My Dearworthy Darling // Program (2019)

2 – 18 AUG

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2 – 18 AUG BE C K E T T T H E AT R E

A GAS LIGHT FLICKERS THROUGH A FOG OF AGES. BY / Alison Croggon D I R E C T E D & D E S I G N E D BY / THE RABBLE DIRECTOR, COMPOSER, LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN / Emma Valente DIRECTOR, SET & COSTUME DESIGN / Kate Davis CAST INCLUDES / Natalie Gamsu Ben Grant Jennifer Vuletic S TA G E M A N A G E R / Jess Keepence R E H E A R S A L S TA G E M A N A G E R / Cecily Rabey

MONASH PERFORMANCE PLACEMENTS / Emma Batty Caitlin Duff Simran Giria Tessa Hulsbosch Catherine Malam Gretel Sharp Emlyn Sugden MONASH DESIGN PLACEMENT / Adele Cattenazzi M O N A S H S TA G E MANAGEMENT PLACEMENT / Savanna Wegman THE RABBLE INTERNS / Sofie Burgoyne Emma Lockhart-Wilson

Malthouse Theatre and THE RABBLE would like to thank Monash University, the Centre for Theatre and Performance, the Monash Academy of Performing Arts and the student participants for their generous support of My Dearworthy Darling.

Malthouse Theatre and THE RABBLE present My Dearworthy Darling. Developed while in residence at La Chartreuse Centre national des écritures du spectacle; with the assistance of the Copyright Agency’s Cultural Fund; and generously supported through the Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance, Artist in Residence Program. Key image photography by Zan Wimberley and rehearsal photography by David Paterson. #MDDMALTHOUSE

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My Dearworthy Darling began around three years ago, when Emma, Kate and I met to discuss the possibility of me writing a script designed specifically for the kind of theatre THE RABBLE makes. I was heading to France for a writing residency at La Chartreuse National Centre for Theatre Writing, which meant I had some rare open time. I suggested vaguely that maybe I could create something drawing on the writing of medieval mystic women, specifically the 14th century mystic Margery Kempe, whose book— dictated, as these texts usually were, to her confessor—has long amused and intrigued me. We all agreed that might be an interesting idea.

needs without paying a terrible price.

But I’m not sure that’s for me to decide.

It’s very difficult to discuss the meaning of your own work without feeling fraudulent. For me, writing is not so much about conscious intention as it is about process and discovery. Writing a poem is for me about an acute inner listening to the sensual properties of language, which is inseparable from the ideas that surround and infuse it. It’s about bringing conscious intellection and feeling together into a single act.

La Chartreuse is a medieval monastery, so it was definitely the right setting for the project: a beautiful, quiet space designed for contemplation. I read a lot of contemporary plays and poems, and of course I re-read The Book of Margery Kempe. And I came back with a text that was quite different from whatever it was—I actually can’t remember now—that I first imagined. Margery was still there, but other people and other conversations had crept in as well.

What I can say is that the collaboration that has brought this text to the stage has been, in all its various stages of development, a rare, profoundly generous experience. Together, Kate and Emma create a space of remarkable artistic freedom. As with making a poem, this process has been about meticulous listening: but this time to all the other artists in the room.

Everyone working on this show has together created a mutual vocabulary; the rhythms I heard in my head have evolved past what I could possibly have imagined on my own, into the bodies, voices and imaginations of others.

Writing My Dearworthy Darling was very much like writing a poem. I could say that I think it’s about trauma, about how people are pressured and broken by the dehumanisations of modern capitalism; that it’s a play about three people who don’t know how to communicate and so hurt each other; that it’s about how we can’t ignore our emotional and spiritual

I couldn’t have found better collaborators. Our aim was to make a work of theatre in which the meanings of its many languages—visual design, sound, embodied movement and text— are deeply embedded in each other from the beginning. And this is what we have made: a single, complex, multiplyvoiced act, authored by all of us. #MDDMALTHOUSE

A NOTE FROM THE WRITER

ALISON CROGGON: ON METICULOUS LISTENING

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CAST & CREATIVE BIOS

ALISON CROGGON WRITER Alison Croggon writes across many genres and her work has been widely published in the US, the UK and Europe as well as in Australia. For Malthouse Theatre she wrote the libretto for The Riders (2015). Her 16 produced theatre works include Mayakovsky (Sydney Chamber Opera 2014), which was shortlisted for the 2015 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, Rules of Thumb (Red Shed 1997), Lenz (Melbourne Festival 1996) and The Burrow (Perth Festival 1994). Her poetry won the Anne Elder and Dame Mary Gilmore Awards and was shortlisted for two Premier’s Literary Awards.

