Petra Kalive

Enda Markey presents

Rodgers and Hammerstein’s CAROUSEL, one of the most beloved musicals of all time.

at the Princess Theatre, Melbourne September 7 & 8, 2024

"A shimmering mirage for lovers of classical musical theatre... Director Petra Kalive delivered a fully realised emotional performance, with heartfelt pathos neatly balanced by warm comedy" MAN IN A CHAIR

Set in a seaside town in Maine, CAROUSEL follows the love story of Billy Bigelow, a handsome but troubled carousel barker, and Julie Jordan, a young mill worker.  It is the enduring tale of love, redemption, and the struggle to find our place in the world.

Since its premiere on Broadway in 1945, CAROUSEL has been praised for its poignant storyline, memorable characters, and unforgettable score, which includes timeless hits such as “If I Loved You”, “Soliloquy”, “June Is Bustin’ Out All Over”, and “You’ll Never Walk Alone”.

This concert production starred two of Australia’s most celebrated leading ladies, Anna O’Byrne (The Mousetrap, My Fair Lady, Love Never Dies) and Marina Prior (The Phantom of the Opera, Les Misérables, Mary Poppins). With a stellar cast of thrilling performers and an on-stage orchestra, this concert is not to be missed!

CAST

Anna O'Byrne - Julie Jordan

Marina Prior - Nettie Fowler

Danny Whitehead - Billy Bigelow

Blake Bowden - Enoch Snow

Andy Conaghan - Jigger Craigin

Kerrie-Anne Greeland - Carrie Pipperidge

Paula Arundell - Mrs Mullin

Tony Llewellyn-Jones - Starkeeper/Dr Seldon/Narrator

Jasmine Durham - Louise

Ben Obst - Dancer

ENSEMBLE

Taao Buchanan

Ben Clarke

Zoe Crisp

Andrew Dunne

Dominque Hamilton

Genevive Kingsford

Matthew Hearne

Conor Neylon

Adele Parkinson

Joshua Robson

Greta Sherrif

Alexander Tye

Jasmine Vaughs

Paul Whiteley

CREATIVE TEAM

Rogers and Hammerstien - Writers

Guy Simpson - Musical Director

Petra Kalive - Director

Enda Markey - Producer

Philip Connaughton - Choreographer

Gavan Swift - Lighting Designer

Tom Brickhill - Sound Designer

Casey Harper Wood - Costume Design

Photography: Jeff Busby

Book and Lyrics by Steven Sater | Music by Duncan Sheik

Presented by VCA Music Theatre and Design and Production June 2024

Based on the Original Play by Frank Wedekind

Orchestrations Duncan Sheik
Vocal Arrangements AnnMarie Milazzo
String Orchestrations Simon Hale

Director: Petra Kalive
Choreographer: Ross Hannaford
Musical Director: James Simpson

Spring Awakening is an unforgettable journey through the mysteries and challenges of adolescence. The landmark musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater takes us to late-nineteenth century conservative Germany, where a group of teenagers navigate curious desire and self-discovery with beautiful and devastating consequences. An electrifying fusion of morality, sexuality and rock 'n' roll, Spring Awakening is compelling and timeless in its celebration of youthful rebellion.

Directors Note

I am thrilled to present our production of Spring Awakening, a coming-of-age musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, based on the 1891 German play by Frank Wedekind. Set in 19th century Germany, the story unfolds in a world where students are starved of information about their bodies and sex. This backdrop, combined with a score of alternative rock music, creates a dynamic contrast that renders the narrative both timeless and strikingly modern.

The decision to set our stage in a field of long grass, knee to waist high, has deepened the thematic richness and visual dynamics of the play. This choice symbolizes the wild, untamed nature of adolescence, mirroring the emotional turbulence of our young protagonists. The grass, not yet in bloom but promising growth, parallels their own burgeoning journeys of self-discovery. Setting the action amidst long grass not only enhances the sense of isolation and confinement experienced by the characters but also integrates seamlessly with the themes of growth and transition. It allows our actors to transform the space physically, offering practical versatility and moments of awe as we shift from past to present.

I’ve been struck by how timely this work is right now. It invites us to reflect on the pressures placed on young people today - the truths that we keep hidden from them, the world we are asking them to grow into, and the ways in which we might better understand and support their journey into adulthood. The work offers a chance to reflect and question the progress we have made and the long road ahead, particularly violence against women.

