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Director’s Note: Mark Kilmurry, THE LOVER & THE DUMB WAITER
The beauty of directing a Harold Pinter double bill is in the admiration for his breath and range of characters and subject matters. In THE LOVER & THE DUMB WAITER we see two different class settings: a marriage and a secret, in parallel with two hit men and a dumb waiter. Through the unique voice […]
Director’s Note: Liesel Badorrek, THE GLASS MENAGERIE
Tennessee Williams is a towering figure in the landscape of twentieth century theatre. His work continues to be performed constantly – a standard in the season of theatre companies the world over; as well as studied and adapted. In fact, he looms so large as a literary stalwart, that it is easy to forget how […]
Director’s Note: Janine Watson, ARIA
I first encountered ARIA by David Williamson when I was asked to present a scene from it for a fundraising event at Ensemble Theatre. After working on just four pages of the play I told Mark Kilmurry that if they were programming ARIA I wanted to direct it. It isn’t surprising, given the immense wit […]
2025 General Auditions
Ensemble Theatre, Belvoir St Theatre, Griffin Theatre Company and Sydney Theatre Company are holding General Auditions for actors from Monday 3 February – Friday 14 February 2025. Submissions close on Wednesday 22 January. General auditions are open to Sydney based actors. This is an open call for performers of all backgrounds and experiences to meet and […]
Writer’s Note: David Williamson, ARIA
Most of us need some mild delusions about ourselves to help us get through life. That we’re a tad more personable, intelligent and talented than perhaps we really are. Monique, the pivotal character in ARIA, being more than a touch narcissistic, needs delusions to prop up her huge but fragile ego. She believes she was destined […]
Cast announcement: THE GLASS MENAGERIE
We are thrilled to announce the full cast of Tennessee Williams’ iconic 20th Century drama THE GLASS MENAGERIE! Danny Ball Blazey Best Bridie McKim Tom Rodgers Catch THE GLASS MENAGERIE by Tennessee Williams on our stage 21 Mar – 26 Apr. BOOK NOW
Tour: THE QUEEN’S NANNY 2025
We are thrilled to announce that Melanie Tait’s THE QUEEN’S NANNY will be heading out on the road later this year! From the creative team behind the sell-out success of THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE, this blackly funny play imagines a series of pivotal moments between two strong-spirited women harbouring complicated resentment. ★★★★ “tartly funny […]
Director’s Note: Anna Ledwich, THE HEARTBREAK CHOIR
I grew up in a small Victorian country town. Three generations of my family have lived there. Its origins began with sheep farming, developed with the gold rush, diversified through woollen mills, orchards, an abattoir, and in latter decades, attracted artists, hippies, foodies and city dwellers seeking a “tree change”. So, on reading THE HEARTBREAK […]
2025 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Awards Announcement
We are delighted to announce Anna Houston and Tiffany Wong as the recipients of the 2025 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Awards! “As part of the Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Awards, I am thrilled we have another opportunity to welcome two very talented emerging directors to Ensemble Theatre. This award aims to explore and […]
Writer’s Note: Sam O’Sullivan, MCGUFFIN PARK
2024 had been called the year of elections, with almost half the world’s population being called on to vote. And with that comes a lot of campaigning, a lot of debate and a lot of political spin. Democracy is far from perfect. Even in the most stable governments, it’s a rough game and over time […]
Director’s Note: Mark Kilmurry, MCGUFFIN PARK
My wife Jacqui passed me Brook Turner’s wonderful account of the independent movement in his page turner Independents’ Day as the basis for something political regarding a play. I passed to Sam and we discussed how politics can make change in communities, though at what cost? Sam’s play focuses on local politics, which can be easier to identify with […]
Director’s Note: Janine Watson, COLDER THAN HERE
This is a play about death. This is a play about human mortality. But, when a culture and social structure are devoid of spirituality, where connection to the earth is an afterthought, when someone’s world has always been relatively safe and secure, mortality is the great provoker of fear. Myra is looking death in the […]
Meet the team: COLDER THAN HERE
Meet the stellar team of cast and creatives bringing Laura Wade’s (HOME, I’M DARLING) Olivier Award nominated play COLDER THAN HERE to the Ensemble stage! Playing 16 Sep – 12 Oct, don’t miss Laura Wade’s beautiful journey through love, loss and laughter. BOOK NOW
Director’s Note: Priscilla Jackman, THE QUEEN’S NANNY
When Melanie first told me about Crawfie’s story – a woman who lived in the same town as her own Scottish family, who mixed and worked amongst Melanie’s own extended family and friends, after being ousted by the royals – I was surprised it was the first I’d heard of Marion Crawford. In a contemporary […]
Applications now open for 2025 Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Award
Are you an emerging Director on the lookout for an exciting and unique opportunity with real, hands-on rehearsal room experience? The Ensemble Theatre Sandra Bates Director’s Awards could be your ticket! The two successful applicants will each be offered a paid position of Assistant Director on two of our mainstage productions in 2025. Ensemble Theatre […]
Playwright’s Note: Melanie Tait, THE QUEEN’S NANNY
I started working on this play around the time the Albanese Labor Government was voted in. Full of hope, I felt certain when the play got to the stage, we’d have lived through a successful Australian Indigenous Voice Referendum and, in an election year, movement would be ramping up about a new Republic Referendum. I […]