She has published nine novels, which were shortlisted for three Aurealis Awards and two Premier’s Literary Awards.

In 2009, she was named the Geraldine Pascall Critic of the Year, and a book of selected critical essays, Remembered Presences, was published by Currency Press last year. The Threads of Magic (Walker Books/ Candlewick Press) and a literary non-fiction title, Monsters (Scribe Publications), are due out next year.

EMMA VALENTE DIRECTOR, COMPOSER, LIGHTING & SOUND DESIGN

KATE DAVIS DIRECTOR, SET & COSTUME DESIGN

Emma is the Co-Artistic Director of THE RABBLE and a freelance director, dramaturg and lighting designer. For THE RABBLE Emma has created, directed and designed (lighting and sound) for: Unwoman (Dublin Fringe Festival), Lone (Arts House/St Martins), Joan (Theatre Works/Wuzhen Festival/Vitalstatistix), Cain and Abel (The Substation/Belvoir), In the Bleak Midwinter (Malthouse Theatre), Deathly/Death/Dead (Malthouse Theatre/Melbourne Writers Festival), Frankenstein (Malthouse Theatre), Room of Regret (Melbourne Festival/Theatre Works), Story of O (MTC NEON Festival), Orlando (Malthouse Theatre/Melbourne Festival/ Brisbane Festival/Dark Mofo), Special (Carlton Courthouse), The Bedroom Project (Linden Gallery), Cageling (Carriageworks/ fortyfivedownstairs) and Salome In Cogito Volume III (Carriageworks).

As a lighting designer Emma has worked for many major theatre companies including: STC, MTC, QT, Belvoir, Fraught Outfit, Sisters Grimm, Griffin Theatre, Women’s Circus, Theatre Works, Carriageworks, La Mama and many more. As a dramaturg Emma has worked with playwrights and performance-makers including: Zoey Dawson, Angus Cerini, Alison Croggon, Nicola Gunn, Meg Wilson, Andrea James, Elise Hearst, Oliva Satchell and Rachel Perks.

Kate is the Co-Artistic Director of THE RABBLE and a multidisciplinary artist working as a director, set designer and costume designer. For THE RABBLE Kate has created, directed and designed (set and costume) for: Unwoman Part III (Dublin Fringe Festival), Lone (Arts House), In the Bleak Midwinter (Malthouse Theatre), Deathly/Death/ Dead (Malthouse Theatre/ Melbourne Writers Festival), Cageling (fortyfivedownstairs/ Carriageworks) and Corvus (Carriageworks). She created and designed (set and costume) for: Joan (Theatre Works/ Wuzhen Festival/Vitalstatistix), Cain and Abel (Substation/ Belvoir), Frankenstein (Malthouse Theatre), Room of Regret (Melbourne Festival/ Theatre Works), Story of O (MTC NEON Festival), Orlando (Malthouse Theatre/Melbourne Festival/Brisbane Festival/ Dark Mofo), Special (Carlton Courthouse), The Bedroom Project (Linden Gallery) and Salome In Cogito Volume III (Carriageworks). As a set and costume designer she has worked with numerous companies such as Fraught Outfit, Belvoir, Performance Space, MTC, STC, Dancehouse, Carriageworks, Griffin Theatre and many more.

#MDDMALTHOUSE

CAST & CREATIVE BIOS

NATALIE GAMSU CAST

BEN GRANT CAST

JENNIFER VULETIC CAST

Natalie is a singer, actor and cabaret artist whose performances have been acclaimed nationally and internationally. Natalie is delighted to be appearing at Malthouse Theatre again.

Her previous stage credits include Dance Nation (Red Stitch), Darlinghurst Nights (Hayes Theatre Company), Ladies in Black (Queensland Theatre), Baz Luhrmann’s Strictly Ballroom, Mary Poppins (Disney/Cameron Macintosh), Barrie Kosky’s The Women of Troy (Malthouse Theatre/ STC) and Dr Zhivago (GFO).

Natalie has also created a huge following for her one woman shows, her latest being Carmen Live or Dead.

Recent screen credits include Neighbours, Street Smart and the successful feature film, Ali’s Wedding. She has recorded two CD’s and has received several major awards for her work as a vocalist.

Natalie will be playing the role of Molina’s mother in the MTC production of Kiss of the Spider Woman later this year.

