PART A PROMPT PACK VCE Theatre Studies MALTHOUSETITLE GOES HERE THEATRE ACKNOWLEDGES THE LAND AND SONGLINES OF THE BOON WURRUNG AND WURUNDJERI PEOPLES OF THE KULIN NATION. Malthouse Theatre presents Because The Night. © Copyright: Malthouse Theatre, the artists, designers, photographers, collaborators and contributors. All rights reserved, 2021. PROMPT PACK CREATED FOR MALTHOUSE PROMPT—MALTHOUSE THEATRE’S YOUTH AND EDUCATION PROGRAM. Cover Image / Giulia Giannini McGauran Photographer / Phoebe Powell Design / Hours After Theatre Studies Prompt Pack written by / Robyn Kay Consultant / Kamarra Bell-Wykes Contextual Information written by / Mark Pritchard Editor / Jacqui Bathman Page 2—2 04——INTRODUCTION 06——CURRICULUM FOCUS 07——KEY STUDY INFORMATION 08——BECAUSE THE NIGHT SCRIPT 09——CAST & CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES 20——CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION 24——FACT SHEET 25——WHAT IS IMMERSIVE THEATRE? 26——VIDEO INTERVIEWS 28——INTERVIEW WITH THE DIRECTORS 32——THEATRE STUDIES UNIT 3 37——ATTENDING THE PLAY 38——THEATRE STUDIES UNIT 4 42——RESOURCES ICON KEY LINKS ACTIVITY VIDEO MORE INFO #becausethenight INTRODUCTION Malthouse Theatre’s Theatre Studies Prompt Pack (Part A) is a preshow resource that will provide you with initial information about the VCAA Playlisted production Because The Night. This Pack includes video interviews with Matthew Lutton (Concept, Direction & Text), Marg Horwell (Set Design, Interiors), Matilda Woodroofe (Associate Set Design, Interiors), Kat Chan (Costume Design). There are also some suggestions as to how you might prepare prior to seeing the play staged. Post show Theatre Studies Prompt Packs (Part B & C) will be available to help you make an analysis of the production in performance. The two-pronged approach is intended to break down the task for Unit 3, Outcome 3 and Unit 4, Outcome 3 into a study of the production before and then after seeing Malthouse Theatre’s Because The Night. This groundbreaking production promises to be an extraordinary theatrical experience for you and your students. See you in Elsinore! ROBYN KAY / Prompt Pack Author Page 4—5 #becausethenight CURRICULUM FOCUS The notes in this Prompt Pack are intended to support VCE Theatre Studies teachers and students in their preparation for and exploration of Malthouse Theatre’s production of Because The Night. This play has been VCAA Playlisted for the study of: THEATRE STUDIES Unit 3, Area of study 3, Outcome 3 AND Unit 4, Area of Study 4, Outcome 3 The content of this Pack offers information, suggestions, and activities that students could engage with prior to seeing the production. Page 6—7 KEY STUDY INFORMATION Before using this resource, there are some very important pieces of information regarding the study of Because The Night. It is imperative to note that the VCAA has determined that Because The Night may be used for assessment and examination purposes for either Unit 3, Outcome 3 or Unit 4, Outcome 3 (see excerpts below from the official VCAA, 20 Theatre Studies Playlist document). IMPORTANT NOTE CONCERNING ASSESSMENT FOR 2021: For VCE Theatre Studies, students engage with a professional performance in conjunction with Unit 3 Outcome 3, and Unit 4 Outcome 3. In 2021, there will be one list of VCE Theatre Studies plays taking place between February and September. Students will be required to study two separate plays from that list, one to address the key knowledge and key skills (which also entails studying the script) for Unit 3, and one for the separate key knowledge and key skills for Unit 4, regardless of when the play performance takes place during the year. School-assessed coursework for those outcomes can take place at a convenient time for the school, with the due date for all graded assessment scores for VCE Theatre Studies to be entered into VASS by the Unit 4 submission date. THE VCAA OFFICIAL THEATRE STUDIES PLAYLIST DOCUMENT NOTES THAT: …VCE Theatre Studies Unit 4, students are not required to study the script of selected performances. However, the script can be a valuable learning resource in these units. Theatre companies are not obliged to provide copies of these scripts. This means that while a study of the script is not required for Unit 4, teachers and students are encouraged to use the script as a resource to enhance their understanding and knowledge of the production. THE VCAA OFFICIAL THEATRE STUDIES PLAYLIST DOCUMENT NOTES THAT: For VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3, students must study the script and the performance identified in this playlist. The only version of the script that students are required to study for VCE Theatre Studies Unit 3 is the one used as the basis for the performance that students will attend. In some cases, this script will be a ‘working’ or ‘rehearsal’ script. VCE Drama