Kaylene Tan is a theatre maker from Singapore with a large body of performance, audio and site-specific theatre work. She has been the recipient of numerous fellowships for her work as a writer, director and performer. 

Alongside Paul Rae, she was co-director of the theatre company, Spell Seven - a performance company with a distinctive and inventive focus on the ways history, culture and politics intersect in everyday life through intimate theatrical performances and environmental sound works. 

Here, in an interview recorded over Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic, Kaylene shares her understanding of how a city, particularly its urban landscape and design, affect the production and reception of theatre and other live performance.

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This interview was produced by MTC Education as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. MTC Education provides audiences with insight into the theatre making processes used at MTC to produce its world class theatre productions. 

This interview compliments MTC’s latest production, Berlin, by Joanna Murray-Smith, playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until the 22nd of May, 2021. For more information head to mtc.com.au

MTC Education: Kaylene Tan | Cities on Stage

Paul Rae is Head of the School of Culture and Communications and an Associate Professor in Theatre Studies at the University of Melbourne. 

He is the author of two books – Real Theatre: Essays in Experience (published in 2019) and Theatre & Human Rights (published in 2009) and is currently working on two others. 

Alongside Kaylene Tan, Paul was co-director of the Singapore-based theatre company Spell Seven Performance Club.

He has a wealth of experience in contemporary theatre practices both in Melbourne and overseas. Here, in an interview recorded over Zoom during the Covid-19 pandemic, he shares his understanding of how a city, particularly its urban landscape and design, affects the production and reception of theatre and other live performance. 

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This interview was produced by MTC Education as part of Melbourne Knowledge Week. MTC Education provides audiences with insight into the theatre making processes used at MTC to produce its world class theatre productions. 

This interview compliments MTC’s latest production, Berlin, by Joanna Murray-Smith, playing at Southbank Theatre, The Sumner until the 22nd of May, 2021. For more information head to mtc.com.au

MTC Education: Paul Rae | Cities on Stage

Fiona Gruber interviews playwright Eddie Perfect about his new deliciously wicked new satire, 'The Beast'.

MTC Talks | Interview with playwright Eddie Perfect

Playwright and award-winning journalist Sally Sara AM talks to MTC Artistic Director & Co-CEO Anne-Louise Sarks. Get to know Anne-Louise and hear about her artistic passions as she prepares to launch her inaugural season for Melbourne Theatre Company.

Anne-Louise Sarks in Conversation with Sally Sara AM

Music Composed and Performed by Missy Higgins.
Produced by Missy Higgins and THE SWEATS.
Mixed by THE SWEATS.
Mastered by Steve Smart at Studios 301.

MTC's production of Cock is playing at Arts Centre Melbourne, Fairfax Studio until 22 March 2014. Learn more at http://www.mtc.com.au/cock 

Missy Higgins - Somewhere (from 'Cock' by Mike Bartlett)

Fiona Gruber discusses the enduring thematic relevance of Ibsen’s work with Denise Varney, Associate Professor in Theatre Studies in the School of Culture and Communication at the University of Melbourne and co-director of the Australian Centre.

MTC Talks | Ibsen's enduring relevance

Coming off the back of his triumphant second season at Komische Oper Berlin, Barrie Kosky returns to Melbourne for NEON Festival's inaugural keynote conversation. A recording of the conversation from 20 July 2014 at Southbank Theatre.

NEON Festival of Independent Theatre 2014 | Kosky in Conversation

Fiona Gruber explores MTC's 2015 Season with MTC Artistic Director Brett Sheehy, actor Jane Turner, writer Aidan Fennessy, and Director Sam Strong.

MTC Season 2015 Overview, Part 1

Fiona Gruber speaks to Beckett expert Dr Mark Byron from the University of Sydney about the influences and ideas behind Beckett's work, including the 20th century masterpiece Endgame.

