Wild Surmise Program

WILD SURMISE

9 NOVEMBER – 2 DECEMBER

Malthouse Theatre presents

WILD SURMISE Based on the verse novel by Dorothy Porter Adapted by Jane Montgomery Griffiths

Director Marion Potts Set & Costume Design Anna Tregloan Composition and Sound Design Jethro Woodward Lighting Design Paul Jackson Assistant Director Adena Jacobs Performed by Humphrey Bower Jane Montgomery Griffiths Stage Manager Alice Fleming

BECKETT THEATRE 9 NOVEMBER - 2 DECEMBER

ADAPTER’S NOTE This project started with the act of falling in love – falling in love with characters, falling in love with a book, falling in love through the act of reading. Appropriately enough, it started with a female astronomer. A couple of years ago, I’d been working on a play about the ancient Greek scientist, Hypatia. An extraordinary woman: the last guardian of the library of Alexandria, the last philosopher of the ancient world, the last rationalist in late antiquity’s growing theocracy. The process had been horribly tantalising; trying to marry science and passion in theatrical form had been frustrating and elusive. Still smarting in the post-play malaise of failed intentions and niggling whatifs, my partner cheered me up with a gift – the gift of a book seemingly about another, rather more flawed female astronomer. The book was Dorothy Porter’s Wild Surmise.

I read the book in one sitting, drawn along by the language, the narrative, the characters – all so compelling I couldn’t pause in that first reading even to relish the poetry as much as I knew it warranted. Finishing it that night, I re-read the book immediately – but now taking my time and savouring the bitter sweet sensation of reading something that so seamlessly, so powerfully, so compulsively brought together all those elements I’d wanted to – passion, science, learning, yearning and humanity – with a skill I could only dream of. Porter’s poetry holds you by the hand while surreptitiously pulling your passions, ‘taut and tearful’, with her imagery. Her characters become both your friends and your mirrors, speaking to you as mates you feel you’ve always known, yet reflecting your own foibles and fears. Creating a

narrative that is so quietly powerful through verse that is so viscerally accessible, Porter’s achievement in this novel is huge. No wonder I fell in love with the book.

The idea of adapting the novel grew slowly and has evolved through many incarnations, much brainstorming and many jettisoned ideas. But what we have now feels right to me because it is simply Dorothy Porter’s words on stage – her poetry, embodied, enacted and shared. This adaptation of Wild Surmise is an exploration of how to put on stage the passion we feel during those first encounters with a wonderful book, when we long to read right through to the end, but already mourn the inevitability of that ending and mourn the loss of that friend. It is an enactment of the act of love that is reading.

JANE MONTGOMERY GRIFFITHS

SPECIAL THANK YOU To Monash University Arts for their support of Wild Surmise.

HUMPHREY BOWER DANIEL Humphrey recently appeared in Face to Face (Sydney Theatre Company), Skin (Night Train) and Blackbird (Perth Theatre Company). Other productions: Wish, Orpheus and Eurydice, The Soldier’s Tale, The Kreutzer Sonata and Raising the Dead (Night Train), Richard III, Humble Boy, The Misanthrope, A Man for All Seasons, Lady Windermere’s Fan, Arcadia (Melbourne Theatre Company), The Cherry Orchard (King’s Men), Fyodor’s Demons and The Reader (Last Seen Imagining), Uncle Vanya (Black Swan), Savage Grace, The Other Woman and Medea 05 (Steamworks), Night Letters and Natural Life (State Theatre Company of South Australia/ Playbox Theatre Company/Adelaide Festival), One Day in 67 (Yirra Yaakin), Salt (Deckchair), Ghosts (Hole in the Wall), Piccadily Bushman (Playbox Theatre Company), Tango (Napier St), Mother Courage, School for Wives and Life is a Dream (Anthill), The Idiot (Theatreworks), Closing Time (La Mama), Lives of the Saints (The Organ Factory),1001 Nights, Woman in the Attic and The Secret Garden (Whistling in the Theatre). Awards: 2011 Blue Room Members’ Choice and Best Performance Award (Wish); 2010 Helpmann Award for Best Supporting Actor (Richard III); 2005 Green Room Award (Fringe/Independent) for Best Actor (Savage Grace); 2003 Blue Room Members’ Choice Award (The Reader); 2000 Green Room Award (Fringe/ Independent) for Best Production (The Terms and Grammar of Creation). Humphrey was a founding member of independent companies Whistling in the Theatre and Last Seen Imagining and is currently Artistic Director of Night Train Productions.