Working with the third-year music theatre students at the Victorian College of the Arts (VCA) has been an absolute joy. The opportunity to engage with such a great script and score, alongside such a talented team, is something I deeply value. I am confident that this production not only showcases the talent and growth of these early-career artists but also offers a compelling and enjoyable evening at the theatre. I hope you find this work as impactful and engaging as we do.

Cast

Melchior Gabor
Max Macdonald

Wendla Bergmann
Imogen Rabbitte

Moritz Stiefel
Josh Spiniello

Ilse Neumann
Meg Williams

Hänschen Rilow
Jack Reason

Martha Bessell
Hannah Underwood

Ernst Röbel
Regan Walker

Georg Zirschnitz
Gavin Blonda

Otto Lämmermeir
Felix Star

Thea
Morag Hamilton

Anna
Paris Leveque

Adult Women
Freya Boltman

Adult Men
Tarrant Edwards

Dance Captain/Ensemble
Emily Robinson

Ensemble
Brittany Biles
Alexandra Cashmere
Amber Langman
Luke London
Demby McKenzie
Alex Mulcahy
Madison Russo
Finn Woodlock

Band

Musical Director/Keyboard 1
James Simpson

Keyboard 2
Sam Loomes

Guitars
Sam Ainslie

Bass
Oliver Powell

Drums/Percussion
Kieran Rafferty

Violin
Isabel Hede

Viola
Phoebe Green

Cello
Lauren Jennings

Creative Team

Director
Petra Kalive

Choreographer
Ross Hannaford

Musical Director
James Simpson

Set Designer
Ashley Reid*

Assistant Set Designer
Helen Zhang

Costume Designer
Jonel Factor+

Lighting Designer
Alyssa Clay*

Voice and Dialect Coach
Matt Furlani

Sound Designer
Sidney Millar

Intimacy Coordinator
Bayley Turner

Fight Coordinator
Colin Sneesby

Production Team

Production Stage Manager
Morgan Clyne*

Deputy Stage Manager
Jordan Smith*

Assistant Stage Managers
Yolanda Box
Alicia Guiney
Rhianna Sander

Workshop Head of Department (Staging)
Willow Argus*

Workshop Head of Department (Props)
Nigel Chua*

Workshop Head of Department (Scenic)
Nellie Summerfield*

Workshop Assistants
Ryder Blizzard
Lachlan Jones
Ivy Miller
Rory Willingham

Senior Costumiers
Dylan Lumsden*
Miriam Clare Robinson*

Costume Manager
Carmen Lye

Costume Assistants
Alannah Citino
Reuben James

Technical Manager
Oscar McGovern*

Head Electrician
August Johnson

Deputy Electrician
Georgette Tetaz

Lighting Programmer and Operator
Lindsay Gerhardt

Sound Head of Department and Sound Programmer
Declan Acton*

Sound Technicians
Karin Chen
Felicity Ethell

PHOTOGRAPHY BY BEN FON - FON PHOTOGRAPHY - https://fon.com.au

Summer of the 17th Doll by Ray Lawler

Directed by Petra Kalive, Movement Direction by Xanthe Beesley

A Union House Theatre Production, Union House, University of Melbourne, October 2023.

This was performed with professional artists and students.

1953.

Carlton, Melbourne. Australia.

Summer - and it's flamin' hot.

Olive is desperately attempting to recreate the happy days and heady nights of the cane cutting 'lay-off'.

For the past sixteen years, she's spent this glorious time with Barney, Roo and Nancy in her mother's house - a small Carlton terrace that they call home.

But on this, the seventeenth summer, nothing will be like it was.

Nancy got married. And, try as she might, Olive can't replace her as easily as she thinks.

The lay-off can't be the same anymore because they aren't the same anymore. As the facade they're keeping up disintegrates around them, memories fade and everyone has to face reality.

This extraordinary play was first performed in 1955 at the Union Theatre, Union House, University of Melbourne. This version is a fitting tribute that marks Union House Theatre's first production in the new Union Theatre. With it we bring with us a long history into this brand new space and nearly seven decades later the work provide a new generation of actors, designers, creatives and crew the chance to embed themselves into the rich legacy that is theatre on campus.

—-

Directors note

I am deeply humbled to be directing this production of Summer of the 17th Doll. This production is more than just another staging; it’s a culmination of my own journey and a testament to the enduring legacy of Union House Theatre.

