Level 1, Campus Centre
Monash University 3800
T: (03) 9905 3138
F: (03) 9905 4185
msa@adm.monash.edu.au

Student Theatre

Find Us

About

Ever dreamed of performing in front of a full house?

MSA Student Theatre is taking off with sell-out shows produced every semester ... and it's not just for the exhibitionists. There's room for everyone, from the people in black that stage-manage and operate lights, to set designers, writers and directors to budding dancers, actors and singers. No previous experience is required and everyone is welcome.

What is MUST?

MUST is a department of the Monash Student Association, run by professional theatre makers, that creates vibrant theatre by, with and for Monash Students and the wider community.

Staff include our full time Artistic Director, Yvonne Virsik, a professional theatre director and VCA graduate who has worked for companies including La Mama, Red Stitch, Theatre in Decay, St Martins, Theatre@Risk and MTC; and our Technical Manager, Jason Lehane, a theatrical wiz both in the practical and creative areas.

Our activities are open to all students- no experience is needed, just enthusiasm and dedication. We need: actors, singers, musicians and dancers; designers for sets, costumes, lighting and sound; PR, production and stage manager and more. If you are interested in any of these roles, just let us know. If you have no experience in a particular area, we can train you or pair you up with someone who does. And, if you aren't interested in making theatre, but enjoy watching it, we need you too! It's worth noting that if you do front of house (box office) for a show, you can see it for free on the same night.

Events

OWeek

Feb

23

The 2009 O Show: Harri Potter and the Monash Passport

Presented by MUST, sponsored by the office of the Campus Director, Clayton

Performances throughout OWeek, Feb 09. Duration of 40 minutes.
Mon 23 12:30, 2PM & 3:30 Tues 24 12:30, 2PM & 3PM Wed 25 12:30, 1:30, 3PM & 4PM Thurs 26 12:30, 1:30, 3PM & 4PM

Created by Ephiny Gale and Clara Pagone, production and stage managed by Dom Bongiovanni

The O Show is a Monash tradition: a free, very fun, informative spoof on student life at Monash created every year by current students for the first years. This year's show is a spoof of Harry Potter.

Join Harri and her friends on an epic quest to save the Monash School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Complete with magic, singing, dancing, curses, wand jokes and plot twists!

Semester One

Mar

19

Scum: Death, Destruction and Dirty Laundry by Clare Luckham and Chris Bond

Directed by Cheyney Caddy with Tony Toppi as Musical Director

March 19 - 28

"Republic of the People, my arse. What have we got?"

War, famine, siege, famine, war, revolution: Paris, 1871. France has misplaced its Emperor and got itself a lawyer. Things are getting hot at Madame Masson's laundry. Freedom and glory are mighty thin on the ground and the sheets still need soaking.

This is a play (with songs) about making trouble. Long Live the Commune!

Mar

23

MUST ADFest (Artistic Development Festival)
March 23 - April 9, submissions open 2009

The festival is aimed at encouraging the creation and sharing of new work, the learning of new skills, the breeding of ideas, the creation of opportunities and, of course, fun!

It's packed full of activities, performances, workshops, including...

Life Under Lights - Caught in the Act

Theatrical photography exhibition

MUST Theatre CreD Workshop Series

Creative Development Workshops March 23 - April 3

Dog's Breakfast

Showings of varied vibrant works: plays, music, comedy, spoken word followed by feedback March 31 - April 4

MUST PRONTO

Performed Readings Of New Theatrical Offerings April 6 - 9

Apr

30

Shakespeare Society production - A Midsummer Night's Dream

Directed by Iona Roy

April 30 - May 9

May

14

Crazy by Kate Laverack with Dramaturgy from Riannon Berkeley

Directed by Kate Laverack and Riannon Berkeley

May 14 - 23 Auditions from week 1

What is Crazy? Crazy is the story of a teenager called Cherry who hears voices.

What is Crazy? Is a murderer born bad, or does he become bad? Is madness diagnosable if reality is subjective? If society creates society, how can we possibly fix it?

Eva, Phillip, Tori, Leo, Cherry...

Is a person Crazy because they can see what others have forgotten?

May

28

Blood Wedding by Federico Garcia Lorca, translated by Ted Hughes

Directed by Celeste Macleod with Bek Burger as Stage Manager, Kate Alexander as Musical Director and Cassie Fumi on PR

May 28 - June 6 Auditions from week 1

A tragedy. Two families. One wedding. Death, desire and repression. At what cost do we conform or rebel? Do we choose our destiny or does our destiny choose us? What are women without men? A concept: to give new life to an old text by applying physical movement. An aim: to create a world, tell a story and ignite emotion.

May

28

Shakespeare Society production - Dead White Males by David Williamson

Directed by Hannah Aroni

Studio season TBA

Semester Two

Jul

23

Top Girls by Caryl Churchill

Directed by Karra Peppler with Lauren O'Dwyer as Stage Manager and Zac Faragher as Lighting Designer

July 23 - August 1 Auditions April - approx 12 female roles, script available to read upon request

Top Girls explores the challenges working women face in the contemporary business world and society at large. Recently promoted at the 'Top Girls' employment agency, we meet Marlene, a hard-bitten career woman and follow her through an imagined celebration dinner with five women from different times in history, literature, and art. Delving further into her life we witness the sacrifices Marlene has made and how her displacement of family has affected both herself and her child sister.

Aug

06

The Grace of Mary Traverse by Timberlake Wertenbaker

Directed by Dominique Bongiovanni with Grace Travaglia as Assistant Director and Carlie-Ann Skinner as Set Designer

August 6 - 15 Auditions April - 12 roles: 5 female, 7 male, script available to read upon request

A young girl leaves her sheltered home in search of knowledge and experience in the world outside. After witnessing horrific acts, she finds herself being drawn further and further into that corrupt and villainous world and finds she is unable to escape.

Set in the 1800s, The Grace of Mary Traverse is at times both darkly comic and deeply disturbing while it explores the darker side of human nature and one girl's quest to understand it.

Aug

20

Shakespeare Society production Coriolanus

Directed by Sean Mulcahy

August 20 - 29

Sep

03

Something Fresh adapted from the P.G. Wodehouse novel by Jem Splitter and Will Athanasakis

Directed by Jem Splitter

September 3 - 12

Based on the P.G. Wodehouse novel of the same name, Something Fresh is a tale of adventure, impostors, danger and love set within the colourful milieu of British aristocracy. When an ancient Egyptian relic is stolen, two young London writers find themselves in Blandings Castle, pitted against each other in the pursuit of the large cash reward for its return.

 

 

Monash University Musical Company production TBA

Sep

18

Something Special in September (from YV to be worked out after a bit of dreaming time)

Directed by MUST Artistic Director Yvonne Virsik

September 18 - October 3 In conjunction with the Melbourne Fringe Festival

Sep

03

Can't Pay Won't Pay by Dario Fo

Directed by Luc Favre with Bea Valenzuela as Production Manager, Eve Gilbert as Dramaturg and Sarah Walker as photographer and graphic designer.

October 8 - 17 In conjunction with the Melbourne Fringe Festival

'Can't Pay? Won't Pay', written by Dario Fo, is a hilarious masterpiece which harnesses the frenetic energy of Commedia Dell'Arte. Take working-class people unable to pay for their basic necessities and amenities, a dash of pride, a quick-witted liar, some groceries (only half of which are half paid for), a socialist policeman and an almost identical looking fascist one. Mix together in tumultuous times and what do you get? CHAOS! But it's really fun to watch!