Image: Samuel Beckett in 1977, photographed by Roger Pic, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons

MTC Talks | Exploring the work of Samuel Beckett

Performed by Kala Gare, Cameron Bajraktarevic-Hayward, Victoria Falconer and Mathew Frank
Music by Mathew Frank, lyrics by Dean Bryant, orchestrations by James Simpson
Mixed and recorded by Guus Hoevenaars

My Brilliant Career is playing at Southbank Theatre, 7 Nov — 18 Dec 2024. Learn more at www.mtc.com.au/my-brilliant-career

Someone Like Me (from 'My Brilliant Career')

Performed by Kala Gare
Music by Mathew Frank, lyrics by Dean Bryant, orchestrations by James Simpson
Mixed and recorded by Guus Hoevenaars

My Brilliant Career is playing at Southbank Theatre, 7 Nov — 18 Dec 2024. Learn more at www.mtc.com.au/my-brilliant-career

Life As We Know It (from 'My Brilliant Career')

In The Wrong Key (from 'My Brilliant Career')

Fiona Gruber speaks to Australian playwright Kylie Trounson about the process of writing 'The Waiting Room'; a story based around the groundbreaking IVF research performed by her father, Emeritus Professor Alan Trounson.

MTC Talks | Interview with Kylie Trounson

 Fiona Gruber speaks to theatre critic and Harold Pinter biographer, Michael Billington, about Pinter, his writing and his affair with TV presenter Joan Bakewell on which his play, Betrayal is based.

MTC Talks | Michael Billington on Harold Pinter

Award-winning British playwright Simon Stephens talks to MTC Literary Director Chris Mead about his career, the incredible success of The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and writing plays for the 21st century.

Simon Stephens in Conversation

Recorded live at Southbank Theatre, in this special event multi award-winning British director Jamie Lloyd talks to MTC Literary Director Chris Mead about his career and prolific output of intriguing and thrilling productions.

Jamie Lloyd in Conversation

Comedy duo Francis Greenslade and Shaun Micallef speak to Fiona Gruber about playing the iconic Odd Couple in Neil Simon's classic comedy.

MTC Talks | Interview with Francis Greenslade and Shaun Micallef

Audi Forum Nights give Melbourne Theatre Company audiences the chance to hear first-hand from members of the cast and creative team of each show. Tune in to hear from the cast of Brian Friel’s Faith Healer as they answer questions from the Audi Forum Night audience, hosted by MTC’s Literary Director Chris Mead on 13 March 2017. 
Faith Healer is a Belvoir Production.

MTC Talks | Faith Healer Audi Forum Night

Since it opened on the London stage in 1982, Noises Off, a farce about performing a farce has been staged in thousands of venues around the world, but it's creator, Michael Frayn, is still bemused by its success. Fiona Gruber speaks to the celebrated playwright about his classic comedy and its enduring appeal.

MTC Talks | Interview with Noises Off playwright Michael Frayn

Sarah Corridon chats with Kelly Ryall about the sounds of the 80s in Di and Viv and Rose.

MTC Talks | Interview with Di and Viv and Rose Composer and Sound Designer Kelly Ryall

Sarah Corridon chats to MTC Associate Director Sarah Goodes about the plays she'll be directing in 2018 – The Children, A Doll's House, Part 2 and Astroman.

MTC Talks | Interview with MTC Associate Director Sarah Goodes about Season 2018

Musical comedy genius Eddie Perfect and MTC Associate Director Dean Bryant talk to Sarah Corridon about the first time they met, their time studying Performing Arts at WAAPA, and the work that goes into creating a new Australian Musical.

MTC Talks | Interview with Eddie Perfect and Dean Bryant

British playwright Lucy Kirkwood chats to Fiona Gruber about her new play The Children.

MTC Talks | Interview with The Children playwright Lucy Kirkwood

Legendary playwright and film maker Mike Leigh speaks to Fiona Gruber about why his tragicomic play, Abigail's Party, remains such a cult classic 40 years on.