Ben is an actor, sound designer, composer, writer and dramaturg. This is Ben’s first appearance as an actor at Malthouse Theatre, although his first professional performance was in Every Good Boy Deserves Favour (Playbox Theatre Company) in 1981 and he created the sound design for A Commercial Farce (Malthouse Theatre) in 2009. A NIDA graduate, Ben collaborated with Robert Lepage as an actor/author in Ex Machina’s Playing Cards: Hearts from 2013 to 2015. His other stage credits include Hir (Red Stitch), The Eradication of Schizophrenia in Western Lapland (Ridiculusmus), Circle Mirror Transformation (MTC), Macbeth (Bell Shakespeare) and Picasso and His Dog (Lemony S). Ben has created several solo shows including The Rug (La Mama) in 2018.

His screen credits include Force of Destiny, The Cup and Superwog. Ben received a Green Room Award in 2011 for Best Performance in Independent Theatre for playing Alfie in Angus Cerini’s Save for Crying (La Mama).

Since graduating from NIDA Jennifer has worked with esteemed Australian directors in all aspects of the industry. Her numerous stage credits include The Histrionic (Malthouse Theatre/STC), Arbus & West (MTC), Merciless Gods (Little Ones Theatre/ Griffin Theatre), Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Mamma Mia (2003–2005 and 10th Anniversary tours) and Barrie Kosky’s The Women of Troy (Malthouse Theatre/ STC). She won a Sydney Theatre Award for Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, for which she also received Helpmann and Green Room Award nominations, a Green Room Award for Merciless Gods, and Green Room Award nominations for Women of Troy and Nightingale and the Rose. The voice of innumerable SBS television documentaries, and audio book narrator (threetime winner of 3M Talking Book of the Year and Best Narrator Awards) Jennifer also narrated the multiple international award-winning Once My Mother and the AFI Award-winner My Life Without Steve.

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JESS KEEPENCE STAGE MANAGER Jess is a freelance Stage Manager and a graduate of Victorian College of the Arts (Bachelor of Production). For Malthouse Theatre she has worked on Good Muslim Boy. Others credits include: Heisenberg, Arbus & West, The House of Bernarda Alba, Hay Fever, Macbeth, The Odd Couple, Jasper Jones, Miss Julie, Buyer and Cellar, The Sublime, The Crucible, Other Desert Cities and Poor Boy (MTC), Song for a Weary Throat and Catalogue (Rawcus), Jack Charles V The Crown (Ilbijerri Theatre Company), The Sleepover (Arena Theatre Company), Room of Regret (THE RABBLE), Resplendence and Save for Crying (Angus Cerini/doubletap), Neighbourhood Watch, The Book of Everything (Belvoir/MTC) and Fun Run (All The Queens Men).

She has also worked on events such as Melbourne Festival, Woodford Folk Festival, White Night and Castlemaine State Festival.

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ABOUT MALTHOUSE THEATRE

YOUR JOURNEY WITH MALTHOUSE THEATRE AWAITS. At Malthouse Theatre we collaborate with local and international artists to create inventive performances that cut to the core of the human experience. Theatre has the power to interrogate, disrupt and to be an agent of change— and we think it always should. At Malthouse Theatre, the work we produce explores the world personally, socially and politically. Based in a dedicated venue, The Coopers Malthouse in Melbourne, we are a home for live experiences that entertain and provoke a dialogue with and within audiences.

Welcome to Malthouse Theatre.

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ARTISTIC & PROGRAMMING

TICKETING & BOX OFFICE

VENUE MANAGEMENT

Artistic Director & CO-CEO / Matthew Lutton

CRM & Ticketing Manager / Prue Sutherland

Venue Manager / Simon Moss

Executive Producer & CO-CEO / Sarah Neal

Box Office Manager / Allie Stapleton

Events Manager / Anita Posterino

New Work Manager / Mark Pritchard

Box Office Team Leader / Fiona Wiseman

Front of House Manager / Lara Kerestes

Resident Artist / Declan Greene

Box Office Staff / Claire Bornhoffen, Simon Braxton, Paul Buckley, Emily Burke, Harry Diviny, Bronya Doyle, Mellita Ilich, Nicola James, Min Kingham, Lucy Kingsley, Emma Whitby, Liz White

Front of House Staff / Gianni Agostinoni, Ben Anderson, Mitchell Brotz, Kate Calton, Georgia Cam, Jai Cameron, Emma Corbett, Alice Dixon, Amy Dowd, Sophia D’urso, Mark Hoffman, Dirk Hoult, Ryan Jones, Kathryn Joy, Tom Kantor, Mick Klepner Roe, Bear Loren, Nicole Mckenzie, Hannah Mckittrick, Georgia Mein, Abi Murray, Hayley Newman, Sanne Rodenstein, Gretel Sharp, Lee Threadgold, Kenny Waite, Leonie Whyman