In revisiting our cultural legacy works like this one (originally staged by the Union Theatre Repertory Company at the old Union Theatre in 1955), we don’t merely dwell in the past; we engage in a dialogue with history. In this production Summer of the Seventeenth Doll acts a mirror and reminds us of the human propensity for nostalgia, and how we sometimes willingly choose not to see the uncomfortable truths lurking beneath the surface. The play’s characters, much like our society, wrestle with the fear of embracing a different future. I think this narrative endures because at its core The Doll is grappling with a white/migrant Australian identity, who, in the main are wilfully blind and fiercely protective of the status quo. In our current socio-political climate, where our nation grapples with the impending referendum regarding the First Nations’ Voice to Parliament, these themes couldn’t be more relevant. Just as Olive and her companions are reluctant to confront the fantasy they have created; we too must reflect on the narratives that underpin our nation’s identity.

The ability to direct this production at this time in this brand-new Union Theatre with professionals and students is personally incredibly special. I began my career in student theatre, forging my path, like so many others before and since. Student theatre has an impressive legacy in this country and the Managers and Artistic Directors of the Union (and Guild) Theatres, have provided opportunities, given voice to, and shaped so many artists lives from performers to riggers. The Union Theatre and its programs have an indelible impact on our theatre culture. For me, directing this production, completes a circle; from those formative years on campus performing in every play I could (to the detriment of my Science Degree), to my role as Artistic Director of Union House Theatre supporting and mentoring student creatives, and recently as Associate Director of Melbourne Theatre Company, a department born from the Union Theatre Repertory Company. This work brings together all these threads of my career in a singular work – which is pretty special.

This production isn’t just a play; it’s a journey, a reckoning, and a celebration of our shared cultural tapestry. My hope is that it encourages conversations about our past, our present, and our vision for the future.

Article about the history of the work

Cast

Olive - Alexandra Aldrich

Roo - Martin Blum

Emma - Margot Fenley

Barney - Henry Kelly

Pearl - Leah Bourne

Bubba - Nuo (Cecilia) Liu

Johnnie - Kailen Missen

Creatives and Crew

Director – Petra Kalive

Movement Director & Producer – Xanthe Beesley

Lighting Designer – Richard Vabre

Costume Designer – Natalie Gillis

Set Designer – Brynna Lowen

Sound Designer – Rachel Lewindon

Stage Manager – Annese Lingafelter

Assistant Director – Charlotte Rogers

Intimacy Coordinator – Margot Fenley

Understudy Cast – Maggie Dunleavy, Annanya Musale, Pippa Arton-Powell, Oscar Lidgerwood, James Madsen-Smith, Clare Birtles

Production Manager – Connor Ross

Stage Carpentry – Allen Laverty

Head Technician – Clynton Jones

Marketing – Simran Giria

Assistant Stage Manager – Felicity Siegenthaler

Technical Stage Manager – Christa Jonathan

Lighting Mentee – Ishana Girish

Sound Mentee / Lighting & Sound Operator – Amy Todd

Costume Mentee – Bridie Turner

Set Design & Construction Mentees – Maya Anderson, Lauren Luchs, Leanne Kong

Production Management Mentee – Felicity Bayne

Marketing & Producer Mentee – Elizabeth Victoria Pardallis

Publicity Assistant – Weiying (Irene) Lu

Poster Imager Photography – Alice Hutchinson

Cover for Olive – Sophie Lampel

Production Photography - Liv Morrisoon

by Samuel Beckett

Directed by Petra Kalive

MELBOURNE THEATRE COMPANY

MAY 1 - JUNE 10, 2023

Sumner Theatre, Southbank

★★★★

“Petra Kalive directs with a potent control of tone and mood. The stewardship of Lucy’s performance is masterful: it makes what is ostensibly casting against type feel like a natural fit.” - The Guardian

“This may be the greatest Beckett production you will ever see in this country. “ - Theatre Travels

★★★★

“Petra Kalive’s production has timely resonances with climate change, but it is really a play about the endurance of the human spirit… it shows the unlikely poetry of the surreal situation, and its moving power to inspire hope.” - ArtsHub

“This is a valiant performance, unconstrained by tradition, that brings fresh insights to the work a play every theatre lover should want to see.” - The Age

Buried up to her waist, but never questioning why, Winnie is determined to carry on as best she can. Awoken by a piercing bell, she is accompanied only by the contents of her purse and her husband Willie. Willie doesn’t share Winnie’s predicament, but he is just as stuck. Despite the unrelenting sun and the limitations of her current – and eventually, sinking – situation, Winnie remains adamant that this is a happy day; these are all happy days.

