Categories: News

Mulvany steps aside for a new Seed at MTC

West Australian born Kate Mulvany’s semi-autobiographical play The Seed is set to open at the MTC next month, but with a new leading lady.

A compelling, tightly-woven and thrilling exploration of a family, their hidden secrets and the repercussions of war, The Seed stars Max Gillies, Sara Gleeson and Tony Martin.

In previous professional seasons of this play, acclaimed actor and writer Mulvany has always performed the central character of Rose. This MTC season marks the first time Mulvany has stepped aside for a different view:

‘I’m really interested to see what Sara does”, Mulvany said.

When talking about the inception of the play, Kate Mulvany said, ‘Suddenly I was a 30 year-old child, sitting at the feet of my various storytellers with eyes wide, mouth agape, listening to tales and emotions and histories never before shared. The only problem was that, in order to tell their stories, I had to tell mine.’

A BA graduate from Curtin University, Mulvany’s plays include Father O Friendly, Blood & Bones (winner of Naked Theatre Company’s Write Now competition), The Musical Somewhere (co-written with Tim Minchin) and The Embalmer! The Musical (co-written with Pip Banson).

She was shortlisted for the 2004 Patrick White Playwrights’ Award and she was the winner of the 2004 Philip Parsons Young Playwrights’ Award, from which The Seed was commissioned. The Seed also won the Best Independent Production award and was nominated for Best New Australian Work in the 2007 Sydney Theatre Awards.

Aidan Fennessy, a member of MTC’s Season 2012 Programming Team was enamoured by Mulvany’s writing:‘My first impression of The Seed was that here was a writer writing absolutely hot. She knows the territory she’s writing about, because it comes out of her experience. It’s an immigrant story, a father-daughter story, a father-son story. And she skillfully mixes these elements within a very delicate three-act structure. The Seed is pristine writing, very assured.”

Making her MTC directorial debut, Anne-Louise Sarks tackles this piece after working as part of MTC’s Emerging Artists Development Program in 2010. Currently she is Artistic Director of the acclaimed independent theatre company, The Hayloft Project and has also been Director in Residence at Malthouse Theatre and Associate Artist at Belvoir.

Arts Centre Melbourne’s Fairfax Studion will host the work from 17 February to 4 April 2012, with an official opening night scheduled for Wednesday 22 February.

Director Anne-Louise Sarks
Set and Costume Designer Christina Smith
Lighting Designer Matt Scott
Composer/Sound Designer Jethro Woodward
Cast Max Gillies (Brian), Sara Gleeson (Rose), Tony Martin (Danny)

The Seed

Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio
Season Dates 17 February to 4 April 2012
Opening Night Wednesday 22 February 2012 at 8pm
Tickets from $56 (Under 30s just $33)
Booking Details The MTC Theatre Box Office 03 8688 0800 or mtc.com.au

Arts Centre Melbourne 1300 182 183 or artscentremelbourne.com.au

Erin James

Erin James is AussieTheatre.com's former Editor in Chief and a performer on both stage and screen. Credits include My Fair Lady, South Pacific and The King and I (Opera Australia), Love Never Dies and Cats (Really Useful Group), Blood Brothers (Enda Markey Presents), A Place To Call Home (Foxtel/Channel 7) and the feature film The Little Death (written and directed by Josh Lawson).