ANNUAL REPORT 2018 MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 -3- CONTENTS 4 2018 in Numbers EDUCATION 6 Chair’s Report 52 Hungry Ghosts 8 Foundation Chair’s Report 54 Education Activities 12 Artistic Director’s Report 56 Sharing the Light 14 Executive Director’s Report NEXT STAGE WRITERS’ PROGRAM MTC HQ MAINSTAGE 60 NEXT STAGE Report 252 Sturt St 20 The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Southbank VIC 3006 Night-Time MTC INITIATIVES & ACTIVITIES 03 8688 0900 22 The Children 64 Cybec Electric Southbank Theatre 24 Abigail’s Party 66 MTC Initiatives 26 Wild 140 Southbank Blvd AWARDS & NOMINATIONS Southbank VIC 3006 28 The House of Bernarda Alba 03 8688 0800 30 Gloria 72 Awards & Nominations Received in 2018 32 An Ideal Husband THE COMPANY mtc.com.au 34 A Doll’s House, Part 2 36 The Architect 76 MTC Board Venues 38 Astroman 78 MTC Foundation Board Throughout 2018, MTC performed its Melbourne season of plays at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner and 40 Twelfth Night 80 MTC Staff The Lawler, and the Fairfax Studio and Playhouse at Arts Centre Melbourne. 83 Corporate Partners 2018 MAINSTAGE ECONOMIC IMPACT Managing Editor Virginia Lovett 84 MTC Circles of Giving 44 Economic Impact Report Editor Rosie Shepherdson-Cullen FINANCIAL REPORT Graphic Designer Helena Turinski STUDIO SEASON Cover photo Jeff Busby 88 2018 Financial Report 48 Working with Children Production photography by Brett Boardman (Gloria), Brinkhoff/Mögenburg (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time), Sarah Walker (Working with Children), and Jeff Busby (all remaining productions). Other photography by TJ Garvie, Tim Grey and Sarah Walker. Melbourne Theatre Company acknowledges the Yalukit Willam Peoples of the Boon Wurrung, the First Peoples of Country on which Southbank Theatre and MTC HQ stand, and we pay our respects to all of Melbourne’s First Peoples, 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. -4- MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 -5- 2018 IN NUMBERS $30.9 564 250,114 million total performances total paid attendance 40% 574 total actors, creatives and industry growth professionals employed $113.3 million revenue in new subscribers multiplied economic impact generated by MTC’s 2018 season $18.6 million total box 24% 20 office income growth in mainstage writers single tickets commissioned 6,439 or in residence School tickets to MTC productions as part of MTC’s NEXT 22,300 and programs STAGE Writers' program Subscribers -6- MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 -7- Nights. It is wonderful to be partnering Melbourne Arts Precinct where the University CHAIR’S REPORT with these two leading organisations and of Melbourne has invested heavily in new we look forward to continuing our fruitful performing arts facilities. TERRY MORAN AC relationships over the coming years. With the major developments at the When considering the importance of private University’s Southbank Campus nearing sector support, I must also acknowledge completion, we look forward to our loyal and passionate donors and the strengthening our partnership with the work of the MTC Foundation. Led by Chair Faculty of Fine Arts & Music (formerly Melbourne Theatre new Australian plays like The Architect and Jane Hansen, the MTC Foundation had the Victorian College of the Arts and Company is a jewel in international smash-hits such as Wild. another strong year as it continued to raise Melbourne Conservatorium and Music) the crown of Victoria’s Keeping an organisation of MTC’s size and funds and steward donations for the and furthering engagement with colleagues thriving cultural scene Company and our targeted philanthropic at the Parkville Campus. and a significant scale in good health while fulfilling our duty to present ambitious and artistically risky programs such as our NEXT STAGE Writers’ contributor to our Program, our important Education initiatives Finally, the Board and I must acknowledge enviable creative state. programs is a complex endeavour, but I am and congratulate Artistic Director & CEO pleased to report that, in addition to our and artist development programs. Thank you to our generous donors, and to Jane Brett Sheehy and Executive Director & In 2018 Melbourne artistic achievements in 2018, Victoria’s Co-CEO Virginia Lovett along with the MTC Theatre Company State theatre company had another fiscally and the Foundation Board for their leadership and expertise. team on a fantastic year, and thank them reached a new record of over 22,300 solid year. for their hard work in 2018. It is the work of subscribers, signifying an impressive Likewise, I thank my fellow MTC Board these individuals, and the artists involved milestone for MTC and making us the most There is clearly much to celebrate from the past 12 months, and these successes