Comedian Judith Lucy takes on the role of Winnie, the determined optimist in the face of an endless existential crisis. Acclaimed as one of the best plays ever written, Samuel Beckett's masterpiece Happy Days is an absurdist, tragicomic tour-de-force – that just happens to be a pitch-perfect commentary on our times.

Cast and Creatives

Winnie - Judith Lucy

Willie - Hayden Spencer

Set and Costume Design - Eugyeene Teh

Lighting Design - Paul Lim

Sound Design - J. David Franzke

Movement Consultant - Xanthe Beesley

Voice and Text Coach - Amy Hume

Assistant Director - Keegan Bragg

An MTC NEXT STAGE ORIGINAL

Laurinda

A new play by Diana Nguyen with Petra Kalive

based on the novel by Alice Pung

6 Aug - 10 Sept 2022 at the Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

“Diana Nguyen and Petra Kalive have conjured a completely powerful, culturally clever, and respectful Asian-Australian story that had me nodding, crying, and fist-pumping in my seat. I very felt seen. This show contains a very relatable story for all second-generation Australians, regardless of race, and should be seen by everyone.

Laurinda is a love letter to our parents for their choices and sacrifices that helped us grow up with the freedoms and opportunities they did not have, but desired for us. And it is a respectful, understanding warm hug to our younger selves, acknowledging that the mistakes we’ve made have helped us become who we are today.” LILITHIA REVIEWS

“…this entertaining, thought-provoking adaptation stands boldly on its own.” LIMELIGHT

“Directed by Petra Kalive, this adaptation does do justice to Pung’s sharp-witted skewering of white privilege and manners…the play’s dark observational humour is nuanced enough to inspire cringe-inducing flashbacks and has more the ring of a nightmare lived through” THE AGE

“As stories are told and retold through generations, they are transformed but not reduced. Witty and relevant, Laurinda successfully intersects engaging personal story and driving social commentary with intelligence and humour.

The politics of power and prejudice is explored in a perceptive work that exposes the pomposity of private school culture and reminds us systemic racism is complex and deeply embedded.” THE CONVERSATION

Adapting Alice Pung’s award-winning book, writer and comedian Diana Nguyen and director Petra Kalive bring Laurinda’s schoolyard setting to the stage for a fresh and feisty new work. Like Heathers or Mean Girls with a uniquely Australian flavour, this delightful take on the beloved novel stars Fiona Choi (The Family Law), Gemma Chua-Tran (Netflix's Heartbreak High), Georgina Naidu (Minnie & Liraz), Chi Nguyen (The Wilds), Ngoc Phan (Boy Swallows Universe), Roy Phung (Jasper Jones) and Jenny Zhou (Girl, Interpreted) in an incisive, funny study of a woman caught between cultures and class.

Laurinda tells the story of Lucy Lam, a 38-year-old woman who still has a lot to learn from her 15-year-old self when she is thrust back to the year she won a scholarship to a prestigious private school. The smart and well-liked student is not prepared for the new world she’s suddenly propelled into. It’s a world of wealth and opportunity, overseen by The Cabinet – a trio of girls who wield power over their classmates, and even their teachers. But when The Cabinet turn their attention to Lucy she has to make a choice: fit in and succeed, or stay true to herself. Either way, there’s a cost.

Whether high school is (thankfully) a distant memory or a current reality, this MTC NEXT STAGE commission offers a witty and moving insight into an all-too common experience as well as the inner strength it takes to speak truth to power.

Audience feedback

“My wife and I saw it yesterday and thought it was brilliant. In fact, for us it is the best play we have seen this year…. And we are an old white couple. I think the play spoke to my immigrant background… this is the first time I have experienced the power of seeing Asian Australians playing westernised Anglo Australians in some roles with chilling effect.”

“It instilled in me a new purpose of where I sit in the world and my cultural roots…. I felt the play was saying “it’s okay. You’re not alone” and there are so many people right now or at any given time experiencing intersectional challenges.”

“So much craft and love and wonderful discomfort. My God, when that direct address landed, whoa, I could feel the bruise on our collective psyche start to bleed out under our skin. Now that’s theatre.”

“Wonderful characterisation, some triumphant moments and an MTC audience that were wonderfully confronted by it. Congratulations.”

“I fkn cried and laughed…”

“OH MY GOSH I LOVED ITTTTT IT WAS FANTASTIC IT WAS NEW AND TRUE…. I WOULDN”T CHANGE A THING!!!!!”

