By Jennifer Beasley.
The Malthouse is celebrating it’s fiftieth anniversary with a bang!
Their new Artistic Director Dean Bryant and Co-CEO (alongside the indomitable Vivia Hickman) has outlined a massive eight shows. And the best bit? They are all Australian! Plus, seven of the works are world premieres. Hip hooray. In an age where the Arts are suffering financially, to give voice to our home-grown talents and position them centre stage is an outstanding step in the right direction.
With artistic talents ranging from Eddie Perfect (The Beast, Beatlejuice the Musical), Lisa McCune (The 39 Steps) and Joanna Murry-Smith (Berlin, Switzerland) you know you will be feted by the best of Australian talent.
To open the season on the 19th of February – 19th March is an adaptation of Moliere’s The Tartuffe (Trade Mark). This famous 17th Century play about The Tartuffe or the imposter, is updated to contemporary times by the fabulous Tony Award nominated Eddie Perfect has adapted this play into a relevant question for our times. What happens when we allow a robotic AI (as The Tartuffe) complete access to our lives? Drawing parallels with the conceit of a robotic hairdresser (Noah Szto) who truly listens and cares as it cuts the hair of Orgon (Eddie Perfect) currently in the midst of an existential crisis and wants to know everything. But what happens when it has so much access? Featuring the glorious talents of Karis Oka (Beetlejuice) as Marianna and other characters this play promises laughs and some singing, as it weaves the worrying effects of ChatGPT in our lives and a possible outcome. Directed by Dean Bryant and with the creative set skills of Dann Barber, I can’t wait to see this social satire. Please note that some dates have already sold out, so act fast!
As a director Bryant is all about the thematic questions, which pleases me no end. All the proposed works have strong core themes, ranging from the consequences of the dominance of AI, what do we owe to the people who raised us, can pop music be a political force, can an atheist find meaning through a religious life, and how well do you know someone, even the love of your life?
The second play which premiered at Griffin Theatre arrives at Malthouse on Wednesday 12th to the 22nd of May is the magical realism of Swim. Written by poet Ellen Van Neerven (Throat, Heat and Light) and directed by Ilbijerri Theatre company Andrea James (Sunshine Supergirl), this play merges the fluidity of water with people as gender fluid E on a sizzling hot day by the pool is immersed by the words of her Aunty and the blue of the water becomes deeper. Utilising an actual pool on the set will give this play the weight it deserves. Featuring Cynda Jace Beare (Poems Of A Transsexual Nature) and Tahlee Fereday (Black Light).
Malthouse shifts tone as Charlotte Wood’s Booker Prize Shortlisted novel Stone Yard Devotions, adapted by Joanna Murray-Smith, premieres from the 4th of June to the 26th of June. Featuring the talents of Lisa McCune and Catherine McClements and directed by Sarah Goodes, this tells the story of a woman who disengages from life to find meaning among a group of cloistered nuns. An exciting work and I’ll be interested to see this interpretation.
Bryant makes a bold choice with powerhouse singer and director Yvette Lee on the 7th July to the 10th July with the cabaret styled Magic Sing: Pinoy Pop Power! Created by Christina O’Neill and Dean Bryant, these are the power ballads that you can’t help but sing along to. As a love anthem to Filipino Karaoke and their ability to turn Diva songs into themes of empowerment, there will be a trio of Filipino Australians paying tribute to their heritage and the part these power ballads played in their upbringing and history.
Following on from this is the most intriguing work, an adaptation of the Henry James novel, The Turn Of The Screw. Playing from the 23rd of July to the 21st of August and written by Keziah Warner (Hour Of The Wolf) and directed by Jessica Arthur (Game.Set.Match) this one person play starring Tuuli Narkle (NCIS: Sydney) will be sure to send shivers down your spine. Updating the Victorian setting to Australia, where we meet a young woman with no income and no home, who nannies two children at haunted Bly Manor. Her Downtown dreams turn into echoes of The Shining as she asks Do You Believe Me?
Moving into a black comedy is Yve Blake’s Jackpot from the 13th August to the 4th of September. Directed by Bryant, this dark social satire occurs over one whiskey fuelled night as two sisters discuss who will be caring for their aging mother, housing inequality and questions what do we owe our families, and what, in turn, do they owe us? Subtitled ‘Alls fair in love and real estate’ this will be a biting comedy from the writer of MacKenzie and Fangirls. Actors to be announced.
Another premiere from 17th September to the 9th October and written by and starring Thomas Weatherall (Blue) and directed by Bryant is Lucy. An exploration on the changing nature of a relationship and the outcomes when it no longer serves you and the dynamics are reversed. This will be an interesting piece.
The finale of Malthouse is the return of the wonderful Bloomshed. This time around they have adapted Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind on the 12th of November until 4th of December. Yep! This promises to be amazing, with the Southern American landscape transformed to Australia, but with the huge antebellum dresses! Subtitled Drill Baby, Drill, it’s going to be a comedy that will make your night. Exploring the notion that perhaps nostalgia is a harmful force, this play has Scarlett holding a mirror to the Australian mythos from her entitlement and a whirlwind romance after a snap election has the men rushing off to fight the ‘good fight’.
There is also two additional programs. From Thursday the 6th of May, Yirramboi marks ten years. This First Nations festival will explore all that our indigenous heritage holds.
There is also the return of the Malthouse Comedy Festival from Wednesday the 24th of March as part of the Melbourne International Comedy Festival. Details of Yirramboi and the Comedy Festival will be released in 2027.
As a bonus, from Thursday 1st until Wednesday the 21st of October there will be an early bird offer of 25% off every 2027 Malthouse Theatre production. This offer is available via their website Malthouse Theatre – Season 2027
Image: Guilia McGauran