ALICE FLEMING STAGE MANAGER Alice recently returned from touring Back to Back Theatre’s Food Court in Philadelphia and Ganesh Versus the Third Reich in Rotterdam, London and Vienna. Previous Malthouse Theatre credits include On the Misconception of Oedipus, The Histrionic, Look Right Through Me and Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl. Other theatre credits include: Spicks & Speck-tacular – The Finale Tour (Token Events); The Gift (Melbourne Theatre Company); A Bird, A Tree, The Moon (Peepshow Inc); Sundowner (KAGE); Do Not Go Gentle... (fortyfivedownstairs). Alice’s event experience includes WOMADelaide Festival, Next Wave Festival’s Sports Club Project, Fringe Festival, All Tomorrow’s Parties and The Falls Music & Art Festival. She is currently completing a master’s degree at The University of Melbourne. Alice will directly follow this project by joining Back to Back Theatre’s tour of Ganesh Versus the Third Reich in America.

JANE MONTGOMERY GRIFFITHS ADAPTER & ALEX Jane has acted with many theatre companies in the UK, including RSC, Theatr Clywd, Cambridge Theatre Company, and Chichester Festival Theatre. In Australia, she has performed with Bell Shakespeare (King Lear), Malthouse Theatre (Sappho...in 9 fragments), Fraught Outfit (Elektra), and Red Stitch (Good People), for whom she also recently directed Wittenberg.

As writer, Jane’s plays include Sappho...in 9 fragments (Currency Press; Malthouse Theatre; ABC RN; Greenwich Theatre, London), Sectioned (ABC RN), the libretto Razing Hypatia (Opera Nova; 3 Masks), and An ox stand on my tongue. TV includes: The Bill, Casualty, Red Dwarf, One Against the Wind and A Murder of Quality. Awards and nominations: Manchester Evening News Best Actress

(Electra); RE Ross Script Development Award (An ox stand on my tongue); shortlisted for NSW and Victorian Premier’s Literary Award, Best New Play (Sappho...in 9 fragments).

Jane appears as part of Monash University’s Performance Research Unit.

PAUL JACKSON LIGHTING DESIGNER Paul is an Associate Artist at Malthouse Theatre.

He has designed lighting for The Australian Ballet, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Melbourne Theatre Company, West Australian Ballet, Victorian Opera, West Australian. Opera, Sydney Theatre Company, Playbox, Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir, BalletLab, Lucy Guerin Inc, World of Wearable Art New Zealand, La Mama, not yet it’s difficult performance group, Chamber Made Opera, and many others. Paul’s work has featured in festivals in Asia and Europe and he has lectured in design at the University of Melbourne, RMIT University and Victorian College of the Arts. Paul has received a number of Green Room Awards and nominations for design, as well as receiving the 2012 Helpmann Award for lighting design. He was named in The Bulletin’s Smart 100 for 2004 and was the Gilbert Spottiswood Churchill Fellow for 2007.

ADENA JACOBS ASSISTANT DIRECTOR Adena Jacobs is the Artistic Director of independent theatre company Fraught Outfit, and the current Female Director in Residence at Malthouse Theatre. She graduated with a Bachelor of Creative Arts (Hons) from The University of Melbourne (2004) and a Masters of Theatre Practice from VCA (2008) where she received the Yvonne Taylor scholarship. In 2011, Adena was awarded the Melbourne International Arts Festival’s Harold Mitchell Fellowship, under the mentorship of Artistic

Director Brett Sheehy. Directing credits include Persona (Theatre Works 2012, Malthouse Theatre and Belvoir 2013), Elektra (The Dog Theatre, nominated for three Green Room Awards), The City (Red Stitch, nominated for three Green Room Awards) Provocateur: The Rebellious Text (Red Stitch/Melbourne International Arts Festival), This Is For You (La Mama, nominated for five Green Room Awards) and Cleansed (Studio45, VCA). As an assistant director, Adena has worked on Clybourne Park and Rock & Roll (Melbourne Theatre Company), and as an observing director on Oresteia (Sydney Theatre Company). Adena has trained with the SITI Company in New York and is a member of the Lincoln Center Directors Lab.

