Purchase tickets to events View personal profile

In a major policy shift, the government has announced a moratorium on funding for performing arts organisations Australia-wide. The Trustees of Melbourne’s fictional Lone Pine Theatre Company gather to assess the damage—but what dark clouds might rise from the ashes?

Amid the chatter and outrage and belligerence of public conversation lies a void: the Great Australian Silence. What are we afraid of hearing? Who are we afraid will say it? Political theatre outlaws Natalia Kaliada and Nicolai Khalezin of Belarus Free Theatre have conceived an explosive new work with some extraordinary Australian performers: Tammy Anderson, Natasha Herbert, Niharika Senapati, Hazem Shammas, and Daniel Schlusser.

Who is meant to have an opinion in modern Australia? Maybe it’s best you don’t answer that.

"IF THERE IS ONLY ONE PIECE OF THEATRE YOU SEE THIS YEAR, MAKE IT TRUSTEES"
— Theatre People
"REAL...IT’S OUR STORY AND OUR BEASTS, HOMEGROWN"
— The Music
"DEMONSTRATES THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE AND VALUE OF FUNDING BRAVE NEW WORKS THAT CROSS-CULTURAL AND STYLISTIC BORDERS"
— The Australian
"MERCILESSLY DEMOLISHES AUSTRALIA’S CULTURAL DEBATE"
— The Conversation
"[A] RELEVANT PIECE OF THEATRE AUSTRALIA DESPERATELY NEEDS, WITH GENUINE TRUTH AT ITS HEART"
— Theatre Press
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29

PRODUCTION PARTNERS AND SUPPORTERS

A Malthouse Theatre and Melbourne International Arts Festival production and co-commission. Proudly supported by Peter and Mary-Ruth McLennan.

Key images: Zan Wimberley
Images: Nicolai Khalezin 

Partners

MIAF
WRITTEN BY /

Natalia Kaliada & Nicolai Khalezin (Directors of Belarus Free Theatre) with Daniel Schlusser and the cast
DIRECTED BY /

Natalia Kaliada & Nicolai Khalezin
CAST / 

Tammy Anderson, Natasha Herbert, Niharika Senapati, Hazem Shammas, Daniel Schlusser
SET & COSTUME DESIGN /

Romanie Harper
LIGHTING DESIGN / 

Amelia Lever-Davidson
SOUND DESIGN & COMPOSITION /

Jethro Woodward
TRANSLATION /

Daniella Kaliada
CHOREOGRAPHY /

Bridget Fiske
STAGE MANAGER / 

Adam Chesnutt
ASSISTANT STAGE MANAGER /

Adelaide Harney

Event & ticketing details

Dates & Times

PREVIEWS 8pm Fri 28 Sep, 8pm Sat 29 Sep, 7pm Mon 1 Oct, 7pm Tue 2 Oct
OPENING NIGHT 8pm, Wed 3 Oct
TIME TO TALK 7pm, Tue 9 Oct

Location

Beckett Theatre

The Malthouse, 113 Sturt St, Southbank 3006

Get directions

Train

Any train to Flinders Street, then a 12-minute stroll through Melbourne’s sparkling Arts Precinct.

Tram

The No. 1 South Melbourne tram goes right past our door. Get off at Stop 18. Any tram down St Kilda Road—jump off at Grant Street, Stop 17 and take a 3-minute walk.

Event notes

DURATION / 

90 minutes (no interval)

WARNINGS / 

Contains adult themes, nudity and coarse language.