HOW TO PLOT A HIT IN TWO DAYS

Melanie Tait is a writer for stage and screen with a proven track record in Australia and the UK.

Her play THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE premiered at the Ensemble Theatre in Sydney in March 2019 and toured nationally in 2021. The play has been programmed right around Australia and New Zealand including at the State Theatre Company of South Australia, Queensland Theatre and The Court Theatre in Christchurch. Melanie also adapted the play into a feature film with EQ Media, writing the screenplay for THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE. The feature premiered on Paramount+ and Channel 10 in 2023.

Melanie’s play A BROADCAST COUP, opened in January 2023 at Ensemble Theatre as part of Sydney Festival, while THE QUEEN’S NANNY opened in September 2024 at the Ensemble Theatre. Melanie’s latest play HOW TO PLOT A HIT IN TWO DAYS will open at the Ensemble Theatre later in the year.  She also has 2 other plays under commission at NIDA and the MTC. Meanwhile she is developing a TV series with BBC Studios Australia and another series with Easy Tiger. Her first play THE VEGEMITE TALES won critical and popular acclaim, playing eight years in London, including two years on the West End. Melanie then trained as a journalist with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, where she worked for twelve years across radio, podcasting and television.

THE APPLETON LADIES’ POTATO RACE is published by Currency Press and A BROADCAST COUP is published by Playlab.

Ensemble Theatre: THE GREAT DIVIDE, RHINESTONE REX AND MISS MONICA, MURDER ON THE WIRELESS, LUNA GALE, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK, RAPTURE BLISTER BURN, RHINESTONE REX AND MISS MONICA, LET THE SUNSHINE, RABBIT HOLE, THEY’RE PLAYING OUR SONG, CHAPTER TWO. Footbridge Theatre and National tour: HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. NUNSENSE. Marion St Theatre: WAIT UNTIL DARK, HERE COMES SHOWTIME. Queensland Theatre:  THREEPENNY OPERA. Sydney Theatre Company: SCENES FROM A SEPARATION, ALL IN THE TIMING. Theatre Royal: CRAZY FOR YOU. Sydney Entertainment Centre and National tour: MAN FROM SNOWY RIVER. FILM: THE 13TH SUMMER, THE STRANGER (short film) SANTA’S APPRENTICE (animation), IRRESISTIBLE, DANGER DOWN UNDER, YOUNG EINSTEIN, THE REPRISAL, THE BOY WHO HAD EVERYTHING, THE 13^TH FLOOR.
TV: HOME AND AWAY, PLAY SCHOOL, CITH HOMICIDE, SCORCHED, EMERALD FALLS, STUPID STUPID MAN, STEPFATHER OF THE BRIDE, THE SOCIETY MURDERS, ALL SAINTS, FIRE, OVER THE HILL, ACROPLIS NOW, GP, ALL TOGETHER NOW, A COUNTRY PRACTICE, RAFFERTY’S RULES, BARLOW AND  CHAMBERS. Georgie has been nominated for a Logie Award 11 times and won 7, two of them Gold for her television work.

Stage Manager: Belvoir Street Theatre: LOSE TO WIN. Carriageworks: PARTY | PROTEST | REMEMBER. Contemporary Asian Australian Performance: DOUBLE DELICIOUS, THE BRIDAL LAMENT, LOST IN SHANGHAI. Griffin Theatre Company: END OF., GOLDEN BLOOD 黄金血液, PONY. Kurinji & Sydney Festival: 宿(STAY). National Theatre of Parramatta: NOTHING. The Ethics Centre: FESTIVAL OF DANGEROUS IDEAS 2022. Assistant Stage Manager: Belvoir St Theatre: AT WHAT COST. Pinchgut Opera: RINALDO. As Company Manager: National Theatre of Parramatta: CHOIR BOY. Training: NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF DRAMATIC ART.