MARION POTTS DIRECTOR Marion is Malthouse Theatre’s Artistic Director.

She has worked with many of the country’s finest theatre companies and was most recently Bell Shakespeare’s Associate Artistic Director and Artistic Director of its development arm, Mind’s Eye. Marion was Resident Director for Sydney Theatre Company from 1995 to 1999, and Artistic Director of Pulse (Sydney Theatre Company) from 1997 to 1999. She curated the 2003 National Playwrights’ Conference, was a chairperson of World Interplay and a member of the Theatre Board of the Australia Council. Marion received the Helpmann Award for Best Direction of a Play in 2006. For Malthouse Theatre, Marion has directed Blood Wedding, Meow Meow’s Little Match Girl, ‘Tis Pity She’s a Whore, Sappho...in 9 fragments, and Venus & Adonis (with Bell Shakespeare). Other theatre directing credits include Bell Shakespeare: King Lear, The Taming of the Shrew, Hamlet, Othello. Sydney Theatre Company: The Wonderful World of Dissocia, Playgrounds, Volpone, Don Juan, Life After George, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Crucible, Navigating, Del Del, Closer, The Herbal Bed, What Is The Matter With Mary Jane?,

Pygmalion, Where Are We Now?, The Café Latte Kid, The Blessing, Two Weeks With The Queen (Touring Production).

Melbourne Theatre Company: Grace. State Theatre Company of South Australia: Equus, The Torrents, Gary’s House, A Number, The Goat or Who Is Sylvia?. Queensland Theatre Company: Constance Drinkwater and the Final Days of Somerset. Belvoir: The Popular Mechanicals 1 and 2 (Associate Director), The Frogs (Assistant Director). Griffin Theatre/HotHouse Theatre: The Story of the Miracles at Cookie’s Table, Wonderlands. HotHouse Theatre: Big Hair In America.

ANNA TREGLOAN

SET & COSTUME DESIGNER As designer of staging and costumes for theatre, dance and circus and as installation artist and director, Anna Tregloan has collaborated with a large number and eclectic mix of companies and artists.

Her work has toured to all Australian capitals along with work showing in Edinburgh, Paris, New York, Prague, London, Kyoto, Malaysia, Belgium, Dublin, The Netherlands and many other international stages. She has been privileged to receive several state and national awards including the John Truscott Award for Excellence in Design for Theatre and in 2010 an Australia Council Theatre Fellowship. Companies she has worked with include Sydney Theatre Company, Bell Shakespeare, Ranters Theatre, Playbox Theatre Company, Legs on the Wall, Arena Theatre Company, Melbourne Worker’s Theatre, I.C.E., Back to Back, Danceworks, Handspan, Chunky Move, Finucane and Smith, Lucy Guerin Inc., Belvoir, Circus Oz and numerous productions with Malthouse Theatre. She is also an artist at the performance company The Association of Optimism.

JETHRO WOODWARD SOUND DESIGNER Jethro is a Melbourne-based composer, musician and sound designer recognised for his expansive and highly layered film, theatre and dance scores. A multi Green Room Award-winner and nominee, he has worked with some of Australia’s leading major and independent companies including Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Belvoir, Arena Theatre Company, Windmill Theatre, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, Rawcus, Stuck Pigs Squealing, Fragment 31, Lucy Guerin Inc, Australian Dance Theatre, KAGE and more. Jethro won Green Room Awards for Moth and Goodbye Vaudeville Charlie Mudd (Malthouse Theatre/Arena Theatre Company), and Irony Is Not Enough (Fragment 31). He was the Musical Director and Sound Designer for the six-times Helpmann-nominated musical Wizard of Oz (Windmill Theatre). Recent shows include House Of Dreaming (Arena Theatre Company), Pinocchio (Windmill Theatre/State Theatre Company of South Australia/Malthouse Theatre) and Another Lament (Rawcus/Chamber Made Opera).