“You have brought together a community of creatives to celebrate what collaborations can achieve… you have empowered the next generation that it is ok to chase their dreams and speak up when things aren’t right… and you’ve done it with humour”

“I cried ugly tears. Like ugly. Like real ugly tears. I needed to cry those”

“I am fckn obsessed, I want to go again and take everyone I know.”

Cast

Fiona Choi. Katie / Mrs Leslie / As cast.

Gemma Chua-Tran. Linh / Brodie.

Georgina Naidu. Trisha / Mrs Grey / Mrs White / As cast.

Chi Nguyen. Mum / Amber / Charlotte / As cast.

Ngoc Phan. Lucy / Lucy-38.

Roy Phung. Dad / Dr Vanderwerp / As cast.

Jenny Zhou. Tully / Chelsea / Mrs Newberry / As cast.

Director Petra Kalive

Set Design and AV Concept & Design Eugyeene Teh

Costume Designer Karine Larché

Lighting Designer Rachel Lee

Composer & Sound Designer Marco Cher-Gibard

AV Designer Justin Gardam

Movement Director Xanthe Beesley

Assistant Director & AV Composition Roshelle Fong

Cultural Consultant Alice Qin

Voice & Dialect Coach Mark Wong

Dance Consultancy Vietcharm Traditional Dance Group

Rehearsal Stage Manager Christine Bennett

Show Stage Manager Brittany Coombs

Assistant Stage Manager 1 Whitney McNamara

Assistant Stage Manager 2 Lucie Sutherland

Vietnamese dialogue by Chi Nguyen

Laurinda Education Pack

Photos by Jeff Busby

By Hannah Moscovitch

6 MARCH — 1 APRIL 2021 Southbank Theatre, The Sumner

2 JUNE - 10 JULY 2022 Belvoir Street Theatre

With Dan Spielman and Izabella Yena

In this Australian premiere production, Dan Spielman and Izabella Yena embody Hannah Moscovitch’s whipsmart #MeToo-era take on the archetypal student–teacher romance.

★★★★ ½

“director Petra Kalive, in close collaboration with movement director Xanthe Beesley, weave into a pacy, breathless show. Every word, every gesture, every second counts. Spielman’s agitated, fidgety Jon is deliciously torn between critical thought and carnal impulse, while Yena is at once powerful and powerless, navigating the intricate interplay with the lightest of touches. Both give a riveting performance.” SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

“A charged two hander that burrows into the the systemic power imbalances that gave rise to the #metoo movement” TIME OUT MELBOURNE

“Yenna and Spielman are on fire” LIMELIGHT MAGAZINE

“Powerful and prescient” ARTSHUB

“This play is a deeply intelligent and and ultimately devastating picture of erasure…Under Kalive’s direction, both Yena and Spielman give thoughtful, emotionally detailed performances.” THE SATURDAY PAPER

GREEN ROOM NOMINATED OUTSTANDING PRODUCTION

GREEN ROOM NOMINATED OUTSTANDING DIRECTON

GREEN ROOM WINNER OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE - DAN SPIELMAN & IZABELLA YENA

Award-winning Canadian playwright Hannah Moscovitch has set the international theatre scene alight with her fiery wit and incisive ability to tackle complex subjects with humour and intelligence. In this Australian premiere production, Dan Spielman (Photograph 51) and Izabella Yena (Home, I'm Darling) embody Moscovitch's whipsmart #MeToo-era take on the archetypal student–teacher romance.

Jon is a prize-winning novelist who wants more out of life. His third marriage is going about as well as his first two, and he’s stuck at university teaching creative writing to lazy undergraduates. He’s a good teacher, but believes there’s really only one student worth his time.

Annie is clever, imaginative, and a huge fan of Jon's work. One afternoon, Jon catches himself admiring Annie in her red coat, and very soon it feels like their affair was destined from the start. But when the embers have cooled and the affair is over, who will control their narrative?

This captivating drama is a timely exploration of power, truth and desire.

Sexual Misconduct of the Middle Classes was commissioned by Tarragon Theatre, Toronto, Canada.

CAST & CREATIVES

Jon - Dan Speilman

Annie - Izabella Yena

Director - Petra Kalive

Set & Costume Design - Marg Horwell

Lighting Design - Rachel Burke

Composer & Sound Design - Darius Kedros

Assistant Director - Izabella Vadiveloo

Movement Consultant - Xanthe Beesley

Intimacy Coordinator - Michala Banas

Photography Jo Duck, Jeff Busby, Jaimi Joy