MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY CELEBRATES 60 YEARS

The Melbourne Theatre Company celebrates sixty years of theatre-making on 31 August 2013.

This marks the opening date the company’s first ever production – Colombe by Jean Anouilh in 1953 under MTC’s founder, John Sumner, who passed away in May this year.

‘The Company’s commitment to the highest standard of theatremaking is as strong today as it was under John Sumner’s leadership when he established MTC as the first professional theatre company in Australia. His vision created the model for all state theatre companies that followed,’ MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehysaid.

Many people have worked behind the scenes to help create the magic on MTC stages.

Longest-serving MTC employee, John Molloy, celebrates 40 years with the Company in 2013. With an estimated 10,000 or more costumes produced over the course of MTC’s lifetime, it’s safe to say that John had a hand in creating many of them. Other MTC staff with many years of service include Aldo Amenta, Workshop Supervisor, 31 years; Geoff McGregor, Props Supervisor, 30 years; Lucy Moran, Wardrobe Buyer, 25 years; Kerry Saxby, Technical Manager-Light & Sound, 24 years; Alastair Read, Set Builder, 23 years; Colin Penn, Props Maker, 22 years and Shane Dunn, Scenic Art Supervisor, 21 years in 2013.

‘Together with Executive Director, Virginia Lovett, and the MTC team, we’re looking to position the Company for its next decade of growth, expanding on past successes. With our soon-to-be announced 2014 Season, we’re aiming to make theatre as accessible as possible through a suite of theatre productions, events and activities that will provoke, entertain and challenge you,’ Brett Sheehy said.

‘We’re also thrilled to be touring Rupert to Washington D.C next year as part of the John F. Kennedy Center’s WORLD STAGES: International Theater Festival and welcome Eddie Perfect’s new play The Beast in October, commissioned by MTC and presented in association with Melbourne Festival and Melbourne International Comedy Festival,’ he said.

First established as the Union Theatre Repertory Company at the University of Melbourne in 1953 the Company changed its name to Melbourne Theatre Company in 1968 to better recognise its connection to the city. In sixty years, MTC has performed more than 800 mainstage productions with approximately 282 written by Australian writers. The Company also presents numerous readings, workshops, education shows and Studio Seasons alongside its mainstage work.

Ray Lawler’s ground-breaking play Summer of the Seventeenth Doll, which first established the Aussie vernacular on stage in 1955, signalled the start of MTC’s championing of Australian writing. Throughout its sixty year history, MTC has cultivated and staged works from generations of Australian playwrights including Alan Hopgood, Patrick White, Alex Buzo, John Romeril, David Williamson, Hannie Rayson, Joanna Murray-Smith to name only a few.

‘We’re committed to telling Australian stories and supporting talented writers. From next year we’re delighted to welcome Lally Katz as the Australian Writers’ Foundation Playwright in Residence based here at MTC. Through the support of the Cybec Foundation for our annual playreadings and the Joan and Peter Clemenger Trust for our commissions, new Australian plays will be seen on our stages for decades to come,’ Brett Sheehy said.

The Company has served as the launching pad for the international careers of artists such as Barry Humphries, Reg Livermore, and Zoe Caldwell. More recently we have regularly worked with renowned performers such as Geoffrey Rush, Rachel Griffiths, David Wenham, Guy Pearce, Robyn Nevin, and Pamela Rabe.

Over the years, MTC has staged works in a variety of theatres starting with the Union Theatre and including Russell Street Theatre, St Martins in South Yarra, the Athenaeum, Princess Theatre, the Merlyn and the Beckett in the Malthouse and the Playhouse and Fairfax Studio in Arts Centre Melbourne. In 2009 MTC gained its own home at Southbank Theatre – with The Sumner (500 seats) and The Lawler (130 seats) – named in honour of its founders. 

Image: Southbank Theatre.

www.mtc.com.au