ◆ Dr Alastair Fearn Alister and Margaret Maitland Diana and Brian Snape am Jan and Rob Flew Joyce and Bernard Marks Jennifer Steinicke Heather Forbes ■ Garry McLean Ricci Swart Elizabeth Foster Elizabeth McMeekin Rodney and Aviva Taft The Gordon Frost Organisation ■ Brenda and Don McRae Sylvia Taylor John Fullerton Robert and Helena Mestrovic Richard and Debra Tegoni ◆ Kate Galvin ◆ John G Millard Frank Tisher OAM and Dr Miriam Tisher Nigel and Cathy Garrard Dr Jenny Miller and Alistair Hay Kevin and Elizabeth Walsh ■ Diana and Murray Gerstman Ross and Judy Milne-Pott Pinky Watson Gill Family Foundation Ging Muir and John McCawley ■ Marion Webster ◆ Brian Goddard Barbara and David Mushin Ursula Whiteside Leon Goldman Julie Nelson Ann and Alan Wilkinson Roger and Jan Goldsmith Nick Nichola and Ingrid Moyle ● John and Myriam Wylie Foundation ◆ Charles and Cornelia Goode Foundation ◆ Dr Paul and Sue Nisselle Mandy and Edward Yencken Isabella Green oam and Richard Green James Ostroburski Graeme and Nancy Yeomans John and Jo Grigg Dr Harry and Rita Perelberg Greg Young Jane Grover ◆ Dr Annamarie Perlesz Roz Zalewski and Jeremy Ruskin Ian and Wendy Haines Dug and Lisa Pomeroy Ange and Pete Zangmeister Glen Harrington and Robyn Eastham Sally Redlich Anita Zeimer ◆ Sandi and Gil Hoskins Victoria Redwood Anonymous (19) Emeritus Prof Andrea Hull ao Anthony Renzella Sarah Hunter ◆ Jessica Renzella

LEGACY CIRCLE Acknowledging supporters who have made the visionary gesture of including a gift to MTC in their will. Mark and Tamara Boldiston Irene Kearsey Dr Andrew McAliece and Bernadette Broberg Fiona Griffiths Dr Richard Simmie Adam and Donna Cusack-Muller Max Schultz Anonymous (4) Peter and Betty Game

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 Prudence Ann Tutton The Christine Brown Bequest The Estate of Bettie Kornhauser The Estate of Freda E White The Estate of Ron Chapman The Kitty and Leslie Sandy Bequest The Estate of Dorothy Wood The Estate of Gordan J Compton The Estate of James Hollis Minson

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

Current as of April 2017 To find out more about supporting MTC please call 03 8688 0959 or visit mtc.com.au/support 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] OUR STORIES BEGIN WITH YOU…

‘I want to write about my city and the things that I know.’ – Playwright, Vivid White

‘I had this vision of being an actor. When I got into MTC that gave me hope.’

‘MTC’s a huge part of my life and I’m supremely grateful for it.’ Bert LaBonté – Actor

Help MTC continue to create remarkable theatre for everyone. Donate online mtc.com.au/yourmtc