are Members for their efforts across the year. in our productions, who continue to inspire subscribed theatre company in the country Their collective nous, generosity and Melbourne and Victoria with the best for the second year running. even more rewarding when considering the volatile environment in which we operate. experience is a great asset to the Company theatre imaginable and make the Company This vote of confidence from subscribers was However, never a company to rest on our and I feel fortunate to work alongside them. what it is. echoed by an increase in single ticket buyers, laurels, we continue to look for ways to In 2018 we farewelled Professor Glyn Davis, particularly amongst younger theatre-goers, counter the uncertainty of box office and University of Melbourne Vice Chancellor and and was evident throughout the year – stagnant government funding in order to long-term Board member after a 13 year beginning with The Curious Incident of the maintain a sense of stability and the fine tenure. Glyn was always a great champion of Dog in the Night-Time in January through to balance of art vs income. the arts and instrumental in strengthening Twelfth Night in December. our relationship with the University of In this regard, our highly valued relationships Melbourne in recent years. I thank him for his These triumphant productions along with with the private sector remain as important commitment and dedication throughout his An Ideal Husband and A Doll’s House, as ever, and I’d like to take this opportunity term. At the same time, we welcomed Part 2 enjoyed extended seasons to meet to acknowledge our many Corporate Professor Duncan Maskell to the Board. audience demand; and our wonderful Partners who play an essential role in the As the incoming University of Melbourne production of The Children won three Company’s success. In 2018 we welcomed Vice Chancellor, Professor Maskell has a Helpmann Awards including the coveted two new Major Partners with Abercrombie & strong appreciation for the importance of awards of Best Play and Best Director for Kent coming on board as exclusive Opening Arts & Culture in this city as well as the MTC Associate Artistic Director Sarah Night Partner and ANZ announced as the important role Melbourne Theatre Company Goodes. We also premiered astonishing exclusive Partner for our popular Forum plays – both for the sector and within the -8- MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 MTC ANNUAL REPORT 2018 -9- FOUNDATION CHAIR’S REPORT JANE HANSEN The choice to donate, produces the best possible theatre for journey for thousands on their life-long love Our Sharing the Light program supported no matter how big or our audiences now and in the future. for the arts. by the Crown Resorts Foundation and small the amount, Packer Family Foundation allowed over begins with a passion In 2018, the Foundation oversaw the These programs afford young people across 2,600 students and families from outer- and a desire to growth of the General Endowment Fund Victoria the chance to experience live metro and low socio-economic areas to see contribute to a greater by 4% to $3.2 million, with $102,232 in performance and participate in unique MTC productions for just $5 per ticket; good. At Melbourne investment earnings retained in the corpus. workshops, particularly in regional areas provided nearly $30,000 in travel subsidies Theatre Company, we Across the year, 2,797 donors contributed where arts education and exposure to high to help disadvantaged schools attend the are extremely fortunate to MTC for the first time, and our annual quality productions and resources are theatre; and gave nine young Aboriginal to have a community of donors who share end-of-financial year appeal income saw increasingly limited. Creative learning has and Torres Strait Islander People the in the value of theatre and in MTC itself; an increase of 9%. been proven to deepen critical thinking chance to take part in our year-long First skills and develop curiosity, both of which and who in turn provide essential support We also welcomed the confirmation of Peoples Young Artists Program. to the Company. will become ever more relevant for future seven new bequestors who have confirmed career pathways. MTC is committed to In September, 24 young people facing This annual report is not only a record of an inclusion of a gift to MTC in their Wills. continuing to play an integral role in economic, geographic or personal barriers the Company’s activity in 2018 but an These legacy gifts will play an important cultural education for years to come discovered a new found confidence through acknowledgement of what has been role in the future of MTC and are warmly through our award-winning programs and the course of our intensive week-long drama achieved thanks to the commitment and appreciated.