Director in Residence / Ming-Zhu Hii Strategy Manager / Toby Sullivan Associate Producer / Jason Tamiru

PRODUCTION

Company Manager / Marline Zaibak

Production Manager / David Miller

FINANCE & ADMINISTRATION

Technical Manager / Baird McKenna

Finance Manager / Ness Harwood Finance Administrator / Liz White Company Producer / Annie Bourke MARKETING & COMMUNICATIONS Marketing & Communications Manager / Caraline Douglas Marketing & Communications Coordinator / Jacqui Bathman Digital Content Producer / David Harrison Publicist / TS Publicity DEVELOPMENT Development Manager / Fiona Kelly Philanthropy Coordinator / Belinda Locke Sponsorship Coordinator / Julian Dibley-Hall

Operations Manager / Dexter Varley Production Coordinator / Tia Clark

We acknowledge the Land and Songlines of the Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri peoples of the Kulin Nation.

Head Technician (Lighting) / Rob Ballingall Venue Head Mechanist / Ivan Smith Venue Technician / Brendan Jellie Head of Wardrobe / Delia Spicer Wardrobe Assistant / Rebecca Dunn Workshop Manager / Goffredo Mameli Head Carpenter / David Craig Workshop Assistants / Elizabeth Whitton Mitch O’Sullivan Scenic Artist / Patrick Jones EDUCATION Education Coordinator / Alexandra Macalister-Bills

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MALTHOUSE THEATRE STAFF

BOARD OF DIRECTORS Fiona McGauchie (Chair), Michael Kantor (Deputy Chair), Debbie Dadon AM, Andrew Myer AM, Jan Owen AM, Sue Prestney, Pamela Rabe, Nick Schlieper & Mary Vallentine AO.

SUPPORTERS & PARTNERS

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For partnership or donation enquiries, please call our Development Manager on (03) 9685 5162 or email development@malthousetheatre.com.au Page 10—11

CALLIOPE—MUSE OF POETRY—$50,000+ Craig Reeves

Collins AM QC, Jon Webster AM, Jan Williams, Dr Terry Wu & Dr Melinda Tee, Anonymous (1)

URANIA—MUSE OF THE STARS—$25,000+ Andyinc Foundation, Bardas Foundation, Debbie Dadon AM, Talya Masel & the Humanity Foundation, Maureen Wheeler AO & Tony Wheeler AO

EUTERPE—MUSE OF MUSIC—$1,000+ Marc Besen AC & Eva Besen AO, Sally Browne Fund, Ingrid & Per Carlsen, Ros Casey, Tim & Rachel Cecil, Min Li Chong, Jason Craig, Andrew Curtis, Mark & Jo Davey, Brian Goddard, David Geoffrey Hall, Jordana Hunter & Jacob Varghese, Michael Jankie & Vivienne Poznanski, Val Johnstone, Fiona Kelly, Carman’s Kitchen, Julie & Michael Landvogt, Craig Lynch & Luis Ibaceta, David Marr, Susan Nathan, Mike & Jane Rikard-Bell, Viorica Samson, Carol Schwartz AO & Alan Schwartz AM, Robert Sessions & Christina Fitzgerald, Lynne Sherwood & the late Tim Sherwood, Maria Solà, Rosemary Walls, Pinky Watson, Anonymous (4)

CLIO—MUSE OF HISTORY—$10,000+ Annamila Fund, John & Lorraine Bates, Jennifer Darbyshire & David Walker, Suzanne Kirkham, Richard Leonard & Gerlinde Scholz, Simone Lourey, Mary-Ruth & Peter McLennan, Fiona McGauchie & James Penlidis, Janine Tai, The Vera Moore Foundation, Anonymous (2) THALIA—MUSE OF COMEDY—$5,000+ Daniel Besen, Evelyn Firstenberg, Gjergja Family, Colin Golvan AM QC & Dr Deborah Golvan, Michele Levine, Elizabeth & Donald McGauchie AO, The Pratt Foundation, Mary Vallentine AO, Moana Weir & Jordie van der Schoot, Anonymous (1) MELPOMENE—MUSE OF TRAGEDY—$2,500+ Susanne Dahn, Roger Donazzan, Rev Fr Michael Elligate AM, Dr Sian Fairbank, Rosemary Forbes & Ian Hocking, Linda Herd, Michael Kingston, Alison & Peter Mitchell, Sue Prestney & Paul Glen, Christopher Reed, Dr Jenny Schwarz, Kate & Stephen Shelmerdine, Fiona Sweet & Paul Newcombe, Peter Templeton, Leonard Vary & Dr Matt