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CREATIVE PRACTICE

MUSE DONOR PROGRAM Thank you, Malthouse Muses, for supporting our artistic vision and helping us to create a unique and dynamic environment for artists and audiences.

URANIA—Muse of The Stars—$25,000+ Annamila Pty Ltd, The Dara Foundation, The Danielle and Daniel Besen Foundation, Maureen & Tony Wheeler CLIO—Muse of History—$10,000+ John & Lorraine Bates, Craig Reeves, Rae Rothfield, The Pratt Foundation, Anonymous (1) THALIA—Muse of Comedy—$5,000+ Frankie Airey & Stephen Solly, Betty Amsden OAM, Eva Besen AO & Marc Besen AO, Debbie Dadon, Roger Donazzan & Margaret Jackson AC, Neilma Gantner, Peter & Anne Laver, Richard Leonard, Michele Levine, Mary Ruth & Peter McLennan, Judith Maitland-Parr, Elisabeth & John Schiller, Carol & Alan Schwartz AM, Anonymous (2) MELPOMENE—Muse of Tragedy—$2,500+ Chryssa Anagnostou & Jim Tsaltas, Ian Hocking & Rosemary Forbes, Val Johnstone, Jon Webster, Tom Wright EUTERPE—Muse of Music—$1,000+ Ingrid Ashford, John Bourne, Beth Brown & Tom Bruce AM, Sally Browne, Diana Burleigh, Ingrid & Per Carlsen, Dominic & Natalie Dirupo, Rev Fr Michael Elligate, Carolyn Floyd, William J. Forrest AM, D.L & G.S Gjergja, Marco Gjergja, Colin Golvan SC, Michael Kingston, Sue Kirkham, Pamela McLure, Naomi Milgrom AO, Dame Elisabeth Murdoch AC DBE, Sue Nattrass AO, Jenny Schwarz, Tim & Lynne Sherwood, Neil & Barbara Smart, Mr & Mrs Smith Pty Ltd, Leonard Vary & Matt Collins, Jason Waple, Simon Westcott & Dr Ben Keith, Phil & Heather Wilson, Anonymous (1) TERPSICHORE—Muse of Dance—$500+ Sieglind D’Arcy, Mark & Jo Davey, Taleen Gaidzkar, Charles Gillies & Penelope Allen, Brian Goddard, Scott Herron, Leonie Hollingworth, Brad Hooper, Susan Humphries, Ann Kemeny & Graham Johnson, K & J Lindsay, Sir Gustav AC CBE & Lady Nossal, Tony Oliver, Robert Peters, Ernie Schwartz, Gina Stuart, Fiona Sweet & Paul Newcombe, Maria Sola & Malcolm Douglas, Joanne & Dr Niv Tadmore, John Thomas, Richard P. Watson, Henry Winters, Angelika & Pete Zangmeister, Anonymous (2) ERATO—Muse of Love—$250+ Simon Abrahams, Graham & Anita Anderson, Sandra Beanham, John & Alexandra Busselmaier, Robyn Campbell, John Carruthers, Ros Casey, Tim & Rachel Cecil, Min Li Chong, Diane Clarke, Patricia Coutts, Tania de Jong AM, Orla & Rachel, Peggy Hayton, Roberta Holmes, Irene Irvine, Graeme & Joan Johnson, Vas Katos, Irene Kearsey, Patricia Keith, Ruth Krawat, Liquorice Studio, Brad Martin, Gael & Ian McRae, John Millard, Robyn & John Morris, Dr Kersti Nogeste, Linda Notley, James Penlidis & Fiona McGauchie, Irene Purcell, John & Margot Rogers, Katherine Sampson, Morry & Anna Schwartz, Lisl Singer, Thea & Hayden Snow, Ann Tonks, Rosemary Walls, Jan Watson, Joanne Whyte, Dr. Roger Woock & Fiona Clyne, Barbara Yuncken, Anonymous (7) Malthouse Theatre would also like to acknowledge the ongoing support of its volunteers.