MTC Talks | Interview with Mike Leigh

In the lead up to Stephen Nicolazzo's vivid revival of the 1970s classic, Abigail's Party, we asked some lifestyle experts to help us put together the Perfect 70s Party Guide. As you prepare the menu for your guests, listen to Food Educator and author Alice Zaslavsky as she chats with one of Melbourne's best-loved food writers, Rita Erlich about the decade's culinary experiments.

Abigail's Party | Alice Zaslavsky and Rita Erlich on 70s Food

MTC Associate Director Sarah Goodes speaks to Sarah Corridon about the character Nora Helmer and the assumptions that have been made about her for over 100 years.

MTC Talks | Interview with Director Sarah Goodes

Playwright Louis Nowra tells Fiona Gruber about the people who changed his life, and how they came to form the inspiration behind his iconic play Cosí.

https://www.mtc.com.au/plays-and-tickets/season-2019/cosi/

MTC Talks | Louis Nowra

Award-winning writer and TV personality Nakkiah Lui talks to STC Content Manager Carl Nilson-Polias about her motivations for writing this hugely-successful play. Lui shows us why she is one of this country’s most incisive comedy writers, with a home-grown satire that is both subversive and thoroughly entertaining. Buy tickets to Black is the New White at mtc.com.au

MTC Talks | Interview with playwright Nakkiah Lui

As the colder weather creeps up, there’s no better time to dream of summer. So settle in with our audio recording of director and playwright Andrea James, discussing her new play Sunshine Super Girl, ahead of its season at the Sumner in November.

You will hear Andrea James discuss her new play, Sunshine Super Girl – the remarkable story of Australian sporting legend Evonne Goolagong, a girl from the bush who rose to become the number one tennis player in the world and a household name by the age of 19.

Recorded as part of MTC at MPavilion in January, it features James in conversation with MTC Literary Associate Jenni Medway, and well as  excerpts from this new work read by Leonie Whyman.

Sunshine Super Girl by Andrea James is produced by Performing Lines.

MTC Conversations | Andrea James in Conversation

Join us as we relive our 2016 In Conversation event with internationally renowned UK playwright and screenwriter Sir David Hare.

During his illustrious career, David Hare has written more than 30 plays including Plenty, Racing Demon, Amy’s View and Skylight. He has received two Academy Award nominations for his screenplay adaptations of The Hours and The Reader.

In this event presented by Melbourne Theatre Company in partnership with The Wheeler Centre, David Hare spoke with Australian barrister and writer Julian Burnside about politics, art and the writing life.

MTC Conversations | David Hare in Conversation

Join us for an in-depth conversation with dance & theatre dramaturg Ruth Little as we discuss making a life in-between scripts, working in the varied worlds of theatre companies and dance studios, and the art of dramaturgy.

Throughout 2020, dance & theatre dramaturg Ruth Little has been taking part in the University of Melbourne’s Macgeorge Fellowship program. Now, she join us for an insightful conversation on the craft of dramaturgy with MTC Literary Director Chris Mead.

MTC Conversations | Ruth Little in Conversation

From her home in Los Angeles, playwright Lally Katz creates a monologue for MTC that began as a reflection on Melbourne during a time of great change and evolved into a waking dream about life, death, past, present and pandemics.

The monologue is performed by Emily Goddard, directed by MTC Associate Director Petra Kalive and with a sound design by Emah Fox.

Mary Street by Lally Katz

Welcome to the audio library of Melbourne's home of theatre, MTC. 

Hear from actors and creatives including David Hare, Missy Higgins, Barrie Kosky, Jamie Lloyd, Miriam Margolyes, Joanna Murray-Smith, Simon Stephens, Brett Sheehy, Sam Strong, THE SWEATS, Sigrid Thornton, Jane Turner and more in this collection of recordings from live events, music, and our MTC Talks interview series hosted by Fiona Gruber.

Melbourne Theatre Company

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