TERPSICHORE—MUSE OF DANCE—$500+ Frankie Airey & Steve Solly, Graham & Anita Anderson, Michael Arnold, Rowland Ball OAM, Sandra Beanham, Peter Berry & Amanda Quirk, Bruce Boell & Angela Kayser, Annie Bourke & Darren Clyne, Nan Brown, Dr Rob Brown & Dr Lynne Millar, Priscilla Bryans, Bruce R Butler, Chris Clough, Georgie Coleman, Dr Ross Coller, Prof John Daley & Dr Rebecca Coates, Dr Bronwen Evans, Peter & Roxane Fearnside, Taleen Gaidzkar, Mary Garcia, John & Helen Gibbins, John Douglas Guppy, Tyler Hill, Brad Hooper, Joan & Graeme Johnson OAM, Irene Kearsey, Ann Kemeny & Graham Johnson, Angela Kirsner & Dr Richard Kirsner, Virginia Lovett, Ian Manning & Alice De Jonge, John McCallum, Ian McRae AO & Åsa HasselgardRowe, Ned’s, Jan Owen AM, Salvatore & Lea Posterino, Tom Smyth, L Tell & D Lester, Naum Tered, John Thomas, Kerri Turner & Andrew White, Phil & Heather Wilson, Anonymous (1)

ERATO—MUSE OF LOVE—$250+ Simon Abrahams, Dr Sue Beeton, Nicole Beyer & Kim Marriott, Robert & Jane Bird, Jennifer Bourke, John & Alexandra Busselmaier, Elise Callander, Diane Clark, Lyndy Clarke, Fiona Clyne, Alan Connolly, Mrs Dalloway, Mark Duckworth & Lauren Mosso, Carolyn Floyd, Iona Goodwin, Damyn Gordon, Ash Gray, Marguerite Griffith & Dr Vincent Griffith, Joanne Griffiths, Russell Hooper, Arechea Hounsell, Graham & Judy Hubbard, Susan Humphries, Sarah Hunt, Lachlan Hywood, Dr Irene Irvine, Ed Johnson, Cliff Johnston, Mira & Dr David Kolieb, Julia Lambert, Fiona Mahony, Judith Maitland-Parr, Ann McLaren, Susan McLean, Suzanne Mellor & Warren Prior, John Millard, Gayl Morrow & Gib Wettenhall, Dr Anne Myers, Prof Robert Nordlinger, Linda Notley, Dr Helen Nugent AO, Tom & Ruth O’Dea, Tony Oliver, Kaylene O’Neill, Frances Pascale, Dean Pavitt, Robert Peters, Anda Petrapsch, Pinkerton Abbey Family, Gerard Powell, Dr Suzy Redston, Rosalba Renzella, Dr Jessica Robertson & Henry Gardner, Jean Ross, Hugh Stephens, Andrew Stocker, Toby Sullivan, Chris Teh, Dr Julie Thompson, Jennifer Vaughan, Lee-Ann Walsh, Jillian Wells OAM, Gary Westbrook, Jo Whyte, Barbara Yuncken, Anonymous (8)

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A BOGAN AND BOURGEOIS BATTLE FOR A SUBURBAN BACKYARD.

ON A S2019 E S —— —

16 AUG – 8 SEP The summery embrace of an Aussie family Christmas. Familiar characters pop the cork on mid-range bubbly for a raucous celebration of festive traditions. But, all is not well. There’s a bunch of yobbos in the backyard! Playwright Zoey Dawson and director Janice Muller fast-forwards from the dawn of the Howard era to revel in the shattering of expectations and artificial class divisions in this incisive satire.

BY / Zoey Dawson DIRECTION / Janice Muller

CAST / Linda Cropper, André De Vanny, Emily Goddard, Chanella Macri, Greg Stone

Commissioned by Malthouse Theatre through the support of the Malcolm Robertson Foundation. Australian Realness was developed with assistance from the Monash University Centre for Theatre and Performance, Artist in Residence Program.

& NE D E R SC EA H

The aluminium glomesh suspended above the stage weighs approximately 240kg.

MalthouseTheatre MalthouseMelb MalthouseTheatre #MalthouseTheatre malthousetheatre.com.au Š Malthouse Theatre, the artists, designers, photographers, collaborators and contributors. All rights reserved, 2019.