You too can make a difference on our stages and behind the scenes.

Please call 9685 5162 or visit our website and inspire us with your donation.

113 Sturt Street Southbank VIC 3006 Box Office 03 9685 5111 • Administration 03 9685 5100 • Fax 03 9685 5112 malthousetheatre.com.au

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS Simon Westcott (Chair), Frankie Airey, John Daley, Michele Levine, Ian McRae, Sarah Morgan, Thea Snow, Sigrid Thornton, Kerri Turner, Leonard Vary.

Artistic Director Marion Potts Executive Producer Jo Porter Associate Artist (Design) Paul Jackson Associate Artist (Direction) Matthew Lutton Associate Artist (Writing) Van Badham Adena Jacobs Director in Residence Company Managers Lucy Birkinshaw

Nina Bonacci Associate Producer Josh Wright Administrator Narda Shanley Finance Manager Mario Agostinoni Finance Administrator Liz White Connie Stella Finance Assistant Marketing and Communications Manager Lisa Scicluna Digital Strategy & Marketing Coordinator Carl Nilsson-Polias Development Manager Jaclyn Birtchnell Philanthropy Manager Nicole Punte Development and Marketing Assistant Hiroki Kobayashi Media Manager Maria O’Dwyer Ticketing Manager Emma Howard Ticketing Assistant Lauren White Youth and Education Program Clare Watson Executive Assistant Emily Fiori Audience Development Consultant Jason Tamiru Building Manager Peter Mandersloot Bar Manager Cherry Rivers Front of House Managers Tristan Watson

& Sean Ladhams

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Production Manager David Miller Technical Manager Baird McKenna Operations Manager Dexter Varley Head Electrician Stewart Birkinshaw Campbell Head Mechanist Andy Moore Theatre Technician Nathaneal Bristow Head of Wardrobe Amanda Carr Wardrobe Assistant Chloe Greaves Workshop Supervisor David Craig Steel Fabricator Goffredo Mameli Scenic Artist Patrick Jones Props Master Ross Murray

(lifetime recognition) FRONT OF HOUSE/BAR STAFF Leeor Adar, Matt Adair, Claire Beynon, Jacqui Brown, Ben Carollo, Mimi Catterns, Kathryn Delaney, Tom Dent, Carla Di Stefano, Alice Dixon, Graham Downey, Tanja George, Christian Grant, Josh Green, Kate Gregory, Simon Jeanes, Bridie McCarthy, Ian Michael, Anna Nalpantidis, Daniel Newell, Ruby Nolan, Syrie Payne, Kliment Poposki, Beck Rafferty, Claire Richardson, Sanne Rodenstein, Kathryn Joy, Phoebe Taylor, Jade Thomson, Lee Threadgold BOX OFFICE STAFF Jack Angwin, Liz Bastian, Paul Buckley, Mark Byrne, Dan Giovannoni, Kate Gregory, Suzie Hardgrave, Michelle Hines, Ian Michael, Fiona Wiseman, Liz White Malthouse Theatre would like to acknowledge the people of the Kulin nation on whose land this work is being presented.

Vale Marc Psaila, our Company Manager, much loved and greatly missed.

OUR PARTNERS GOVERNMENT PARTNERS Malthouse Theatre is supported by the Australian Government through the Australia Council, its arts funding and advisory body

MAJOR PARTNER

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TRUSTS AND FOUNDATIONS Slome-Topol Family Charitable Trust Australian Communities Foundation

Spanish Cultural Co-operation Program Vera Moore Foundation

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Jeanne Pratt AC, Rae Rothfield, Sue Nattrass AO, Judith Maitland-Parr THE KENN BRODZIAK ASSOCIATE PRODUCER

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