and VCE Theatre Studies 2021 Playlist #becausethenight ACCESS TO BECAUSE THE NIGHT SCRIPT Malthouse Theatre has provided access to the script of Because The Night. The rehearsal script can be downloaded from Malthouse Theatre’s website via the link below. This preshow Prompt Pack (Part A) will provide study activities for both Unit 3, Outcome 3 and Unit 4, Outcome 3. The information about context, Immersive Theatre, and the script can be used as a resource for students studying either Unit 3, Outcome 3 or Unit 4, Outcome 3. The nature of live theatre means that each performance will differ slightly. This is particularly true of this piece of theatre which is radically different to the more traditional style of presenting to an audience. So, it is essential that the students’ responses are based on the performance that they attend. Please note that this resource does not aim to provide definitive answers. Teachers and students are encouraged to use the Prompt materials in conjunction with other resources and broader classroom-based research and discussion. To assist you with this, links to the new VCAA Theatre Studies Design and additional materials are included at the end of this Pack under ‘Further Resources’. Because The Night Script Page 8—9 CAST & CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES NICOLE NABOUT MARIA THEODORAKIS BELINDA MCCLORY Claudia Claudia Gertrude Having just finished filming Maria is an award-winning Belinda is a VCA graduate and Season 3 of Jack Irish, Nicole actor, writer, and director. an award-winning actor and writer is excited to be back at The Theatre credits include The Spook who has worked professionally Malthouse. Theatre credits (Malthouse Theatre), Top Girls, across all mediums. Recent credits include Good Muslim Boy Birthrights, Measure for Measure for Malthouse Theatre include (Malthouse Theatre/Queensland (Melbourne Theatre Company), Revolt. She Said. Revolt Again., Theatre), Oil, Wakey Wakey (Red and Who’s Afraid of the Working Class Edward ll, Dance of Death, Pompeii, Stitch Actors’ Theatre), Secret (Melbourne Workers Theatre). L.A., and The Trial. Other recent Bridesmaids’ Business (Playbox Screen credits include Seven Types theatre credits include Così, Di Theatre), Much Ado About Nothing, of Ambiguity and Newton’s Law and Viv and Rose, The Waiting Room, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (ABC). Maria won an AACTA Queen Lear (Melbourne Theatre (The Australian Shakespeare (AFI) and FCC Best Actress in a Company), Gross und Klein, The Company). Nicole has worked Feature Film Award for Walking on City, Holy Day, Concussion (Sydney extensively in TV including Jack Water. She is also a multiple Theatre Company), Feather in the Irish, Mustangs FC, Newton’s Law, Green Room Award nominee. Web, Splendour, Hir (Red Stitch Nowhere Boys, The Librarians, Upper As a writer and director, she co- Actors’ Theatre), and My Sister Middle Bogan, The Time of Our Lives created the hit online series, Little Feather (VIMH/La Mama Theatre). (ABC), Offspring (Channel 10), Acorns, which has won and been Recent TV work includes The and in film includingThree Dollars nominated for film festival awards Doctor Blake Mysteries. In film she (Arena Films), and Angel of Mine in Australia and internationally has appeared in The Matrix, Redball, (Garlin Pictures). including Best Web Series, Best Mullet, darklovestory, and Acolytes. Writing, Best Directing, Best She co-wrote and performed in Comedy, and Best Ensemble. the features X and Turkey Shoot. She also was nominated for Belinda has received a Green Best Director at the Australian Room Award and a Helpmann Directors’ Guild. Award for her theatre work. #becausethenight CAST & CREATIVE BIOGRAPHIES JENNIFER VULETIC KHISRAW JONES-SHUKOOR KEEGAN JOYCE Gertrude Hamlet Hamlet Jennifer has worked Since graduating at 16th Street Keegan’s credits for Malthouse with Australia’s most innovative in 2015 Khisraw has performed Theatre include Solaris and directors in all aspects of in several productions across Cloudstreet. Other theatre credits the industry. Theatre credits Melbourne including Oil (Red include Rules for Living (Sydney include My Dearworthy Darling Stitch Actors’ Theatre), Them (La Theatre Company), Vivid White (Malthouse Theatre/THE Mama Theatre), Romeo and Juliet (Melbourne Theatre Company), RABBLE), The Women of Troy, The (The Australian Shakespeare Evie May (Hayes Theatre Histrionic (Malthouse Theatre/ Company), The Way Out (Red Company), Once (Gordon Frost Sydney Theatre Company), Stitch Actors’ Theatre), and Organisation), Edges: The Musical Arbus & West (Melbourne Theatre Macbeth (Melbourne Theatre (James Anthony Productions), Company), Merciless Gods (Little Company). and Oliver! (Cameron Mackintosh/ Ones Theatre/Griffin Theatre IMG). Film credits include Greg’s Company), Suddenly Last Summer